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

count at the bank Delore we S0l0
the grain. You either can't under
stand-or you don't care. wish to
God you'd tell me which it isl"
Corinne faced Roddy with blaz-
ing eyes.
Il can't stand this business Of
counting every penny like a news
boy in the street! # that's what you
want me to understand, you may as
well know now that ] never shall.
won't try. You may be used to
this hand-to-mouth existence. You
probably love it-because OF your
precious land! I'm the one that has
to suffer. suppose ! should have
bought a two-dollar dress and a
five-dollar coat and pair of shoes
IN =. bargain Basement"
She stood before him, small and
white trembling with outrage. Rod
dysregaEded her Understanding sin-
credulity. It did not seem quite pos
sihle to him that anyone could be
so selfish, so petty, so lacking in
personal integrity-and worst OF
all, in an ordinary sense Of proper
ton.
Corinne gripped the back Of a
chair and spoke in q voice so charg-
ed with vindictiveness that Roddy
found it hard to credit his senses.
you're evidently too Much Of \
clod-born and bred-to. have any
beyond groveling in a
corp-patch! You've got me to the
place now where I'll have to do my
own Homework. You want to make
a slottern out Of me. All right-I'n
do my best to be one!" Her voice
rose Historically. "But I am going
to tell you one thing-it won't be
for long! If I ever get the chance to
get away from it, I'll go!"
Roddy came over to her. CO.
rinne's tempers were by now moth
ing new to him.
"You don't mean that, Corrie," he
said gently.
She snatched her hands = away.
'sWhy wouldn't I mean it," she
famed. "What have you done for
me?"
Roddy did not know afterwards
how it came about. He knew only
that some frozen. area of despair
within him seemed suddenly to
burst and boil up into an overpow-
ering rage.
'sWhat have done for your" he
rasped. "Do you want to know? I've
lost my self-respect-and I've al
most lost my mind-trying to make
you happy!"
Insolent and cold still, Corinne
watched him with a wary fascina-
ton, her hands on her hips. Then,
at her small tinkling laugh he lost
complete control of himself. He
stepped toward her and the soft
collapse of her shoulders beneath
the grip of his hand as he shook her
only melted him to greater fury.
She wrenched herself free and at
that moment a handkerchief dropped
from her blouse and fell to the
floor. There was sharp metallic
click and Corinne sprang to pick up
the square of lace and linen. Some
thing in her manner prompted Rod
dy to snatch it from her before she
had quite recovered il. Folded in
the handkerchief was a monogram
med onyx and gold cigarette case
a smaller replica of one 'Roddy had
seen in the possession Of Gerald
Lucas.
whats this?" he demanded.
II bought it," Corinne said in sui
len, defiant voice, aa.,
He looked at her for a moment
before he spoke. you're lying to-
me-" he said at last. who gave it
to your"
what right have you to ask?"
Corrinne screamed. $40 you ever
give me anything? II I live to be q
AZ
keep still" Rody said frigidly.
':You don't have to tell me who
gave you this thing" He tossed it on
the table, then turned and faced
her. "Corrie, - he went on, 1T begins
to look like a showdown between
you and me. Perhaps / did You an
injustice in marrying you. But !
loved you. When you married me
it was just way out for you,
wasn't it? It wasn't because you
were in love with me. Isn't that