The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-03-07
THE RAINS CAME
BY LOUIS BRoMFIELp
Copyrishf. 1897. 1888. 1899 by Louis Bromfisll
Distributed by Ledger Syndicate

In the late afternoon the major
saw the little procession from the
upper window. arriving by the
main driveway between the rows
of mud-soaked hibiscus first Fern
and Smiley. and then Miss Hodge
clinging like child to the hand
of a woman whom he did not at
first recognize. All his interest
concentrated upon the figure in
the calico dress. and as 1t came
nearer he saw that II was Lady
Esketh, whom he had never seen
before save immaculate. smooth as
porcelain, and covered with jewels
II was an odd meeting. Little
Smiley quite Unexpectedly put his
arms about the big major and
embraced him as If he had been
a little boy found after having
been thought dead. The major
Rugged him suddenly, lifting him
quite off the floor.
Then Smiley said. Lady Esketh
has come TO see about the burial
she might be of use"
II can work. too" said Lady
Esketh. I'm perfectly strong
Il too echoed Miss Hodge, still
holding Lady Esketh's hand. I'm
strong as an OK"
For a second the major looked
sharply at Lady Esketh. His eyes
met hers and he saw that she was
looking at him defiantly. boldly
as If she were saying, You think
I'm a fool. Well. I'm not. I've
got az fine and strong body as
your own. And when l choose &c
be I'm as clever as you are"
The look. its meaning so clear
astonished him so that he didn't
speak for a moment. He had moi
expected to find this bold conf.
dence in her of all people. The
color appeared in his tired fac,
and he said. "Ill go and find Miss
MacDsid. She's the one TO talk TO
] can't offer you chairs because
there aren't any. They've all beer
taken away 10 make room.'
He left them standing among
the sick, and at last found Miss
MacDaid at the far end of tn,
maternity ward, where she had
gone for a second TO direct two
Untouchable women in the tasl
of sweeping out the mud and max
/ ing II once more hahitable. With
her eyes on the two women she
listened TO him. and when he hac
/ told his news. she turned to him
as he had suspected she would
and said. abruptly. They'll be
more trouble than they're worth
What do any of them know about
anything Better send them bach
/ To the mission"
He too had thought that or
sight of them. but now he wa:
not quite certain.
They don't know anything
any of them" Miss MacDaid con
tinued. None of them can speal
Hindustani but Miss Hodge, anc
now that Miss Dirks is gone shell
be nothing but nuisance.
He didn't yield entirely. wv
might give them a try. II the,
can do anything. even scrub th'
floor or carry water TO the wsrdi
-. We need them desperately
She softened a little. "Msyb.
you're right. III come along in 4
minute"
At shutdown Ransome and Smiley
who. in the meanwhile. had beer
/ to the horrible desolation Of tho
Cntouchable quarter. appeared al
the hospital to fetch Lady Esketh
for the funeral of the great Lord
Esketh. They found her bathing
a Bunya child of ten whom the
ma jor had operated upon for a
tumor two days before the flood.
Its only an affair of a min
ute" said Mr.. Smiley. Just the
reading Of the service
Very we'll"
She pushed the black hair back
out Of the eyes OF the child and
passed a damp cloth over his face.
Then she arose, and taking Up the
basin and towels, she said. Shall
we GO"
Together they walked past the
great tank through the ruined
streets of the bazaar. until they
came to the park OF the shattered