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About Vernonia eagle. (Vernonia, Or.) 1922-1974 | View Entire Issue (June 21, 1935)
VERNONIA EAGLE, VERNONIA, OREGON 4 "Listen, are you engaged?" the For a second she was bewildered, “I—don’t really—know," she said taken back. Then with her own pe man demanded suddenly. at last hesitatingly. "Engaged?” “I mean,” GaU fumbled along culiar graciousness she extended “Yep. To be married.” wistfully, “poor people—people who both hands, and her round face “Oh heavens! As If I'd tell you have a hard start—do.” lighted, and her blue eyes. if I were!” “Yes. I know they do!" “Van Murchison!” Van's handsome face assumed a “Edith, I could stand anything “Well, hel—lo!” he said delight WNU Service Copyrirht by Kathleen Norris pleading expression, his voice was for myself. But It worries me— edly. about Phil and Ariel.” "But I didn’t know you were in reproachful. perament with an occasional flash “Come on, now; give me the low SYNOPSIS “I don’t think Phil minds being town I” ot daring, “I was fond of the boys poor so much—not since he's been down !” “But I wasn’t!” "There Is no low-down!” Gall's The luck that had brought the at sixteen.” going with Lily Cass,” Edith of And they both laughed ecstat Boaton Lawrences to California just face was aglow, her eyes dancing. fered. Edith, pretty as she was, had ically. aa the beginning of the gold ruBb “Aunt Martha said she thought "Well, I think I want him to "No, but seriously, Van,” Gall leemi to have deserted the present never had a beau, and Gall knew generation. From a 4,000-acre ranch, It But it was the unwritten law of mind! I don't think Phil Is ambi presently began. In a delicious flut you liked Dick Stebbins.” “Dick Stebbins!” Gall was con their holdings have shrunk to a sisterhood not to say so. tious,” Gall countered, with an ter but with a sensible and busi small farm and the old family home Gall merely said perfunctorily, anxio’js little laugh. nesslike air, “seriously, when did scious of not wanting to forget a in Cllppersville. Phil, twenty-live, “Maybe we’re foolish ourselves," you come and why, and how long word of all this; she bad a premoni was In the Iren works. Sam and “Oh, well, yes, so was 11 But, Edith, aeventeen-year-old Ariel are In there seems to be something—dif Edith said, suddenly gloomy. “May are you going to be here, and what tion that she would want to turn school Gall In the public library ferent, in the way Ariel Is.” under her tongue the tld-blt of his be our luck’s changed." about Yale?” and Edith In the book department of having already discussed her pos “ Fooling ourselves? ” The younger sister ’ s quick keen "Seriously, ” he answered duti Cllppersvllle’e largest store. “Yes. Do you think we are?” gaze was lifted; Edith's serious fully, although still visibly abrlm sible love affairs with his aunt “Don’t like him?” "You mean," Gail said soberly, with laughter and excitement—"se look met Gail’s consciously. CHAPTER I—Continued “Of course I like him. His moth after a space, “that we aren't get riously— But are you walking "Secretive,” she offered. ^—2— er rents our Stanislaus place, and "Well! Well, jes,” Gail answered ting anywhere?" home?” Phil worked In the Iron Works on a nervous laugh. "Well, are we? We are stuck In "I am. My honest working day Is I see him on business now and for eighty dollars a month, Gall was then.” “Ariel will get married before Cllppersville,” Edith summarized It. done.” “Aunt Martha wasn’t talking paid half that monthly for a seven- either one of us, because we hap “Nobody knows we’re alive. We’re Laughter. Van put his hand with day week In the public library, pen to be a little more particular!" not In debt, because the doctors delightful familiarity under her el about business, you low prevarica Edith made thirty dollars a month Edith pronounced, with her little and dentists won't send us bills— bow. They turned toward the Law tor.” as assistant In the book department air of old-maidish snobbery. When but we ought to be. We haven’t any rence house, some three or four They both laughed again. They of Muller’s big store, Sammy was Edith said things like that it vague clothes, any social standing—” were at the gate now; the last blocks away. supplementing bls school career at ly Irritated Gait “Oh, we have that, Ede!” “And are you all still living In beams of the sun struck flame from the windows of the shabby old nineteen with eager labors as er “Well, If w’e have, it we are the Racketty-packetty house?" She left Edith at Montalvo boule rand boy and general office help on vard. and turned up the Calle to Lucky Lawrences, if we were one “Oh, that’s what you used to cal) house hidden behind him. the Challenge and Ariel was sup the Plaza, where the library stood. of the most Important families In Gail’s heart did not falter. It was It!” posed to be in high school. Ariel not the hour—It was Indeed not The day bad begun. Gail un California, once, what are we now? That’s what you called It.” was now a talrylike seventeen. the place into which to Introduce hasped the street door, and the usu Who's going to marry us? Who