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

dream. Mrs. Parr dragged him on
ward, his heavy foot shutting, to the
| little parlor, which was all too neat
land still not to refute the last hope Of
Ia child's presence. Parr stood in the
middle of 1t. as II he did not quite
know how to stand. A shaft Of veiled
sunlight struck coldly through the
drawn blind on his new black clothes,
and Murphy's hand went up In me-
chanical dIsmay to pull at his own
glaring blue tie.
PARIS face was solid, untransparent
white. mapped out with pale red lines,
and seemed suddenly to have grown
very thin, while the swelled lilac lids
and drenched eyelashes gave his round
eyes quite new spiritual Transparent
cy. His head was thrown back and his
gaze fixed on the whitewashed ceiling.
He was immobile, except that his hand
felt stiffiy for the chain Of the official
keys with which he used to play In
moments of abstraction. to the past
outrage of G As.
Mrs. Parr spoke first because Parr
did not seem to have any idea Of greet
ing a visitor beyond turning his eyes
hurriedly toward Murphy and then
turning them away again, and. as to
Murphy. he was q choked, paralyzed
stntue.
THAT'S how Parr is-he can't speak,"
she whimpered. Parr turned a half
frightened glance Of agreement and
recognition. Here's Mr.. Murphy" she
continued. Murphy was even then re-
motply gratifed at this polite form.
Wont you speak to him. John? He
didnt-know"-
No: Murphy did not know. He had
not yet arrived at the knowledge. His
gaze roved with vacant and simple
curiosity over PARIS stiff. stuffed i'm
age, his white features and black suit.
He looked inquiringly at the upper
floor and then at Parr again and. there
being no answer to this dumb ques-
tioning. managed. after clearing num-
ber of foreign substances out of his
throat, to ask in an unnatural. high
pitched voice. "Where's"- He got no
further. His hand went vaguely to
his pocket and came back again empty.
Parr raised his eyes also, but much
higher and very slowly. then turned his
head toward Murphy with silent mean-
ing.
"SickT Murphy muttered uncandld.
~.
Parr shook his head many times with
deep expression.
won't you let me see her. then|
continued Murphy in foolish drawl.
The woman burst afrcsh into loud
weeping. Murphy kept his small eye
fixed, doglike, on Parr and seemed to
arouse in him some new resolve. He
took Murphy by the arm with an un-
conscious grip of professional authority
and led him into the passage. Mrs.
Parr followed, still sobbing. The two
big men climbed the narrow wooden
stairs, which creaked beneath their
weight. Murphy lurched slightly and
PARIS foot still dragged as they en-
tered the little low bedroom. The blind
was down here, too, and the dusty aft
ernoon sunlight subdued into wanness.
There was large bed occupying half
the space. a white cloth was pinned
across the glass OH the dressing table,
already besprent with suburban smuts.
Murphy noticed 1t absently, for his
whole attention was taken up by one
object.
1t was a childs crib, but on the white
coverlet, at pillow and foot, were two
dents, harsher than the fondly remem-
bered small faXen head and fairy feet
could make, and few faded flower
petals and green leaves lay about 1t on
the floor. The silent Parr stretched out
a wooden arm that way. Then Muir
ply, standing where he was. threw up
his head with long, dull canine howl
or "keen." With such voice does a
dog recognize the loss Of his owner god,
the consequent extinction Of his sun
and the crumbling of his universe Into
ruins.
Parr WINGED reproachfully. as If Muir
ply had made things worse by putting
them into sound. but Murphy, unaware
of him, plunging forward. fell on his
knees In heap at the bottom Of the
crib and began to groan and to stroke
with his great fingers the place whence
the little feet had fitted away out OF
the worlds dry paths.
Mrs. Parr. an incongruous soul,
though well meaning, here lifted her
voice, at the same time poking Parr
with her forefnger In admOnition. She
had seen the small paper parcel pro-
truding from Murphy's pocket.
"Alr. Murphy brought her a dolly,
dear" she faltered, with a watery
smile.
Parr jumped as II he were shot. NUT
ply turned round, snatched the small
parcel from his pocket and smashed 1t
on the floor with q bitter o. the
dollw then caught PARIS eye Of vague
mechanical reproof and added humbly:
II ask your pardon. I'm a bit took
aback." He rose and stood looking at
the two.
"Well, she's dead; that's ALL" said
Parr. The sharpness Of his anguish
had made him newly capable of sar-
casm, so that he added. turning over
abstractcdly little pile of clothes and
toys on the table. "That's all we've got
| to show you now." He pursued dryly:
..If you'd have come a week ago. or
yesterday even; but. being as you
didn't. that's ull and not much OF
welcome neither"
Then sudden change took place IN
| Murphy. His big hand clutched and
closed on PARIS chilly fingers, and.
| with tears streaming In small sheets
| down his cheeks. he shouted In great
| 'Ohbing gust: