The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-02-15
The Rains
Came

must 90 To his hiehncss.'
The sound Of the mahsranee's
voice shouting in Gujerati shocked
Maria out Of the hay state into
which she had fallen. Before them
in the circle Of light from the old
lady's torch lay two untouchable
serving women. flat on their faces,
wailing Savagely. with contempt.
the maharanee kicked them with
her bare jeweled foot and again
shouted in GuJerati. Then one OF
the women raised her head and,
finding herself in the royal pres
ence. forgot her terror, prodded the
other and rose to her knees TO
salaam again and again.
Beyond the two women the way
.eemed barred by a great pile Of
mortar and stone where one Of
the towers had fallen through the
roof but after a moment, the ma
haranee found a way through and.
elm bling over the rubbish. they
found themselves in the passage
which led to the mahara jsh's
apartments.
There the maharanee pushed
open the door of the antechamher
and hurried past the guards. who
still stood in their scarlet and gold
on either side OF the bedroom door
as if nothing had happened. In
side. the old mahara jan was Lean
on a chair ~ he
looking the town. Harry Bauer
stood beside him. supporting him
with one arm about the old mans
body and when the ex-swimming
teacher turned toward them and
Maria Lishinskaia saw the stupid
beauty of his face and the set OF
his shoulders. she forgot death.
saying to herself. He is still
alive
In all the room she saw nothing
but him. She did not see the face
of the old maharajah as he turned
toward them. nor the look of hor-
ror and tragedy in his eyes. Dis
family she heard the faint wailing
that rose from the square as the
people there saw death coming
toward them. What was wailing
now, and what death? She did not
hear the cry of the maharajah, nor
that of his wife. as she saw the
old man, despite the strength Of
Harry Bauer, slip to the floor.
When the first rush of water
had passed, Miss Dirks dragged
Miss Hodge to the sofa and in the
darkness found her way TO the
cupboard where the brandy was
kept. After five minutes. when
Miss Hodge had been slapped and
given brandy. she opened her eyes
and said where am II" and be-
gan almost at once to cry, and
Miss Dirks, patting her said.
You're all right. There's been a
flood and an earthquake. Some
thing must have happened at the
waterworks. Do stop crying and
try to pull yourself together"
I'm doing my best" sobbed
Miss Hodge. u really am. 1t was
SO SHY Oh NE 10 Idlfll.
Not so silly. 1t was enough to
make any one faint. There's still
six inches of water on the floor"
Did it hurt anything? Did it
break the East India Company
china ,"
Miss Dirks started to answer
her, and then. caught by a parox-
ysm of pain was made speechless.
and before she had recovered Miss
Hodge said, Il wanted to tell you
something Sarah. I've been want
ing to tell you all day. I'm
ashamed of myself for behaving as
l did about the tea party. I'll
write note to Lady Esketh this
very night and leave it at the sum-
mer palace on the way to school,
Il don't think it matters now.
I don't suppose. after this that
people will be thinking of tea
parties. And I don't think there
will be any school tomorrow.
Maybe there never will be again"
Why? Is it as bad as that"
We're on high ground here and
were half under water and
there was the earthquake, too"
Was there an earthquake ,"
That's when you tainted"
II wonder how bad it really is
I'm going out presently TO dis
Miss Hodge seized her hand hys-
terieally. No, no. Don't do that.
Don't leave me"
Miss Dirks did not answer. She
only said. Elizabeth"
Yes"
You've never regretted il. have
you? I mean coming out here
with me"
No, Sarah. no. I suppose I've
had more interesting life than I
had any reason to expect. I sup
pose its been a lot more interest,"
ing than Birmingham would have
been"
Il didn't mean any of those hor-
nd things l said to you"
Il know you didn't. dear
II was nerves. My nerves have
been 50 bad lately I wanted you
10 know. that's all"
Il did know" said Miss Hodge.
And then Miss Dirks fell silent
and embarrassed and after d long
time she said, quite simply I'm
going out now"
No. no. Don't leave me-
Don't be foolish. Elizabeth
You'll stay here. / couldn't rest
without knowing what's ppened
to the school and all those lovely
new books from home. II would
be awful if they were all ruined
now because no one moved them
upstairs
I'm afraid. I'm afraid
There's nothing 10 be fright.
aned Of. You'll stay here. III be
nack in half an hour"