Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-09-15

| as REGARDS yOurSclI Is tO reloru puhi-
lively. or, failing that. to COW and
break you.
Murphy returned to his cell with
something quite new to think of. True,
he returned to the neighborhood Of
Parr. the sound of his solid and well
measured tread on the stones Of the
corridor. his neat military cough. his
well balanced pause exactly opposite
the door within which dwelt the Objec-
tionable G. 10. 1t was. however, Parr
under totally different aspect. The
whole perspective of things between
.l.cm hud to he rcadjusted.
When Par: came Murphy was ex-
rcedingly silent. but looked at him a
great deal. though sidelong. Parr was
not quick. but eventually he noticed
the scrutiny and became watchful In
turn. for Murphy's eye, never dOvelike,
had a new animation in its sullen
depths.
But there was something so unmis-
takably shamefaccd about G 45 that
Parr stopped In the rebuke he was
about to utter and substituted, In an
uncertain, even mild. voice, the stock
remark:
"None O. your games, 45!"
A light. human and unofficial. hov-
cred around his lips. Moreover, Muir
ply, furtively studying him. had
caught feeting likeness. He cleared
his throat and said. with grutf humil-
Ity:
".,in't no game. said'- Pause.
Pause also on PARIS part, presently
followed by a not altogether ungra-
cious "WellY'
Then Murphy raised his eyes. which,
Parr thought indistinctly for the first
time. were not so bad us some peoples,
and remarked:
That's small, small child O. yours.
officer"
Parr suspected insult in this or a
deep laid plot to come round" him.
Aware, however, that G ass ingenuity
was limited to the coarsest common
places, instead Of making disciplinary
descent he merely took suspicious
stare at him. Murphy wriggled. but
the wriggle was so palpably innocent
and inoffenslve that Parr said gruiily,
rather as II the reply was extracted
from him:
"Yes; weakly, you see. Gets sores on
the side O. her little neck; pulls her
poor little head O. one side. You might
a noticed. Some people do"
He was watchful of depreciatory
comments, but Murphy's almost re-
sentful reply-"I didn't. then. Who
says soT'-came with curious balm.
Parr made Il feint to leave the cell.
but paused ut the door and. leaning
against 1t. added:
"Oh. folks that's got suety. beefy
ones O. their own"
Murphy nodded comprehension. with
his gaze on the ground.
81 should say" he observed. as II
hurting defiance at criticising uni
verse. Though I'm no judge o kiddies.
more like a bit o. white wax flower
or a-a-chirrup." He uttered the last
word uncertainty. Parr, too. felt there
was something wrong there, but. los
ing sight of verbal inaccuracy in the
aptncss of the simile. assented with an
approving Just so." He added. fear
ing he had compromised his dignity.
"Get on with your work; amt here
to play with you" and retired abrupt
ly, slamming the door on principle.
Afterward. however, he made an ex-
cuse to rcappear and. with an aspect
Of stolid surprise and of being driven
into friendliness against his will, re-
marked. "Faysie's been askin' after
you"
whats that"
"My child" said Parr roughly-"she's
been askin' after YOU"
"She ain'tw There was an unbeliey-
Ing whimper in the hoarse denial which
caused Parr to asseverate:
"Blowed IL she amt"
Murphy said no word. He opened his
mouth like gaping fish and lifted his
eyes to his officers face with such 81
lent earnestness that PARIS hide was
pierced. He recognized. with sort Of
pang. humanity in Murphy. even n
community Of feeling. His frail child
was despiseds by fellow warders with
large. healthy families.
"She began tellin' me about pity
man playin' ball. Prisoner undergo
in punishment I said. Had to tell
her. in course" with remote sugges-
ton of apology: but. bless her ig-
nmnce. she couldn't see 1t! She sets
me right. she does. Ha. hn! Pity
man-man" she says. Wanted to know
yonr name. she did. tells her Z 40.
But :ts O. no use; couldn't take 1t in.
At last had to say Murphy"
Murphy smiled-u dim. awkward
smile that looked like CONFUSION on
his vast mouth-and listened for more.
'Murphy-bein'- l says.
Then she drums her little feet against
my shins and puts her wee finger In
her mouth and looks up at me 80 pretty
and wants to know what for. 'Usin'
foul language l says"
"You didn't tell her that" Murphy
interrupted in low desperation, shut
ting his lips fast on some more Of 1t.
81 did," said Parr, stubborn, though
slightly ashamed. But she don't
understand nothin' bad" he added
soothingly. "And certainly Here
he stopped and blinked his eyes in med
itation, and there was an irritating
pause, broken by half fierce. half
eager "WhatT from Murphy.
"Well, she looked" said Parr in q
slow, puzzled way, "as If she see some.
body-ill usin'-her canary bird. Two
big tears in them blue flowers o eyes
and her little finger strokin' somethin'
In the air. 'Poor-pOor-pOOr! she
said" His voice wavered little out OF
its chuckle, and there was two min.
utes' dead silence. This totally new
view of a prisoner under punishment
evidently staggered Murphy US well as
Parr. He sat contemplating 1t with his
chin on his chest, his lower lip droop'
ing and inclined to quiver, his sly, saw
age eyes wide. with distant sugges.
ton of moisture In them. then remark
ed with startling suddenness:
Don't know US she's altogether out"
The eyes Of the two men met-it was
the first real meeting, though there had