The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1935-12-19
There's Always
Another Year
By MARTHA OSTENSO

MI GA SNSAA1hA9 -
Paula had come down from the big
house and sat beside the table
munching an apple.
Sophronia pushed her glasses
back into place on the bridge OF her
nose and shook her head.
There's no use in you gettin'
youself worked up into state over
Corinne," she said to Paula. eff you
ask me-all that woman needs is
exercise. If she'd do bit of her
own housework, it'd be better for
her"
st don't know" Paul ventured.
@sShe doesn't seem right. She took
one of them headaches again today.
Sometimes she scares me. She
stares at the walls and says the
wind is driving her crazy"
81 think I'll go up and stay with
Corinne for a WHILE" Silver said.
That's better" old Roderick said.
ats the first time anybody here has
been in Roddy's house in almost
week"
- Silver felt the rebuke in the old
mans words. Almost a fortnight
had passed since she herself had
been in Roddy's house. The intense
cold had been reason enough for
styling indoors most of the time.
''I think I'll go along with you,"
Paula said hesitatingly.
Lets go, then," Silver said.
Corinne was huddled up in bed
weeping stormily.
"Corinne," Silver said sharply.
*'You ought to be ashamed of your
self"
Corinne stared at her with wild
eyes. "Who sent you here?" she de-
manded petulantly. 81 suppose the
whole Willard family has been hav-
ing conclave!"
"Stop it," Silver broke in. 'No
one sent me-and you're acting like
child"
Corinne began to weep in earnest.
I'll might have known-you'd say
that. This place is driving me mad!
The wind-and the cold-and being
alone"
"You don't have to be alone" Sill
yer protested. "Why didn't you come
down with Paula tonight and"
Because they all hate me! I
know it. They hate me because I'm
not farm lout-like the rest OF
them. Roddy hates me-and loves
to see me suffer! He's tickled to
death because Jason has Inundated
me. Paula for sister-in-law-oh!''
Silver took her by the shoulder.
''I'm not going to sit here and listen
to that nonsense" she said severely
'tYou've got to get yourself out of
this mood. Turn over here! Is your
head aching?"
cit has been bursting-all day!"
Silver ran her fingers. gently over
Corinne's shoulders. 81 used to do
this for my father when he had a
headache" she said quietly, and be-
gan pressing her finger tips into the
tendons and muscles that were
knotted at the back of Corinne's
neck.
Corinne turned over on her face
and moaned. But Silver continued
to ply her fingers until Corinne be-
gan to relax at last, and her muffi-
ed wailing ceased.
That's better!" Silver said.
"O-oh-that hurts"
Silver worked more gently. "You
ought to get out and see what the
world is like around you. I'll tell
you-take walk with me early to-
morrow morning, over to the Flathe
place and back. You have no idea
how good it makes you feel"
A sort of docility had crept over
Corinne. "I'n do anthing," she num-
bled, "just to get away from the
grayness of this hill"
For some time there was silence
between them, until Silver began to
wonder if Corinne had fallen asleep
Presently, however, Corinne spoke
unexpectedly.
'eWhy didn't you marry Gerald
Lucas, Silver, when you had the
chance?"
81 should have been the most un-
happy creature in the world" Sill
yer replied.
"Why?"
'sBecause-I've seen enough of
that life to know" Silver said.