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About Sandy post. (Sandy, Oregon) 1938-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 1940)
SANDY POST WEDNESDAY, jOLY 17. 1940 “ Back in a minute, Gay.” John’s eyes were pleading. His smile was strained. “ Good-night, Gay.” “ Good-night, Mrs. Houghton.” John went out of the room with his mother. The door closed. Gay stood leaning against the back of the chair, staring into the fire. and immature, and she has this no tion about singing—” "Why shouldn’t she have a chance?” “ That isn’t what Mother wants for Debby.” “ What does she want for Debby?” "She wants her to go to college.” “ So that Debby can spend the rest of her life being grateful to Gay did not turn when the door her?” Her voice softened. "Oh, I opened. She remained seated in the am sorry, John. I shouldn’t have chair beside the hearth, looking up said that.” at the painting above the mantel. "You can say what you like to “ Were you asleep?” John asked, me, what you think, how you feel.” coming to the chair. “ I ’m sorry “ No, I can't. When I do, we quar I ’ve been so long.” rel. Debby isn’t important insofar “ No. not asleep. I ’ve been getting as we are concerned. But your acquainted with the gentleman up mother is. She doesn’t want Debby there. I t ’s your great-grandfather, to go to New York with me be isn’t it?” cause she’s afraid of me, of the “ Abner Houghton—yes.” things I can do for her. She wants “ You don’t look like him. In an to be everything to all of you.” C MACRAE SMITH CO WNU SERVICE hour of intensive study I haven’ t “ That’s natural, isn’t it?” CHAPTER XIII—Continued John, its effect upon him, pity crys The distance between them nar been able to find a trace of resem “ Natural, perhaps, but selfish. —20— tallized into resentment. Debby’s rowed. Gay’s spirits lifted. It was blance.” Yes, selfish, John. Can’t you see?” The door opened before Debby accusations had held a measure, at as though he had come to stand be “ I ’m sorry it's been an hour. I " I f you knew what Mother’s life reached i t John stood there, smil least, of truth. If she had not seen side her and taken her hand in his. wanted to get back to you.” He has been. Her every thought has ing, his face glowing with cold above Ann Houghton’s gesture in John’s “ I don’t feel that it would be wise. the collar of the bear skin coat, his room this morning, if she had not John,” Ann Houghton said reason bent to lift her hands lying in her been for us.” It would have been better for hat in his hand. had that revealing glimpse of the ably, quietly. "Debby is impression lap. “ Come over here where we her, for you, if she had to plan for “ Hello—’’ he said. The smile fad possessive passion which burned be able and immature. It would be us, Gay. There wasn’t much money. ed as his eyes moved questioningly neath her controlled and reasonable mistaken kindness, if you’ll permit You can't understand, I suppose.” about the room. “ What’s the mat manner with her children, she might me to express myself frankly, Gay, “ No. frankly, I can’t ” ter?” he asked hesitantly. "What’s now be convinced that only wisdom to give her, at this time, a taste of motivated the decision she had something she can’t have perma “ That’s because you have the pro going on here?” tection of wealth.” he said stiffly. Debby conquered her sobs. Her made. But she had seen. She knew— nently. I ’m afraid she would be “ You know how difficult Debby “ Oh, money! Because my grand head lifted. more discontented than ever when fathers left a trust fund for me, we "Gay wants to take me back to has been," Ann Houghton replied, she returned.” bicker and quarrel You attach too New York with her,” she said, “ and her eyes holding John’s troubled "Good Lord. Mother.” John's glance. “ This year, especially. She’s much importance to what I have—” Mother won’t let me go.” voice held a note of irritation. "No “ It isn’t because you have it now,” “ So you threw a tantrum." Over just beginning to show a real inter body wants to eat fruit cake for ev he said slowly, with measured de Debby’s head John's eyes flashed a est in the courses she’s taking at ery meal, but it’s pleasant once in liberation. “ I t ’s because you've al question at Gay. She tried to smile a while." ways had it. From the hour you reassuringly but his expression, con Ann Houghton smiled faintly. were born every thought you’ve had, cerned and apprehensive, told her “ I think that sort of fru it cake, every move you’ve made, has been that she had not succeeded. just now,” she said, “ would be very colored and shaped by the fast that “ I think it is wiser for Debby to bad for Debby. With this notion both your grandfathers were remain at home." Gay saw that Ann she has of