The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-01-30
The Rains
Came
Continued from Page 81

tons and answers. 1T wouldn't
matter to YOU. she said. You've
lived. You've been through so
much. It wouldn't hurt your rep
utation. I don't see why you
should care
Did you read all that some
place ,"
No, I thought il all out, Sud
denly she forgot her tears in her
eagerness; Don't you see. I un-
derstand. I know what you're
like, really like You hate the kind
of life they lead. and so do L I
want 10 be myself.
1 want to get everything there
is to be had out of life I don't
care about being respectable or
any Of those things"
Why did you come to ne?
II that's what you wanted you
could have gone to almost any
one one of the boys. say ."
You're the only one l could 90
to because you're the only one
who would understand and not
take advantage of me" Then
after a silence she said, And be-
cause I like you. Sometimes 1
think you're the only person in
the whole place I don't hate
Her hair had begun to dry now
and stood up in blond ringlets all
over her small head. In spite of
anything he could do it was i'm
possible for him not to be aware
of her virgin slimness and the long
slender legs and small ankles.
The clothes certainly suited her.
But the situation began to seem
grotesque - that he. of all men,
should be resisting so much love-
illness so much freshness thrown
at his head.
He told himself that he should
force her to leave at once, but he
was not strong enough.
Then he saw that she had fin
ished the whole glass of brandy
and water he had given her and
he thought, Il shouldn't have given
her so much. Probably that's the
first drink she's ever had in her
life"
She was saying, i've liked you
for long time. I've watched you
on the street. I've waited at the
window every Saturday when you
went to the Smiley's, to see you.
I've always liked you, only you
always treated me as if I We're a
child. You never even bothered
to speak to me"
No, he thought, she's not years
old. She knows what she wants
and nothing will stop her.
But aloud he said Nov, you're
going home before it's too late"
He had been leaning against the
table and he stood up suddenly
and put down his glass to give his
words force.
Don't make me go. Please let
me stay"
He leaned against the table
once more. IF you stayed, what
would you do afterward? I won't
ever marry you
Il wouldn't want that. I don't
want to be tied down myself"
Then how do you think it could
possibly work out"
Again she had her answer ready
with amazing quickness: I'D have
to leave Ranchipur whether my
mother liked it or not. I'd get
away to America where I'd have
chance. I could go to Holly
wood. l know I would make
good"
That's not easy. It's tough to
get good break
I'D do anything"
He looked at her sharply with
out speaking, then he went over
to her and held out the damp
macintosh. Come" he said.
But she did not stir. She only
began to cry again. No. please
keep me here. Don't make me go
home. I cant go back now. NV
mother would wake up and ask
me where I'd been. Shed hear
the motor"
But he was prepared for that:
mo, we won't go near enough to
. Liit lOuSt LOT that IL StOD the
motor down the road and take YOU
to the Smileys'. You can spend
the night there and slip across the
drive to your own house early in
the morning. You can tear I'D
the note before anybody finds il.
II won't go to the Smileys'. Mrs.
Smiley hates me-"
You don't know Mrs. Smiley.
She doesn't hate any one. She
hasn't time for that"
She had risen from the chair.
still crying and saying. Don't
make me go! don't want to go!
l won't go unless you'll promise
to see me again and be kind to
me"
Il promise
And you've got to help me"
IN help you"
Because it isn't true what I
said. 1 dent like you. It's more
than that" She began to put on
the macintosh: Il guess I love
you. If I didn't I wouldn't be
going home now"
ITO Be Continued Monday
TAC0MAN Is HONORED