The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-11-08

tContinued Prom Page one1
southern town she had left that
Path couldn't imagine Daphne
Meade living there But the num-
hers checked with the address IN
her pocketbook.
She should not have arrived
without warning. but Dsphnes
father had assured her u would be
al right. He had promised 10 write
and tell Daphne that her old friend
was coming. Hadn't the two girls
PLAYED together when they were
youngsters Hadn't they lived side
BY side until Daphne had come 10
the city three years ago. She had
not been home since then. but
Faith chung TO the memory Of the
eirl she had known as the only IA
mlhar person in this strangely be
wlldering place II Daphne would
Just be friendly until she knew her
way about 49,.
r attn AHAktA HAfHNFN Ah' AtAA
with nervous force but she was
startled when a small panel in the
door opened revealing saunt,
homely face
Does Miss Daphne Meade live
here - the girl faltered.
The rugged features were sud
denly TRANSPORTED by smile.
She does"
I'm Faith Spencer from the
same town. Her father said he
would write and tell her that was
coming
The door was open now and the
tall. angular figure in a brightly
striped house dress ushered her
inside.
Il don't know whether he did or
not Daphne's al work you see but
she'll be home in a couple of
hours
The interior of the house was no
more prepossessing than the out
side Faith discovered. On the left
Of the long hall was living room
scrupulously neat but stiff. The
windows facing north were covered
with plain wolfe curtains Over the
empty fireplace hung large steel
framed photograph of stern fea-
tured bearded man. The davenport
and chair to match were roomy but
shabby. An upright piano was at
right angles to an old fashioned
bookcase filled with cheaply bound
books. The only bright note in the
room was large green fern cas-
cading from its tall stand with ex-
uberant. feathery fronds
1T isn't very cheerful in the day
time" the Older woman admitted
as If reading Faiths thoughts.
But at night with fireplace it's
entirely different" She added. I'm
Miss Van Asken. The girls call me
Miss Van. You've probably heard
Daphne speak about me"
The tall girl in the black dress
and hat replied anxiously. No.
You see we don't correspond. We
used to play together when we
were children living next door to
each other. But Daphne's couple
of years older than l am and since
she came TO the city she's never
been back. Maybe l shouldn't have
come here without telling her but
] didn't know where else to go and
her father said it would be all
right"
Miss Van said. "Of course, it will
be all right, child. Don't you worry
about that. l was just fixing my
self a cup of tea in the kitchen.
Will you come out and have one,
too >"
Al the motherly tone tears we'll
ed into the girls gray eyes. She
was tired. Not only from the long
trip but from the weeks Of grief
and worry preceding il.
Just leave your suitcsses in the
hall" Miss Van suggested leading
the way past the dining room into
the kitchen which was flooded with
late October sunlight. II was the
friendliest kitchen Faith Spencer
had ever seen with its painted yell
low walls and cupboard OF bright
blue. There were woven rag rugs