The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1941-01-23

knew Mrs. BanWOOd S eI1ect On
one. "She's only my second /
mean housekeeper," she ex-
planned. There was one at school.
If the girls met her in the halls,
we ran. We never knew why we
ran. We just did. So of course
Mrs. Banwood seems pretty mild
to me-"
81 dare say she is really" said
Mark. ITS probably my guilty
conscience"
Mark headed for his factory
next morning. He had, he said, to
show up at least fer the day, be-
fore they went adventuring. He
wondered bit uneasily what
Valerie would do without him. It
was the first time he had left her.
He put it to her at breakfast,
but she told him solemnly that
with her old things to transfer
to Mrs. Banwood, her new ones
to pack, the day would be hard
ly long enough. He left her stand
ing out on the wide steps, the
morning breeze, in her hair, her
right hand raised in a queer lit
tie salute as he. wheeled his road
ster around the. curve of the
drive and was gone. II, -
Valerie watched his car vanish.
among the trees. She. felt small
and insignificant, and: at the same
time terribly important: ItNWas
pleasantly confusing. *She:@~wefat
into the, house, and .hurried> TO
her own rooms. = =. -. 81. -
Valerie went into her dresslng
room and opened :the big'rlothes
closet to: pass final sentence on
the solemn dresses in an orderly
row on their: hangers. 1t hardly
seemed possible she was about to
wipe the. place bare of them and
start all over: again. 1872.
She pulled down the things, be-
Ginning with the ones she special
ly dis1iEed, and carrying them IN
to pile neatly on her bed. Then
she remembered Mark, and the
hilarity of their shopping. Moth
ing Mark did could be 50 very
wrong. And Mark had said get
rid Of them.
She get out the pile of boxes
from the corner Of the dressing
room, and began to unite them,
lifting out delicious layers CT
white tissue paper. from which
rose faint but exciting scent. AS
she shook out the bright chiffons,
the organdies. and the tWeeds, she
, forgot Ellen and her theories.
Forgot the empty rooms below,
Forgot, for the time, even that
there was Mark.
She was balanced in enchant-
ment before the newly filled
closet when Mrs. Ranwood walk
ed into the room. Valerie jumped
and confronted her, standing be-
fore the swaying garments defen-
eively.
Tin afraid I didn't hear you
knock" she said.
II knocked three times" said
Mrs. Banwood. What in the
world!"
"Just-iuet nv new things.I-
I'm sorry I didn't hear you" Mrs.
Banwood fingered q bright chif-
fon critically. And who is going
to wear these?" she asked.
II am" Valerie ran past her
into the bedroom and gathered q
ollie Of sober garments from the
bed. These are for vou.' She
thrust them into Mrs, BanWooG'S
arms. MY father said you would
know what to do with them. You
see. somebody may need them
who bought you the others?'
My father" The words made
magic. She wanted to say them
over and over-"my fsather."
When she said it. she could see
the ugly gray of Mrs. BanWood's
disapproval fade.
aren't you going to wear any
mourning?" The woman seemed
able to speak in nothing but ques-
tons. They sounded bald, even to
her own ears.
my father it's what's in your
heart-not what color you have
on"
Mrs. Banwood looked down at
her accusingly. "And your moth
er hardly in her gravel"
Nervous tears filled Valerie's
INIT" "@T~-