The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-02-08

a VET clOAn on 6ef InIenedus iloaat-
ing family. Fern did not speak.
Trembling a little she sat down
and waited
Her mother said, u want you
to tell me the truth. Fern.
Yes
rs It true what Mrs. Hoggett-
Egburry has Just told me -
7 don't know what she told
you"
That you've been going to Mr..
Ransome's house al night i. after
dark"
For a moment Fern hesitated.
She saw at once that the story had
grown rampantly, luxuriantly, the
way stories grew in Ranehipur.
and she saw that it was quite use
less to deny IT, II was no good
even to say that she had been
there only once and that nothing
had happened. because in her
mothers present mood that would
not be bad enough to satisfy her.
So she said quietly. yes. it's
true"
Mrs. Simon began to moan
again. How could you do such a
thing? With a man of his reputa-
ton Everybody in Ranchipur
will know it"
Fern thought. "She's not think
ing of me at all. She's only think
ing of how she'll suffer- Aloud
she said. Yes. Mrs. Hoggett-
Egburry will see to that"
Don't you dare to say anything
against Lily Hoggett-Egburry.
She was right to come and tell
me"
How did she find out ,"
she found out from the SER
wants. but il doesn't matter how
she found out
She heard herself saying. Eyes.
it's true! It's all true I've lived
with Tom Ransome and I'm in love
with him and he loves me-
That did it, When she saw the
effect upon her mother she wished
suddenly that Mrs. Hoggett-Eg-
bury was there, too.
Her mother screamed and then
threw off the damp cloth and sat
on the edge of the bed
Now We'll have to leave
Ranchipur E.. all of us. You've
ruined and disgraced your father
and Hazel and the mother who
bore you, who's given up her whole
life to you. who wanted to see
you married respectfully to good
husband"
Fern did not speak. She simply
sat, shaking and terrified. think
ing, Now I've done it. How am
I going to get out of it"
Her mother sobbed for a time
and then stopping suddenly, she
asked, How did you get in and
out of the house ~
IT went out after you were in
bed and" Recklessness swept
over her. II stayed with the
Smileys and came across the drive
early in the morning before any
one was awake
As she spoke she saw the faded,
pretty face of her mother grow
hard, the jaws set, the lips part
little over the too small teeth.
"The Smileys." she said. so
that's it? Who knows what orgies
go on over there with all those
dirty Indians coming and coming ?
Oh. I've heard about Indians and
what they do You're mothers
not the simpleton you may Think
The long-suffering Mrs. Simon
became suddenly the Mrs. Simon
of action. She began to walk up
and down the room.
81 know what I'll do. I'll go and
see Ransome myself. There's only
one way of putting everything
right. He'll have to marry you
Fern sprang up; mo, Mo- I
won't marry him. He doesn't
want to marry me. He said SO.
You mustn't go and see him. You
mustn't
Mrs. Simon stopped dressing and
looked at her: you won't marry
him, won't you Well, we'll see
about that"
Fern began to cry: "Please
don't, Please! It isn't true, any
of it. I was lying"
"Oh, don't try to get out of it
now. young lady He's going to
marry you, all right. Just leave
/ il to me-"
The girl fell on her knees and
tried to hold her mothers legs to
stop her. but Mrs. Simon kicked
herself free.
Don't" cried Fern. I'll do
anything. III promise anything
Don't even speak to me. I
ought to put you out of the house.
But l won't. Oh, no. That's what
you'd like"
Fern was lying on her face now.
moaning. and Mrs. Simon. pulling
her dress over her head with fury,
thrust one arm through the lining
instead of into the sleeve and was
trapped so that her words came
out through the cloth. muted and
confused.
Then Fern sat up quietly on the
floor. watching her as she sat be-
fore the dressing table mirror
prettifying herself with cold, de-
liberate fury.
She rose and said quietly. "Al
right. Do what YOU want. You'll
be sorry. I'm through, hate
you" But in her terrified heart
she knew that nothing. no threat.
would stop her mother. and all at
once she saw that without know
ing il she had PLAYED into her
mothers hands. Her mother
thought Now Ransome will have
to marry her. Beside him Harry
Loder is nothing al all. HIS
brother might die and he might
ne an earl and then I'd have
fine nlaee IN spend NV old are
The mother Of countess.
never dreamed of ANYTIME as
good as that" Fern understood
suddenly WHY in all her mothers