Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1939-01-07

learn sometime that they can't come
in the house"
Would you like to have them ir
the house Rodney?" she asked.
yeah. never could see why they
couldn't come in once In a while. say
in the kitchen after supper, but Nam
ma never would have 1t. She was afraid
thev'd get the kitchen dirty"
Let's let them in then" Annie cried
suddenly Now. at once. she might as
we'll begin to make the changes. NAM
ma never would let me have Foxy In
the house either and / always wanted
him" This was to be the beginning Of
new freedom for Rodney, she would
see that he got it. for herself too. At
their age new freedom.
But Rodney still held the door closed
so that they we're outside on the steps
and the dogs couldn't get in. do you
think we'd better?" he asked uncer-
tainly. She knew he was thinking Of
what his mother would have said
Sure, we can" she said strongly,
trying to transmit some Of her strength
to him. There's nobody to say we
can't. IF we like dogs in the house
don't see what's to keep us from hav-
ing them" But the kitchen when he
opened the door, seemed 10 echo
against her as II someone else had
spoken.
They went all through the house that
same day. Rodney helped her open the
blinds and the windows, so that she
could see how the rooms really looked
and to let them air. They seemed I'M
Familiar and STRANGE, even TO him.
1.-THE front part Of this house has been
going to waste for long time" he
said.
ssvryouJ -. - tt.4.. - - -
the parlor." she said. Though she knew
paired before they could have a fire
In the parlor CRATE For many years
there had been something wrong with
that flue, the plaster and some Of the
bricks fallen out so that the flame
would come too near the laths and
wood. Mrs. Pryor hadn't wanted a fire
n the parlor, she had purposely left
the flue unrepaired But wen have
t fixed before cold weather comes"
Annie said.
She had intended leaving the blinds
md windows open but when they had
zone all through, she said. I'VE might /
IS well close these windows and
blinds" Rodney seemed relieved. The /
hill plaster and dim halls seemed to /
lold his mothers voice Everywhere !
AANN WNAAt AANA fOAAE oCtAAtEA " UE ELAAO~
ng. II knew you'd begin to change 4
hings as soon as was gone" Her sad 4
accusing voice.
Annie knew that was what Rodney
vas hearing. she was hearing 1t too.
{ was as II they were trying to push
gainst something stronger than they
we're. And so Rodney helped her to
lose the windows and they left every
hing exactly as it had always been.
After the first two or three times
hey didn't even have the dogs in the
itchen. Even In the kitchen a habit
Tas already established that they
ouldnt break. They slept in the bed
pom back Of the dining room and sat
4 the kitchen, the only difference
-om what It had been In Mrs. Pryor's
fetime was that Annie did drag two
)ckers back to the kitchen.
you don't know how hard It Is"
nnie admitted to Della, ito go into
mother woman's house and try to
AXE it your own" It seemed that she
nd Rodney were still having to snatch |
letr happiness furtively, Just as they |
ad done for so many years. They |
ere having to sneak and steal what
appineSs they had from the house
self.
It was In early December that the
1use burned, still sunshiny morn
g as warm as early fall with not q