The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-10-06
Paradise Lake Was An Eden Until--Bang!
Chapter l

SlnK low ana SClll LOOK graceful, I was all prepar- ed for a chatty half hour with the girls, catching up on the gossip and news now that l was no longer with them. l remembered how much a half hour like that means to a school teacher at the end of a hard week tussling with high school sophomores who don't care if Shakes peare wrote plays or car- ried a football.
 But l never did drink that tall, cold connection with all the pleasure l an- ticipated. A sprig of fresh mint, floating on top of a glass of limeade, should be a finishing touch to a refreshing drink, but to me that fragrance brought back the whole drama of Paradise Lake with such q rush of memories that when I did drain the glass 1t was to keep my hands from trembling
 I suppose memories of Paradise Lake and fresh mint will always affect me that way. And the sound of Finn McCool, Maudle'S black, button-eyed Scottie, humping the floor will always cause the hair to stand up on the back of my neck and make me grab my pillow tightly before I can apply q bit of schoolroom psychology on myself and settle back to sleep.
 Paradise Lake was supposed to be quiet. We had the assurance of dozens of friends who had gone there during the past 20 years and who took pride in the fact that dance hallS, hot dog stands, and juke boxes had no place there. At least that was the information Maudie brought home. We had decided to let her do the scouting because she knew everyone In town and would know more about lake resorts in a week than travel bureau.
 Maudie Is our mother and we three are her children. At least she still calls us children, although looking at that touch of gray over my left ear, can't rightly say that any one of us is in the adoles- cent stage. The boys-Thomas and William started out as news papermen. following in the steps of our late Father, James O'Con- nor. But then William went into advertising and Thomas into pro- motion. Ard I. Mary. was nothing more interesting than teacher who, when vacation finally ar- rived, felt the need Of rest.
 MaudIe probably would have preferred livelier place than Paradise Lake because Maudie. while she can look like Q Park Avenue dowager when her white hair Is curled and she's sporting one Of those exclusive little num- berS that manage to give lines to an l80-pound chassis, is really the problem child of the family. Maudie likes people-any kind Of people, and excitement In big swallows. But she insisted that nice quiet cottage on a lake would be wonderful and If that was what I wanted she'd find one.
 And she did. Of course one never should have doubted her ability but when I arrived and got settled wondered If what I thought was wonderful wouldn't prove just bit too rustic for ny mother. That was while I was still sleeping l2 hours a night and mapping throughout the day and getting used to the sound of cricketS and beetles raSping at all hours, and fish Hopping themselves out of the water, and birds walk ing before the sun had the nerve to show up in one O. those heav- enly dawns
 taught Lit. I in school and my knowledge of nature was out of Shelley and Wordsworth and not from experience, so that the first week of going back to the soil was enough to keep me occupied.
 When l finally emerged from my eeven-day coma, I looked around to see how Maudie was standing the quiet She had been very firm on our arrival as to her intention to reduce.
 Salads, liquids, and rowing will do it," she said. And for you I'll fix another menu with Jersey milk, and home made bread and pies and cakes, and real country butter"
 Just where" I demanded, "oo you intend getting all these delica- cies? There's no Women,s Ex- change or little tea shoppe to or der from"
 "The bread woman" she an- nounced calmly. "She lives over the hill in the most fascinating old brick house. Of course it's job to push the door open to get in. The place is simply damned with junk. But the kitchens clean and sos the food. And she has peacOcks. I saw them perched on broken-down blow next to the house"
 You've been getting around"
 "Certainly.p she stated. 'The man at the inn told me about her"
 "A pal Of yours. too7"
 @Well. everyone gets acquainted quickly at place like this. Fl i &ent there for the mall and we ! @hattmA M nlk Nin nANne,n Chris