Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1934-10-06

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NJ TWO PARTS Pant CNE
THR p0mTEEs DNEzDKD 10
swmAm ore o. THOSE
~WmxM1EHsKS nxwO&E@ AA-
RAssE BUT THEY had
NOT ANTICIPATED THE KEAC-
WEuN or THEIR CHILDREN
TO A HOUSE DIVIDED.
AZ ben o'clock Mrs. Porter went into
tsae sitting room 20 practice. It was =
sweet June morning: All the windows
stood open and the light wind fluttered
the curtains, stirred tine petals Of the
yellow roses IN the Chinese bowl She
loved this room, always q little dim,
with It's fine old parquet floors, the
white woodwork, the shelves and shelves
Of books, the rosewood piano. She low
ed the Summer weather, too; she went
to the window for another look ct her
garden
But her blithe mood was disturbed by
the SIGHT OF James sitting on the front
stems doing nothing at all, thin, why
little boy Of eleven with untidy black
hair and q freckIed face.
flames. dear" she said, @can't you
find something 20 doom SATURDAY
nnorning2 1 should think there'd be-
80 many things"
waiting for Steve" he said briefly.
Where is Steve2"
Feeding the puppy"
why don't you help him28
Its his turnl" said James with
Vehemence.
eBut should think it would be fun,
Mrs. Porter began, and stopped.
She did not wish to acknowledge, even
10 herself, that she was disappointed.
She had thought they were going to-
be SO wonderfully happy here in the
house she had lived IN as child. She
had thought It must seem almost like
heaven here for children who knew
only a city apartment and summer
hotels. She had fitted up their rooms
with such care; she had bought them
a puppy, q tent, bicycles. everything she
could thing Of to make them happy.
Even the school was q very modern
one, with almost no home work, ana
the most interesting sort Of classes IN
woodworking and constructive craft
When they had come here month ago.
abe had talked TO the children about it.
There are only few weeks left be-
fore the school closes" she had said,
'7put I thought that II you went now
you'd make friends, and it would be
pleasanter next year. But you can de-
eide for yourselves"
They had Instantly decided In favor
ct school, but to her ppointmentl
they had shown no further enthusiasm
and they brought no friends home with
them. She had thought that this old
house she so loved would be alive with
young voices; that her boys would ex-
pand wonderfully In this new freedom.
Steve came around the corner OF the
house, and AIRS. Porter sighed at the
sight Of him.
"But thirteen's just an awkward age,
she told herself Loyalty.
He was tan for his age, and ianky,
and he did SLOUGH so; no matter what
clothes she bought for him they looked
ili-fitting Moreover, he had acquired
q new manner, an air of weary pa
tience, Of resigned superiority.
20, all right" he would say TO her
most tactful suggestion. Whatever
you say =.
And yet, in spite Of his SLOUGH, his
infuristing manner, he had retained his
fnexplicabIe charm, something wistful
gently, intolerably touching. James had
q quiet assurance; James was calmly at
home Ia the world, but Steve was al
ways an alien, dazed. little resent
ful.
II wonder If they understand Steve
at school, she thought.
He sat down on the steps beside his
brother; they gave no more attention
to each other than two young animals;
In moving. James elbow struck his
brothers shoulder, but neither Of them
paid the least notice Then suddenly
James leaned forward and began to-
whisper; Steve listened with frowning
attention
aSure?" he asked.
Try itl"~ said James and passed
something which Steve put into his
mouth. Suddenly he sprang up, spit
ting wildly
20. my good Lordl" he shouted. 20.
suffering cat OF"
what Is it?n cried Mrs. Porter,
alarmed, and as no one answered she
hurried To the door and went out on !
the veranda. Steve had disappeared
around the corner Of the house and :
James stood there with q look Of
thoughtful pleasure on his face.
"Jamesl" she said sternIy, what did
you give your brother TO eat7"
20. it was just funny kind Of al !.
leaf" James answered casually.
"A leaf2 What leaf2 James, don't you /.
realize
well, it didn't KIN me-" said James
Hiightly alarmed now sc Just sort Of
burns your tongue. Heyl There's the
postmani I'll get your letters"
he darted of down the hin and MIRA 9
Porter went to look for Steve She found
him In the back garden eating an APP 6
pie.
Steve she said, you're old enough
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