The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-01-18
THE RAINS CAME
BY LOUIS BROMfIELD
Copyright. 1897. 1893 1899 h, Louis Bromfield
Distributed by Ledger syndlcate

one-the Smlleys most or all De-
cause they were always there
before her, just across the drive,
a living reproach, nasty irritant
TO her own conscience, remaining
in Ranchipur all through the ter
rible months OF the monsoon while
she was enjoying the cool high air
OF Poona, working night and day,
spending their money not on auto
mobiles and tennis courts but on
the people they had come to help.
She hoped for the recall of the
Smileys 30 that she might have in
the house across the drive a couple
who were impressed by her-by
her clothes. by her tea parties, by
the provincial Englishmen she
picked up in Poona, and most of
all by the English subalterns IN
Ranchipur whom she corralled
with difficulty by means of the
tennis courts and the delicacies
which they never tasted save at
her house
She had designs. She did not
mean TO have her daughters. Fern
and Hazel. waste their lives. In
romantic moments she saw them
both, or Fern at least, married
into county families, living in Eng
land in an atmosphere and back
ground of which she had read in
novels but had never yet seen
There were times when she had
designs on Ransome himself as the
son of an Earl and the grandson
OF old Ten Per Cent MsePher-
son. the millionaire.
So when he drove up TO the door
in his battered Buick. before he
had set foot to the still steaming
earth. Mrs. Simon came out of the
house and across her untidy lawr
toward him. her blonde hair fresh
w eurled. her new silk dress CRISP
and as yet not dampened by per
spiration. He knew what she was
coming for. and after the firs'
wave of WEAKNESS at sight of he'
latter all. he had come all the way
to Ranchipur To escape people Ike
herr he thought, Hell, make il
Thursday"
Mrs Simon was holding out hei
hand. tossing her freshly mad,
curls.
Il was thinking about you only
this morning" she said. Were
l. & 80 - NJ
said TO my husband, We must ssl
Mr.. Ransome He was going 4
stop by your house TO ask you
Did he turn up -
Il suppose something has KEEP
him in town. Just left the house
couldn't well have missed him.
Mrs. Simon gurgled, We'll. any
way. I've caught you on the fly
You will come l hope 80 And sh'
cast one Of her most persuasive
glsnces at him.
Surely. Id like 10 come" h
said
oh. I'm so glad, I'm So glad
It's always so hard to get YOU"
Please give my best to MI
Simon"
The Mohammedan Indian
As he walked up the path be
meath Aunt Phoebe's orchids an
petuniss he heard Raschid A
Khan booming out from IN
kitchen.
The trouble is that they know
they're only coming out here ten
porsrily and they do their job off
han6 between times. just waiting
for the day they can go home OF
leave. II they've got anv monel
they go BY the italian Line sni
get there quickly. II they haven't
they 60 BY 2. and o They haven !
any interest in India or Indians
And then. IS Ransome entered
the house. he heard Rsschid say
ing. England has lost India be
cause men like them won't 81
down with an Indian 70 have I
cup Of tea" And he knew tina
Raschid was talking about civil
servants.
He WAS. Ike many Mohsmmedsl
Indians. well over six feet. with
big. muscular body through whiel
flowed blood that was a miNtur
OF Arab and Turk. Afghan an
Persian. with perhaps dash q
Hungarian and a soupcon Of Tar
tar. There was really nothing q
the Hindu Indian about him. Be
; Sde . man ike Major Ssfti, oii