The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1936-01-23

When Sophronia came home that
night, she was suffering from q
chill, and on the following evening
Doctor Woodward told old Roder-
lex that she was threatened with
pneumonia.
Weeks of illness had bitten deep
ly into the physical being of So
phronia Willard, but had not dim
med the fire of her spirit. AS Silver
arranged the cushions in the long
chair in which Phronie reclined be-
meath the great oak, she glanced at
the girls face and said sharply. "By
the looks Of you, my girl, you need
this babying more than do. I'll be
the death Of you, if I don't get on
my own feet soon. It does beat all
what a wreck the lung-fever can
make of big hulk of woman like
me. But I'll be up again in week
no matter what old Doc Wood
ward says"
.'Don't get impatient, now" Sill
yer rebuked her gently. There's no
hurry. You've done enough work in
your life to deserve little rest"
She patted a pillow into place be-
hind Sophronia's head. There, now
lie back. You can read the paper
for about fifteen minutes, then you
must take nap. No cheating, now
just fifteen minutes! Doctor
Woodward's orders"
Sophronia looked up at Silver
with narrowed eyes. Il don't like
the way you're lookin' lately" she
declared with emphasis. you're
peaked-white. And your eyes are
entirely too big and dark around.
What's worrying your"
Nothing, except you-and
haven't been worrying much about
you since you started getting bet
ter" Silver assured her, but the
fainst flush that lay suddenly upon
her smooth cheeks was not lost on
Sophronia.
''That fool of Duke Melbank
hasn't been botherin' you again, has
he?"
Silver's brow puckered into a
little frown of laughing denial.
Certainly not! And you stop look
ing for trouble. You're ever so much
better this morning. This sun is do
ing wonders for you"
eyes," Phronie sighed, wonders
for me-but what is it dom to the
crops? 1t hasn't really rained since
I got sick, has it?"
''Now, there you co." Silver re-
buked her. eff it isn't one thing, it's
another. Roddy says there's no real
danger yet, so get your mind"
'I've seen it go like this before,
my girl. I know what I'm talkin'
about. How does Roddy's corn
look?"
Silver hesitated. 'Well-he's been
watering that plot he pollenated by
hand. He's been tending it as though
it were a newborn babe"
Sophronia shifted herself to a
more comfortable position in her
chair. II wish one of you would
take a run up and see how Paula
is" she said uneasily. "We haven't
had a word from them in a week. /"
Silver looked at her and put her
hands on her hips. 'Will you stop
talking and worrying about things!
I have to 60 and fix up the house.
I'll look out on you in fifteen min
utes-and if you're not asleep, I'll
call Doctor Woodward"
i. ooh, dear!" Sophronia sighed,
settling herself finally.
Silver stood with a hamper con-
tanning a coffee pot and dish of
buttered rolls, and listened at the
screen door of Roddy's house. She
was hoping that Corinne might 60
along with her down to the field
where the men were at work, as
she had done before. But there was
no sound from within. Corinne was
probably not yet awake. It was on
ly a little after seven, and she had
been at a dance last night at the
Richter cottage on the lake.
Slowly, and with confused emo
lions, Silver moved through the
yard and eastward toward the corn
plot in the valley below where
Roddy, with his father and Steve,
was at work. It was not the first