The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1943-06-24


Della and me. I'd always thought
that nobody cares, not really,
about anybody but his own folks.
So when I saw you being nice to
that silly old woman, why it
seemed to me all of a sudden that
maybe we weren't so all by our
selves, Della and I. But when l
tried to tell you, I couldn't seem
to think of any way to say it that
wouldn't sound as if was ask
ing you to be sorry for us :"
She held her head high, her gray
eyes sternly babe him pity at his
peril.
ut doesn't sound like that. Not
in the least!" he assured her, his
heart pounding in the sympathy
she had not asked for, and stop
ped short, his eyes fixed on the
knob of the door. It was slowly
being turned.
The door opened, revealing the
janitor in faded overalls STOPPING
to pick up a pail. He had plodded
several steps into the room before
he saw the superintendent was
still there, in the visitors chair,
and the teacher on the platform
behind her desk. ooh, I didn't
know as anybody was here, Pro-
fessor Hulme," he said, setting
down the pail. II better do some
other room first, mebbe?"
Mr.. Hume sttod up, reaching
for the hat he had left poised on
the geography globe. mo, 60
ahead Elmer" he said easily.
I'm just about through with
what I had to say to Miss Bar
ney" To the teacher he added
in all confidence. II think I'm
going your way, Miss Barney. We
could 60 along together and fin
ish up this matter on the way"
But she, bending her head over
the papers on her desk, murmur-
ed with a sudden shyness, "Thank
you, Mr.. Hume, have a little
work to do before CO."
"Good afternoon" he said stiff
ly, put his hat on, went through
the door, shut it behind him and
walked down the corridor. his
steps echoing dismally in the
empty building. He was furious.
He had just laid his hand on
the front door knob when he
heard the click of a lifted latch
at the other end of the hall Su-
san Barney's voice called, "Mr
Hulme!"
He halted, said gruffly, "Yes?"
Turning around and took off his
hat as if grudging the gesture.
She came close to him. She
was breathing rapidly, but she
said at once, maybe there isn't
any more kindness in the world
than ! thought. But there's more
hOnOrableneSs."
He felt it was the first time he
had ever seen her, the first time
he had ever seen anyone. Turn
ing away rather quickly she
walked back to her classroom,
shutting the door behind her.
Lying on his bed that night,
Timothy Hume knew very well
what was happening to - what
was likely to happen to him. The
clock in the tower of st. Andrews
sounded out an indifferent two,
not caring what sleepless ears
might hear it. But sleep was al
most within reach now. He began
to feel droWsy. And turning his
head on the pillow was surprised
to see the sun framing his drawn
shades with a sparkling line of
gold. He must have been asleep
for hours. He stretched, rolled
out of bed, yawned, let his shades
snap up to the top, and looked
out.
What splendor, what sumptu-
GUS Venetian magnificance our
Vermont Octobers are" Cried
Timothy Hume, land what a pi
ty we don't live more intimately
with the autumn while it lasts"
Why had he never thought to take
advantage of the absurdly low
cost of real estate up here and
buy piece of land of his own
perhaps build a shack on it, up
in one of the Hollows of Hemlock
Mountain? Or if not that, one of
the little abandoned farms on a
back road, that sold for nothing
1t would be retreat, a week end
hermitage.
Exhilarated, Timothy Hume
raced down the stairs, three steps
at time, found the coffee not
too bad and told Aunt Lavinia
about his plan.
Susan Barney's sisters here
for the week end" remarked
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