The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1941-01-09
CHAPTER I

The morning following Ellen's
departure from the earthly scene,
Mark woke to confusion Then he
looked through the open door
way into the emptiness that was
EIen's room and remembered.
But oddly enough, it was not his
wife's going that came back to
him. 1t was the memory of the
morbidly sweet fumes from hum
dreds of blossoms curious
mingling of dissolution and fes-
tivity-that had risen to the up
stairs sitting room where he and
young Valerie had sat the. day be-
fore in Difference to custom.
He was indignant that after
submitting to the conventions
thrust upon him, he must be shut
UP here in the sitting room as If
he were a criminal, while people
thronged his house at will. And
Indignant that anything as JOY
Gus as a rose should be forced
into unwilling contact with what
could be at worst only colossal
blunder.
He stirred the logs in the fire
place. When they blazed he sat
down on a deep sofa and held
out hand to Valerie. She rose
obediently and sat beside him,
and he put a casual arm around
her He looked at her almost as
If he had never seen her before,
hardly realizing that in reality
he never had. People who lived
with Ellen were barred from any
real knowledge Of each other,
since her necessity had been in
depreciation,
From below rose the sound of
singing. Mark had no idea who
the singer was. Her voice was
smooth and bland, tuned to con-
ISOLATION. He wanted to get up and
shut the sitting-room door, but
Ellen's sister Dorothy, who had
taken charge of him and his grief,
had left it open so that he and
Valerie could hear the service.
Instead, he talked softly and in
Cessantly to Valerie. About the
rose garden, and the spring that
was almost on them. About any
thing he could think of connected
with life and joy, until Valerie's
tense young slimness relaxed
against him, and her eyes like
pools in her small white face lost
some Of their daze
Dorothy said you would prob
ably sell Wide Acres now" she
told him. Mark started.
Sell Wide Acres?" The idea
was purely Fantastic.
Valerie smiled a little "She
said you wouldn't want an enor-
NOUS house all alone"
But I'm not alone while there's
you. Besides, I built it when
there was nobody else here"
Dorothy said she and Paul
could make room for me. She
said nobody could expect you to
to keep me-noW-"
Lets get us some more fire"
said Mark. He leaned forward,
bringing her with him and laid
a log on the flames. He had en-
tirely forgotten for the moment
what was going on below. ''My
darling child, you're not a piece
of furniture / had sent home on
approval You see. the law gave
you to me. Dorothy can't take
you away-unless, of course, you
want to 60"
He was astonished that the
thought of her leaving filled him
with sudden fear.
Valerie turned suddenly and
clasped her thin young arms as
as far around him as they would
go. AS he had an ingrained dis
trust of too many words, and no
intention of adding to the emo
ton which seemed to drench his
house, he merely added his 9TH
er arm to the one already around
her; and they sat and held each
other tightly.
so that's settled" he said pres
emily. eff Dorothy says any more
about it, just send her to me-"
Soft footsteps in the hall, and
Dorothy's face full of sorrow and
authority at the door. Behind her
Paul, her husband.
1It was a lovely service" said
Dorothy. Mark felt relief that she
stated the fact, instead of asking
him a question. 81 know darling
Ellen would be happy if she
could know all the people who
came to be with her. Or maybe
she does know" ..--......
She drew a wisp of black-and-
white chiffon from her sleeve.
@~.~