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"The library? I believe Winnie Bailey's niece is the librarian now Wonderful girl Too bad she married that fellow from Machias; anyone in Simmons' Mills could have told her it wouldn't work out, but you kno soirls are when they think they're in love Well, at least she has a beautiful set of twins They won the Baby Contest at the Fourth of July celebration two suor paper Are you doing some kind of historical research at the library, dear?"

Natalie grinned "Yes," she said "I guess you could call it that"

Such a small, small town, Natalie mused as she left the house No secrets in Simmons' Mills Anna Talbot could tell irl in this town gave birth to an illegiti would fall into her lap, dropping stitches that would leave flaws in her grandchild's lasses; she'd look at me, with my face that looks like Julie's face, and she'd re

She'd also tell everyone else in Simmons' Mills The phone company would have an overload for two days

And I can't do that to Julie Jeffries It was her secret I'll make it mine, but we'll leave it that way

The Si to the bronze plaque, in memory of those sons of Si World War I) was small, squat, and somber In Branford, the library had been renaht colors, with squishy plastic chairs; rising fro a Band-Aid In Siid, under diht Natalie, looking at the young, freckled librarian seated behind the desk The rectangular holder at the edge of the desk held a sn that said Ms Farley The picture fraraph of two identical babies in striped sunsuits Ms Farley was leafing through the pages of the latest Cos one's sex appeal, looked at Natalie, and sht Natalie, you'll have the out loud in the Simmons' Mills Library for the first time Good for you

"Hi I'd like to see some old newspapers from Simmons' Mills"

Ms Farley raised her eyebrows "Hope you're not looking for news The last exciting thing that happened around here hen the FBI or And that was 1937"

Natalie laughed "No, I just want to check on soht be so"

"Well, we have the papers themselves back to 1950 Before that, they're on microfilm"

Natalie calculated quickly "1959, 1960, around there, is what I want"

"No probleic to dust They're in the back room" Ms Farley pointed toward a door behind her desk "Can you find them yourself? I'd help you, but I'uarded" Natalie and the librarian looked toward the one inhabited table, where three s the words of the brief texts with their mouths solemnly

"It's okay," Natalie said "I'll poke around by rinned "Yell if you need help But yell quietly" She nodded toward the sn tacked to the wall: "Please re Respect the needs of others by your silence" Ms Farley winked

"Thank you," whispered Natalie, chuckling, and opened the door behind the librarian's desk

The back room alled with shelves She found the local newspaper, stacked by years, removed the stacks marked 1959 and 1960, and blew the dust from the top of each pile Then she set them on the table that was in the center of the small roo for Certainly there would not be a birth announcement

Still, it was a very small town Just how ses idly and read at a glance the notices of 4-H s, of Boy Scout awards, and of church suppers

In December of 1959, the Sieant because of a severe snowstorm

In Decenant Tough to do, she thought cynically, in a town this size, knee-deep in snow She must have found a wareant was held a week later: a great success; rave reviews A blurred photograph showed the cast The Virgin was a blonde, with a crooked cardboard halo, and an embarrassed smile; her name was Jackie McNabb

She was probably a friend of Julie's, thought Natalie, looking thoughtfully at the badly focused photograph of the pretty girl selected as 1959's Baptist Virgin Juliesoeneral

Natalie turned the pages The high school glee club gave a Christers were not listed The Simmons' Mills Library had held a Christmas party for children, with a Santa Claus who distributed the edible decorations fro her sister in Portland for the holidays Edgar Moreau had injured hiainst his chain saw; forty stitches were required, but he was doing well at the local hospital Vandals had thrown beer cans in the cear's son? It didn't say) had been proeant on the Si the new cruiser School would reopen on the 3rd of January if the leaks in the roof were repaired by then; the repair as being undertaken by W D Corning and Sons

On January 2nd, the first baby of the New Year was born at Siraphed asleep, wearing a banner that said 1960 It was a boy, named Dennis Paul Moreau, the first child of Michael and Jeannine Moreau (how about that, thought Natalie; Mike got a proratulations), and was delivered at 9:20 AM (you h, Mike; hope the raise ht of the old man and the way he had looked at her The way he said, "Julie?" Did he remember all of his patients that way?

On January 6th, Mr and Mrs Clement Jeffries had held an Open House for the executives of the P R Simmons Paper Company, at their home on Falls Road

She sat down Those had to be Julie's parents Those were--are--randparents Mr and Mrs Clement Jeffries

Natalie wrote down their naone away, Dr Therrian said; but her parents may still be there They can tell me where she is If they will

I'll make up a story about why I want to find her She's an old friend of nize nized me, and called me Julie

I'll talk to theain

Natalie leafed hastily through other papers On January 15, 1960, Sih School listed its honor roll

Julie Jeffries, a sophoo McLellan, had all As Natalie felt a twinge of dislike for Margo McLellan

She put the newspapers back on their shelf, opened the door, and found Ms Farley reading a story to the three s the librarians hair gently as he listened

Natalie waited until the brief story was finished "Ms Farley," she asked, "could I see the phone book?"

The librarian sighed, lifted the little boy down from her lap, and ca Natalie the small telephone directory, "but I'm really sorry I can't let you use the phone It's an idiotic rule The theory is that if we let one person use the phone, everyone ant to use the phone I've never figured out what disaster will take place if everyone uses the phone