The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-02-24
A SECRET FROM PARIS
CHAPTER XI

Madame Won Elm sat by the fire.
1t was late, and Paris had gone up
stairs to study She knew that Anna
was in the Kitchen waiting for her
to go to bed Tonight Anna would
have TO be patient.
The room was warm, though
the fire was low now The sound
of the wind rose and fell in long
signs and howls. Madame wanted
TO think She shook her head.
No, she didn't want TO think. She
tried very hard to be reminiscent,
but 1t was not successful. The
uneyentiul years of her girlhood;
n first marriage and the birth OF
Paris mother; the second mar
riage to the picturesque but I'M
stable Franz Won Elm; his death;
her own first struggle, the ensuing
poverty; the deaths Of Paris
father and mother - how many
deaths one counted in a lifetimel
and these happieSt years Of all
her life with Paris to watch over.
Now this time this day was
more important, and more inter-
esting.
She wondered q little just why
she so much wanted TO live.
Paris? Yes, of course. Because
he loved her, but more because
she loved him. She thought Of
him and smiled. Then she dozed
Il. yes, and because sch liked
! to see the wind moving the tops
of the maple trees
She called Anna,
Anna turned to the fire and
raked the ashes from beneath the
CRATE. Eyes, Madame?"
well, now. Anna, ] was just
wondering what would become Of
you when-when I'm not here any
I more2"
"Oh, Madame"
Have you any money, Anna?"
Eyes, Madame. I have saved
everything. IL shall-should be
able to take care OF myself. But
who will look after Parrish
Madame drew her shoulders to-
gether a little as though a chill
drafs struck her. "He will have
to look after himself, Anna He's
a good boy--I suppose"
Paris is a good boy" Anna
spoke with undoubting emphasis.
IT hope so, Anna, l hope so. L
think he is some kind OF a gentle
man. I shouldn't expect him to
be an angel--or want him TO be-"
Has J)r Gordon said-2n
He gives me one year, or two"
What can I do for you, Mad
anne, quickly?"
Nothing, Anna. Just 90 on as
il everything were the same as al
ways. I don't want Paris to be
disturbed"
He doesn't know about this?'
Gle must not know, Anna. We
must be as gay as possible, plan
Things, and appear to be happy.
His studies - / want him to do
very we'll Now, 30 to bed"
you are not going to bed your
self?"
mot yet"
"Tnen I will wait. I'll Just set
some bread. Might as well bake
tomorrow.
What was Paris like, deeper
down than the surface? What did
he dream Of, look forward TOT?
What did he desire?
The answers to these questions
- these all-important questions -
would not come from Paris or
from her observation OF him.
Madame's own training had given
him an exterior that communi-
Gated little, for all its seemingly
expressive vivacity. Now as she
thought OF 1t, she realized that he
was far less yivacious than he
used to be.
Paris was less lively. He talked
n good deal but less gaily. He was
- she hunted for description -
he was darker. Yes: that de-
scribed him exactly She Won
dered why. She must observe him
a bit more closely. Maybe She
had been neglecting him little.
She would try to understand
him better, Where she would find
her answer -- that was another
matter. Not in Paris, she thought
again, no; not in herself, because
they were quite unlike. She tried
TO recall her daughter, Paris
mother. She had never understood
Marian very well. No, she hadn't
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