The Coolidge examiner., 1935-11-01
CHAPTER VII

NN THANKSGIVING DAY the
~ first snow feil IN Heron River.
Jason and Paula and steve hal
come down 20 the old house FOR ,ur
key dinner IN the early afternoon.
After the feast. Silver dressed
warmly and set out alone FOR a walk
across the nelds 10 the Flathe place.
The br0odlng melancholy OF the
day Gllcd her with a sweet. aching
nostalgia. a yearulng too profound
20 name. To run away from Roddy
willard would mean that she would
run away from these delds-from
her very blrihright And there would
never he auy real escape in such
eight. as there had been IN her
fight from Gerald Lucns. Gerald
had not been real. anyway: the hard
ground beneath her foot seemed 20
tell her that now.
She had been too selnshly absorbed
during the past few days to give
ans thought to what SophronIa
might feel about her going away
Poor old Phronle-how little she
knew of what was going on about
her. The more she thought Of II
the more convinced silver became
tina, Roddy Willard would remain
on this land until be was forced
10 leave r. Her threat 20 sell the
land bad done nothing except %
make him more stubborn In his de-
termination TO remain. She was
made des0late By the knowledge that
he was as pasaouafely devoted 70
this land as she vas herself
She thought yehementiy. tears
dlmmlnx her eyes now. not for ans
unhappy. ousragcous love ~ Roddy
willard would she give up her lIfs
here,
The Flathe children greeted he.
With their usual uproarlons good
humor. These Norwegian young
siers lived In n merry cosmos oi
their own where even poverty was
something 10 laugh at Six o'
them there were. ranging from
seven years OF age TO nineteen. with
enough boisteFous enthusiasm tc
turn the little farmhouse Into q
babel Silver played the decrepli
little organ. and sang with the chill
dren until the gathering darknes.
warned her that II was time to
leave.
ON the way home. she came upon
Jason and Paula beside a thlckeI
OF haEelnut bushes. Paula looked al
Silver without surprise or embar.
rassment. and Jason's dark eyes
smiled at her.
The three began their walk home
together. When they came before
the big house. Jason paused "Coms
In. Silver" be invited. Il have
something 10 show you. rve been
making a picture OF Paula" he con.
fessed. "And | thought maybe you'd
dke 10 look at IT.
"Oh-why, Jase-Id love 10 see
n" Silver replied eagerly. going
toward the door
They entered the house and ia
son led the way TO the attic and
lighted the lamp. In the studio
on a brentwood easel reelIned q
fiorld but far from unrecognizable
portrait OF Paula Gobel.
For some time Silver had suspect
ed that there was more between
Jason and Paula than they were
willing 10 reveal 10 their little
world. Whatever ultimate expreE-
sion II achieved mattered not at all
II was there and they shared H.
Jason. I'm amazed" she burst
forth at last "Why-it's really
really great"
Gosh - Jason sighed with relief.
81 was scared to show 1t to you.
thought maybe I'd worked II over
too much. But do you think it's
good enough 10 give to Phronie for
Christmas present? That was
my idea. She likes pictures. you
know"
shed love It. Jase" Silver as
sured him. 81 know she will. But
why don't you ask me 10 sit for you
some timer
Jason smiled a bit sheepishly.
I'm not so good as all that
You've got-I don't know what II
Is" He shrugged apologetically.
"Well-you're not as pretty as Cor
inne, for instance. But there's
something about your face-I don't
know-but Ii would take a real
artist TO catch 1t. I'd like to give
you one OF my new pictures. though,
II you want one
I'D love to have one, Jase." she
said slowly. I'D be very proud Of
it."
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