The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-02-22
THE RAINS CAME
BIT LOUIS BROMFIELD
Copyrisht. 1897, 1885. 1899 By Louis Bromfield
Distributed By Ledger syndicate

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caught pneumonia and died. but
there was something in the dry
manner of the old lady which made
her feel fool and compelled her
to obey.
Then by the time she had
changed, the hysterical sobbing
had stopped and once more she felt
on the defensive. But again it was
no good against the determination
of Aunt Phoebe, who said, Now,
listen TO me, child. You've got
something on your mind and
you're going TO tell me about it,
l can kind of guess what some of
it is. but you can tell me the rest.
| don't say III be of any use. but
it'll take the load off your mind"
Then Fern heard herself saying,
Could / tell you? VIII you let
me ?" And she realized all at once
that in all Ranchipur it was only
the Smileys who could possibly
understand why she had been such
fool. II was only the Smileys.
too, who would not judge her or
give her advice or laugh at her.
And suddenly she found herself
telling Aunt Phoebe everything,
just as it had happened TO her,
why she had done this and that,
why she hated her mother lshe ad-
mitted even thao, why she had
/ gone to Ransome's a second time,
and throughout the recital Aunt
Phoebe was silent. save that now
and then she made clucking
sound to indicate her concern and
her disspproval of certain foolish
Incidents.
When Fern had finished with the
account of her second visit to Ran
some. Aunt Phoebe said. Il must
say he didn't behave much like a
gentleman. 1t doesn't sound like
him. Maybe ii was because he was
drunk
That's it." said Fern. herself
suddenly seeking excuses for him.
I'm sure that's IL. | shouldn't
have come to you at all not
after all the trouble / caused you
the last time. not after my mother
wrote that letter to the board
Never mind about that" said
Aunt Phoebe. 1T amt the first
letter like that she's written. And,
anyway, evil never triumphs over
good. I'm an old woman. and in
the end know that's true
Il don't know what to do now. "
said Fern. Il don't know where
to 60"
Aunt Phoebe stood up. Il guess.
she said. the best thing for us to
do is get bite to eat. We've all
had supper and guess maybe the
cook-boy has gone out. but l can
rake up something. I'd kind OF
like a bite myself. I'm used 10
scratching up odds and ends when
I get hungry. Wen make up a
good cup of coffee and some eggs
and maybe some fried vans"
She took FERNS hand and led
her toward the kitchen. Aunt
Phoebe's hand was old and thin
and gnarled and worn by the hard
work OF nearly seventy years, but
Fern found IL soft and comforting
II was an experience she had never
had before in all her nineteen
years. and it made her want 10
begin crying all over again.
When at last they sat down 10
snack OF eggs and vans, toast
and tea and gingerbread. Aunt
Phoebe. as II she understood
everything. said. ITS such & pity
about Mr.. Rsnsome. He's such a
nice man. It's awful when drink
gets hold on a man like that
Most DRINKS don't matter, because
they were never any good anyway.
l had a brother like that like
Ransome I mesn-he died Of drink
when he was So
Ferns heart warmed again. and
she was about TO tell the old
woman everything. when suddenly
her tongue was checked. with the
very words at her lips. by some
thing physical outside of her. a
kind of menscing stiffness in the
hot damp air.
II was as If she had started 70
speak and then suddenly became
aware that she Was interrupting
some more important speech. some
communication being made TO her
J Continued on Page 6. Column s.