The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-03-25

syringe at the little table. The nurse cane in.
 you'd better snatch a little rest before the afternoon, Miss Copper. I'll call you"
 The sound of Dr. McNeill's steps receded, Paris arose and closed the dor leading into the hall. Then he sat down O nthe edge of the bed and took Drake's hand. He laid his fingers on the thready pulse, and waited.
 He sat motionless. He could hear the tiny ticking sound of the nurses watch on the table behind him.
 The sun crept in at the front windows.
 Paris laid Drakes hand on the quiet sheet and folded the other oen over 1t.
 He stood for a moment looking down at the blue-white face on the pillow. A sudden breeze swung the curtains inward, and blew lock of hair across Drake's brow. It gave him boyish look.
 Paris went out and closed the door softly behind him.
 
 The days and weeks following Drake's death seemed to Paris to descend to curious level of mon- otony. The whole world was slip- pery, incorporeai, and kaleidoscopic.
 Just before Christmas he saw Randy at Cary Whitehead's office. He had seen her frequently, and he was surprised each time to see how quickly she had regained her calm. She spoke of business mat ters with less enthusiasm.
 "It used to be fun, you know, Paris. Drake" - she managed the name with a little difficulty-"was always so excited about anything new that we undertook. Now, l sort of wonder why I bother about it. I have enough money-I don't need too much, you know"
 Well, Randy, I've been want ing to talk to you about the busi- ness. I'd like to get out"
 Perhaps you're right"
 q just want to think about my work. Now, I don't want to leave you in the lurch in any way"
 Tt wouldn't be. Paris, I'd like to quit, too. l believe Dan Gil- bert and Elliot would buy us out" :"
 Do you think so? But what would you do? I think you ought to have something"
 "I'm tired, Praris."
 "Yes. I can understand that. All of these years"
 Paris, 1t seems like 8 dream now. I remember the afternoon you left for Europe, and ran in- to you and Drake at the depot. I was awfully happy, I realize now that I was, until real troubles came. It's strange, but I don't seem to be able to recall right now all those years as well as l can the beginning"
 "It's rather natural, Randy. You'll have to slowly forget the terrible things" ...
 q don't want to forget anything Paris. Every hour of my life is precious. It's all right, Paris. I used to think a great deal about the future. always dreaded Drake's growing old. It was frightful that he had to die as he did, but poor Drake!" Ran dy's eyes dimmed. "I'l be able to make sense out of it all some time. I hope. We mustn't lose sight of each other, Paris. You have been SO good-so good"
 You two were my only friends, you know"
 Paris, I'm just S2 years old vii be 32 on my next birthday, and I feel as though I had lived half dozen lives"
 q can understand that, too"
 "Whatever was done, Paris. we did together, you and 1.-the only two people who really loved Drake" She looked up quickly Do you hear anything about Louise Gordon?"
 Not a word. I did hear that her condition was worse and that there seemed little hope of her recovery"
 Paris, all of that seems a mighty strange, dark business to me. There are worse things about 1t than we know"
 I'm afraid so."
 Paris. thought of what Randy had said about her age. His own age, as well. He didn't, of course, feel old, as Randy did, but he had a disagreeable letdown feeling, as if many things, many courses were suddenly finished. He, too, had lived through experiences that had been too violent.
 Mrs. Skeffington's denunciations mind. And yet, 8 clear, cool of Kings Row came back to his thread of reason that spun like a thread of crystal through his weaving thought and fancy told him the feeling was wrong. Kings Row was only small unit in a diverse and fiuctuating world. He, he-Parris Mitchell-was not Par ris Mitchell of Kings Row, but Paris Mitchell of the world. So stationed, there was nothing in Kings Row that could ever reach through to touch him. He had only to think of the vast, inter ,,,oo ,,i,oor afFnrt nf men in all nlaCes