The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1942-03-02
TINE Is SHORT
CHAPTER XVI

CHAPTER XVI
"Say-when are you going to Eu-
rope? Not soonP"
I'm September"
"Whyn't you tell me?'
Il didn't know it until today"
Say - that's tough! I'll be
tiarned If I know what I'm going
10 do without YOU" Drake thwacked
Paris resoundingly to lessen the
sentiment Of the remark.
Il don't know what I'll Go without
YOU, either, My grandmother ar
ranged it all with DR.. Tower. He
told me, They just move me around
l like a chair or something, just to
suit themselves"
PARIS, you and NE have been
in pretty much the same kind of
boat so much of the time. You
remember I said that right here
at this corner about three years
ago. We still are, in lots of ways.
My girl can't see me, and won't
and yours can't come out in the
open either and so around with
YOU like other girls and their fell
| lows"
"Cassie's not exactly my girl
Drake. DR.. Tower is very pc
culiar-"
II should say he is. think he's
kind of crazy Keeping Cassie shut
up oil the time, away from every
body. But Dr. Gordon's not crazy,
He Just don't like me-"
Drake, you take on like every
+! thing was over. You can get
things fixed up all right but it's
like Louise says, you got to have
a little patience"
1T haven't got any patience. I
don't give q damn whether they're
fixed up or not Drake spoke
louder and louder He was feed
ing his temper with itself and was
beyond listening,
| Nov, listen, Drake"
"oh, let me alone! You don't
know how ] feel. Don't talk to
me, Paris, Ii just can't stand
any more" He turned quickly
and almost ran up Federal street,
For the first time Paris drew
back a little from Drake to get
n better perspective He realized,
as he never had, that Drake could
be completely illogical and incon-
slstent, and then feel terribly hurt
because he was misunderstood,
He hated to admit 1t, but he knew
that Drake not only didn't think
] things out, but that he wasn't
really capable Of thinking when
his emotions we're involved,
A new and deep fear for Drake
arose like q physical ache in his
| heart. Drake was the best friend
he had, probably the best he
would ever have. But even as he
thought about 1t he knew that his
hopes for Drake had always been
! uncritical. He had refused to look
sQuarely at single fault in him.
Drake carried the signal of ter
lible dangers to himself written
clearly In his face. The ache in
side Of Paris hardened to actual
pain. That overhandsome face OF
brakes was not q thinking face.
The chances Of terrible frustra-
ton lay deep in brakes character
chances, even, Of disaster.
Just o few days earlier at the
conclusion Of one Of their long
and fruitleSs discussions, Drake
had said: Things are going to be
different from now on" Yes.
Things were going to be different,
Everything was moving. Every
thing was getting under way.
He and Drake were no longer
spectators. He groaned a little
disconsolately under his breath.
Already the days Just passed
seemed so happy, and spacious,
and free. Restraint was falling
across his way. 1t seemed to be
coming from every direction. And
ccmpulsion.
Struggle. He had heard that
word q thousand times. He saw 1t
and recognized it. But he had
never realized that he would have
to take part in 1t.
Paris worked hard. He read day
and night, and for the first time
prepared digests for his reading for
Or. Tower.
There was q conspiracy Of ST.
lence among Madame's older
friends. Most Of them knew Of
Paris almost fanatical devotion
TO his grandmother. They looked
at him q little pityingly, but said
nothing. Even Drake seldom asked
about Madame, but he knew.
Sometimes he was uneasy and
several times was near to telling
Paris. He feared for Paris If
Madame's death should come sud-
denly and unexpectedly.
Anna looked with wide, dry,
wondering eyes at the seemingly
unbreakable old woman, so slight
and, thin now she scarcely dented (!
the heaped-up pillows. Madame
Insisted each day on having her
hair done high on her head and
fastened with the tall silver comb.
For . few moments she smiled and
spoke casually TO Paris. Then
she gave over to the interminable
hours Of incredible horror one
minute at a time until tomorrow.
During the next two weeks, DR.,
Gordon came every day. 1t was