The Coolidge examiner., 1935-10-25

boy today. weren't youf" Silver
asked finally \ was thinking
about him today Couldn't we give
a barn dance or something and col.
F lect enough money 10 pas Doctor
F Woodwardg The Mlcheners told
me tie Hcaiys haven't dollar O.
spare for anything Ike this
That's an idea. silver. Roddy
exclaimed with enthusiasm -t'Fe
. isccn wondering vhAi we could Do
I % help out. old Doc Woodward
won't be 80 hard 70 satisfy. can
probably OK that myself. Bu; the
family is up against u. and without
the boys wages. they'll be In q bad
Way. III speak % Corrle about H.
I'm sure she'n take 10 the idea. ~
III would be fuu. silver said.
And perhaps wretchcd Tor herself.
she thought with q pang Except
FOR the Flathes. a Norwegian fam.
liy on the south. and the Micheners
frugal hut free spirited Germans up
near the lake. she had 30 far made
friends of none % the people 10 and
around Heron River
Roddy turned and looked ~ her
suddenly. "You know--that's the
kind ~ thing that makes yon like.
able. silver.
what Kind ~ ihingF'
you're always thinking about
somebody else. The other day Ia tho
field. whcn you tore OF your
blouse
She was smiling az him. Il shall
probably grow up 20 Do a nice old
maid lowed Tor nay good deeds"
Roddy laughed aud pat his arm
about her shoulder.
You're a great little kld E" be ex.
claimed. AFTER old lady Folds. and
thcn-this bird I.ucas cropping up
OR ! should say flying in--~
~Now. Boddy. please don't start
applauding me. or may cry. BE.
sides-Tn be twenty In November.
50 haven't much credit coming 10
me-"
you wlu7 Well. well, And I
suppose PIN Mtchener thinks you're
Jus; about the right aSe 10 settle
down. ehy'
~oh. don't know about that. 3"
silver replied loftlly. 4 ike his
sister. and Ike him They are
real people. Roddy. They more
than make up for--womcn Ike Mrs
Folds"
And men Ike Gerald Lucasf~
There was curious note in Rod.
dy's voice. halt gentle half embar.
rassed. the banter gone out Of II.
silver clasped her hands together
before her. Yes. she said Al
though Gerald isn't an evil as Mrs.
Folds is. Roddy lie q an evil for
me. that's all or be was. should
say. But you know by this time
that | don't run away from-from
that sort az thlng-any more"
Roddy cleared his throat "You
were In love with him. weren't
your be asked abruptly
For fully a half minute. Silver
CARED down upon the wavering
shelves of mist.
Il went and stayed at his apart
ment." she said tonelessly. For
week or so-whlle dad was away.
Perhaps | was Ia love with him.
don't know. But now that am here
| know that II wasn't the right kind
of love. must have known that
even then. because I wouldn't marry
him. Gerald wanted 20 marry me.
He was more decent than was. He
stIll Is. In a way. He fascinated
me. but / knew. all the time. un-
derneath. that his life could never
be mine. That's all there Is 10 II.
ROddy."
At first. Roddy continued TO turn
the bowl OF his pipe about in his
hand. Then. slowly. his eyes moved
toward the girl beside him.
Does PhronIe know thisf" he
asked quietly.
NO. ! have never told anyone
but you. IL didn't even tell dad
the-whele truth. I don't know
why I've told you this" she went on
broodingly. But II seems 10 me the
land has something TO do with IT,
II has been Ike telling II 10 the
land-starting over again, honestly.
It's hard TO explain"
1--WE hardly deserved your con-
fidence." Roddy broke In with n
short and ironic laugh. MY feel
lngs toward you have been anything
but generous. Silver"
Il think I've understood them.
though" she replied thoughtfully.
when you've worked a piece of
land until you have your roots in
it" He stopped suddenly, and bent
toward her with his hand out
stretched. This is just my clumsy
way of apologizlng to you for being
a fool. Silver"
She laid her hand on his and he
drew her to her feet. Silver. meet
ing his eyes, experienced a fright