Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1942-02-06

ing down slowly, drop by drop. float
ing slowly down, feathery. delicate, in
suspense.
And standing under the branches,
she thought, this is part of contin-
uous thing. Like love and begetting
and more love. Like me, who is hav-
ing a child who will love somebody.
I don't count, of course not.
The door opened and there stood
Mrs. Simpson with a flashlight. She
wore a big coat and rubber boots.
Hello" Louise said. II was Just
looking at the tree. Did wake you
up?"
Mrs Simpson said hello. and came
across to her, wading in her husbands
enormous rubber boots. She had her
false teeth out, and now her mouth
was sunk deeper than ever, with its
patient good smile. Her hair was hang
ing down in dry rope.
II thought heard a car stuck down
the hill," she said. II was up with
Junior, so heard it."
you don't get any rest" Louise
said "Is Junior sick to his stomach?"
mo, he was just kind of restless. He
wanted water, and so did Ellen. Seems
like we're running hospital here"
II didn't hear a car" Louise said.
II thought maybe my man was down
there, stuck" Mrs. Simpson said. She
gave her little laugh. Sometimes these
menfolk have few more drinks than
is good for them"
She began walking down the frozen
road with its thin powder of snow.
She held the flashlight and clutched
her coat. Don't catch cold, Mrs.
Davis" she called.
Louise went back into the house.
She got into bed and lay there. If
lie still, perhaps I'll sleep, she
thought. Then she was half asleep,
and then she could hear the snow, the
sound it made in the darkness. Her
window was open from the top and
she could hear the patter on the roof,
and the faint cracking in the cutters.
And then she woke up and 1t was
morning, with the snow banked
against the window, white and still,
making no sound. She got up, and
looked out OF the window. The sun
was shining, and the whole country
was white and silent, as though the
snow had made the silence. She saw
the familiar roof of the neighboring
farmhouse and the road, with its deep
drifts. I've never seen the country like
this, she thought. I've never even
thought of it this way.
The party line was ringing down.
stairs. Louise could hear the sharp
bell. the sound came through the reg
lister in the room. She got back into
bed, and then she heard Mrs. Simp-
son pick up the receiver and say,
Hello.
Samuel, are you all right2" Mrs.
Simpson said.
Then there was a silence. Then she
said, Samuel come home. I want you
to come home"
Louise had never heard her voice
like that. There was another silence,
and then Mrs. Simpson said, "All
right, come home when it suits you, "
and banged the receiver down so that
you could hear it all over the house.
Nancy came in with Louise's break
fast tray.
II could have come down." Louise
said.
Its no trouble" Nancy answered.
She smiled a little, putting the tray
on Louise's lap; then she stood and
looked out of the window. 1.-The hill
looks good for coasting," she said. 1--WE
can't get to school today, so expect
me and Roy, we'll coast"
How deep Is it?"
About two feet, and the roads
drifted I don't know how high. No.
body can get through till the snow
pillow comes through first"
How are Junior and Elem"
"oh. they're fine" Nancy said In
differently. 1.-THE Sleeps all in the
barn." she went on. Roy and mamma
had a chore getting them in this
morning. They was scattered all over
the two pastures again."
How did you do all the farm
chores?"
"Oh, mamma and Roy and me. We
did 'em. Mamma put on papa's rubber
boots and come out with us. Then she
sent me back In to start the break