The Coolidge examiner., 1934-05-18
Part One
CHAPTER 1

Their leaves werc rough and heart.
shaped aad when 81; Was ripe the
purple fruit dropped ~ SIS own &C
cafl .lfo the grass The ."
"Ial.e"'
That was Mother caillng from
Downstairs. jamie sat very sul
IuI a.uosg held her breath II she
c.tr't answer. perhaps Mother would
tl.lk she had gone out some@ here.
Size smiled. thinking how. al nine
teen. The subicrfuEcs % her child.
hood stlil ciuuE silence No
sound 1ai the wind Ia the locus;s
and hand organ playing In the
Square. ~Aiy wlld Irish rose.
The sweetest flower that grows 4.
No sound from Mother. jamie drew
a ionE deep breath and dipped her
zen ln The ink well
Tile mulberry trees were very
old There was a legend about them
one % the early settlers. a certain
Sir Godfrey Ballard. from whom
our family j. desccnded-@
That sounded Ike Dragging. II Il
was accepted. Professor Vail might
read il alond 60 the class. Every
oue would thluk she was putting on
airs. jamie drew her pen through
the clause and continued
brought them from his English
gardens 10 grow IN the virgin soil
% NeE Kingston. then tiny
ts'iicmcu, ou The banks os the Della.
warc"
lanie's eyes. hazel eyes. spaced
vide apart under brows like slen.
der wings. lifted from the theme"
sfrnyed out through the window
and towu into the square. Little
E.ris were playing house under the
mulberry trees a. she and Celia
and Mur.el had played there a very
long time ago jamie and celia and
Muriel Cleaner than the little
kris who played there now. Starched
white peii.coats. sashes. slippers
tied with bows Muriers Eoveruess
watching them from a nearby bench.
Joseph bringing the pony cart.
jamie and Celia and Mur.el sal.
in- boats ia the fountain
JAMIE
Mother again. Another Interval of
waiting. Another long Sigh % relief.
Jauie's attention returned 10 the
theme"
III Is said" She crossed that
out and subsiituied-~Sl Sir Godfrey
Ballard. 50 runs the legend. grew
them from cuttings taken from
mulberry tree In Sbhkespeare's gnr-
den ~ Straiford There. That
should make a. impression on Pro.
fessor VAN Perhaps Il Was true.
How fragrant the locust blossoms
were Like lilies on Easter sun.
day. Il must be dun Tor Celia AZ
the shore With Great aunt Rose.
Lovely 10 smell The ocean. though.
and watch the waves curve up In
scallops on the sand Lilies made
you think % Celia. White and gold.
Little Saint Cecella =" Rats, j..
JANE
Very loud this time. Coming
closer. Footsteps climbing the third
noor stairs. jamie began 10 scrlbble
with furious haste Rats
Rats-Rats Three blind mice. See
how they run" Shlngled brown
head bent over the table. Jaws set.
Forehead Wrinkled into q frown. Ink
on her nose and her fngerilps A
lady absorbed IN literary effort and
lost 20 the world outside.
Mother opened the door.
jamie =" she said reproachfuny
I've called you half a dozen times
What In the world are you doing r
Writing n theme II It's good
enough. l may get into Professor
Wallis short-story class next year. e"
That's splendid. dear" The re-
proach changed into enthusiasm.
Mother wanted JAMIE 10 write. Since
she wasn't pretty Ike Celia. she had
10 do something of the kind. What
Is the TOPPER Mother was beamlng.
what are you writing aboutT"
The square"
"Well for Heavens SAX" /" Moth
er no longer was beamlng. 'T
should think you could find a more
interesting subject than that"
JAMES enthusiasm wIlted Ike a
pricked balloon. You couldn't make
Mother understand. She hated the
Square now that everybody who
natiered at all had moved out 10
Manor street and Delaware Heights.
Well. Father would understand.
JAMIE Frightened a little. She would
tell him about 1t tonight
Going somewhere she asked,
noticing that Mother wore her sec
ond-best hat with roses around the
brim.
II want 10 get the material for
Celia's dress" Mother was draw
ing on white silk gloves a little yell
lowed from washing. The sample
was In her letter. That's why I
called you. Do you know where
II lsT'
Here. I think" JAMIE pulled open
the drawer OF her writing table.