The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1935-11-14
By MARTHA osTENso

Wn1lG hOQQy Was washing III IAAS
tin basin on the bench outside the
house-placed there for the use OF
the crew-Phronie came out of the
kitchen.
"What's this I hear about the
Healy boy?" she asked. what hap
pened?"
Roddy told her.
well, I declare it just seems
something has to happen every
year." Phronie said. "And he's such
a rice boy; too. Well, hurry up and
get washed. Supper is ready"
"Is Corinne home YETI" Roddy
asked. Have you seen Silver any
where? She went to fetch the cows,
but I haven't seen her since"
Roddy told her then of the part
Silver had played in getting the
boy ready to go to Maynard with
Jason.
"Well-that girl beats mel"
Phronie declared. "But then-she's
just like her mother. I remember"
you'd better go in and look aft
er things, ma" Roddy interrupted.
Roddy fastened upstairs to put
on clean clothing before he sat
down to supper. On the landing he
met Corinne. She was dressed in a
clinging green criffon gown that
came almost to her beautifully shod
feet.
Hello, lovely!" he greeted her in
a low voice.
She laughed and rumpled his
hair. There's a corn roast and a
dance over at the lake tonight, dar-
ling" she told him. Il thought /
might as we'll dress now. Aren't
you going to kiss me?"
Roddy grinned, then drew her to
him and kissed her throat.
you've washed already" she
asked, surprised. Don't tell me you
washed in that tin basin outside"
Certainly. Why not? I've done it
for years."
"You have a bathroom upstairs,
haven't your"
Listen, kid" he protested. "You
don't know it, but the men are
funny about such things. l don't
want them to feel-well, you know
81 don't know at ALL" she object
ed. 81 should think"
He swung her to him and held
her close for a moment. you're
much too pretty to talk to me IN
that Tone" he demonstrated. Go on
down-I'n be with you in jifty.
But as soon as he had left her,
his mood grew sober again. He
could not forget young Jim Healy
and his poor crushed hand. Then,
curiously, with an obscure tighten
ing of his spirit, there came to him
the vision of Silver Grenoble, in
her riding breeches, kneeling there
on the field in the sunset, her Shout
ders bare above plain silk bodice
Perhaps he had been all wrong
about her. Perhaps she belonged
here as essentially as he did him
self.
Roddy entered the dining ROOM
Before he took his place at the Ia
BILE, he glanced over at Corinne,
daintily presiding at its head and
smiling graciously upon her over
allied and plaid-shirted guests.
Phronie and Paula stood, one on
either side of the table, serving the
men when necessary, or replenish-
ing some dish or other from the
kitchen. Silver had remained at the
stone house, to make supper for old
Roderick, who had not been feeling
well for the past week.
It was Corinne's first appearance
at table with the threshing crew.
Roddy WINGED, in spite of himself,
as he saw her draw back quickly
when a brawny arm reached across
her bosom in a lunge- toward the
butter dish. Finally someone made
too graphic comment on the days
accident. and Corinne covered her
eyes. It was the last time she, sat
at the table with the men.
An evening or two later, Roddy
returned from visiting the Healy
boy to find Corinne impatiently
awaiting him.
81 though you'd never get back,
she complained as soon as he enter
ed the house.
whats wrong?" he asked.
GGU1l. CALLED m this off