The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1935-10-17
There's Always
Another Year
By MARTHA oSTENso

Everybody who knew your father
round here thought highly of him. -
Roddy said. "I'm sorry I never met
him. Of course was only boy then,
and our farm was miles away from
here"
Silver turned abruptly toward him.
A change had come over her face, a
guarded, secret look.
"I'm sorry" she said. Il didn't
mean to speak of-of my life before
I came here. don't want you-any
of you-to think that I've had hard
fime~of it. IL really haven't. It was
all splendid, IN a way-but you would
never understand that. But this"
She moved her hand lightly before
her and gazed down on the land be-
low. "-this is what I want now. I
want to be here, where my father
was happy. don't think he ever real
" was-afterward. So you see. you
are quite wrong if you believe l
won't want to stay"
Roddy thought of Duke Melbank
and his mouth twisted in wry silence.
"Phronie," Silver went on, musing-
NV, probably didn't tell you what
happened at the depot last night in
Heron River, did she ?"
He gave her startled glance. mo.
She didn't mention anything out Of
the ordinary"
"Well, you'll probably hear about
it. suppose it's the kind of thing
that keeps small town talking for a
long time. But I'll tell you to prove to
you that Pm not going to be scared
away"
With ironical brevity she related
the occurrence at the depot the eve
ming before, while Roddy, under his
tan, turnd livid with wrath. He gave
vent to an oath that shook his voice.
Then he got abruptly to his feet and
extended his hand to Silver.
"Come," he said harshly. "Lees 60
down to the house"
She stood for a moment looking
coolly up into his eyes."I know now"
she said, "why Phronie didn't tell
you. don't think there's any use in
your getting into a rage about that
person. You see-people will just
have to get used to me, Roddy. They
can get used to anything"
'Tll use my own judgment about
Duke Melbank," he replied blaekly,
and taking her arm he led her in
silence down the slope to the house.
Jason, meeting them in the yard,
looked at his brother with whimsi-
cal smile. ..
"Old Shad Finney just called up"
he reported in his soft voice. "He
thought maybe we'd like to know that
Duke Melbank left town last night
It was Jason, unfathomable. and
dark and silent, who drove Silver and
Sophronia two days later on that last
quiet errand for Gentleman Jim Gre
noble. Without ritual or dirge, Jim's
ashes were scattered into the open
soil above Anna Grenable's grave,
end when the dark earth would was
closed again a single yellow poplar
leaf drifted down upon it and lay as
though sealing what was done.
Jason said, "Trees know"
+
On the day before Roddy was to
leave for Ballantyne to marry Co
rinne Meader, Sophronia and Silver
put up the last crisp curtain in the
old house. The pine floors and moul-
ding had been scrubbed white, the
rag rugs washed, the horse-hair sofa
and settee in the sitting room treated
kIith gasoline. Beds and bedding had
ybeen moved down from the big house,
and other essentials had been bought
in Heron River.
Silver was grateful for Sophonria's
permission to share in this activity.
There was a strange, enthralled air
about her as she moved through the
rooms of the old stone house.
Sophronia went to the narrow
sfair-well that rose almost vertically
eo,,, +ba lri+cben and called to Silver.