Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-02-16
Bv BOOTH TARKINGTON.

purity and sanctified spirits. Snowfall like this would of made Lot turn the angel out of doors and say that the old home was good enough for him. Go morrah would of looked like q Puritan village, though I'll bet my last dollar that there was lot, and q whole lot, that's never been told about Puritan villages. A lot that
 What never was?" interrupted MT. Peter Bradbury. whose granddaughter had lately announced her discovery that the Bradburys were descended from Miles Standish. What wasn't told about Puritan villagcs?"
 Cant you waltz" Mir. Arp's ac- cents were those of pain. Haven't got any right to present my side of the case? Amt we restrained enough to allow of free speech here? How can we ever git anywhere in an argument like this unless we let one man talk at a time? How
 "Go on with your statement" said Uncle Joe Davey impatiently.
 Mir. Arp's grievance was increased. ''Now. listen to you! How many more interruptions are comin'? I'll listen to the other side, but I've got to state mine first. haven't I? If don't make my point clear, what's the use of the argument? Augmentation is only the comparison of two sides of question, and you have to see what the first side is before you can compare it with the other one, don't you? Are you all agreed to that?' ...
 'Yes, yes." said the colonel. "Go ahead. We won't interrupt until you're through" ......
 The argument grew heated. Half a dozen tidy quarrels arose. All the sages went at 1t fiercely except Roger Tabor, who stole quietly away. The aged men were enjoying themselves thoroughly, especially those who quar- reled. Naturally the frail bark of the topic which had been launched was whirled about by too many side cur rents to remain long in sight and soon became derelict, while the intellectual dolphins dove and tumbled in the depths. At the end of twenty minutes Mir. Arp emerged upon the surface, and in his mouth was this:
 Tell me. why ain't the church-why ain't the church and the rest of the believers ip a future life lookin' for immortality at the other end of life too? If we're immortal we always have been. Then why don't they ever speculate on what we were before we were born? It's because they're too blame selfish: don't care a fapdoodle about what was. All they want is to go on Twin forever"
 MT. Arp's voice had risen to an acrid triumphancy, when it suddenly falter- ed, relapsed to a murmur and then to a stricken silence as a tall. fat man of overpowering aspect threw open the outer door near by and crossed the lobby to the clerks desk. An awe fell upon the sages with this advent. They were hushed and after d movement in their chairs. with a strange effect of huddling, sat disconcerted and atten. tive, like schoolboys at the entrance of the master.
 The parsonage had big. fat. pink face and heavily undershot jaw, what whitish beard he wore following his double chin somewhat after the manner displayed in the portraits of Henry VIII. His eyes, very bright under puffed upper lids. were intoler- ant and insultingly penetrating despite their small size. Their irritability held a kind of hotness. and yet the person. age exuded frost. not of the weather, all about him. You could not imagine man or angel daring to greet this be- ing genially-sooner throw a kiss to Mount Pilatus!
 "Mr. Brown," he said. with ponder ous hostility, in a bull bass to the clerk-the kind of voice which would have made an express train leave the track and go round the other way do you hear me-"
 "Oh, yes, judge-' the clerk replied swiftly in tones as unlike those which he used for strange transients as collectors voice in his ladylove's ear is unlike that which he propeIs at de- linquents.
 Do you see that snow" asked the parsonage threateningly.
 "Yes. judge" MT. Brown essayed a placating smile. "Yes, indeed. Judge Pike"
 "Has your employer. the manager of this hotel. seen that snowT pursued the parsonage. with a gesture of un- speakable solemn menace.
 "Yes, sir. think so. Yes. sir"
 DO you think he fully understands that I am the proprietor of this build ingT
 Certain. judge. cer"-
 "You will inform him tha. I do not intend to be discommoded by his neg llgence as I pass to my offices. Tell him from me that unless he keeps the sidewalks In front of this hotel clear of snow I will cancel his lease. Their present condition is outrageous. Do yol understand me? Outrageous! Do you hear:-
 "Yes. judge. I do so.- answered the clerk. hoarse with respect. "rll see to it this minute. Judge Pike"
 "You had better The parsonage turned himself about and began a grim progress toward the door by which he had entered. his eyes fixing themselves anyriIy upon the conclave at the win dows.
 He nodded to the only man of sub stance among them. Jonas Tabor. and