The Coolidge examiner., 1935-10-04

/ fore you Jump az any unfair conciu-
slons. You are probably oyer-sensl.
tive" He halted. hating TO nut
into words what was Ia his mind.
Bot Silver leaned back on her
palms. threw back her head and ut.
tered a dry little laugh.
II know what I'm talking about
Roddy. never fear" she said softly
Il had one friend after another in
boarding schools. until their moth.
ers looked up my background. But
for all that" Her eyes widened
brilliantly. and her full. sweet lips
parted In a serene smile. -
wouldn't have given up one single
day with my father"
Everybody who knew him round
here thought highly Of him" Roddy
said. I'm sorry never met him.
or course. was only boy then.
and our farm was miles away from
I here"
Silver turned abruptly toward
him. A change had come over her
I face. n guarded. secret look.
I'm sorry" she said. Il didn't
mean TO speak of--of my life be-.
fore l came here. don't want you
any of you-,o think that I've
had a hard time of IL. IL really
haveu't II was all splendid. in a
way-but you would never under
stand that But this" She moved
her hand lightly before her and
I gazed down on the land below.
this Is what want now. I want
70 be here where my father was
happy / don't think he ever really
wns-afierward. So you see you
are quite wrong II you believe /
won't want 10 stay"
Roddy thought Of Duke Melbank
and his mouth twisted IN wry 81.
lence.
"Phronie." Silver went on. mus.
ingly. probably didn't tell you
what happened at the depot las,
night In Heron River. did sheY'
He gave her a startled glance. "So.
She didn't mention anything out OF
the ordinary"
We'll. you'll probably hear abou,
II. suppose It's the kind OF thing
that keeps q small town talking
for n long time. But I'll tell you
20 prove TO you that I'm not going to
be scared away"
With ironical brevity she related
the occurrence at the depot the eve
ming before. while Roddy. under his
tan. turned llvid with wrath. IL
gave vent 10 an oath that shook his
voice Then he got abruptly 20
his feet and extended bis hand to
silver.
Come" he said hArshly. Lets
20 down 20 the house"
She stood for a moment looking
coolly up into his eyes II know
now" she said. why PhronIe didn't
tell you. don't think there's any
use In your getting into a rage abou,
thar person. Yon see-pcopie win
/ Just have 10 get used 10 me. Roddy
They can get used TO anything"
I'm uNa my own judgment about
Duke Melbank.- he replied blackly.
and taking her arm he led her IN
silence down the slope to the house
Jason. meeting them In the yard.
looked at bis brother with a whln.
sicsl smile.
"Oid shad Finney Jus, called up."
be reported In his soft voice. "He
thought maybe we'd like 10 know
that Duke MeIbank left town last
night"
II was Jason. unfaihomable and
dark and silent. who drove Silver
and Sophronla two days later on
that last quiet errand for Gentle
man Jim Grenoble. without ritual
or dlrge. Jim's ashes were scattered
into the open soil above Anna
Grenoble's grave. and when the
dark earth wound was closed again
a single yellow poplar leaf drlfted
down upon II and lay as though
sealing what was done.
Jason said. Trees know"
on the day before Roddy was
10 leave for Ballantyne 10 marry
Corinne Meader. Sophronia and sill.
yer put up the last crisp curtain
In the old house. The pine floors
and holdings had been scrubbed
white. the rag rugs washed. the
horsebaIr sofa and settee In the SIT.
ting room treated with gasoline.
Beds and bedding had been moved
down from the big house. and other
essentials had been bought In Heron
/ River.
Sophronia went 70 the narrow
stairwell that rose almost verti.
cally from the kitchen and called
TO Silver. Come down and have
bite OF supper. Silver"
When Silver appeared. SophronIa
glanced out the back door. There's
Roddy." she remarked. "goin' into
that old shop Of his. Wonder II he
| don't know it's supper time. He's
been actin awful funny today"
Silver was standing beside her
at the open door. I'D like to see
the inside of Roddy's workshop"
| she said. "Do Won snnnnsa he'd mind