Evening star., 1938-10-09
|" HAT day | was walking back slowly from
Marysburg, where had gone to look at
TOM, rs ,,,,loe


They were beauties marked alike could
use them But Cass was slow about closing
and started home, no better off than when
left. Don't rush me, Peter Zoon,' Cass said
The weather was fine and soft On the side
of Gopher Hill wild orchids were standing up
from beds of pine needles that had been fall
ing for years. knew how deep you could dig
for their roots. And l thought: Kate and
are like that - rooted"
The old Zoon place was ours at Hawbridge
just three good miles from Marysburg. with
its orchards and tobacco field. Her parents
and mine had grown up there, helping with
the community church. getting money for
the one-room school, Kate teaching at the
school, coming to the farm as Mrs. Peter
Zoon. Fifteen years younger than me, but
steady, blue e-eyed, laughing easily.
Peter" she would say placing her taffy-
coored head against my shoulder my so
serious Peter" 1t was good, thinking about
all that. with the hillside darkening under
greenish twilight and the road twisting like
gray lava toward Hawbridge.
Kate was still teaching the grade school,
People said things sometimes woman
should be in the house - Zoon wasn't so
hard up was he? - But it was only folks
. talk. never wanted Kate to work around the
farm. Grow burnt out and old looking like
other women.
She liked to teach. She spread the money
around, too. More than one poor family down
in the hollow had Kate Zoon to thank for
shoes and coal. Always some lame duck she
had to look out for. Like Jan. the boy living
with US, whose mother had died last winter.
Jan was eighteen, but frail He had been
sick and there wasn't any place he could co.
Kate nursed him and fused over him. She
gave him Guild books to read. taught him
chess January and February nights by the
fire. When he got up he began to help around
the house. Now Jan was strong. He was of use
to me. wouldn't have been going home so
late if it wasn't for Jan to milk the COWS and
bed down old SADIE. the mare
MIR. Zoon," Jan had said. you and Mrs
Zoon you been so swell, want to help
He was young for eighteen, small -boned
Kate and had been married five veal. .
five years to this same day There were no
children. DR.. Ninkle said there would never
be-
Kate teased lot with Jan old stupid.'
she said to him. when he lost at chess. The
house had more life in it, somehow
You stay here. Jan. said, when he tried
to thank me-
Halfway home, passed the Wilmots' farm
Carl Wilmot and were friends went up to
his big red house to say few words. Mrs.
'Wilmot was the only one in.
Peter. you We missed Carl But guess who
was here around three - Kate and Jar Come
to return two spades
She was big. kind woman - talkatve
Peter" she said again. and stopped Her
round, cheerful face couldn't hide anything
Yes" l waited.
You keeping Jan on"
For while He's not strong 70 20 out
yet"
Hes full grown
l got up from the porch. ''Tell Carl. thanks
for the spades bought some new"
1t was darker going home now. and cool.
knew what Hilda Wilmot was thinking. as
plainly as if she had shouted it out You
fool - in the fields all day. and a pretty
young wife nurse maiding an eighteen-year
boy"
kicked some dead branches out of my
way. Women! Like cats.
had bought Kate an anniversary present
A