Evening star., 1927-09-18

N
train at East FoXport. tie
sat across the aisle from her
and after he had arranged his easel
paint box and wet canvas to his salts
faction, glanced at her and then away
TO contemplation of the landscape on
HIS own side of the track. At either
side 1t was lovely-New England II
early April Neal Hunter in his briei
glance at the girl saw that she was
lovely and cool and remote--an early
Summer visitor. perhaps, or perhaps
like himself, an artist.
But Katherine Snow was neither
Summer visitor nor artist She was a
native. a daughter of this soil. in
tegrally as much a part of the hills
and valleys as the purplish rocks that
lay upon them. But kathy. unlike
the rocks. had within herself the
power of rebellion and the physical
ability TO remove herself. Her eyes.
like the eyCs of the young painter,
followed the cns aging scenery. but
she hated il. loathed the memories 1t
brought her.
She was returning to FoXport be-
cause her mother was dead and her
father had sent for her. That WAS the
reason, and as she sat, immobile, being
carried nearer and nearer TO her deStl-
nation, she was trying, unsuccessfully,
TO identify herself with the situation
Her mother was dead. She had cried
when the telegram came. yet she had
becn uncomfortahly conscious of how
untouched her oyn life was by the
fact.
Her mother had said that she was
hard. Kathy didn't want to be hard.
She wanted to be sorry for people, for
her mother especially, who may, in
l,Nt- tnI l.aax -i,oxp hn
existence that had been hers; sorry
for her father. who was left alone.
But she knew that her sorrow was
less actual than the pity she could
feel for characters in play. At the
theater she could put herself in the
places of the actors with no contra
dieting reality to interfere with her
Interpretation of their sufferinSs. In
life there was always this barrier.
How could she comprehend the emo
tions of people who remained in Fox
port, part of that place and life
which. ever since she had been old
enough for conscious selection she
hadn't wanted to know? That place
where she had ever been unhappy.
discomfort I'd, even envious?
She was on the ocean side of the
train. and as the tracks curved about
a hill the sweep of the water dazzled
her eyes and the luxury of the Pierce
estate was revealed. A flicker of
hatred crossed her face, and as she
rose to slip into her coat Neal Hunter
saw it and blinked before its intensity.
y x X x
pERT SNOW, her father, was stand
~ ing on the platform. lie put his
arms about her, and his cheek against
hers was weather-roughened and
prickly with beard.
We'll. Kathy."
"Nell. father
She was embarrassed at her own
strangeness. Was it only year since
she had left this place and this
father: only a year that she had real
tied life as she intended it to be?
He released her and lifted her bags
into the cart. Then he saw the young
painter and spoke to him.
Game back on the train, did you?
This is my girl, Katherine, Mr.. Hun
ter
The hand that clasped Kathy's was
f1rm. the gray eyec were pleasant.
Riding up with us?" Bert Snow
asked him.
IF you don't mind taking my junk,
] think III walk. The canvas is still
wet. II you'll-thank you. Miss
Snow
Kathy had adjusted the painting,
glancing at it with appreciative eyes.
She looked up and smiled. His voice,
she reflected. was smooth and pleas
ant.
Who's he, pa?" Unconsciously, she
had slipped back into the old form OF
address. She caught herself at it
and bit her lips.
Hes boarding with us. Wanted to
60 after your ma died, but / told him
he nights well stay--till we decide
what's what. anyway. Your Aunt
Minis keeping the house right now"
oh"
The funerals tomorrow morning"
said her father.
Kathy looked at him. What did he
feel. this alien, weather-beaten man.
at the death OF the woman who had
been his wife for 25 years?
WAS she-did she die peacefully,
pap
Shed not been well for some time.
She was never a strong woman,
Kathy. But it was sudden. She
hoped to the end to see you"
To the end! The end! Kathy's eyes
were dry. Her mother!
IT'S all 500 strange" she said.
$50 strange" he agreed. And then:
AOAC yOu III Stdy d 6pSu,
She felt her throat tighten and she
could not speak. She'd told Mr.. Latti.
mer that she would return in a week.
She was a good secretary, but New
York was big place and there were
others equally good. 1t wasn't always
easy to get job.
Her fathers sister greeted her at
the door. Bright, curious eyes, travel
ing from one detail of her costume to
the next. kathy wrtggled. Alien
strangers. She went quietly to the
bedroom where her mother lay. What
did she feel? What ought she to
feel? 1t was sad and lonely and be.
yond her understanding. but, most of
all, SO strange.
She had forgotten Neal Hunter un.
til she met him in the dining room.
He smiled alphabetically, as though
he felt that he should not be there
kathy Strengthened her slim shoulders.
My father says you're-staying
here" Somehow her tongue refused
to form that other word-boarding
Summer boarders! For years, ever
since she could remember. her mother
had taken them. and Kathy had re-
sented their presence and the neces.
sity for it.
1--WE been here a month" he an
swered. Your mother was good
enough to take me in last Summer,
and this Spring / came back. She's
talked about you a lot"
Has she?" Kathy looked at him
curiously. They had talked together,
her motheE and this young stranger.
And OF her! What did her mother
know OF her, to tell this man?
Mr.. Hunters done an elegant paint
ing Of your ma," Aunt Min called
from the kitchen. Show it to her.
Mr.. Hunter"
''Of my mother?" Kathy's gaze
feltered. He had painted her mother?
I'D like to see it, she said
Aunt Min came and looked, too, as