The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-03-16
THE RAINS CAME
BIT LoUK BRoNfFIELD 4,
Copyright, 1887. 1898 1899 By Louis Bsomfiel1
Distributed by Ledger syndicats

swer she said. Fern won't 90. I'll
look after her. You don't need TO
worry"
II couldn't do that"
IT'S the only thing to do. Sup
pose you got cholera and died here
and left Fern an orphan. That
would be nice. wouldn't it? With
nobody al all to look after her"
Mrs. Hoggett Egburry said,
shes right. Mary Lou. Think Of
it, especially now that she's going
to be married. You must think of
yourself as well as Fern"
You'd better get your things
together" said Aunt Phoebe,
quietly.
I'm think about It." said Mrs.
Simon. and began to cry suddenly.
/ I've never flown before she said.
Neither have I. said Mrs. Hog
gett-Egburry. but Id rather fly
than die here like a rat in hole.
The Smileys can keep nay grass
ware. can't you. II won't be any
trouble"
No" said Bertha Smiley.
Wen take good care of it, "
said Aunt Phoebe.
It's all so awful" said Mrs.
Simon. still sobbing. II don't see
why Fern has TO make everything
worse by staying in that awful
town. She never thought of any
thing but herself since she was
born"
Come along now" said Aunt
Phoebe. IF you're ready by )
O'Clock you can go into town with
me"
we can't walk all that way"
said Mrs. Hoggett-Egburry.
You won't have to-" said Aunt
Phoebe. The Maharanee is send
ing her bullock carnage for me.
You can ride with me" And then
as il what she had said were no
Parthian shot. but only a simple
observation she left them.
The bullock carriage was half
an hour late in arriving. and until
II appeared Aunt Phoebe. Mrs,
Hoggett-Eghurry and Mrs. Simon
sat on stiff kitchen chairs waiting.
Mrs. Hoggett-Egburry surrounded
by bundles and parcels containing
her treasures. Now and then Mrs.
Simon shifted and dabbed at her
eyes with her handkerchief. She
wore one OF Mrs. Smiley's topees
and one of Mrs. Hoggett-Egourry' $
pongee suits. II was too large for
her and gave her at once a mourn
full and ridiculous appearance.
When the carriage at last ar
rived. drawn by the white Mysore
bullocks with gilded horns. il was
not at all what Aunt Phoebe had
expected Never having seen a
royal bullock carriage, she had
imagined it TO be rather like the
horse cabs which had met the
trains in Beaver Dam. with ample
room for both Passengers and bag
gage. Instead. il turned out 10
be a kind Of throne, mounted upon
four wheels. with a seat for the
bullock driver at the front.
II was an ample throne, but not
quite ample enough for the three
ladies. II Mrs. Hoggett-Eg bury
and Mrs. Simon were TO reach the
plane in time there was nothing
10 be done except for all three 10
adjust themselves somehow.
1t ended with Aunt Phoebe SIT
ting in the middle Of the throne,
wedged between the two other
travellers. On top Of them were
heaped Mrs. Hoggett Egburry s
bundles and parcels.
The bullocks were luxurious
animals. aware that their snces-
tors had been bred long ago in
Mysore TO draw the cannon of the
Tppoo Sahib. They were fed and
washed and their horns gilded
atresh every morning. and they
were accustomed Only 10 drawing
the old MsharsJsh on his evening
drives. Never before had they