is “Yes, we’re all there.” And Gai) was twenty-three today. al waiting group of stragglers came there here for us to marry, any "Gee, Gall,” Van said with sim a Yale college man. whose father owned a chain of flour mills. But She had presents at the breakfast In. Miss Foster clamped the news way? What’s to prevent our living hospitality, deep-rooted and Instinc table In the good old Lawrence papers Into their holders; little Rose on and on here, old maids, scrap tive, blotted out all lesser consid fashion. Nobody knew where they Cahill wheeled wire crates full of ing along as best we can—Phil came from, or who paid for them, books to the different cases, and marrying that horrible Mrs. Cass, erations. “You’re coming In, Van?” but the Lawrences always managed Gall took them from the barrows Sarp getting a job somewhere and “No, honest, 1 can't 1 You know to give each other presents on anni and filed them away in their places. going away, Ariel—committing sui how things are at the Chlpps’. Peo versaries. The dim big rooms saw various cide, I suppose—” ple coming to dinner—a lot of Then Gall and Edith rushed the noiseless activities afoot. “Oh, Edith, Edith!” Gall protest breakfast paraphernalia Into the fuss.” Gall thought of her youngest sis ed horrified. “Don’t talk like that! "Soon, then.” sink. Ariel was oft to school, PhD ter, as the dreamy dim hours In You’re blue. You’re just tired today, “Soon! But when can I see you?” had disappeared; Sammy had gone the library began to slip by. Ariel or It's spring, or something! Why. “At the 'ibrary—any time." lirst of all. "he two girls scrambled" was less fitted than any of the darling, nobody knows where “At the library. And say. listen, through the necessary kitchen work other Lawrences for the struggle changes are coming from, or when we’ll go to dinner. We’ll go off with a speed born of long practice. of life. She was only an Innocent, We’re having our hard times now places, and eata da spaghett’— Then Gall and Edith went up bewildered child. instead of later, that’s all! We'll stairs, passing the open front door what?” She wanted—In fact all of them have dresses and country clubs and “Oh, grand!” on their way. They hesitated a min wanted—leisure and beauty and trips and—and fun, theaters, I Then he was gone. And Gall ute, looking Into the JuDgle of gar luxury In life. Ariel seemed to want mean, and everything, one of these turned In at the gate, her heart den. It more than the others, somehow, days!” singing. Oh, wbat a spring night, “Look at the pear tree, Gail!” Edith’s grave, Intellectual face or In some Indefinably different way. and what a thing It was to be twen “Doesn’t It just take your breath She seemed made for beautiful gar was doubtfuL ty-three and to live in adorable, ro away?” “You’re twenty-three,” she sug dens, beautiful porches, spacious, mantic Cllppersville 1 They shut the door and went up luxurious rooms. She pined, she gested significantly. Edith was In the kitchen. Phil stairs, Gall saying of the unmade drooped, in the atmosphere of pov “I don't think I mind for myself; had not yet come home. beds, “Let’s flap ’em.” I mind for you," Edith said as they erty, grlmlness, dullness. Edith’s .'ace clouded a little. She “Gall,” said Edith, “Vance Mur Thinking of all this, Gall ab walked back to work. “You ought hated compromise and slovenliness; stractedly stamped and scribbled, to be having good times. You ought chison's back 1 He’s got consump she bated the hard conditions of her and tossed the books about When to be dancing, and going to little tion. and he’s up at the Chlpps’.” life that made some truce with the whistles droned noon, and a restaurants, and—and everything.” “Yes, I know. 1 met him!” them necessary. The clock on the sudden responsive pang of hunger "And so ought you1” GaU an “Does he ,ook awful?” landing struck once, for the halt stabbed her, she put on her blue swered cheerfully, although she felt “Listen, Are You Engaged?” the “No,” Gall answered with a hour after eight; she was due at hat and walked up the street to a knife In her heart Man Demanded Suddenly. wholesome laugh, “he looks per the department store, and Gall at Muller’s, to meet Edith. “Oh, I—I” Edith dismissed her pie fervor, "it makes a difference fectly fine.” the library, at nine. “Gall, they want me to be Lady Edith, neat, cool, and clean, lifted self lightly, and Immediately fell to me, having you here!” “We’U have to,” she conceded Teazle,” Ariel announced. Into that silly strain for which Gail an ecstactic look to Gall as she de “ But tell me — you haven ’ t told briefly, sighing. “What! The lead?” could find no better expression than "I shouldn t have worn my office corously finished the sale of seven “old maldy." “I have a feeling," me—’’ She turned her face to him. “That's what Miss Potter said. novels to a passing motorist The the sunset behind her aureollng her dress to breakfast,” the older sister Edith went on complacently, "that head with gold. “Tell me what I’ll be rotten," Ariel predicted girls Idolized and Idealized each observed, glancing at her cuffs. She gloomily. 