The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-02-13
Chapter III


street, stood Thurston st. Georges
red brick house. Thurston St. George
was very old and very rich. He own
ed lnnumerable tracts Of land and
was greatly respected
AT the western extremity of Fed
eral street, Aberdeen College lifted
Its pIllard portico and looked
straight across the town to the in
sane asylum whose white galleries
and many-windowed facades gleam-
ed through the trees three-quarters
of a mile away.
These were social boundaries.
Every step away from these clearly
marked precincts took one step
downward in the well-defined and
perfectly understood social order of
Kings Row.
The st. Georges, with the San
somes, the Curleys, the Gordons,
and the Skeffingtons, made up a
strong and influential social strong
hold. They were sometimes referred
to irreverently by lesser people as
the big Five
Young Hart Sansome was the
mayor. Lucius Cur1ey was presi-
dent Of the Burton County Bank,
and DR.. Gordon was the towns
leading physician.
Colonel Isaac Skef1ington was
lawyer "the best defense lawyer
in the state Everyone knew Ike
Skeffington, most people liked
him, and a good many were genu-
inely afraid Of his caustic tongue.
He was tall, gaunt man with
fiery red beard that spread its
splendors to his lowest vest but
ton. He wore frock coat the
year round and, save in the hot
test weather, a tall silk hat. A
dark smoke-stained spot marked
the location Of his mouth. Miles
Jackson, the editor of The Gazette,
said that wasn't due to smoke but
to the colonel's birthstone vocab-
tlary, which had singed his whis-
kerS brown.
Skefington walked through his
vegetable garden one morning, and
came out on the sidewalk He stop
ped and took off his hat with a near
flourish
GOOD morning, Marie, good
morning, maam. How are you
this dne morning?"
A basket phaeton. its cream
colored fringes !swaying to the jog
trot of a small plump horse, came
greeted the colonel cordially. He
smiled at Paris
Very well, sir, thank you, Colonel
How are you, sonny?"
Sketdngton. >
Fine boy you're raising, Marie
He's got manenrs. What are you
going to make out of him?"
well he wants to be DOCTOR
Doctor? Doctor, hey! What
for, my boy?"
Il think I'd like it--sir."
Nonsense Working around
with sinking pills and stuff. Have
to get up in the middle of the
night AMI go out to Godforsaken
places because some old fools got
bellyache.'
Madame laughed aloud It's
good profession, Isaac"
Stuff! Make him a lawyer.
He ought to be smart one.
You're smart, his daddy was
smart, and his granddaddy Mitch
el was smart"
The old lawyer walked slowly
up Walnut street. His great beard
flashed and sparkled in the sun,
and the clouds Of smoke from his
cigar gave him the appearance OF
a walking contlagration.
In the middle of the next block
he squinted narrowly, at dingy
house set in the midst of tangled
shrubbery and sWarming vines.
A girl with copper-colored curls
was standing at the decrepit gate.
The colonel bowed gravely.
Good morning, sissy"
She looked at him without smil-
ing. After moments hesitation
she replied, my name is Cassan-
dra"
oh, no! Is that SO? You are
DR. Towers little grip"
Eyes. Yes sir" She spoke
with a certain reluctance, and
Colonel Skeffington's small brown
eyes twinkled.
Fine crop of curly hair you've
got, miss, fine color like mine"
He removed his hat and shook his
long straight locks. Redheads
have got spunk and character.
Don't you ever forget it,"
She smiled little-a wan, I'M
certain smile.
DR.. Tower came out on the
front porch as Colonel Skeffington |
walked away.
'Casss ndra!'
Yves, SIR"
Come in the house"
The child hurried back to the
house. Her father stood waiting