Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1938-03-12

(COpyrisht 1898: By AEarEaret ". sAcksanl
Published By Special Advancement With Ths
CHICAGO Tribune-New York News Syndicate.
Incorporated
IN TWO PARTS-PART TWO
Leila went upstairs and into the girls
room. Jane was in bed, one bare foot
sticking out from under the covers
Her dress hung where she could SCI
It when she opened her eyes. Leila
moved to turn out the light on James
desk and saw there q single sheet OF
paper. She stopped to read it. Il was
another poem Jane had q boxfm now.
One thing there is that
Have wondered at exceedingly
And that Is why am myself
And can no other be.
often wonder why have
The privilege to be me
And why my thoughts are all my
own
That no one knows but me.
And below. added almost casually:
From where Lie
can see
That I am slowly going to be
Melted in by earth and sky
And by the river gliding by.
This is, see, from where lie.
authors note. The verses above
were written by my 16-year-old daugh-
ter, Martha Jackson, and are used in
this story with her permisSion).
Leila found her face suddenly wet
with tears. Her throat hurt. She turned
The child stirred, said sleepiy:
"Oh, mother, had such a lovely
timel We had such funP
Leila lay awake a long time. Her
heart was moved with an aching ten
derness.
AS the weeks passed Leila began to
feel like a person pulled in two. Jane
had plunged headlong into an active
social whirl. Since dates and parties
were verboten on school nights 1t left
her weekends crowded. But that was
just when the adult group was socially
most active.
Jane wanted to have party the
Friday night before Thanksgiving week
and had it, although it meant knock
down, drag-out fight with Donald.
That was the weekend Of homecoming
at the State university and Donald
wanted to get there Friday afternoon
and STAY overnight. He went at last,
by himself, and he and Leila had
words. Leila stayed at home.
She hoped Donald was having good
time. Darn him anyhow, the selfish
brute. Maybe he thought she didn't
want to be at the homecoming dance
ing and having fun" Maybe he
thought she was too old TO dance ana
have a good time. Let Donald be q
playboyl Suddenly Leila wept, and
wondered if the time ever came when
one was willing to sit home and grow
old.
OF course, she went the next after
noon. She left Mrs. Simms to nave
supper with the children and stay until
their return. Leila was delighted TO
company of her contemporaries. Iney
fen in with old friends from their
college days.
what with one thing or another and
the 5O-mile ride home, 1t was afIer
o'clock when they approached thelr
own house. The street was empty ana
dark, a single light burned In tneir
living room.
Donald sat in the car while Leila
vent in to rouse Mrs. Simms and SEND
her forth. so that Donald could take
her home. The elderly woman woke az
once and rose and got her hat ana
'O II guess didn't hear Jane come
in - she said. Ieila's eyes widened.
''Jane?" she asked. did Jane go
outP" o,a ~
tvvo others came after her, and told !
her IL was all right for her to go with
Them. They were going out to the Reo
BARN to dance. I told her I was sure
you wouldn't mind, as you often go
'n sshe shouldn't have gone without
said Leila testify. Mrs.
simms had certainly exceeded ner
"Well.S said Mrs. simms, with her
hand on the door, "you didn't say
he couldn't go. You didn't say any
hing about it. You can't expect young
people to sit at home. I'm sorry you
iidrl't want her to go out. ,s
Mrs. Simms went out 70 DonaIu,
title r1IffIed. Leila went upstairs
,Io1SIr she would certainly tell Jane
,bo,T thisI Leila turned on the lamp
m LANES desk and stood immopne.
Iane's bed had not been touched. JANE
lei leila went swiftly through the house
lame was not therel Her heart began
n Mound in her throat. She looked az
he clock. Two-thtrty! They mao mao
yreck. Horrible pictures flashed peIore
,ar her little girl, and the others,
.trewn along q railroad right Of way,
r huddIed in ditch. Perhaps no one
,ad seen them. Perhaps they were az
i morgue OF hospital somewhere I'M
u ella went to the telephone and
allied the Petersen's house. She could
ear the bell ringing at the other enc
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