Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-09-22

aught he knew. Aloud he said with
gruff humility:
"Where's Mr.. Parr. please%
The warder viewed him suspiciously
but condescended to laconic "Child
sick"
Then an earthquake indeed rocked
Murphy's universe. He turned quite
sick and made a frantic and profane
appeal under his breath. The warder
struck In. impervious. with a singsong
formula:
"Now. As. you'll get reported II you
use foul language"
The rebukc fell senscless as song on
the wrct,h h;d Murphy's ear.
ooh. oiIicer!' he gasDed. with pale
lips. "Is-slia-vpry had?"
"S'pose SO or they wouldn't have put
his work en- me-
lie slammed the door repressively OIL
i futile hoarsc entrcaty for details. The
four narrow wallis seemed to close In
upon the prisoner and crush his heart
lie cursed the warder. the system. the
government: pulled himself up short IN
superstitious horror. rushed about his
strait limits madly. then stopped and
squeezed himself in q corner. mutter.
ing:
"I'm-I'm nothin'! No right to feel.
They'd give me the lash for 1t. p'raps.
O-O-God" Struggling for expression
his dumb soul made all sorts OF un'
couth noises. as dumb tongue does.
Then. in his desperation, he vaguely i'm.
itated the attitude of praying infant
Samuel in much creased print Faysie
had sent him. With hands piously
clasped and upraised eyes. Murphy. the
hardened rascal knelt. trembling. and
made his first essay at prayer. starting
from the church service which he had
sometimes mechanically mumbled.
Almighty and most merc'ful Father
-Parr-and especial me-is miserable
sinners. and you know the sort O.
bringin' up I've had. But Parr Is de-
cent chap all round. which you'll p'raps
take into account. and near as fond o
her as this old blackguard. But then
he's got wife rs well, and I've got no
one. Can have me to burn up and vel.
come only 1t don't seem somehow tc
me as you're as fond O. burnin' us as
folks makes out. and, besides, I'm no
account to burn UP or not. But Parr is
okff - hit ranfprnnf0l Qnn
set on her. And l was devil till-till
seen her little bit O. hand on mine
at shot drill, you 'member-and 0 Goo
% God-O God-don't you let little
Faysie die!'
This Mt intervals through the mad.
deningly long day. with occasiona.
frantic efforts at sack making and un
tasted meals pushed aside. The new
warder looked In to inquire what he
was "up to-" He answered submissive.
ly:
"Nothin'. Frettin' a bit; that's all.
Pris'ners will"
The officer retired obviously, and
with the shutting Of the cell door at
night blank desperation closed on Muir.
ply. In the morning, however, as he
mechanically cleaned his cell. Parr
himself appeared at the door.
Murphy uttered Il sort Of voicelesa
shout. and hope and fear contorted the
dull wanness of his grotesque features.
Parr was pale. red eyed, disorganized.
He had not come on duty, only nppar.
emily to choke wordlessly for Murphy's
benefit, who questioned. fearing the
question, "Worse-or-better"
"All right" He read Murphy like a
book for once. "Out o. danger, brother.
The doctor says So"
On this Murphy few at him. and the
,wo big hands met for a second and
two speechless looks. Then Parr re-
tired with sort Of husky giggle, and
Murphy blubbered irresistibly, but In
suitable undertone. When the two
met again, both were gruff and shame
faced exceedingly. No word of that
brief and fevered interview, when both
hearts were stripped bare by that blast
of anguish, was ever said, yet 1t re-
mained as the strongest link Of this
sdd fellowship.