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

d11u UuH Gill OCI' D~C AAASNJ ~ -
you'd better not tell Dorothy"
"Oh-no-"
He laughed at the horror IN
Valerie's eyes. Then he decided 1t
was no laughing matter.
The train slipped away from
the platform. Valerie and Mark
had almost missed it. Mark apo
logized steadily for the two min
utes left him, and said things
about the traffic. =
He was so charming, Valerie
wondered how Dorothy could
look at him so GROSSLY. She and
Paul stood in the vestibule OF
their car, behind glass, for now
the door was shut. in their very
faces. Her aunt looked out at
them grimly as they stood side
by side on the platform. She
locked like Miss Weatherbee, at
Bolton, bursting with. things to
say. most of which would make
YOU wish you had never been
born. 1t was funny, because. of
course she didn't really lock like
Miss Weatherbee at all. It was
something sort of behind her
face. Maybe it was her thoughts.
Anyway. she had no chance to
speak, for suddenly the train was
gone. leaving a family disturbing
scent Of smoke about their heads.
It made you think Of places
California, where yu o1cnge to
California, where you longed to
60. and other far spots.
"a railroad station is terribly
exciting. isn't. it?" Valerie asked,
as they went back up the long
stairs. Il meant sCrt Of goes up
your spine"
Mark stopped short to look
down on her Can you belong
by any chance, to the Brothers of
the Wandering Foot?' he asked.
Because if so you've picked the
right parent. Just give me a few
months at the factory to make
'em think thew can get on with
out me, and I'll show you a real
vacation"
you mean-aWay?
Nothing else but. Where would
you be wanting to go?"
"Calif0rnia, please - and the
South Seas - nowhere cold-un-
less vol like it.
"California and the South
Seas are all right with me-"
They came out of the station.
found the parked roadster, and
headed for shops, Mark aFked
which one she preferred and Val
erie, after trying frantically to
he gr0Wn-up- collapsed and tod
him the truth.
II dent know any shODS. ia
Their. You see. I never saw my
clothes until they were sent to
me. Mother got them, and l Just
wore them. She thought girls
ought not to think about clothes
I mean, until they were older
so what are we going to dO?"
ooh, We'll muddle along" said
Mark.
His eve were caught by a riot
of color behind a plate-glass win
dew. He pulled around a corner
and parked his car.
They came out an hour late,
and piled boxes in the rumble.
Valerie had insisted on carrying
them. She wouldn't trust them to
be delivered.
Il never saw so many at once
eight dresses, three suits, and
four coats-besides hats and-all
the rest" she said as they drove
away. "Whatever are we going
to do with all the clothes I have
already!
Mark lighted a cigarette, and
waved the problem away. ''Pll bet
Mrs. Banwood knows some needy
souls. She looks as if she would.
If she doesn't, there are always
some people who-well, look out
for people"
"I know-the Salvation Army
said Valerie 'But probably Mrs.
Banwood will fix it. Housekeep-
ers are clever, aren't they?"
care they? My acquaintance
seems to have been limited. Your
mother picked Mrs. Banwood off
a bush somewhere. I wasn't so
crazy about her at first, but now
I believe she's good for me. She
takes me down. If she
looks at me long, I begin to Won
der if my face is dirty or if I have
a caterpillar on my collar"