The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-01-27

IdsioN, stretched out MS mana anC
took mine in a warm, firm grasp.
Hello, Bobbie," he said, In his
hearty old voice, and looked back
at him, perfectly white = could
feel that | was-and speechless
Don't be a goose. It's Just DR.
Maynard" / tried to reason with
myself
Am / speaking to Miss Lucy
Vars?" / heard asked me. miss
Lucy Chenery Vars. OF 240 Main
Street, Hilton, Mass"
| nodded, and somewhere down
there in the chaos in my chest.
found my poor little voice. SIS
1t you?" l asked shakily.
well, I'm not quite sure. Moth
ing looks very natural around here.
I'm beginning to thing I'm some
body else"
We'll, I am surprised" I ex-
ploded. 81 certainly am surprised I!
Why, | never was so surprised"
| stopped a minute. DR.. Maynard
was smiling right down into my
eyes. Il never was so surprised
in all my life!" I repeated. as IL
hadn't another idea In my mind.
He leaned down just here and
picked up a half-dozen bundles.
more or less, that I had dropped
when we shook hands.
Il better help you carry some
of these home, hadn't II" he sug-
gested.
ooh. yes. do" I replied eagerly,
and somehow me managed to walk
back to the house together.
I don't know through what
streets we went, past what houses.
can scarcely recall of what we
talked. Hes come home! He's
come home! He's come home!"
kept ringing in my ears over and
over again, like jubilant chimes.
DIR. Maynard has come home!"
When he first came in view of
240 Main Street and stood stock
still In his tracks, and gasped, |
wanted to throw my arms around
him for joy.
1t was In the sunken garden
that the most important part of
our conversation took place. You
remember, don't you, that in my
letters to DR.. Maynard | had al
ways been enthusiastic over the
improvements Edith has made on
old 240. So now II was with ap-
parent pride that I led my old
friend down the granolithic steps
into the one-time apple orchard.
was all enthusiasm. Edith
wouldn't have recognized me. Ruth
would have thought I had lost my
reason. Even DR.. Maynard looked
at me curiosly.
ut certainly is all very fine, I've
no doubt" he remarked.
Yes, isn't it?" | exclaimed.
But | must confess" he went
on. II never objected to the old
apple orchard. Just about where
the pool is now, there used to
grow the best old Baldwins / ever
tasted
"Oh, N.Y." | scolded, you ought
to see the bouncing Oregon apples
Edith buys by the crate"
DR.. Maynard shook his head and
smiled. Then he came over and
sat down beside me on the Italian
seat.
well, WE'LL" he sighed, 81 sup
pose old Rip must get used to the
changes that have taken place
since he's been asleep - great
sweeping estates with granolithic
drives and sunken gardens; in
stead of good old snappy New Eng
land Baldwins, apples imported
from Oregon; and instead of a girl
in a red Tam-o-Shanter and her
fathers old weather-beaten ulster,
sitting behind the wheel of little
one-lunger automobile, running it,
in all sorts of weather, like a young
breeze-instead of that GIRL" said
DR.. Maynard, looking up and down
closely, "a very correct and up-to-
date young lady in kid gloves and a
veil, smart black and white
checked suit, a very fashionable
hat Ct should call it,, with bunch
of primroses, to cap it all, pinned
jauntily at her waist
/ blushed with triumph.
1--WE just about come to the
conclusion added DR.. Maynard in
a kind of wistful voice, that I
don't know San Francisco at all
now"
WELL" laughed waveringly,
II do hope you'll find 1t little
more civilized that it was before"
81 never thought it uncivilized,"
said DR.. Maynard quietly; II rather
enjoyed it Just as 1t was, to tell the
truth. | shall be sorry to find
many changes in 1t because shall
have to become acquainted with 1t
all over again and my time is SO
short"
"Short?" I exclaimed. I don't
know how had drawn the sudden
that DR.. Maynard had
come to stay. His very next words
put an end to my lit e half-hour of
jubilance like the announcement of
a death.
YES" he said; I'm sailing
back to Germany in two weeks. l
was appointed an executor OF
distant relatives will, and 1t SEEM
ed necessary to come to New York
and attend to 1t. OF course Il
couldn't be so near-San Francis
coming to see how 1t
prospered after the earthquake.
I'm glad to find you so happy.
Bobbie. You've richly earned all
this" he glanced around the dis
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