The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1939-03-30


wonderful! But-what a lot we'll
owe you."
Then they heard the front door
open and heavy footsteps tramp
ing in, and the girls flew to eau
ton Ted, and set Bud to watch
the door.
81 found Bill hanging round
with nothing to do, so we brought
everything" explained Ted in a
low humble to Marjorie.
It proved bit hard to SUBJ
due Bills voice and step, but
Betty was vigilant, and Bud was
delighted with his office of door
keeper, and didn't take long at
ter all to marshall in the poor
bits of household comfort that
had gone out one by on to supply
necessities. When the door shut at
last on Bill, and they heard his
truck drive away, the brothers
and sisters looked at one another
in the garish light of a single
stark electric bulb swinging from
long wire in the parlor ceiling
and drew breaths of relief. Sud
denly Betty dropped down IN a
big shabby faded chair, buried
her face in her hands, her weary,
slender young shoulders shaking
with the sobs she would not al
low to become audible.
Marjorie was by her side in
stantly, her arms about her.
"There, dear! Don't cry. Poor
dear! You're so tired, aren't you?
But listen! We're going to have
nice supper now and a good
time getting things to rights.
Come, cheer up!
Betty raised tearstained eyes
and began to laugh softly, hys-
terically.
"Tm-only crying-because it's
so wonderful-to see our old
things back again!" she gurgled.
| Marjorie smiled
well, it does seem more home
like, doesn't it? My! That couch
looks good to me. I'm going to
| try it after a while, but now I'm
going to take Bonnie's tempera-
ture again and see whether we
need the doctor.
But while she was taking the
temperature, the doctor arrived
1--WE had a call out into the
country" he explained as Betty
opened the door for him, land
might have to be gone all night
I thought I'd better just step in
and see how the patients are be-
fore leave. I want to make sure
before I go so far away"
Betty went with him upstairs
"All going we'll above stairs,
he announced cheerfully when
he came down. Mothers break
ing into nice perspiration, and
her lungs are clear so far. I
don't expect her fever to go up
tonight. at all"
i He glanced down at Marjorie.
you're the sister, aren't you?
You two are very much alike
Well, I think you can be easy in
your mind. Anyhow I'll be back
in the morning"
But we have another patient
in here" said Marjorie. II think
you'd better look at her before
you go. I've done all I know how
to do but her temperature seems
| to be going up in spite of it,
| She led the way to the couch.
Il don't anticipate anything ser
ious," said the doctor with a
lsmile toward Betty, and another
at Marjorie. It's her stomach, of
course. Children will eat all
sorts of things, you know. It
looks like a case of ptomaine, but
l think she'll come out all right.
Don't you worry" he added COM
lfortingly, "everybody's going to
be all right. They'll all be decid-
edly better in the morning, I'm
sure
Betty looked up and met his
eyes wistfully, and Marjorie
watching saw the glance, and
thought what nice eyes the doc
tor had. Nice brown eyes.
Dinner was ready in a surpris-
ingly short time, and the starved
young appetites were ready too.
Marjorie went out to the kit
chen to get Bud his glass of milk,
while Ted attacked the big beef
steak with the carving knife
which had just been recovered
from the pawn shop.
"It's. almost too pretty to cut,
isn't it?" he said. And then he
heard a step behind him. They
| all turned and there stood their