The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1944-08-03

When the porter at Battle
Point station saw Monsieur Victor
standing on the platform he felt
seriously uneasy.
81 weesh to go to Pole Star
House." he said, wishing at the
same time that he was dead. An
unheated train! A lunch to make
you weep. Even in war there must
be those who could cook, even on
an unheated train.
"Pola Star House?" The porter
nodded. "Just minute" he said,
and turned toward the ticket
agent who was coming nearer.
''Spy," he mouthed. wants to 60
to Pole Star House"
Well, why shouldn't he? There
is a taxi waiting for him. You and
your spies; you're like a lot of
others, got it on the brain. Never
seen a Frenchy before? Pity you
didn't 60 through the last war!
Bon jour, Mussieer," the ticket
collector touched his peaked cap.
bon jour, bon jour-" the sad
face broke into a very charming
smile. 'Vous parlez lie Francais?"
(You speak French?)
"Un per-" and there the con-
x,erSatior, ended
Monsieur, with little groan,
steadied himself on the hard
cushioned seat as the taxi turned
its way down the steep hill.
Hills, more hills, they screamed
down one only to lurch round a
corner and down another one. A
bottomless pit and now the roar
ing of an angry sea.
what an awful evening and
how dreadfully cold you must
bel" Safely within the hall with
his suitcases beside him. Joan
Maturin thought that she had
never seen anything so pathetic
in her life.
ct feel your house most pleas
antly warm" said Monsieur care
fully.
ooh, I'm sure you can't after
the heavenly way you warm your
houses in France" said Joan anx-
iously. "I'll show you your room.
Don't bother with your luggage,
we have a man to do that"
'But, it is charming" Standing
at the threshold of his bedroom
Monsieur had been taken utterly
by surprise. The glowing gas
fire, the low bed with its blue
silk coverlet, the little writing
table set against the wall. Mon
sieur just stood there, staring. The
curtains were of blue brocade,
drawn closely together.
when you have washed you
will come down and have tea,
won't you?" said Joan suddenly
feeling incoherent.
'Merci, Madame" said Mon
sieur simply.
In spite of herself Joan was
pleased and excited. To make
someone comfortable was fun, es-
pecially someone foreign. For
eigners had the idea that English
people were still and standoffish.
She raced down the hall.
"Grace, Monsieur Victor seems to
like it. How is dinner getting on?
And the fire in the library?"
Both are getting on well,
num- said Grace reassuringly.
t'And Milly is shaping we'll"
what habout my dinner?" said
Joan restlessly. perhaps I ought
to have it with him, as he's alone
tonight. What do you think?"
II think better to begin as you
mean to go on" said Grace SEN
sibly. I'm a few days there'l be
three of them and getting on well
together, we'll hope"
AS soon as Mrs. Manvers-Pol-
lock had read Joan Maturin's let
ter she decided to go to Battle
Point. And while Mrs. Manvers-
Pollock was packing. Joan Matur-
in was getting Mrs. Manver-Pol-
locks room ready. Why was it far
worse to have a woman arriving
than a man? Seeking out Mon
sieur in the library, she put the
question to him.
Pardon, Madame?" Monsieur
raised his head from the Tele-
graph. 1t was odd to see Monsieur
after three days Of peace. AL
though he still looked terribly