The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-02-14
A LAZY SUNDAY
CHAPTER ~

After what seemed an intermin-
able spring season, vacation came at
last. Paris and Renee ran nearly all
the way home. This afternoon was
different, somehow, from other af-
ternoons-it was larger, brighter
gayer. And tomorrow there would be
no school.
The great sweeps of orchard
back of the house were in full
bloom.
Lets go look at the apple trees,
Renee. Come on, hurry up"
"All right" she answered meek
y, matching her step to his as
pest she could.
He dashed about the orchards
ike something mad, gathering the
ow branches into his arms and
making loud inhalations as if he
:ried to breathe them into himself
Aren't they bee-eautiful, Re
nee? Prettier'n last year.
The months of May and June
were rapturously happy. The days
were all blue and gold and none
of them failed of novelty or ex-
element. July came in hot and
dry.
They walked one afternoon
through the groves of young ever
greens that stood on the farthest
outskirts of the place. Beyond.
there was only woods.
They came presently upon a
small green pond with spruces and
cedars planted in a wide circle
about it. The sharp points of the
young trees were perfectly mir
rored on the still surface.
ooh, looky - our pond! We
amt been here since last summer,
have We?" Renee ran ahead
Paris walked slowly forward,
watching her bright hair as she
flung the braidS back over her
shoulders and sat on the grassy
bank with hands clasped about
her knees. He decided she was a
very pretty girl prettier than
anybody prettier, even, than
Cassandra Tower.
you're my best friend, Renee, .
he said impulsively.
Am I? Honestly?"
"Yes, you are. I like you bet
term anybody"
y like you best of anybody -
eXccptin', OF course, Papa and
Mama" she said contentedly.
Renee" Paris stumbled on
the name. This will always be
our secret place, won't it?"
"Mmmm.'
He wished she had said more.
Paris watched his grandmother
anXiously on Sunday mornings. If
she planned to go to church she al
ways gave orders at breakfast for
the surrey.
Madame Won Elm put down her
coffee cup and folded her napkin.
Anna, tell Uncle Henry to have
the carriage ready at half-past
TO-"
Yes, Madame"
He sgihed. 1t would be fun to
call Renee and build dam in the
little creek. Much more fun Ger
tainly than putting on a clean
white waist and a starched collar
and going to church.
The surrey stood shining in the
sun. Uncle Henry, his chocolate
face wrinkled into Sunday deco
rum, sat on the front seat. He
wore blue and white striped
seersucker coat and wide
brimmed straw hat.
Madame came down, cracking
in her black taffeta dress. She
was wearing her onyx-and- dia-
mond earrings and large brooch
at her throat. She looked very
fine, he thought, with her tight
shiny black kid gloves, and the
little spray of jet trimming that
twinkled on her bonnet. He par
ticularly liked that Sunday bon
net. He thought it looked like a
crown, and that it made his
grandmother look like a queen.
The second church bell was
dnging from the Presbyterian
tower when they turned into Fed
eral street.
A number of men stood on the
little lawn before the church.
Several of them lifted their hats
and spoke. Paris could see that
they liked his grandmother from
the respectful tone of the greet
ings. That was because she was
an aWfully important person, of
course, the owner Of the Burto