| Show n I By ei MARY MAnY SCHUMANN Illustration By Myer II d I I Ca V U. U St iee add add CHAPTER IX Continued VC Continued Add Ad 10 10 1 by b Ml e was silent for a moment cn n she leaned fo forward ard pleading- pleading mix Mother couldn't couldn t I Z please pleasent moi mo nt say no no right away odd add I take that last year of oft tut tur t school this fall I know it is coy COV tober lober but Id I'd only be a few eks beks late I could make it up bey ey go abroad in De December ember case talk it over with Father 3 is Im I'm very unhappy here ase e let me go eau we straightened herself regal regal- rP par o Now weve we've been all over that fore ore No daughter of mine can Pa around studying naked statues lum France and Italy with a troop of solute students wai wa not dissolute Pa Paul I I dont don't care how well you are stew or how famous your tre re are are I I wont won't hear of It IL itt i t hi hii some summer you can go goh gome nto ato h me to Europe Your father t eve never leave long enough to toe tote te e a me so well we'll go together Just bad bac patient the I want ate nto But its it's not same d s instruction in the class I want graduate from Pearson school i t as in the world do out But why you youTher youit The Ther it t another year You cant can't se se- th Ui Isly sly mean to be an artist Babe Why not non nonAn An artist Lizzie's voice ala ned like a saxophone oil off key flue ith all your fathers father's money I Ih jh h nonsense ts t's not nonsense Mother It Its It's s ing ng things further than anyone sees expressing things that rs feel dimly its it's some some- fg g too tremendous to put into s. s iy Sie Ie silver voice ran oil off Lizzie rain oil oft water waterproof She ched up and swatted a fly o on curtain Im sure you paint pain t pretty pictures now she saty said sat d y lien Uen en knew her cause was lost d wondered drearily if Lizzie ha har had hadr r been in love not love not liking not no t ts but had known tha this s ely sly terrifying thing she felt fo for r J rYe ry y She couldn't bave have or or she bid Id remember CHAPTER X Monday morning Hugh ded deed de de- ed d on a weeks week's hunting trip 1 Do DOJ Hiller fuller and two of Docs Doc's Docs Doc's s ds s both of whom Hugh hadon had hadon d on several previous occasions sat beside Doc Doe who drove i aport and Akin were in hi th thit the e it together with duffle dume bags Ba s and gun-cases gun and Rap Raps I II I lish Ush setter Laddie Two rest rest- setters were boxed on th the e rack In the rear Toward they had covered a hundred d i.- i. J fifty miles and were approach approach- he e hunting preserve preserver Doc Doe b bemore bemore be- be e more and more his little burg Is lie ile from here we turn oS oil 0 on n road you ever eyer saw rater ata pw w as the gate to heaven an anid and d Jid id gear most of the way I tor ire le e a miles of that before we come com comee e it it u a e lake and you see the odge cy ey were driving through coun COW here rising hills were gayly y the last banners of autumn e- e ao had the colors of a Paisley y I 1 infinite shades shadel of yellow scarlet green and mauve t the next curve you'll see It it Doc lIe He had cast aside hi his I manner and was a bo boy y N n a lark Hugh Mar Marsh h was wal s 2 with him He ha had d pup ugh in an elevator a few days day said to him Im Tin going on a I P'S PS rg Ig trip Monday bird hunting tt grouse Going up In north north- Pennsylvania where our clu club b bAn two two venty-two hundred acres acre An se had made him speak of i It t oly y that way I IbM laId hs h's Se eyes his hand band had kl kindled H He e I on his arm me al along ne DocI Im I'm no huntt hunt hunt- t I 1 i s' s need to get away Couldn't t ilS 1 a guest West Pay my share 1 He had Blin almost st choked go gol 01 t The darned old Idiot e he would rather have hav wI with th Sure you can go he ha had d red And they had gone Int Into o g a office and talked over th the e A eat ent i he would need Hiller tto tf had explained d about tub to 1 wh which ch he had belonged belonge d I re ree loin years rs and suggested that tha dt t I It I The dues were only y the comfortable lodge e ime J-e lUA could take ake care of twenty ty you 1 they had k dammed the stream m a the t the lake for trout fish fish- November the members member s take lake or grouse ber and quail and Inight In Ink right ight 1 ht for k deer and black bear punters punter's hunters hunter's paradise Th The Thet j I d do 0 s a like e wine the fellows w t a ion were re c cow colored o no sort red no game ame hogs hog The They y cook took who could cook k coo coor ya I r business Hugh would d pj he Be would sleep like o e fa eat Veil eU and I steel Plant forget he ev ever eve r j to worry overt over Hugh bad had drawn his hand across hIs its eyes eye with a tired gesture Just the thing thing lust Just what I want Doc Doe shut his teeth grimly He knew w what was eating the old boy He lie had guessed it before the hints came Here lIere we are he sang out Si St the caretaker a tall weather beaten native of the hills hUls met net them at the door Just behind him was Jim the colored chef smiling The hall was filled with trophies of moose and deer Gun racks occupied occupied oc one one ne side To the left was wasa a room living-room thirty feet long and about