The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1935-10-31
There's Always
Another Year
BY MARTHA OSTENSo

| tinued. II meant to tell you when
you first came in, but didn't get
a chance. That man Gerald Lucas
was enquiring about you today in
Heron River"
For a moment Silver leaned
heavily against the table. Her eyes
were fixed wide upon Roddy's face,
as though she expected to hear him
repeat his words.
Corinne came blithely in through
the front of the house.
What an ogre of woman!" she
cried, laughing ''I'm glad you
snubbed her, Roddy. couldn't
very well, because I thought she
meant to invite"
'Phronie is waiting for the CHINA
mon, Corinne," Silver said duly.
81 must CO."
But it was Jason who took the
spice into the house to Sophronia.
Silver felt that she could not, right
now, bear the interior of the stone
house, even for a moment.
I'm going for a walk" she told
Jason.
"A walk?" he asked, and frown-
ed.
But Silver broke away and start
ed for the road. She thrust her
hands into the pockets of her
sweater and walked blindly into
the last sinking glow of the sunset.
Presently a long, graceful road
ster turned the corner and came
toward her. AS it slowed down and
stopped beside her, the man at the
wheel laughed with pleased sur
prise and leaned over the door.
Silver glanced up at him.
The man was Gerald Lucas.
For an instant, as Gerald climbed
down from his car and stepped to-
ward her, Silver contemplated
flight. Instead, when the impulse
had passed, she thrust her hands
into her pockets and looked coolly
up at him.
Gerald seized her hands. "Silver
whats the matter with your" he
demanded. Get in and We'll take a
drive and talkthings over"
NO." Silver said firmly, II don't
want to 60 driving-and I have
nothing to talk over, Gerald"
He put his hand lightly on her
arm and drew her toward the car.
Listen to me, Silver" he urged
whats got into you? didn't come
out here to kidnap you, though I'd
like to. You've grown even more
luscious-if that's possible. Sit in
the car and let's talk"
For moment she hesitated, then
with a shrug she got into the car.
She surveyed him with detach-
ment, and wondered what had hap
pened to her since she had last seen
him. He was as rakishly cookbook
ing as ever, his eyes as full of con-
fidence and meaningful laughter as
ever. But it was as though she
looked at him now through an OBJ
securing film.
Gerald looked critically down al
her. "You should have known bet
ter than to try running away from
me, sweetheart. You didn't even
give me a chance to tell you how
sorry I was-about your father"
"I'm trying to forget that" Silver
said briefly. "How did you find out
where I had gomez"
He pinched her chin lightly and
smiled. Little Gerald finds out just
about everything he wants tc
know. Old Ben Hubbard is friend
of mine. So I came out here and
snooped before I looked you up
And 10 and behold! I've got the
very thing I've wanted for some
time. A resort on Emerald bay, my
love! You see, I had few grand
sailed away"
"You had to get our of Chicago
didn't you, Gerald?" Silver asked
and looked at him levelly.
The faintest glimmer Of annoy
ance passed over his face. But, al
that, it was annoyance tinctured
with amusement.
"Well, now, my DEAR" he protest
ed, "do we have to 60 into that?
I'll admit-things were getting
warmish. But this-or these-are
the wide open spaces. And here ]
am with a peach of a layout on