The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1935-10-31


the living room. In her wake, not
unlike the trailing ruff1e of great
ship, came a simpering miss of
seventeen or eighteen, much be-
friled, and wearing a lowered leg
horn hat.
It was Mrs. Leander Folds, the
school superintendent wife of
Heron River, and her daughter
: Ethelwyn.
my DEAR" Mrs. Folds was saying
loquaciously, "I suppose I should
have telephoned. But I am a wom-
an of impulse, you know! We just
got back yesterday from our holiday
in the Black Hills, and heard about
Roddy's marriage. We were out
driving, and I thought this would
be good time to catch you in. We
must-we just must have. you in
our reading club. Ethelwyn here is
secretary of it, and it's so instruc-
tive for the young people"
Mrs. Folds had advanced farther
qtlb the room, and now her eye fell
upon Silver. A curious, tight look
appeared on her face as though she
were holding her breath. Silver
stood up.
"Have you met Silver Grenoble,
Mrs. Folds?" Corinne asked hastily.
sMy husbands cousin"
"How do you do?" Silver said,
but made no move toward the two
visitors.
ooh" Mrs. Folds surveyed her
thoroughly. "How do you do? Rod
dy's cousin by-by marriage? Of
course. Yes, yes. And how do you
do, Roddy? Oh, dear. just thought
of something" She turned abruptly
and patted Ethelwyn's arm. Run
and see if I brought that book I
wanted Mrs. Willard to read. 1t
ought to be in the car. If it isn't,
wait for me there, my dear"
Ethelwyn vanished docilely, al
though her eyes a moment before
had been frankly devouring Silver.
Silver could feel the hot blood
pounding in her throat, her tenn
pies. Mrs. Folds startegy had been
so brutally obvious. Yet she was
powerless to move.
hsNow," said Mrs. Folds, Il can't
Stay a minute-but you must prom
Use to come to our meeting on Tues
day, Mrs. Willard We are studying
Hardy at the moment-with one of
the moderns thrown in, just for re-
+ lief, so to speak," She smiled apollo
getically.
Roddy gave sardonic bark of a
laugh Hardy? You don't consider
him a modern, eh?"
Mrs. Folds looked bewildered.
Corinne agitatedly stepped closer
to her and said, THANK you 80
/ much, Mrs. Folds. shall be glad
=; to come, indeed"
I'm sure you will find our little
group very stimulating. Some of
them are very young, but then you
I are young yourself. Remember
we live right next to the school
house. Now must run. You have a
charming wife, Roddy. You lucky
boy!" Mrs. Folds shook a roguish
finger at him. take good care of
her!"
"By the way, Mrs. Folds" Roddy
said coldly, his face curiously
white beneath his tan, his eyes two
grayly buring Sits, ''has this club
! of yours limited membership"
| Mrs. Folds Redeemed unbecom-
2Ay. "Er-yes, it has," she plung-
"a. "You see-our house is small"
Silver stood with her hands
clenched about the tables edge,
back of her.
''That's fortunate" Roddy inter-
rupted Mrs. Folds, and laughed
aloud. With that he slammed shut
the covers of the ledger, flung it
with sharp report down upon the
table and strobe through the dining
rom into the kitchen.
Mrs. Folds smiled feebly and ex-
tended two fingers to Corinne. AS
though across waves of heat, Silver
saw Mrs. Folds sail out of the
house, Corinne accompanying her.
Paula had come down the back
stairs. She entered the dining room
now and handed Silver the can of
cinnamon. Silver was suddenly
aware of Roddy standing before
L -,.:4I. o~occoI