eighteen wide with a graystone gray graystone graystone stone fireplace blackened at the lintel a fire of beech logs blazing hi is It Doc showed it to Hugh with pride Heres where we spend our evenings Tonight they'll sit lit up late perhaps a 8 poker game or talking talk ing big guns and dogs but tomorrow night the first day of the season one by one they disappear up the stairs Cant Can't stay Itay awake Hugh and Doc occupied one of the seven bedrooms The bullpen bullpen bullpen bull pen a long room with its eight cots was left for the late arrivals They had lunch in the big dining dining- room with its rectangular table made of planks with birch log supports supports sup ports then set out with Si and two or three members of the club dub from Tryon City to recon nitre They tramped up to Wolfs Wolf's Hoi fol- low to the cherry grove and In hi the theold theold theold old orchard they found fresh bear bea r tracks The bears had been feeding feeding feed ing from the old apple trees ha had d clawed out the honey from a stump After dinner Doc showed ht him m how to oil his gun and discussed d the value of 12 16 16 and 20 gauge gaug e shotguns Hugh refused to enter a abridge abridge bridge game but sat behind Rap a athe at atthe t the poker table for an hour Then The such a weariness came over hl him that he went up to his bedroom As he undressed he vaguely wondered won dered dared what Dorrie was doing Sh She e was staying with his mother while he was gone She didn't want t to take a vacation now The only place she cared to go was Atlantic City and she would rather go there thereat at Easter Strangely enough sh she e seemed removed outside th the ee e periphery of his emotions for th the e first time He felt almost no interest in terest In hi what she might be doing At six o'clock the next morning there was a banging on his door r and Jims Jim's voice announcing Breakfast Dr Hiller Mr Marsh He lIe went on down the cur Cm radar knocking at each door Hugh was half dressed when Doc raised himself on his arm grinned d sociably said Hello Howd How'd yo you u sleep Exactly like the infant yo you u said I would And I feel horribly hungry Is that ham we smell frying fry ing lag Doc rolled out Home nome cure curet cured d ham They could hear voices voters downstairs down stairs and in the yard the yapping g of the dogs as food was brough brought broughto t to them The darkness outside wa was s rifted with gray and the rho air fro from m the open window damply chill Later Later Lat er er when they had bad breakfasted an andset and andset d set out in twos and threes for th the e different locations the sun broke brok e ew through Hugh wearing his ne new w hunting coat and red cap carrying g his new gun went with Doc Youre liable to get a bird b before before be be- e fore I beginners do do luck I never nev I er knew it to falL fail I hope you doIt doIt do It It will make you enthusiastic enthusiastic- a areal real hunter Hugh drew on his pipe Thanks Doc Birds or no birds this is good enough for me He lIe indicated indicate d the woods quiescent and gleaming g In n the sun Something in ht him balked at shooting anything living am an and d free but he couldn't tell teU Doc that When Tobey flushes a bird yo you u fire first Ill I'll have the second shot sho if you miss Were We're going to th the e grapevines They'll be feeding g there today How far is it Another Anther mile I think Hard t to o tell on this Ws uneven ground Suddenly Tobey stood still atilt I till hi his s tall tail a rigid line There was movement movement move move- ment in the underbrush to the left lefta t a sudden ludden whirring as two ruffed d grouse rose in flight After a secand second sec ond and or two Doc Docs gun spoke but b be he e missed them You didn't shoot He lIe looked Tooke dd d at Hugh reproachfully I waited waste d for far you you why why didn't you Hugh gave a laugh I J told you I was a poor one to togo togo go hunting with I didn't kno know w what it t was all ell about until yo you u fired Doc gave him a push S Still Stil till sleepy Never mind Well We'll pro probably probably b ably see lee others What's a bird o or r two compared pared to say cay ay yo you u ur know I 1 dont don't give live a dam darn whether r we get any Liable not to you to-you you will be hand handl capped from tram th the start starL I was going to say compared to o having you along said Doc Doe not looking at Hugh laugh as 81 he moved ahead Hughs Hugh's eyes dwelt on Docs Doc's broad back ack Something sturdy and dependable dependable dependable de de- about abou that back Got a match roc Toe paused and pulled out his lighter Hugh kept his hrs eyes down as he held the flame to his pipe Get thIs his straight old man man man-I'm Im I'm not much nuch for saying things as you oU know but mow but your taking me on this trip rip means a lot to me Think of ho tha J finest saving life job lob you ever accomplished in hi that hospital of yours tumor tumor on the brain blood what transfusion what are some of the things you do to keep people alive Amputation Amputation Hughs Hugh's hazel hael eyes yes held a sudden glint Whatever What ever ver you do there he said Bald slowly youre doing now for me me understand Doc nodded Sure I do Ashe As Ashe Asic he ic walked o on he whistled a few bars ars of Pack