The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1918-05-04
BY Cynthia Grey.


Grey's exIerienccs.)
OH shoot him. I'll shoot
hint"
Waving her hands in a half de-
lirium and kicking her heels into
the cot bed on which she lay, a
pale. half-clad girl raised herself
to a sitting posture and shouted
this threat to the four walls.
Her eyes stared unseeinsly.
Her lips snarled.
Her face looked as IL it be-
longed on the shoulders of a
woman of 80.
She was a girl whose pathetic
story had been whispered 20 me.
She was not BAD. But she
was ignorant and young and
alone AND deserted.
Are you his sister," she
snapped at me as l stepped into
the room. IF so, get out or I'll
throw this vase at you She
reached for a poor, broken flower
holder that stood, the only senti-
mel of grace and beauty, in all its
loneliness upon the dresser top.
mo, I'm Cynthia Grey. I've
come to help you. VIII you talk
to me little while?"
Her Mood Changes.
Her mood changed like a flash.
Her eyes dropped sadly. Her an
cry lips quivered. She stretched
out thin little hand in search
of mine.
"O-h-h, Cynthia Grey" she
whispered, weakly, all the fire
and anger dead. You were the
only friend l ever had. You told
me RIGHT. But | didn't listen.
You warned me. then. not to play
with fire or Id get burned. You
knew and understood. But |
couldn't see it that way and now
Her voice trailed, regretfully,
and she sank like a pile of old
clothes, under the scant bed
coverings.
There, there, dear" l COM
forted.
1.-The beautiful pitcher is bro
ken and the sun is behind cloud,
but maybe we can mend the break
and coax the sun to shine again.
Let's try"
Clock Breaks Silence.
The head still lay hidden. The
thin body still shook. And all
that broke the stiffness of that
poor little room with its one
window and its lone chair was the
tick of dollar clock and the sob
of a breaking heart.
I'm Florence" said the girl
at last, pushing back blanket
and trying to stop the tears.
Don't you remember, Miss
Cynthia? | came to you once
oh, it seems like hundred years
ago, now. l was so happy then
and asked you for advice.
"You were so kind. You talk
ed so good. You seemed to un-
derstand just what the problem
was. And | went away, promis-
ing you, and meaning it, too. that
l should give up the acquaintance
of HIM before it was too late
Her romance overcame her and
she wept again as If her heart
would burst. But piece by piece
we patched the story together.
The man had promised, as men
do, to marry her.
Disregarded Warnings.
Despite the warnings of those
she sought counsel from, she lis
tened to his pleading voice too
long.
They lived together for six
months. He drove her to the
streets to earn his bread as well
as hers. He reviled her. He
called her names. He beat hei
Yet with the madness of some
women, she still loved him.
Then, one day, in the tickle
ness of those of his type, this crea
ture took fancy to another sirl
and discarded the poor little IN
fortunate who had given all for
him.
"And and - that isn't the
dreadful part" she whispered, as
she clung to my arm. There's 60
ing to be a baby, and IL Coz
makes it look like him, I'll"
caught her head in my two
hands. She started to vince, then
defiantly returned my gaze.
Don't you DARE say that, lit
tie girl" answered. "Wny