1 will meet my husband and be mar got a bottle of some cleaning ex other, and were proud of their ried to him all in a very short time. you’re doing here. Van!" “Oh, Ariel, I think that’ll be sim “Well, I went back to coll, after tract, and began to dabble at spots. friendship. All the passion of the You know that fortune teller that ply grand!’’ Gail exclaimed en Christmas, see?” “Egg 1” she said disgustedly. Her younger sister's rather cold nature was at Mabel’s—” thusiastically. "Ede, did you hear “I see.” glance approved of Edith. “That was in the look; this was one of that? Ariel’s going to be Lady “ I wish she wouldn ’ t talk that her awaited moments every day, "Well, and I got a bug. Coughed, looks better on you than it ever did Teazle I” way! ” Gail thought, suddenly hot, when her flushed, adored, tousled and pitted up, and was awful! ” on Mary Tevis," she observed. Phil came in before dinner was Their joyous laughter, suddenly Edith studied herself In the mir Gail came in and they went to Irritable, and discouraged. She felt more weary and dis ringing out, was anything but suit quite ready, grinned at his sisters, lunch together. ror dispassionately. and went upstairs. He came down They went in at the side door couraged as she went on her way. able. ”1 never would have gotten it,” In a few minutes, to sit in the kitch “You mean—lungs?” she said. "1 don’t like dots. But to the home kitchen, and let up the The long afternoon In the library dragged. She felt bored. A sense “A pulmonary congestion. So now en and wearily, kindly join In the It certainly has come In usefully.’’ shade, and began their prepara "The worst ot Mary Tevis Is, she'll tions for lunch. The kettle was of injustice oppressed her. Twenty- 1 have to lie in bed, drink milk, and general conversation. Phil was the quietest member of the family, as give you a bunch of things one boilnig over a bead of gas, for Ariel three—and she might just as well rest.” “Dropped out of college?" She befitted Its head, and the man upon time, and then forget you for seven always came In promptly at twelve, have been fifty-three. whose shoulders heavy responsibil was horrified. years 1" Gall, having made herself and had her lunch and was gone CHAPTER II “My dear Gall,” Van said reprov ity bad fallen in boyhood, and who comparatively presentable, said before the older girls arrived. ingly, “I darn near dropped out of saw life through sober, sensible briskly, “Now, when I'm rich, I shall Edith sat wearily, luxuriously, HE walked home In langnld twi life!” eyes. have a list of girls— D—n such a over rolls, honey, and tea. her eyes light; all Cllppersville was re “You do look thin," Gall mused, “Gall, you look awfully pretty to shoe lacel” absent, her hand Idly stirring the laxed and jaded after the tierce, studying him. night," he said, watching her. “Abigail, you ought not say that cup. Ttn fattening now.” “In this old rag?” You’ll get Ariel saying It” "Gall. I was thinking that we unexpected heat of the spring day. “And where are you staying?” Gall mended her lace, looked up ought to learn some more poetry, Gall thought that summer would “Perhaps Van Murchison's return "At my Aunt Martha’s—Mrs. Ar has something to do with Gall's ap with a Hushed face. as we do the beds. ‘Member how be upon the world In no time now. thur Chlpp. you know. It's all been pearance." Edith suggested archly. "Didn’t you think Ariel was beau we used to rattle it off. when we the hot, dry, Inland summer of Cali arranged. Shes to watch me. and fornia. were little girls? T met .dm In the Cnlle," Gail tiful at breakfast. Ede?” She looked at a dress In Muller’s I'm to report to the doctor every said rendered absolutely apathetic "We ought to do It again! It was "Oh, yes, ae really Is.” “Do you think—this may all be lots of fl-in. I'd like to learn Noyes' window, a blue organdy with thin week, and he’s to keep In touch by Edith's me-rlly sympathetic my imagination—but do you think Highwayman,’ and some of Hodg orange ribbons hanging in a bunch with the dear old guy at home, and manner. Mother s to come out in June to in “If there's a new beau tn town she’s Interested in boys, already?” son's poems ‘Eve’ and “The Old from shoulder and waist. Turning away from the window, spect me.” —" Edith continued rallyingly. Their eyes flashed together con B-.111.’ ” Gall, shabby, gay. and friendly, (TO BE CONTI IVBD > "Ede, do you suppose things'll she walked straight Into the mira sciously. looking up from under the shadow “Oh. yes, 1 know she is!" Edith ever be any easier for us? Do you cle. Wilson's Word Knowledge “I beg your pardon!" she said, of his high shoulder, gave him a suppose we’ll have clothes and a answered unhesitatingly. Woodrow Wilson had a working car. some day, and belong to a laughing. For she had really smile of Infinite friendliness. "She a only seventeen I” “I'm terribly glad you’re here!" knowledge of 53.UUU words, a mod crashed into this man Inexcusably. “Well." said Edith, who combined country club?” ern record. she said simply. “Gall Lawrence 1” he said. Edith pondered it a recluse's sensitiveness and tern- The Lucky Lawrences * * . By Kathleen Norris S
