The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1935-12-05

dy sat with his father ana SOpnrOn-
ia and Jason in the kitchen OF the
stone house while they discussed
Anthony's offer. Jason was quick to
sympathize with Roddy's contempt
for a job where he would become
mere hireling at the beck and call
of others, though he was forced to
recognize the narrowly calculated
means by which the family would
have to manage throughout the
: winter.
could take the place over, Rod"
he said slowly. with just the rest
of us here-we wouldn't need so
much. Perhaps we ought to sell
those six heifers, instead Of"
"Of course" Roddy interrupted
patiently, 81 know you could swing
it, Jase. But the point is that I want
to be in on it."
"After we marry, my boy" Old
Roberick remarked thoughtful1y,
1--WE travel in pairs. You must re-
member that"
tive thought rings around that,
dad" Roddy said tersely. "But l
always come around to the fact that
down in Iowa they are having
farmers strikes and picketings and
bloodshed I'm one of those guys,
dad. My wife has to be one of those
guys too. If we were in that terri
tory we'd be in the mess-we
wouldn't be protected by a fancy
job"
It was Sophronia who came out
boldly with her opinion that CO.
rhine would never take to life on
the farm.
81 feel sorry for the poor girl"
Phronie declared vehemtly. "She
married you because you were
looking and smart, Roddy,
and she liked you. But she saw you
had something more to you than
just slavin' day and night for a
living! It's up to you, Roddy-"
EYES," Roddy said crisply. "It's up
to me. I'm id glad it is. Corinne
will know that she married me. Not
an idea she had about me-"
'Well, that may be-" his father
reminded him. "But one bad year is
enough to put@a blight on MARI
> age, my boy, as well as on crop"
There's always another year"
Roddy retorted with short laugh.
In the end, Roddy found himself
battling alone against all three
members of his family. Silver had
taken no part in the discussion. AS
she listened, however, conviction
grew with her. Roddy Willard must
accept the position that had been
offered him. There was, as he had
said, always another year for the
farmer, but that had nothing to do
with the problem. She knew-as
the others knew, indeed-what was
in his heart when he had said that.
But she knew what none of them
knew. Had she not heard Freda
Kitchener talk that afternoon in the
post office? Had she not seen
enough herself.
At last Jason got up and left, So
phronia banked the fire, and old
Roderick went off to bed.
"Well, I'll see you all tomorrow,
Roddy said heavily and started for
the door.
"Wait a minute, Roddy," Silver
called out.
He turned and looked at her curl
ously.
whats on your mind?" Roddy
h asked Silver, as soon as Sophronia
had gone.
Silver laughed up at him with
disarming naivete as she stood be-
fore him.
81 thought I'd just wait unit eve-
rybody else got through talking"
she said: Her glance fell for. an in
slant from his. Then, sliiImoning
all her fortitude, she spoke You've
got to take this position, Roddy.
You are a fool to stay son here
starvation staring you in the face
with a respectable living offered
YOU"
my dear child" Roddy exclaim-
ed. "You look almost motherly just
now. You want me to take the job
for my own good, eh?"
'That's part of it," she admitted
lightly. But agree with Phronie.
Corinne hates the farm"
Ln ~ ,-;r chit ~ryI,n,a