The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-03-20


Hodge came and sat beside her
II did not occur 20 her that sire
might die for death had never rx-
listed In her mind In relation 20
herself Death might take those
al about her. but herself 1t would
pass BY. D!mlv she knew that her
illness was a long affair. that It
might 20 on for weeks and even
months. but that seemed no longer
10 be Of any Importance. Only one
thing existed in her dim brain and
that was the determination not 10
sleep. lest while she was sleeping
he might return and sit by her
without her knowing II. She dared
not 60 10 sleep lest a few minutes
Of happiness escape her.
The major had to 20 the long
way about on account Of the fire
which made the streets beyond the
tank impasss bic. and on the far
side Of Central Market he had 10
dismount from the porters bicycle
and walk through The red mud Of
the fields until he came to the
railroad bridge
As he walked he knew that the
fire was no accident. He was GER
tain that Colonel Mott had ar
ranged il deliberately. and il
struck him as odd that a man
capable OF such elf-discipline in
science should at the same time
be utterly lawless in relation 10
society He had not seen the fiery
Sikh doctor for more than two
years and he was aware that there
was something dangerous about
the man, some quality, too that
was exciting. In the moment or
two they had spent together after
Mott arrived he had felt the fire
which lay behind the black eyes of
his fellow scientist.
He found Aunt Phoebe and
Homer Smiley in the kitchen,
feeding a small black child which
Smiley had found wandering about.
starved and terrified. on the out
skirts of the burning ruins. one Of
the Dali caste whose parents and
brothers and sisters had all dis
appeared. The child ate like a
small animal. never looking up
save obliquely, as If she expected
a blow.
They We're astOnished to see him.
He told them of Edwina s illness,
and then, almost shyly, he re-
peated to them her wish to come
to the mission
Homer Smiley said. But she is
better off at the hospital. There
is 10 little here to make her COM
forta BILE"
Miss Hodge will come with her.
She is quite mad but harmless, and
she can be useful. Her devotion
makes her useful"
Aunt Phoebe, putting more rice
in the plate of the hungry child,
said, Il shouldn't mind. 1t might
not be comforts BILE for her. but if
she wants TO come we can arrange
it. ! could put her in my room and
sleep in the stOreroom, now the
others have gone"
1T isn't that we don't want her"
said Homer Smiley. 81 was think
ing about what was best for her.
You see what / mean >"
The major was silent for a mo-
ment. Then he said. Eyes. of course.
l see. When l first thought of it,
] said the same thing, but I'm not
sure that ! was right. 1t isn't as if
she were an ordinary patient. 1t
isn't just a question of medical
treatment. You sec. she wants 10
come here because she'd feel hap
pier here, and in her case. happi-
ness is of great Importance.
It's up to you, major
Then I'll send her along as soon
as l can arrange for it. Thank YOU.
| know I'm asking great deal.
but knew you would understand.
Homer Smiley said. I've got TO
leave you and get back to the or
phanage now. Wen have a lot
more people to shelter after this
fire"
He went away. taking the child
with him, pushing his bicycle while
she trudged along beside him. The
ma Jor watched them until they
finally disappeared into the rain
beyond the circle of dim light from
the doorway. When be turned.
Amt Phoebe said. II viii take care
of her myself. It's better now at
the orphanage There's not so
much work to do. And l like her"
AS ne rode away a jackal ran
delicatcly across the road Just in
front Of him. and then the leaves
Of the Java fig trees whispering in
the rain began TO say, She will
die. She will die The whispering
he OWNED with sudden fear was
only the manifestation of some
voice within himself. of some wis
dom as old as India which knew
that she must die because it mad
been 80 planned. because that was
her destiny and his.
But the trees overhead kept
whispering, "She Will die She VIII
die She will die ="
As he neared the railway bridge
more knowledge came TO him out
Of the depths Of his own soul He
knew that she would die because
she was too tired TO make the ef-
fort 70 20 on living He had felt
it while nc sat on the edge Of the
bed talking To her That was why
she had asked TO see RanSome.
She was like those poor, half
starved. low-csste people who
made no effort 70 live because II
vas easier n die
TO Be Continued