Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1938-10-22


BY the dining room table, Bruno's lee
thrown ever the arm OF his chair. the
edge Of his book in his thin, impa-
tent fingers The fingers remained
tense, did not turn the page Her glance
went toward the fresh washed WORLD
outside, then she gave small sigh
n and went into the room where Bruno
pretended to read.
Germany" she said, too brightly.
why Germany" Bruno said rtlciely.
I He closed the book with a little bang
and threw 1t on the table.
"Why2 So you can be ready for the
\ advanced class when you GO back.
Please, Bruno, don't act Like q 6-year-
oldl"
He swung his thin body out Of the
chair and walked over to the screen
door, stood with his back to Nell star
ing out across the green toward the
oaks. you all treat me as If were
one" he said sullenly.
Lets not go over all that agar" "
Nell said.
who's going over anything? I've got
weak heart /. Suppose went off
somewhere and died OF my weak
heart? It wouldn't be any worse than
staying at home and rotting away
aYou could be In worse places" Nell
said.
Bruno did not answer and presently
Nell gave him an uncertain and des-
pairing look and went out of the room.
She walked reluctantly up the stairs
and down the corridor to the room
she and John had slept In all her
childhood.
When she came INTO the room, the
bird was there, beating against the
screen, beating frantically and use
lessly. Nell walked across to 1t but
when she put out her hands the bird
made such q confusion Of wings that
she drew back. She went to the stairs
and called: "Ansell"
Ansel, always quietly apologize
when he had to appear upstairs IN
his overalls, came quickly down the
hall across the soft green carpet, try
ing not to move too heavily. He I'M I
hooked the screen on the side window, |
then went to the swift. put his heavy. I
though gentle hands over the bird. The
swift chung to the screen like ivy to
patchwork, but Ansel loosened it and 1t I
was abruptly quiet in his hands.
Scared, I guess" Ansel said. "Here
you go, nowl" He let the bird slip into
the free air again. The room was quiet
without the birds wings beating IN 1t.
Arsel stood an instant, hesitant, smil-
Lib az AN[A caAAAAlcJ % A AtC WO0A0 nAtD4Q-
gize for the incident, protect her
from it.
Il guess when your time comes, it
Just comes" he said.
Nell looked at him questioningly.
Some thinks it's bad luck" he said,
confused that he had made a point OF
the matter "a bird down the chimney.
A death in the house, my mother used
10 say. But when you get my age, you
lHFTsf cFot friurf4fafanH cIfnl1 cnxF4gacrc
any more" He gave her again his
gentle, kindly smile, and went out.
Nell watched his bent shoulders dis
down the hall, then turned
and looked toward the hearth where
The swift had made q little whirl Of
ashes on the tiles. She looked at that
patch Of disorder long time as If it
could account for the coldness Of her
hands, her hard beating heart. Her
mother called: els that you, Nell?" and
The went quickly, quietly, into her
Mothers room
whats all the confusion about?" her
mother said.
Nell said: ooh, just bird inside our
DOM. Ansel let it out" Her voice gave ,
he matter no significance, but over
Ter mothers face went cold shadow ,
md the shadow made circle Of the )
DOM
THE strawberries were sour this
morning." her mother said. where's
bruno? 1 thought he was going to read !
o me2"
Hes somewhere about. I'll speak to 2
i'm at once"
Her mother gave small disagree 2
BILE laugh
you know how much good your
peaking to him doesl" she said. Then: s.
oh, sit down--sit down, NELL You
ct so busy-yOu know very wei you o
ont need to turn a hand with Ansel
nd Martha hereI' "a
Nell sat down, but her thin face was :.
uarded. e
ave been II I'd Let Aneel and Martha
o when married John and chosen "
1meone myself she began.
ARE you crazyl Why, you never 3
ould have managed without theml *
las Ansel picked the currants?"
Eyes. he picked them early this Ia
forming"
z don't suppose Edwina's been Over9" 81
mo" 81
sHeavens. but you have difficult 81
nildren, Nell Sometimes I wonder I
hat Is happening to the world. You IT.
nd John should have put stop TO "
before Edwina ever married Sam fC
1T I suppose I shouldn't expect any
ling in the way Of firmness from
lhn by nOWg" ST
Johns firm enough Nell said. "And H
dwina has right to her own mis- Ct
kes" w
eFfddlesticksl If you'd had a little nt
ore iron IN you, she wouldn't have 81
ade the mistakei" az
Nell stood up. Beside her mothers
rye commanding presence In the big an
d, she looked slight and young. I'D
"I'm afraid the irons run out In our tn
mily," she said. ~ really have 70 Sc
N, Mother III send Bruno up" TO
Don't trouble. Youu probably for do
{, anyway-go off and write poem
something" tn
II haven't written poem IN year. av
III said little fatty.
Martha said: II didn't II
Ione for the veal yet, Miss Nell. You IN
low how twas last time-BrtIno said sol
didn't agree with him. thought grI
sybe you'd rather have lamb"
2 suppose IL doesn't matter" Nell tn
ID. vO
She went into her study, walked sal
WHY to the shelf and took down 9 vel