The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-06-04
CHAPTER V

CHAPTER V
 Terry did not talk much about her home outside. These three expressed and acted upon the conviction that she was doomed to come to no good end, and she probably had believed it from infancy herself, never hear ing any other possibility. That's why she was so apologetic, and at the same time so quaintly bold: feeling it was hopeless and she might as well be taken for sheep as goat and enjoy little company while she was about it.
 She did not talk, this Terry Mallow, but the neighborhood could make it's own observations People in the same house had in- dignantly reported the sounds of anger and then of pain and fear coming through the walls when Terry's father took it in mind to punish her. They had seen the ugly welts of blows on her small white shoulders. What the child's bad behavior could consist of was a mystery entirely, for she had been locked in, aside from church and school, all her life. Now that she had taken a job - which she secured the first moment possible, as her only escape - it was said that sort of thing was no longer so frequent; she earned, with the pay envelope she turned over un- opened each week, the first little freedom she ever had, which it seems she was devoting to visits on the Murrays. But boys were .he cardinal sin, forbidden and condemned.
 Now know such a family sounds hard to believe, but I am giving the main facts bluntly, be- cause to explain them fully would be a whole story in itself. The two old ones had never forgiven Terry's mother for marrying their precious son; between all of them they had killed her in time, and I guess she died finding no release even in death because of the baby girl she must leave behind. The baby girl grew up with all that hatred and unforgivingness turned upon her. That was the whole thing. Do you think it is un- natural and incredible?
 As Joe took this all in, even though the kid Terry meant nothing At all to him, his blood began to boil a little.
 "Why the hell don't she blow?" he asked Irene. She's making a living. She's healthy"
 Irene smiled: she understood how his thoughts ran. She's girl, remember, Joe. And she's not of age. They'd go after her and put her ill the wayWard home"
 "What for? If they're so down on her wouldn't they be glad to be rid of her?"
 Tt would be the satisfaction of their lives to put her in the way word home. It would prove everything they ever said about her"
 Joe thought that over, and shrugged slowly; it was beyond him. Your own flesh and blood? That didn't make sense! He slid it from his lean shoulders and went out. But he raised no more questions about the visiting fire-woman in the kitch- en; instead he gave her a short smile and a curt, "'Lo, kid!" when- ever she crossed his path.
 Terry gave him back a big, kind of timid smile with quick light ing of her brown eyes as if she sensed, as dog would, a new and unexpected welcome and was grateful, but presumed nothing more.
 So Terry continued to make her self at home, and Joe continued on his detached way. and nothing in particular happened, and you would never think, if you happened to meet them, that there was anything in- teresting at all in either of their lives or even likely to be. But life never stands still for moment; something is always happening down out of sight in the hidden dark WlleIS IIlOoI Ol IllC 10 lCdAiJ AtfSN'
 
 Terry's visits suddenly were less freuuent, were irregular and shorter When she came, there was some- thing about her air that told anyone who looked twice that she was sec- retly excited aver something, that life was suddenly eventful enough to send the blood racing in her vein; and made her laughter little ex- ultant and defiant. Then one even. ing. about nine o'clock, Terry's dac called at the Murrays' to ask fol her.
 He came in, a big flashy-look- ing, soft man with bright greer eyes and a laugh wavering be- tween condescension and apology His manner intimated plainly how sorry he was to bother them over his family affairs, but they coulo judge for themselves how dutiful a father he was.
 No, Terry's not been in to- night" Mrs. Murray told him guardedly, trying' to keep down the hostility that came instinc- lively at sight of him, at sight oi any man like him. She had daugh- ters of her own, and she had a shrewd eye for men.
 She has told us she came here occasionally" he said. T hate tc be bothering you. But I try te keep an eye on her"
 If she comes, I'll tell her. said Mrs. Murray.