The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-01-19
The Rains
Came

clothes which were prOha DIV not
paid for. with q reputation al
ready furnished
Once he had fsncied himself in
love with he. and now the m9n1-
DRY of her brought him a sudden
wave of warmth and sympathy,
because once he had belonged in
her world. and in a way her sick
ness had been his own-an illness
which journalists had a way Of
fastening upon one generation
and one small group. But il was
an illness more widespread and
profound, of which Edwins and
himself were only the exaggerated
symptoms.
With fixed, polite smile on his
face he slipped away from the
conversation of Mrs Hoggett-
Egburry and her friends to think
ing a bout Edwina wondering what
she would be like now. He was
quite certain that he knew; she
would have followed the pattern
Of the women of her class and
time.
4 summons From Fern
Then Mrs Simon left him 70
occupy herself with the refresh
ments. and suddenly out of no.
where he saw her daughter, Fern,
standing in front of him. She
was saying, Mr. Ransome, could
7 speak to you for a moment"
He had never really noticed her
before. and now ne saw that she
was very pretty and that her
prettiness had been augmented by
her blushing and confusion.
He managed 10 say. "Of, course.
Whenever you like"
Maybe you'll think I'm crazy"
she said. but there isn't any
one else I can talk to. If I even
mentioned it to any of those peo-
pie, everybody in Ranchipur would
know il half an hour" And then
she plunged. You see. I've got
to get away from Ranchipur. I'm
going crazy" She wasn't Blythe
Summerfield. Pearl of the Orient.
now. She was Just Fern Simon,
bored, unhappy, restless girl who
in her spirit had never left her
own country. I'D rather be any
place than here. can't stand
these awful people. There isn't
anything to do or any place to
go I've got to get away"
Aspiring to Hollywood
Ransome's eyes opened little
wider, and he thought. Maybe
she's better than I believed" And
not knowing what to say he
waited aware that she made him.
with her enthusiasm and unhap-
piness. feel immeasurabl old.
I'm only IS he thought, about
twenty years older than she is"
But he knew the difference was
much greater than twenty years.
She said, u want to find out
about boats and things. I've got
some money saved up and want
to take boat from Bombay, and
by the time they find out it'll be
too late to stop me-"
Where will you go ,"
For a moment she hesitated.
He laughed because he could not
help himself and then. a little
ashamed, said seriously. That's
not so easy"
If you want a thing badly
enough you'll always get a break.
I'm still young and I'm pretticr
I than most of them"
Suddenly she began to cry. not
quietly but with great hysterical
sobs. pouring out all her troubles
and the persecution she suffered
from her mother
She's determined to make me
marry one of those pipsqueaks.
She doesn't even see that the little
snobs will never ask me 7 can't
stand them any longer. I can't
You've got to help me. There's
no one else in Ranchipur."
Be quiet first and then tell me
what you want to do. Itll make
fine piece of gossip for Mrs.
Hogeett-Egburry if she should
come up here and find us like
this"
Gulping she said: IT want you
To lend me some money. only
need about $50 more"
He said. IF youn be quiet and
go upstairs and wash your face I'll
promise to help. III do what |
can"
AT once her sobbing ceased and
again she gave him a sharp. ap-
praising look from her clear blue
eyes.
You promise ."
Il promise. II you'll only he
good now and go upstairs.
~ won't forget" And he
thought. No, she won't" and
again he began to laugh at the
spectacle of himself. a man who
certainly knew his way about the
world, being quietly blackmsiled
by Fern Simon, in whom he had
not the least interest.
And then rain began in big
spiattering drops. II seemed to
him that each drop must contain
half teacupful OF water. The
Simons' tennis court was empty
l4bH4 diiU tie OHkOuIlld blc ser
wants We're scurrying 10 rescue the
refreshments while Mrs. Simon.
who had given up the struggle
with the monsoon wind for the
possession OF her picture hat.
shouted directions against the
bowling Of the rising storm.
TO Be Continued Tomorrow