Evening star., 1937-10-03


crying because you were so happy.
She paced the platform restlessly, pausing
to peer into the little mirror above the penny
gum machine 1t was wavy IN parts and she
had to pop up and down like mechanical
toy to find clear place in it. Her reflection
startled her little, and filled her with honest
qualification. Was it possible for happiness
and excitement to make person almost
beautiful? Her cheeks were glowing as if fire
burned beneath the skin.
She wondered whether Jim would notice
the change in her, or whether he would still
treat her as child. He used to call her things
like Pug Nose, Freckled-Face or Skinny. But
he couldn't do that any longer, for the last
two years had npened her to womanhood.
Hard work had done some of it, and missing
him and loving him had done the rest of it.
Perhaps he knew it; for once, during his brief
visit home on Christmas, he had looked at her
with new realization and acceptance. You
remind me of a young tree, Harry. he'd said.
81 guess it, because the lands in your blood,
you're part of it. Shouldn't be surprised if
that what made your hair and eyes so brown
1t hadn't been very much - only compli-
ment shared with the farm he loved = but
the way he said it had been like touch of
fame. Each day, for months, she had relived
the memory until now it, too was part of her.
In the mirror, over her shoulder, she saw
Iohn Dawson watching her For the first time
in her life she was grateful to the depths OF her
very being that he wasn't her father = that
they weren't related at all. When she'd first
come to live with the Dawsons, almost fifteen
wears ago, she'd prayed God to make her into
real family" instead of someone whom they'd
adopted out of kindness because her own
father had been killed by one of.the Dawson
horses. Now she was glad that God hadn't
listened to her prayer; she was glad that she
and Jim were just people = blood strangers
who might know and love each other.
81 guess you'll do" John Dawson said.
"You look pretty good to me, and guess
you'll look all right to Jim, too"
do you really think so. Uncle John?" Her
voice was tremulous with hope and fear.
John Dawson nodded. Certainly do" he
said. II wouldn't have any respect for jim
if he couldn't see you'd grown to be the pref
test girl in Jefferson County"
She slipped her arm through his. 1t was
funny how much they were able to say to
each other without using words.
Through the open depot window sounded
the abrupt clicking of the telegraph instru-
ment. A quick fear bit into her. Perhaps
there'd been an accident! She wheeled around,
searching the station-master's face. But he
was slumped placidly in his chair. hardly
listening to the message. will the 2O6 be
rauch later?" she implored him.
"Well," Saunders answered, she LETT
Wherryville twenty minutes ago so I'd
say it ought to be along any minute now"
She was indignant Twenty minutes ago.
Why that's only a fifteen minute run! What's
it doing? Stopping off for a picnic on the way?"
Saunders gave an unaccustomed chuckle.
Don't blame you for being impatient. He
glanced up at John Dawson. "A mans son
don't come home from college every day.
Dawson wore the strange semblance of
youth to which old people clutch when they
hold the bounty of the present against full
lived past. That's right" he admitted with
pride. 81 guess III have to take back seat
from now on. Jim'n know more about farm
ing than do"
Then he II know a lot" Saunders laughed
broadly Hope they taught him how to grow
wheat without water in the agricultural
school"
Lines of worry and strain came back for
D nVoA