The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-02-02

| .ASTAWAYS
By PRISCILLA WAYNE

got busy bringing more firewood
and I thought I ought TO hurry out
and help him. It's been soaking in
the pan for a long time now"
Put it over the fire and cook
it," Steve suggested. I'm just fin
ish this roof. II isn't such bad
idea. I like 1t better the more l
think about it."
Doris bent over the fire. She
washed the rice and put it in clean
lake water. She wished decidedly
for bit Of salt or butter for sea-
soning.
Doris didn't know very much
about cooking except what she had
picked up when she was a young
ster shopping in the big WELL
equipped kitchen of her fathers
town house and watching white
clad, capable cooks at the fascinat-
ing task.
Or sometimes in the winter home
down in old Mexico she had
watched swarthy Juan as he pre-
pared some of the delicious foods
her father enjoyed so much.
Watching the rice now so that
the liquid on it would not boil over
and put out the Goals, Doris re-
membered wild rice on happier
days.
Once there had been wild
pheasant feast and some of the
hunters had been entertained by
her father. Doris remembered see
ing the cook stuff the fowl with
the wild rice, and later pull the
huge pan out of the oven and haste
it carefully.
Doris had thought that funny.
A dressmaker or a modiste basted
things-well, so did a cook. But
cooks kind of basting meant
only pouring liquid, rich and
savory, over the food, spoonful by
spoonful.
Sudden Tears
Sudden tears swelled into Doris
eyes. That safe and happy time
seemed so very, very long ago. BY
her own wilfulness she had come
to the rim of civilization.
She had risked not only her own
life but the lives of other people.
Mark wasn't saying much about it
now. He was too sick and tired.
And out of common decency
Steve was trying to be at least
polite, but she knew that Steve
hated her, Steve who was to have
been married so soon to a pale,
sweet, radiant beauty. And now
perhaps Steve would never see that
girl again.
In her innermost heart Doris
was very glad of that. She did not
try to make any apology even to
herself. She loved Steve, there
wasn't any doubt about that. Shed
love him until she died.
Coming close to the fire with q
load of driftwood, Steve must have
seen her tears. He bent impul.
sively to touch her shoulder.
Buck up. kid, everything isn't
lost. There'ss always a new day,
you know. Well get through this
night, all of us alive.
We'll just huddle here In the
shelter OF our wilderness house.
Well keep our fire up. Morning
will come and with it new hope.
That's what always happens. A
long time ago when l was a little
kid l wrote it in my copy book.
The darkest hour is just before
dawn
Not Ashamed
well, maybe that's what will be
happening to US. Dawn will find
a plane coming to rescue US. I'm
certain of it."
Doris faced Steve. The tears
shone in her eyes but she was not
ashamed. She made no attempt
to brush them away.
Steve, whatever happens. re-
member that I'm sorry. I'd give
my life and everything ever
thought / possessed if you and
Mark can be safe. 1t doesn't mat
ter about me-"
Steve reached out his hand in
friendly, impulsive gesture to take
her cold, roughened little hand in
his. TT does matter very much,
Doris" he said. "There'n come a
happier day for all of us. 1
know it."
And you'll be back with Beth"
Doris said. There wasn't any ran
cor, any jealousy in her voice,
only hope.
Yes, I'll be back with Beth,
Doris
ITO Be Continued)
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