Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1923-05-11
CHAPTER ~
Uncle Jerry.

had even traced her to The Custart
Cup and then failed to find her. Sew
eral days had passed since Thad's re
Their: neither had she the slightest
clue, except that 1t must have beer
someone out Of her girlhood, out OF
the past from which she had sup.
posed herself cut Off by the severing
of all close ties. That past was filed
with painful memories.
1t was not an unmixed Joy to know
that a previous acquaintance might
be near and that at any moment she
might be called upon to talk casually
Of those years which were buried
deep in her heart. The very sound of
! her maiden name had stirred lethar-
| gle recOllections into renewed life,
| into the power Of shooting like darts
Of agony through the commonplace
Of daily routine.
Inevitably, since Imagination Is a
more Vivid artist than reality, she had
exaggerated the possibilities of the
encounter, anticipating them with a
dread which she was far from feeling
when that encounter actually oc-
CURED. She even answered the ring
Of the bell with the serene conviction
that neighbor was calling.
Good morning." she called bright
ly, as she rolled aside the big door.
A man stood on the warped board |
that took the place Of front steps. He
was about fifty years old, rugged,
weather-beaten, giving the impression
of out-of-doors and hard work, inces-
sanity combined.
He said nothing. Hat In hand, he
regarded Mrs. Penfeld with a smile
OF inexplicable significance, which
somehow checked the rest of her
usual greeting-the part about com
Ing right in. Her brown eyes blinked
IN question.
"Am I supposed to know your" she
inquired at last.
i was hoping you'd guess me-" he
'eturned, In deep voice that filed
he narrow alley.
Mrs. Penfeld shook her head.
Then I'll tell you" he said. in evil
ent disappointment. I'm your Uncle !
cry"
My Uncle Jerry! I didn't know I II
nd one"
He laughed. WASN'T James Win |
on your father~ 4
YES" Her eyes widened. VI
I'm his youngest brother, John Jer- N
Nah Winston" VI
Mrs. Penfield extended her hands \
'ome right in. didn't know I had Y
near relative In the world I'm N,
killed. to DEATH" \
Jerry Winston entered walking s
WHY. AS he sat down, he caught
hand against his side with a gri-
ice OF pain. "Tree fell on me- he II
planned presently. Lumber Damn
Oregon 1t was my finish for that
I'd OF life, but was lucky to get br
so easy" ~
They sat in silence for several mo- co
nts, each absorbed In thoughts
ich the presence of the other had ta
sed. 1t was the first time since MI
boyhood that Jerry Winston had III,
n race TO face with member of les
own family. He had cut himself
voluntarily, called by the freer life
the western woods. Mrs. Penfield re'
never seen him before. During
childhood he had been mentioned
at rare Intervals, and then with ,o
reserve that hides all wanderers %
behind a curtain of tacit criticism zoe
cry Winston cleared his throat you
mighty little 1 got to tell Won =
t myself" he began. "Lor n
es me lonesome to think NJ tbo Der
I've had to give up. Seems like q
n smell the woods in my dreams smi
1ld smell 'em when was younq- Tha
and finally I couldn't stand n Ain
longer. That's why ! ran awov "
that wasn't why I didn't keen in Mrs
h." he added quickly. mo. sir eve
was cause the family didn't for call,
me Tor not staying home and war,
INTO the store, as they'd planned drIe,
naturally +" He finished tbe jar
nee with wave OF his hand conn
nj now you're living near here7- one
hesitated. yes a few blocks wont
he replied vaguely. 81 don't Mr.
whether ] shall hang round or front
. a. said,
me eyes grew deep with sym. "Goo
, "Do you mean you cant find golno
ing toto dof'
D trying out one or two thlngs % no.. '.D'
severed shortly p"s'
> dine The evasion was unmfs 80
le. Mrs. penneld was sorry I'M. 100
PRESSED the matter u 10 None " "@',.
shy she sold "a has Noon r ~,
1here olnf nobody lon Mr. Mr.
looked a., ia, 1. mo
dyfo N p''''nEy Nrl.
Hlloot her hoad 'Nolihor ~, n p,''''
n'', nol ? had p few years ''' ..,'',
lr'nras ond ihrn % sAo L,.t. ~
ilp nuliuiug ''H'
Z 'Aillne IhNlf louah.r No M, r.
WIND Yn0ls No. ,oo, ea