The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1940-05-16

.FleaSe make yOurSelI -cOlll1O1
table," Janet said, smiling, as she
took his hat. Il shall have to do
something about food. We have
no maid
Steve Hill was staring around
the living room, at the couch
which Anne had covered with
lowered chintz, at the ivory book
shelves which Jim had built in
between the windows, at the glass
basket of zinnias on the drop-leaf
table by the easy chair, at the Coz
lorful hooked rugs which Janet
had made for the painted floors.
Anybody homer" called Anne
from the front door.
Mother, this is Mr.. Ryan's
friend, Stephen HILL" stammered
Janet.
Anne smiled.
How do you do?" she said,
putting out her hand.
It was not the words, it was her
warm, gracious tone which re-
moved all strain from the situa-
ton.
''How's for eating?" demanded
Jim, banging the front door be-
hind him.
my brother, - Mr.. HILL" said
Janet.
Jim started forward with out
stretched hand and tripped over
a lamp cord. Sorry" he said
with a grin. "1'm the blunder-
buss of the family"
Janet's remaining qualms were
dissipated by the unobtrusive
manner in which her guest fitted
in at their table. They sat for two
hours after they finished eating.
Janet's eyes glowing, Jim look
ing more relaxed than he had in
weeks, Anne leaning forward, her
cheeks bright, all of them waited
out of themselves on the Magic
Carpet of Stephens Hills fasci-
mating drawl to the far and
strange places of the earth, to the
Peacock Throne and the lacy mi
naret of the Tai Mahal, to croco-
dile-infested tropic jungles, to
Piccadilly on a balmy May after
noon, to the boulevards of Paris
on a fantastic moonlit night.
Isn't he wonderful" cried ia
net when he had gone. Il don't
care if he is just another one of
what the Earl of Jersey calls a
bit of flotsam on the beach of
fate, Steve's precious"
Jim began to laugh. He laughed
immoderately. '1 can't help i"
he pleaded, ''it's just that when I
think of you two determined to
feed the crumbs of your divine
charity to Stephen Hill, 1 get the
giggles." He put an arm about
each of them. Dear sweet inno-
cents" he explained, don't you
ever read the bylines in the news
papers, haven't you ever listened
to the radio, did you ever see a
travel book"
ooh, my sainted aunt" cried
Janet weakly. "He isn't the Ste
phen Decatur Hill"
Jim nodded and Anne clutched
his arm. "The famous war CORES
pondent!''
"The guy" said Jim, "who
knows more celebrities intimate
ly than any man in the world, the
guy who's covered every 'impor-
tant news event for twenty
years"
"And we set him down at a
patched tablecloth," mourned ia
net.
81 don't believe he minded"
said Anne with that odd breath
less note in her voice.
The sixteenth day Of August be-
gan unpleasantly for Anne Phil
lips. She had not slept well the
night before. It was very hot and
she rolled and tossed.
eff only knew exactly what I
am afraid Of" she told herself.
'"You can fight anything after it
comes out into the open"
She was nervous the next
morning. She let the toast scorch,
something she had not done in
years, and burned her hand on
the oven. q
"The ingenuity with which you
can do everything on some days
really should be utilized"
snapped Anne, snatching at the
box of baking soda.
Janet who was preparing the
grapefruit for breakfast gave her
-A~~%1n1 nr1omNn II xxyaS