The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-02-03
The Rains
Came
Continued RON Page 81


desperation. He was. she remem-
bered. 4 very handsome man. Who
wore side-wihskers ike Lord Ions
dale
She said. Il hope haven't been
A nuisance. coming in like this ?
and al the sound OF her own voice
she felt her confidence returning a
little
He laughed pleasantly showing
very white teeth. and it struck her
that II was pity so handsome a
young man should apparently be
set upon destroying himself by dis
sipation.
I've nothing to do" he said 7
never have. After all. life in
Rsnchipur IS very simple. espe-
cially when you have nothing TO
do. ike me-
John the Baptist appeared with
the tea. silent. but observing
everything out OF his large dark
ox-eves. and Miss Dirks said,
shall pour it," Please. No.
7 wont have any
She poured her own tea. her big
bonv hands shaking with weakness
! and excitement y heard that
you painted. she said. and again
/ he laughed No. not really
haven't any talent. do it to kill
time.
II was not easy at first. There
were little halts and pauses, and
he discovered that in her shyness
Miss Dirks had developed STAN
mer which made It difficult some
times to understand what she was
saying Il was awkward because
they were both waiting for some
thine-Miss Dirks to tell the rea-
son for her visit. and Ransome 10
discover what it was They talked
Of the rains and the cholera. Of the
school and the Mahara iahs i'm
pending departure. and after
time Ransome began to feel thar
WEAKNESS which come over him
when he talked with people Who
were not frank but held back q
part of themselves. 1t always
/ gave him sense of fencing with
a shadowy opponent. of trying to
find something which he knew was
/ there but could not find.
John the Baptist returned pres
entity to take away the tea things
and then Miss Dirks plunged
She said. How long has it been
since you last saw Nolham ."
At the mention of the name he
put down his brandy glass sud-
denly. 'Nolham Oh. ten years
at least. What do you know about
Nolham ."
DO you remember Mr.. Dirks,
the draper
"Old 'Daey' Dirks OF course l
do. Oh, I see. You're some re-
lation ."
I'm his daughter. He only had
| two children. Ny sister still lives
in Nolham and keeps the shop"
The thing was done now, the
barrier broken down and she felt
suddenly free. All at once it was
as if they were old friends. and
Miss Dirks felt a wild desire
to cry
Why didn't you ever tell me
before"
We'll, you see, l scarcely knew
you. ! couldn't think that il
mattered very much really. I
thought it would be" She hest
tated miserablv and then said Il
thought it would seem presump-
tuous."
You should have told me
never connected the names-yours
and Nolham, I mean. I nevel
thought of it. You see. your father
died when I was still boy and
I haven't been back tn Nolham
since my brother succeeded"
My father has been dead Fl
years this autumn
That's right I must have
been about is. ! remember the
funeral. l went to it with my
. father I was home on leave"
Yes, he died after I came out
here"
What do you hear from Mol
ham ."
A shadow crossed the grim face
of Miss Dirks.
7 don't hear much" she said.
you see. I've rather gotten out
of the habit of writing home
haven't had letter for A good
many years" After 25 years. she
still thought Of Nolham. with its
green common and the little river
full Of reeds alongside. as home.
India was still out here"
Il know" he said. One does
lose contact. It's been three or
four years since I've had anv news
from there. The last was from
Banks the estate agent about
some things my father left me.
Not old Morgan Banks ? Hes
not still alive ."
NO, his nephew you remem-
Der. the red-headed one"
TO Be Continued
II permitted to grow. corn
suckers add materially 10 the