The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-02-28
Continued From Our Last Issue)
CHAPTER VIII.
The Future Clears.

CHAPTER VIII.
| The Future Clears.
Julia found the family as usual
In the kitchen, and the kitchen as
usual dirty, and close. Her old
grandmother was rocking in a
chair by the stove. Julia's mother
was helpless in great wheeled
chair. Sitting at the table was a
heavy, sadfaced woman, with sew
eral front teeth missing, in whom
Julia recognized her Aunt May,
Mrs. Torney. A girl of 10, with a
flannel bandage high about her
throat, came downstairs at the
sound of Julia's entrance. This
was Regina Torney, one of Aunt
Mays daughters.
Julia kissed her mother. expect
ing to draw from her the usual
long complaints when she said:
How are you, dear? How does
the chair go?"
But Mrs. Page surprised her by
some new quality in her look and
tone, something poignantly touch
thin little shadow of her former
self now, her almost useless hands
resting on a pillow in her lap. She
smiled at her daughter.
| 81 declare, Ju, you do seem to
bring the good fresh air in with
you whenever you come! Why,
I'm just about the same, Ju."
"She's had an awful week, Julia.
She don't seem to get no better,
Mrs. Torney said heavily. 81 was
just saying it almost seems like
she isn't going to get WE'LL"
"Emeline sent for me-" Mrs.
Torney went on in droning voice.
Mamma just couldn't manage It,
Julia; she's gettin on; she can't
do everything. So / gave up my
house"
Julia understood a certain apol-
ogetic note in her aunt's voice to
refer to the fact that the Shotwell
Street house was largely support
ed by Jim's generous monthly
cheque, and that in establishing
herself and her two daughters
there she added one more burden
to Julia's shoulders.
I'm glad you did, Auntie," she
answered cheertully. And where's
Geraldine?"
"Geraldine's at school," Mrs
Torney said. But Regina's not
going to start in here. She feels
she ought to get to work now.
She's got an awful sore throat,
too. / don't feel real we'll myself;
every time l stand up feel az II
my back was going to split In two
made up your mind really to
go, Ju?" Mrs. Page asked.
"Oh, really! We leave on the
seventh"
i've always wanted to go some
where's on a ship" Emeline said.
Ma, amt you going to put your
clothes on and go to the store?"
Regina interrupted.
II was going to-" Mrs. Torney
said, signing, "but | think maybe
now I'll wait, and let Geraldine go
she'll have her things on"
81 suppose you haven't got any
milk" Mrs. Page said. ,"I declare
l get to feeling awfully gone about
this time!"
I'VE haven't a drop, En-" Mrs.
Torney said, after investigating a
small back porch, from which Julia
got a strong whiff of wet ashes and
decaying cabbage leaves.
We'll, / amt got much appe-
tite," Emeline sighed.
Julia felt the tears press sud
denly behind her eyes. Mamma, I
think you are terribly patient!"
said she.
Regina coughed, and huddled
herself in her chair.
But / thought since we had the
alright stove put in the other
room you were going to use 1t
more?" said Julia, as Mrs. Torney
shook down the cooking stove with
a violence that filled the air with
the acrid taste of gases.
well, we do sometimes. I meant
to clean 1t today and get 1t start
ed again." her aunt said. I'm
sure l don't know what we're
going to do for dinner, Ma" she
added. Here it's getting around
to s, and Geraldine hasn't come
in"
Mrs. Cox made no response; she
was nodding in the twilight. A
moment later Geraldine, a heavy,
highly colored girl, burst in, cold,
wet and tired.
my Lord, what do you keep this
place so dark for, Ma" said Geral-