Surely now that Cissy Gay was deadValancy would
come home.
Valancyslips twitched in the darkness as she
thought of it. Valancy, out of breath, with a crazilybeating heart, collapsed on the
trunk of a fallen pine.
And you needntbe afraid of Father being drunk
tonight. It wasbetter to give it to them and let them get out of sight before anyone
else saw them. Trents reputation in regard to heart disease. Yes, there is something
you can do for me, she said, evenly anddistinctly.
Very soon almost all the men were partly
drunk.
Bad language and obscene songswere heard. Her mind
was made up,with no shadow of turning, but the moment was very tremendous. Never
mind making excuses for him, said Valancy a bit shortly. Was it for this, she
demanded in hollow tones, that I sufferedthe pangs of motherhood? Itwas sweeter than
another mans caress could have been just to hearhim say her name like that. Funerals
always brought Cousin Sticklesown sad bereavement back.
Everything must be understood, said Valancy. Cissy
sobbed for a few minutes in Valancys arms.
Valancy, out of breath, with a crazilybeating
heart, collapsed on the trunk of a fallen pine.
And we are never to pretend anything to each other.
She was perfectly happy, riding beside Barney. I havent listened to thegossip of
Deerwood teaparties and sewing circles twenty years fornothing.
At first the dance was quiet enough, and Valancy
was amused andentertained.
She was no longer unimportant, little old maid
Valancy Stirling. What a scandal it would make for her poor people.
Stirling, I asked you if you could let me have some
gas.
You come with me to the dance, he ordered. The old
house wasspotless on the day of burial.
She was no longer unimportant, little old maid
Valancy Stirling. She was only sorry for all her suffering in life.
Who knewwhat the creature might do if provoked?
Oddly enough, Roaring Abel disapproved of her going to the hillchurch as strongly as
Mrs.
But the world suddenly seemed a colder place to
Valancy.
Youhelped me out of a bad hole and I wont forget
it. The pantry is full and I made bread and pies today.
She was no longer unimportant, little old maid
Valancy Stirling. My child, she said tremulously, youll come home NOW? At first the
dance was quiet enough, and Valancy was amused andentertained. CHAPTER XXIVValancy
herself made Cissy ready for burial. Valancy knew, if theStirlings and Edward Beck
didnt, exactly what she intended to dothen. But the world suddenly seemed a colder
place to Valancy. Nowonder people believed everything bad of him.