singing on a radio pro wealthy men Your mother—” Houghton's eyes, lifted quickly to gram or in some place of entertain “ How absurd we are!” She gave her son, were frightened, now, heard ment, I ’m afraid that being in New a short strained laugh. “ In New the shaken note in her voice. York with Gay would turn her head York we quarreled because my “ W iser!" Debby's voice rose again completely.” mother did not display a properly to an hysterical pitch. She whirled “ I shouldn’t allow her to do any maternal attitude. Now we quarrel from her mother to face John, stand thing of which you would disap because your mother is a model of ing grave and silent in the doorway. prove. Mrs. Houghton.” maternal devotion. Oh, is it impor “ You know why she won’t let me “ I don’t question that, but your tant, John?” go. You know that she doesn’t ap life is so different from our life here “ We are each of us the product prove of—" I I'm afraid that the contrast—” of our separate environments,” he “ Go to your room, Debby," John's “ You know Debby is a chameleon, said carefully, thoughtfully. “ You voice, cutting through her hysteri Mother. She adapts herself easily had nurses and governesses. You cal outburst, silenced Debby. She to any environment.” were sent to camps, to schools, to went past him out of the room, her “ That's just why I don’t—” she the sea-shore in summer, to danc head drooping again, her defiance broke off, glanced quickly at John, ing class. For your birthdays ma crumpling beneath his stern, uncom at Gay. “ I ’m not presuming to c riti " I f you knew what Mother’s life gicians were hired to entertain you promising expression. Sarah fol has been.” cize your mode of living, Gay, but and your guests. When you were lowed. The door closed. I'm convinced that for Debby, Just sick there were nurses. Mother did can be close together. I haven't everything for us. When we were at this time —If it were Sarah, CHAPTER XIV sick, she couldn’t afford to engage a that would be a different matter.” kissed you for three days.” “ Has it been only three days?” trained nurse. There was no money She folded her knitting into the bag. “ Darling, have you been misera for elaborate toys, amusement, en “ What is It, Mother?" John threw “ I shouldn’t think you would want off his coat and walked to the tertaining. Mother made fun for us her for a visit after the scene you’ve ble?" She drew her hands from his, sat at home. She scrimped and saved hearth. “ What started this? What just witnessed. I feel that she, that looking down at them, silent is it all about;” to send me to college, to send Sarah. I, owe you an apology.” "What is it? What are you think She managed it in ways you couldn’t “ I don’t think we need to discuss "No, please, Mrs. Houghton. She understand, hamburger instead of It.” Ann Houghton resumed her knit was terribly disappointed. It was ing?” “ I want to go with you tomor steak, never quite enough heat in ting. During the interval of silence my fault. I should have consulted John stood there, smiling. the house, dried vegetables instead which had followed the closing of you. It's all right. I understand row.” "Into Portland? I meant to take of fresh ones in winter, Sarah’s the door, she had regained her com the high school. I'm sure it would how you feel, but I'm disappointed you." dresses made over for Debby—” posure. Her hands manipulated the be unwise to allow her to make a too.” "And then on to New York—to amber needles steadily. Only the break now.” (TO BE CONTINUED) John made a restless movement morrow.” dull red flush that burned in her on the hearth. “ Then it’s settled, “ Perhaps you're right,” John said "But Mary expects you to stay. Many Non-Metal Part« cheeks betrayed any inward agita doubtfully. isn’t it? Debby doesn't go back to tion. New York with Gay. Now may we And the kids. Nat made me prom “ I offered to have l.sr tutored in “I don't agree with you." John Are Used in Automobile talk of something else? Food, for in ise to bring you.” stood with his back to the Are, his the courses she's taking," Gay said, stance. I'm starved. Did Huldah "That's dear of them, but—” Steel and iron are the basic ma glance turning from his mother to “ or send her to a business school. make chocolate doughnuts? Come "Look at me. Gay.” terials of automobile construction It's quite probable that she might Gay. then back again to Ann Hough She raised her head. Seeing his but a surprising number of non-me- out to the kitchen with me, Gay.” ton. " I find Debby in hysterics, make more rapid progress with a Ann Houghton rose from her grave and troubled face, she gave a tallic substances enter also. tutor than In a class at the high Sarah crying, you and Gay obvi Rubber is the principal