up your troubles half under his breath That afternoon when they came in footsore and weary they had two birds both bath of which Doc had shot After dinner Hugh laugh wandered outside outside out out- side away from the smoke filled noisy living He saw a small animal swim swim- swimming ming perhaps ming perhaps it was a beaver The lake was black shot with afew a afew I few reflections of light from the windows of the lodge the opposite shore was shrouded in n darkness Amputation The word repeated repeat ed Itself clung to him He lIe raised his eyes The faint radiance of early evening was Inthe In Inthe inthe the sky A single star very brilliant brit bril pant very large hung above the top of a pine It Ie seemed em cd to b be e challenging his attention Bright Brightstar star star He Ite gazed at it a long time It Its steady shining seemed to bear a message one that his groping inner inner in ner ear translated He Ite felt ashe as U ii Uhe he had been lost In hi the labyrinth oan o oan of f an underground cavern fumbling B this way and that that falling falling hope less Far For oil oft he saw the light oan o oan of f an opening which promised t to o bring him upward to the sunlight ot t once more to more to peace It was Friday night when Hugh Hug h came home Doc stopped his ca car r before the Marsh home Hugh unloaded un loaded his bags carried them u uthe up p the walk Isis Ills mother met him hurt a athe at atthe t the door We didn't expect you yoi u so soon Dorrie has gone over t to the Lawrences The Lawrences He took o S his chamois jacket jackeL Who Wh arthey ar arthey are e they Fluvanna l look looked o o k e d startle a Friends of yours Dorrie said Oh yes he gulped remember r ing big He lie turned as Kezia came o ou out ut of the living Hello Kezia Kerla Hello Nimrod Any luck Sh She e kissed him twice with warmth He was pleased You haven haven't t done that tha t since you came fro from m school You haven't been away before e and Im I'm glad to see sea you Hughie Hughi e Bring anything for the family larer larcer lard lar d er Three grouse and a couple o of f quail but quail but dont don't ask who sho shot t them Jerry Purdue sauntered out o othe of I Ithe the living Good evening Mr Marsh Have a nice trip Yes thanks Hugh looked a at t him with surprise Was Jerry no now w calling on Kezia IOU If you'll e excuse ex cuse case me Ill I'll go wash up a biLlIe bit biL bitHe He lIe joined his mother in the H 1 li at the end of the hall a fe few V minutes later a pleasant room wi with witha th a fireplace and open bookshelves s lining the walls She had been rea reading read I. I ing rig something and the book lay o oher on her lap How long has this been going goin goings on He motioned toward the liv live ing lag Quite a while Do you approve of it No I gave my consent because because be be- cause she was meeting him secret secret- ly Theres Thetas Ellen EUen I know p Pain ln was alive aUve fo foa for forI fora a moment In his mothers mother's eyes What will be the outcome She will tire lire of him r him or she will marry him She says she wants t to marry him now Hugh lighted his pipe be damnably unhappy I predict He pulled on his pipe savagely Jerry smashing up Ellen Ellen and am Kezzie wanting him to satisfy he her I vanity I 1 know those things Hugh And yet yet yet- What I think that Kezia will get along with him better than Ellen They have nave a common meeting ground ground- their selfishness makes them understand understand un each other Ellen has depth and loyalty she is II suffering now but not so much as she mIght have lave done later But Mother he be wont won't make Kezia happy She turned her eyes on Hugh with a patient infinitely gentle gaze Im afraid not hot And o of course I want her to be happy There was silence between them for a moment then Fluvanna wen went wenton on on Hugh that has been my goa goal in to life life to have you children hap hap- py But I J am beginning to see be see be beginning ginning to see her see her voice faltered that that no parent can guarantee happiness to her children They both sat still and Hugh had hada a knocking prescience that she No knew knew about Dorrie parent can guarantee happiness sh had said and had looked a at him bum with compassion companion Did she know If she did he be felt sorrow that lat she would have lave his burden to and beat car and a tremendous relict relief Mother Mother he said Then stopped topped gazed gored at her Hugh She opened her arms and he ho bent ent to her put his head on an h her het r breast with aching yearning felther felt felther her cr tenderness flood and envelop him him Oh Mother he sighed Lila His eyes yes were tearless but the aching pain a in was released Her tier arms folded fold fold- ed d around him her check cheek lay against his hair they were close In that mystic bond of mother and son Its UI hard Hugh Im glad you know He lie groped to o his feet stood by the mantel Dont grieve too much I have to o get myself together meet together meet it It has las happened to quite a few others othen they've lived through It it It isn't hopeless Tell me about i it t t for while I saw raw you getting haggard aggard and silent it wasn't until unit Dorrie came this week that I realized Did she speak of it She shook her head I only knew something is very |
