The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1942-03-02

no longer possible to put Paris of
with childish answers.
He was eating breakfast absent
ly and gloomily. Anna came
downstairs. He looked up quickly.
She is terribly Ill, isn't she,
now2"
every i'll, yes. But the weather
will be cooler soon--it Is usually
better the last two weeks Of August,
you know"
Paris went quietly upstairs and
into his grandmother's room. She
lay on her side, asleep. He could
not see her face, but her shoulder
showed sharp and thin under the
sheet, He went out again and
stood for a moment in Madames
little dressing room. The table
was covered with medicines. A
hypodermic case was lying open;
the needle and piston evidently
freshly dried had not been re-
placed. He picked up the tube of
white tablets and read the label.
Just then Anna returned. He
pointed at the hyp9dermic case
Anna blanched q little.
How long has - has this been
necessary, Anna?" His voice shook
slightly.
For several weeks, Paris"
He waited as If he could not say
tie next word. He picked up the
stirring hypodermic needle and
lalc. 1t down again.
"Cancer?' He was surprised that
he could say 1t.
Anna answered in the same
tone OF voice. Eyes, Paris"
why wasn't I told? Why have
I been kept out of this-like a
childP"
Madame. wished it, Paris. She
wanted you to finish your work
without worry. She insisted, Par
RE; she made ME promise"
Eyes, yes, guess so. So that's
it! But why did she make plans
for me to go to Europe in Septem-
ber- Didn't she = doesn't she
know?"
Yes, of course she knows, She
she thought she would live
through September"
The last tinge of color left his
face. Anna moved instinctively
nearer.
"And-she won't, Is that what
you mean?"
1T is impossible that she should
live more than few days. ! had
made up my mind after DR.. Cor
dons visit yesterday to tell YOU"
"A-few-dayS? Only "a few
daysP"
Eyes, Paris"
He turned and left the room
without speaking. Anna heard the
door of his room close softly. She
shook her head. Then she took
long breath and released it jerk
lily.
"Parris!" Castles voice over the
telephone sounded hurried and anX-
ious. Listen Paris. I've got to see
you"
"Oh, can't now, Cassie"
"Parris, I wouldn't call you II 1t !
wasn't Important"
"All right. Nine O'Clock at the
corner OF Aberdeen campus" OF |
course she couldn't understand
what was happening to him just
now. He'd have to tell her.
But Cassie had come to tell him.
7 don't think they're treating |
you right, Paris, and I've got to
tell you"
cassie, don't know what you're |
talking about. Who? What?" 4
"You know we'll - you love |
your grandmother terribly much,
don't your"
"She's all my world, Cassie"
"Everybodys ben tryin to keep |
you from knowing how sick she is"
Paris did not reply. Castles /
words struck through him. 1t had
seemed this afternoon sort OF
secret that only Anna knew. But
everybody knewl
"T'hey should have told you long
ago."
Still he did not answer.
"Parris," she took hold Of his
arms and shook him slightly. Par
ris, your grandmother is dying, and
they don't tell you'll"
"Who told your" He asked the
question roughly.
Papa"
ooh, see."
He talked to DR.. Gordon, I
guess. You know you're the only
person ever saw Papa be in
in. Your grandmother is
dying of cancer. I know how you
feel about her and Paris, dar-
ling, was afraid of what the sud-
den shock might do to you. I guess
It's been just as much Of a shock
the way I've told you.
mo, it's all right, Cassie.
knew It,"
did your"
"Just today. Anna told me.
This afternoon"
"Oh."
They sat in silence for a long
while, watching the fireflies, and
then talked in gentle voices OF
other things.
I'll have no one when you
leave, Paris" Cassie whispered.
They walked soberly down the
ong avenue.
you're not like anybody else,
Paris. Do you know that?"