The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1935-09-26


River before she spoke to the girl
who sat beside her, straight and
white as an icicle.
Then Chronic said, between her
long white teeth, On them! The
ignoramcses. Don't you mind 'em,
child! You've done nothin' wrong.
Don't you let 'em scare you!"
The girl laughed softly. Sophronia
: glanced at her in surprise, and
thought Suddenly that she looked in
some way much more than nineteen.
"1'm not a child, Aunt Spohronia,"
she said Her voice was low AMI oddly
measured, as though she herself were
listening to it. "They didn't brighten
me. am only sorry they upset you
on my account"
Phronie was discounted and bit
irritated. "They get away with too
much, those galoots!' she said loudly.
"a stranger can't come here that
they don't act up like pack O. hood
lumsw
i Silver did not reply. Her aunt ven
tured glance at her as she jerked
the old car aorund corner. The girls
face, with its rather small features,
was like marble, no life in anything
but her eyes, and they stared straight
ahead of her as though she saw some
thing nameless beyond the dark of
the windshield. Qualms were unusual
with Phronie, but she experienced
them now.
"We've got to buck up, Silver"
Sophronia said violently. 81 know
how you feel. Jim was my only broth
er. If he'd been my father I couldn't
of felt worse. We've got to keep
stiff upper lip, my dear"
Ikhow," the girl said in that same
level voice. cit must have been a
great shock to you, Aunt Sophronia."
eft was"
For little time there was no con-
versation between them. Sophronia
almost wished that the girl had
thrown fit of hysterics-anything,
rather than this frozen silence. It was
unnatural in such a young thing.
"But we won't do any talking to-
night, Silver" she said presently.
"You must get a good rest. am
sorry Roddy-he's my eldest stepson
: Pm sorry he's away in the good
car. This is an awful rattle-trap for
you to be comm home I'M"
Silver seemed to have been think
ing her own thoughts. "Your stepson
-Roddy," she ventured, "will he mind
very much-my coming?"
"He won't mind anything, unless
you sell your land to a cash buyer"
- Sopircnia said grimly, and then
could have bitten her tongue oct. She
had just said that tonight they
wouldn't do any talkingi
"Ohw
81 didn't exactly mean that" So
phronia shouted. "It's just that he's
titled your section with his dads until
he feels that it's his own. Don't pay
attention to me tonight. I'm little
scattered, guess"
81 don't think l shall want to sell
the land, Aunt Sophronia," Silver said
monotonously. eff you will just let me
stay with you, I'll be ever so CRATE
full"
Sophronia's heart leaped. Well, if |
it was going to be as simple as that!
"Stay!" she exclaimed "Isn't this
your rightful home And ain'tI your
closest kin? I'd be a fine one, I
would, if didn't insist on your living
J. with mel"
"Thank you, Aunt Sophronia," Sill
yer said. "I can't say any more"
"You don't need to-" Sophronia re-
marked tersely. "Anl don't call me
tSophronia'! It's too much like me.
get 'Phronie' from them that likes !
me. You can cut out the 'aunt,' too.
It makes me feel old"
"Phronie," Silver repeated thought
fully. dad called you that, but
wasn't sure"
eff it was moonlight" the older
woman interrupted, "you could see a
stand of white birch against that rise !
there The old house-your great
gandfather's homestead-sits back a |
ways. It's part furnished still, just |
like it was when he built it, seventy
five years ago. We use the place for
the crew. now during thrashin'. Well,
we're oettin' home"