The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1936-01-09
By MARTHA osTENso

It was already dark before Co
rinne returned home on the follow
ing evening. Roddy had heard the
muffled approach of Evelyn Rich
ter's automobile. He went out of the
back door just as the car came to a
stop in the yard.
Corinne stepped down and Roddy
put his arms about her.
.'Corrie!" he cried. "What has
kept you so late? I've been imagin-
ing all sorts of things-accidents-"
Corinne laughed and released
herself. Nonsense! Help me get
these parcels out. Evelyn has to
hurry.
'Take this box, Roddy, darling,
but be careful with it. That's my
precieus,new hattie
In a moment Roddy's arms were
full and Evelyn called her hasty
3 good night and drove away. i !, -,
In the living room, Corinne's pur-
chases were placed on the couch.
II have some coffee percolataing
for you, Corrie," Roddy said. "While
you unwrap those things I'll go and
get it."
Sweet Of you, Roddy," Corinne
said absently, while she united a
string that bound her hat-box.
When he returned with the two
cups Of coffee and set them on the
small table in the corner of the
room, Corinne came in from the
hall where she had put on her new
hat in front Of the mirror in the
hatrack.
isn't it darling!" she exclaimed,
resting her head sideways toward
her shoulder as she smiled up at
him.
every fetching" Roddy laughed.
"And, Roddy!" Corinne drew a
deep breath. "Only eight fifty-re-
duced from twenty-one dollars!
And it will do me until fall. Roddy!
Don't you adore it,"
"Sure! It looks great, but"
"Of course, it's exclusive. You've
got to pay for models like this UNI
less"
what else did you get?" he ask
ed her, seating himself 'sYou'd bet
ter drink your coffee before it gets
cold"
Corinne unwrapped box con-
tanning a pair of high-heeled, blue
kid pumps. "These were on sale, too.
Eighteen dollars-reduced to elev-
entity. Aren't they sweet? Cut
steel buckles buckles are ex-
pensive, you know, but they'll do
on other shoes later. I'll take the
other things upstairs to unpack
them. You wouldn't be interested in
them. Stockings - gloves - under
wear-and I simply had to have a
bottle of toilet water and some face
cream and powder Those things
look small, but they count up when
you come to buy them" She laugh
ed. II have only forty-fve cents
left out of what you gave me,
Roddy regarded her with dull
wonder. Il thought you had enough
of those-those small things to do
you till doomsday."
.sWhy-Roddy! I brought that all
with me when I was married. And
anyhow"
Didn't you get yourself dress,
or q coat, or anything anything
substantial" he asked her, and felt
Immediately that what he had said
was somewhat incoherent.
,lCorinne laughed, but Roddy
thought there. was hard little edge
to her laugh. "How could with
what you gave me? There's no
economy in buying cheap things
that viii look like rags in week. I
can wait until"
You'll probably have to wait for
quite WHILE" he observed somber-
". Cant you see that we'n need
every penny just to keep going?"
'eWell- after all, ] don't know
anything about such things" she
protested pegligently. "And I hate
discussing money matters
81 guess there must be something
the matter with me-" he muttered,
and as he heard his own voice he
was struck with the utter strange
ness Of it. II have done my best to
explain. our position to you,C orinne.
I told you I had overdrawn my ac-
ne1ne 0nENHGAP