The Skyland post., 1946-04-25

better say good night, don't you,
Mr.. Driscoll? It's been-a very
gay evening and I've had a lot OF
-but-Im afraid I'm begin
uing to be bored
Sarah demanded sternly,
young man, are you going to
let her get away with that stuff?
You're not the man I thought you
were, if you do!''
Tracy ignored AIMS little gasp
and looked down at Sarah and
asked stiffly, would you sug-
gest that l take her out of this
beautiful place into some dinky
little apartment" ="
certainly not! suggest you
take her out of this old place
that's going to be sold, anyway,
and torn down to make way for
apartments-" Sarah began Wig
orously.
But Ann cut it, ooh, no-Sa-
/ rah, l won't let you do it! You've
always loved this old place"
'Confidentally, my dear" said
Sarah in the tone of .conspira-
tor, 1--WE always loalhed it! From
the first moment I came here as
a little young bride, barely seven
teen, and thought it the gloomi-
est place I'd ever seen! Your
grandfather and I shared it with
his parents and brothers, and the
older it grew, the more l dislik-
ed it. I always planned, ever
since your grandfather's death
to sell the thing the first chance
got!'
Ann stared at her, round-eyed
But-darling, you've been offer,
ed a dozen chances to SELL" she
protested.
Sarah nodded. II know-but
I couldn't sell until you were mar.
ried. I knew you loved the place
and wanted to be married from
here" she broke off, puzzled
staring, as Ann collapsed on the
pouffe, laughing helplessly. 'The
child's hysterical!"
= 'I'm not-oh, Sarah, what 6
joke! Because I hate the place
too" gasped Ann and was off ir
another paroxysm of laughter
! that bordered perilously on tears
Sarah sat erect, her eyes wide
incredulous.
! ''You do?" she asked uncer-
tainly.
darling. I certainly do! I al
! ways have! l used to be afraid
of it-and when 1 grew up ano
realized how it was simply swal-
lowing all our money and yelling
for more, and - we'll, 1 hated il
even more!' said Ann with such
convincing simplicity that Sarah
cOulQ nOL QOuOC nef.
For a moment they stared al
each other and then they both
laughed and Sarah held out he1
arms and Ann went into them
and they hugged each other, hard
Again they had forgotten Ira
cy and he seemed quite content
! that this should be so. He. sat
watching them, amused, curious
yet with something very like
tenderness in his eyes; a look that
managed to. be a little puzzled
too.
1--WE had an offer of eighty
, thousand for the place." Sarah
told Ann cheerfully. Il can buy
little farm for Andrew and
Martha, it's what they've always
wanted; and I can take jamie
with me, to the apartment; it
won't be much work for her to
take care of me-and the apart
ment-and of course, you can
come along, too, if you like"
So she hadn't forgotten him,
after all, Tracy told himself, and
met her dark eyes straightly.
well, of course, I'm coming
along" said Ann almost belliger-
emily and a little to carefully
avoiding Tracy's eyes. '"Where
else would l go?"
Tracy said hesitantly, "Well, I
don't like to intrude, but I have
a suggestion to offer" -.
Ann looked at him coldly. "Oh,
are you still here?" she shifted in
over-eiaoorate surprise.
Ann! Don't be rudew said
Sarah gently, her eyes sparkling
a little.
Rude? After what he's been
to me?" demanded Ann hotly.
And what was he to you?"
asked Sarah with interest.
''Insolent. Contemptuous. Bull
lying. And other things" ans