The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1935-11-07
There's Always
Another Year
BY MARTHA OSTENSO

back, after you've had taste Of
this life?" said Gerald.
Her restless hands came tightly
together in her lap.
"Oh," she shrugged. '"This eve
ming a woman call on the wife OF
my aunt's stepson-I know you'll
laugh at that, Gerald-anyhow she
looked down on me, because I'm
me. But the people here aren't al!
like her.
Before he replied he looked at
'hG seriously for a long moment.
perhaps they aren't" he said fin
ally. "But I can't see Silver Gren-
oble living in place like this. It's
all right for you to like it-but the
place has to like you, remember, or
it's going to raise HI with you.
Did you ever see prize pup try
ing to make up to pack of mon
grels? It's lot of fun-if you don't
happen to care for the prize pup"
I'm taking that chance" she re-
torted. "Anyhow-I don't consider
myself prize pup. I have a. good
deal to live down, Gerald"
He patted her interlocked fingers.
I'm sorry you feel that way about
it, darling" he said softly. Guess
I'm to blame"
Silver's free laugh rang out. Il
should say you were not! If I do
anything, it's because I want to,
whether it's right or wrong!"
Gerald gave low whistle. There
speaks Jim Grenoble!" he said Sob
erly. "But I'll believe you, Silver.
And I wish you luck. If it doesn't
work out, I won't be far away. At
least not for a while. Do you want
me to drive you up to the house?
I'll promise not to set foot on one
little bit of your saced-"
Gerald" Silver interrupted
sharply. She thought quickly for a
AL 11S1lC-N14NS AA1C NR'
Quite abruptly and mysteriously,
her relationship with Gerald Lucas
had changed-had changed so that
it seemed it had never existed. Less
than month ago, his very pres
ence would have thrown her into
panic of wild emotion. Was it her
fathers death that had made of her
a different person, or was it this
uncompromising landscape, in which
Gerald and his kind seemed a little
absurd? Both, perhaps. But there
was something else, too-something
which she could not pull up to the
light of analysis.
Gerald was turning the car in at
the Willard gate. And there, be-
tween the poplar trees that were
defined vaguely against a moon
that was like a rising red world,
stood Corinne in her white dress.
Silver got out of the car. Gerald
swung it about to leave Immediate
ly, but Corinne came toward it and
stood for a moment in the glare Of
the lights. Silver looked at Corinne
and then at Gerald. Suddenly, as
she saw Gerald's eyes dwelling
upon that white figure standing in
the light, there came an instant's
conviction, lucid and electrifying,
that nothing would ever be the
same again. Corinne stepped around
to the side of the car.
''This is Gerald Lucas" Silver
said quickly, and hesitated.
Gerald smiled and put forth
hand. And what's the other half of
it?" he asked.
I'm Corinne Willard" Corinne
replied as she took Gerald's hand.
He gave her the half-amused,
searching look that Silver under
stood only too well.
"Corinne Willard?" Gerald re-
peated. "And where have you been
all my life?"
"Where nice girls always are"
Corinne replied archly. Living at
home with mother"
"Just a nice, old-fashioned girl"
Gerald bantered amiably. well,
come along out to Emerald bay
some night when mother isn't
around. Bring her out with you,
Silver"
Silver stepped to the side of the
car.
Gerald" she said, you're going
to be late for your appointment
And besides"
"Right-o, Silver!" Gerald put in
1xyoc for0otfin0 Gao