The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1925-02-20

had been porting But between her and
the book outspread ON the table were
Pool, Hoogendunk, dog, pigtails,
Maartje. She pointed with deter
mined forefnger. whats that book
Roelf was readingT"
Maartje thumped a great ball Of
dough on the baking board. Her arms
were white with -four She kneaded
and pummeled expertly "Woorden
bOek."
Well. That meant nothing. Woorden
beck. Woorden b. Dimly the mean
ing Of the Dutch words began to come
TO her. But 1t couldn't be. She
brushed past the men in the tipped
back chairs, stepped over the collie,
reached across the table. Woorden
word. Boek-book. Word book.
Hes reading the dictionary p Selma
said, aloud. Hes reading the diction-
ary!" She had the horrible feeling
that she was going to laugh and cry
at once; hysteria.
Selma flung goodnight over her
shoulder and made for the stairway.
He should have all her books. She
would send to Chicago for books. She
would spend her thirty dollars month
buying books for him. He had been
reading the dictionary
Roelf had placed the pail of hot
water ON the little wash-stand and had
lighted the glass lamp. He was intent
on replacing the glass chimney within
the four prongs ethat held it firm.
Downstairs, in the crowded Kitchen, he
had seemed quite the man. Now, in
the yellow lamplight, his profile sharp
~ outlined, she saw that he was just
small boy with tousled hair. About
his cheeks, his mouth, his chin, one
could even see the last faint traces Of
soft infantile roundness.
He's just little boy" thought Sc
lima, with quick pang. He was about
to pass her now, without glancing at
her, his head down. She put out her
hand; touched his shoulder. He looked
up at her, his face startnngly alive,
his eyes blazing. It came to Selma
that until now she had not heard him
speak. Her hand pressed the thin
stuff of his coat sleeve.
"Cabbages fields of cabbages-
what you said-they are beautiful" he
stammered. He was terribly in earnest.
Before she could reply he was out of
the room, Gathering down the stairs.
Selma stood, blinking little.
The glow that warmed her now en-
dured while she splashed about in the
inadequate basin took down the dark
soft masses of her hair; put ON the
v0uminous long-sleeved, high-necked
nightgown. just before she blew out
the lamp her last glimpse was of the
black drum stationed like a patient
eunuch in the corner; and she could
smile at that; even giggle little, what
with WEAKNESS, excitement and a gen.
eral feeling of being awake. in a
dream. But once in the vast bed she
lay there utterly lost in the waves of
terror and loneliness that envelop one
at night in a strange house amongst
strange people. She listened to the
noises that came from downstairs;
voices gruff, unaccustomed; shrill,
high. These ceased and gave place to
others less accustomed to her city.
bred ears; dogs bark and an answer
ing one; far-off train whistle; the
dull thud Of hoofs stamping on the
barn floor; the wind in the bare tree
branches outside the window.
Her watch-a gift from Simeon
Peake on her eighteenth birthday
with the gold case all beautifully en-
graved with likeness of a gate, and
a church, and waterfall and a bird,
linked together with spirals and -four
isies of the most graceful description,
was ticking away companionably I'M
der her pillow. She felt for it, took it
out and held it in her palm, under her
cheek, for comfort.
She knew she would not sleep that
night She knew she would not
sleep
4 She awoSe to clear, cold November
dawn children's voices; the neighing
of. horses; a great sizzling and kissing,
and scent Of frying bacon; clucking
and squawking in the barnyard. 1t
was six o'clock. Selina's first day as a
school teacher. In little NOR. than
two hours she would be facing whole
roomful of round-eyed Geertjes and
Jozinas and Roelfs. The bedroom was
cruelty cold. AS she threw the bed
clothes aside Selma decided that 1t
took an appalling amount of courage
this life that Simeon Peake had called
great adventure.