The Coolidge examiner., 1935-09-27
CHAPTER M
- y -


COPHRONIA WILLARD had driv-
> On a hair mile from the limits
81 Heron River before she spoke
10 the girl. who sat beside her
straight and white as IA iclcle.
Then phrUnie said. between her
long white teeth. ~D-n them The
ixnoramuses Don't you mind 'em.
chlldl You've donc nothin wrong.
Don't you iet 'em scare you"
The Elfl laughed softly. So
phronla glanced at her in surprise.
and thought suddenly that she
Looked In some way much more
than nineteen.
I'm not a child. Aunt Sophroula.
she said Her voice Was low aud
eddy measured. as though she her.
SELF wsre listening 10 H. They
didn't friEhien me. | am only sor-
~ they upset you on my account" {"
Phronle was discounted and n
blt irriinied. They get away with
too much. those Eaioois E. she said
loudly. - stranger cant come here
that they don't act up Ike a pack
o. hoodlums
silver dld no; reply. Her aunt
venfurcd a glance "a her as she
jerkrd the old car around a corner.
The girls face. wlih lts rather
small features. was Ike marble. no
life In anything but her eyes. and
they stared straight ahead Of her
as though she saw something name.
less beyond the dark % the wind
shield ouaims we're unusual with
PhronIe. but she experienced them
now.
We've GOT "a buck up, Silver.
sophronla said violently. Il know
how you feel. Jim was ms only
brother. II he'd been my father !
couldn't % felt worse. We've got
10 keep n stiff upper lip, my dear "
I know" the girl said in that
same level voice 1T must have
been a great shock TO you. Aunt
Sophronia."
1T was"
For n little time there was no
conversation between them. So
phronla almost wished that the girl
had thrown n ~ OF hysterIcs-any.
thing. rather than this frozen ST.
lence. II was unnatural In such a
young thing.
-Bui We won't do any talking
tonight. Silver" she said presently
"Yon must get good rest. ] am
sorry Roddy-he's my oldest step
son-rm sorry he's away In the
good car. This is an awful rattle
trap FOR you to be comm home In ?"
Silver seemed to have been think
Ing her own thoughts Your step
son-Roddy." she ventured. "will he
mind very much-my comingf"
"He won't mind anything. unless
yoa sell your land TO a cash buyer. :"
Sophronla said grimly. and then
could have bitten her tongue out
She had Just said that tonight they
wouldn't do any talkingl
"Ohl"
Il didn't exactly mean that" So
phronIa shouted. ITS just that he's
TILED your section with his dads un-
iii he feels that It's his own. Don't
pay attention TO me tonight I'm a
little scattered. I guess"
i don't think shall want TO
sell the Land. Aunt Sophronia." Sill
yer said monotonously. IF you viii
Just let me stay with you, I'll be
ever so grateful"
Sophronla's heart leaped. Wen.
II Il was going TO be as simple as
thati
~Stayl" she exclaimed. sIsn,t this
your rightful homer And aln't 7
your closest kin? I'd be a fine one
I would. II I dldn't lnsis, on your
living with met"
Thank you. Aunt Sophronla y
Silver said. Il can't say any more -
you don't need to- Sophronia
remarked tersely. And don't call
ne 'Sophronla'! It's too much Ike
me. get 'Phronie' from them
that likes me. You can cut out the
aunt too. II makes me feel old"
"Phronie, Silver repeated thought.
fully. Dad called you that, but !
wasn't sure"
If II was moonlight" the older
woman interrupted, "you could see
: stand of white birch against that
else there. The old house-your