contributor chair. " I f you please. John, I ’d little cry. He bent toward her. Her ously distressed. I should like to school here.” arms went around his neck. Their to quiet, vibration-free riding, pro She had not meant to give an im like you to go to Debby with me.” lips met and clung. Presently he know, if you please, exactly what viding cushions between frame and "Oh, let her alone. You know pression of patronage. But that, she has happened." drew away, straightened, took her body, bumpers to take the shock of how she is when she's had a tan saw, was the effect of her words Gay's hands tightened on the back trum. Don't play up to her and hands to pull her up from the chair. slamming doors, windlaces and gas of the chair behind which she stood. upon Ann Houghton, upon John. “ Did taking Debby to New York kets to keep out drafts, cement to she'll get over it.” "That's very generous. Gay,” " I t was my fault,” she said. "1 mean so much to you?” seal joints along the floor, pads to “ I don’t think she’s well. She's Invited Debby to go back to New John’s mother said, “ but quite un " I should have enjoyed having keep feet from skidding off the ped not been herself these past few York with me." necessary.” her, but that isn’t important." als, hose for radiator, heater and “ And you don't want her to go?” John gave a short laugh. “ You days.” "That act she pulled must have windshield wiper, mats for running “ You'll turn her into a neurotic If John's eyes, grave and concerned, aren't going to assume full responsi been unpleasant for you.” boards and floor. turned again from Gay to his moth bility for all of us, are you?” he you don't stop coddling her.” “ It wasn’t an act." She sat beside All told, a number of cars have as “ Debby is sensitive in a way er. asked. " I think we can leave Deb which I think ! understand better him on a sofa with a high back I many as 250 rubber parts, and one “ 1 don't think It advisable. Un by's education to Mother.” curled at one end like a snail. "Deb- of current manufacture has 335. Six than you.” fortunately, Debby had her heart set " I wasn't thinking of Debby’s ed ty pounds of rubber products apart John turned to Gay in smiling by meant every word she said, on it. She was rude to me and in ucation," she said lightly. “ I thought He looked searchingly into her from tires is not unusual in a car. considerate of Gay. I did think she'd she would enjoy a visit in New York exasperation. “ What was the use of my spending four years in medi eyes. Next to rubber perhaps the most outgrown tantrums.” and that I would enjoy having her "Do you believe that, Gay?” useful non-metallic ingredients are “ I should have consulted Mrs. there My motives, as usual. I'rr cal school and two years Interning “Of course I believe i t I ’ve been the plastics which serve many use Houghton before I spoke of it to afraid, were almost entirely selfish.” when mother, by instinct, knows more than I do about my profes here for three days.” ! ful purposes of which some ars Debby. I'm sorry. It didn't occur John looked at her, then, question sion." "Mother told me. I hadn’t real conspicuously new, though really be to me that any objection would be ingly, pleadingly. She smiled and Again a faint chilling smile ized—” 1 longing to a family of products with raised ” his face cleared. " I don't want to discuss your which engineers have been long fa- touched Ann Houghton's lips. “ Why do you object. Mother?” "She would enjoy It,” he said. mother, John.” “ I should like you to go with me, Ann Houghton regarded her son , m iliar. It was at least three dec "But you can't believe the things ades ago that phenolic resinoids with a studied deliberation which "She’s always been crazy about you John," she repeated. “ Debby is chilled Gay's sympathy, aroused her The idea of you before she met you. nervously excited. She'll probably Debby said were true.” . were taken up as substitutes for “ They are true. I ’m sorry if it defective electrical insulation. To- antagonism As deeply as memories I suppose, now. after these past I need a sedative to put her to sleep, three days, she's your slave.” He The doughnuts w ill wait, and Gay offends you but you asked for i t " of her own turbulent adolescence I day, sim ilar synthetic products are He drew a little away from her. widely used also for steering wheel had moved her to sympathy for Deb turned to his mother. "Let her go w ill excuse you for a few minutes. by. she had pitied John's mother. I with Gay, Mother, She isn’t doing I’m sure.” "Mother is only thinking of what is rims, control knobs, instrument pan 1 “Certainly, Mrs. Houghton." loo. Now, watching her manner with much here." best for Debby. She is emotional els and elsewhere. R I M O R E I
