The Coolidge examiner., 1935-11-15

accordion, harmonica and violin.
Presently a lively melody was lilt-
ing upward through the rugged
branches of the trees.
"COme on, Phronie!" old Roderick
called, his eyes wistfully following
Silver and the older Michener boy
as they exhibited an intricate and
amusing foX-trot step.
"Oh, go on with your Phronie
expostulated, blushing, and was
forthwith swept into Roderick's old
fashioned and courtly embrace.
Twice, three times around the
circle of the great oaks shade they
waltzed, old Roderick adapting his
knowledge of dance figures resolute-
ly and gallantly to the outlandish
new tempo amidst cheers and clap
ping of hands. At last, breathless
and bridling rosily as a girl, So
phronia stopped in front of the door
Old Roderick bowed low over her
hand, and the applause and laugh
ter whirled about them.
go on with you, silly!" Sophro-
MIA said, and gave Roderick a little
push. "I'm thinkin' the cider pitch
ers need film"
In the kitchen she found Roddy
alone.
"Why don't you go out and join
in the fun?" she asked.
81 guess I'm not in the mood" he
replied.
Phronie gave him a sharp glance.
"Small wonder!' she remarked.
when do you expect Corinne
back?"
Tomorrow night" Roddy said,
without looking around.
"Well-I don't understand what
got into her to go off"
"Pd rather not talk about it,
Roddy interrupted.
"No-I suppose the least said
about it the BETTER" Phronie agreed.
II don't know what to think about
it, but l wouldn't go moonin' about
the house for anyone. l never did
and 1 never would. Why don't you
get out and dance with the rest of
them? No one will ever thank you
for bein' a soft-hearted fool over
any woman, even if she is your
wife" ..:.-.
Roddy began impatiently rolling a
cigarette. "a devil of a lot you
know about itr' he exploded. ..-
Phronie looked at him in sur
prise. 81 know you've never talked
like that to me in your life before
she said.
Roddy got to his feet and put an
arm about her. 81 don't mean it
like that, ma" he said affectionate-
ly. "You know l don't. But there's
more to. this than 1 want to talk
about. Now that Paula's gone
don't know how we're going to- get
along up at the house. l can't af-
ford another girl, and Corinne
doesn't know a darn thing about
homework. Even if she did-she
isn't strong enough to do it,
Have you told Corinne about
that?" Sophronia asked.
"Yes," he said darkly.: II told
her." ..
"Well, there's no use borrowin'
trouble. Corinne will swing into ii
when she knows she has to, like
anyone else. III come up now and
then to help her get Started-and
Silver will be glad to give hand
when it's needed. l don't know how
I'd do without that girl"
y
Corinne did not return on the fol-
lowing afternoon. She telephoned
Roddy to explain that she had not
completed her shopping and that
rather than drive home after dark,
Evelyn Richter preferred to stay in
town for the night. She herself
would stay with the LOmbardS. And
was the wedding a lot of fun, and
how was he feeling? Roddy, listen!
ing to her tumbling, sweetly infect
ed questions, and giving his. mono
syllable replies, stared at the wall
beside the telephone.
Even after he had hung up the
receiver, he continued to stare at
the same spot on the wall. There
had been something in Corinne's
voice-an over-emphasis of apology,
of. sOlicitude.
He had tried to talk to Corinne
about mis- corn, but she had given
him only her patient smile. You
would have made good artist, Rod
dy," she said once, "-One of these
futurist artists who usually starve
to death in a garret unless they
have a patron"
Roddy ran the brush aimlessly
over his hair and returned down
stairs. At the supper table, he told
SophrOnia that Corinne would not
be home until some time tomorrow.
you'll have Steve and me on your
hands for another day." he said.
"And why not?" Phronie replied.
Though the way you're boltin' your
food l have a notion to let you go
without"
Steve chuckled "Its that corn
field of his" he volunteered. Hes
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