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


'sYou were over to see the Healy,
boy today. weren't your" Silver
asked finally. II was thinking about
him today. Couldn't we give barn
dance or something and collect
enough money to pay Doctor Wood
ward? The Micheners told me the
Healys haven't dollar to spare for
anything like this"
That's an idea, Silver" Roddy
exclaimed with enthusiasm. 1--WE
been wonder what we could do to
help out. Old Doc Woodward won't
be so hard to satisfy. / can prob
ably fix that myself. But the family
is up against it, and without the
boys wages, they'll be in bad
way. I'll speak to Corrie about it,
I'm sure she'll take to the idea"
eft would be fun" Silver said.
And perhaps wretched for herself,
she thought with pang. Except for
the Flathes, a Norwegian family
on the south and the Micheners,
frugal but free-spirted Germans up
near the lake, she had so far made
friends of none Of the people in and
around Heron River.
Roddy turned and looked at her
suddenly. "You know-that's the
kind of thing that makes you like
able, Silver"
'What kind of thing?"
you're always thinking about
somebody else. The other day in
the field, when you tore off your
blouse"
She was smiling at him. II shall
probably grow up to be nice old
maid-loved for my good deeds"
Roddy laughed and put his arm
about her shoulder.
you're great little kidd" he ex-
claimed. after old lady Folds, and
then-this bird Lucas cropping up
or I should say flying in"
'Now, Roddy, please don't start
applauding me, or I may cry. Be-
sides-Pll be twenty in November,
so I haven't much credit coming to
me-"
"You will? Well, well! And I sup
post Phil Kitchener thinks you're
just about the right age to settle
down, eh?"
ooh, I don't know about that, "
Silver replied loftily. II like his sis
ter, and I like him. They are real
people, Roddy. They more than
make up for-women like Mrs.
Folds"
"And men like Gerald Lucas?"
There was a curious note in Rod
dy's voice, half gentle, half embar-
raised, the banter gone out of it.
Silver clasped her hands together
before her. "Yes," she said. CAL
though Gerald isn't an evil as Mrs.
Folds is, Roddy. He is an evil for
me, that's all. Or he was, should
say. But you know by this time
that I don't run away from-from
that sort of thing-any more"
Roddy cleared his throat. "You
were in love with him, weren't
you?" he asked abruptly.
For fully half minute, Silver
gazed down upon the wavering
shelves of mist.
Il went and stayed at his apart
ment," she said tonelessly. "For a
week or so-while dad was away.
Perhaps I was in love with him.
don't know. But now that am here
I know that it wasn't the right kind
Of love. must have grown that
even then. because I wouldn't mar
ry him. Gerald wanted to marry
me. He was more decent than I
was. He still is. in way. He fasci-
mated me, but I knew. all the time,
underneath, that his life could new
er be mine. That's all there is to it,
Roddy."
At first, Roddy continued to turn
the bowl Of his pipe about in his
hand. Then, slowly, his eyes moved
toward the girl beside him.
"Does Phronie know this?" he
asked quietly.
!. Ne ! have never told, anyone
but you. III didn't even tell dad
hs-whole truth. / don't know why
I've told You this" she went on
broodingly. "But it seems to me the
land has something to do with it.
It has been like telling it to the