per almost ready ... the appetizing smell of frying ham--there's
nothing, being cooked, smells better....
Paul came in from work ... was working steady in the mills now, Aunt
Rachel had informed me.
Paul came in without a word, his face a mask of such empty hopelessness
that I was moved by it deeply.
"Paul, you mustn't take on so. It ain't right nor religious," said Uncle
Josh, knocking the ashes out of his pipe ... he smoked and chewed in
relays. Paul replied nothing.
"Come on, folks," put in Rachel, "supper's ready ... draw your chairs
up to the table."
We ate our supper under a quiet, grey mood. An air of tragedy seemed to
hang over us ... for the life of me I couldn't understand what had
become of Paul's good-natured, rude jocosity. Why he had grown into a
silent, sorrowful man....
* * * * *
"You kin bunk up with Paul to-night, Johnnie," announced Rachel, when it
came bedtime.
Paul had already slunk off to bed right after supper. It was dark in the
room when I got there.
"Paul, where's the light?"
"--put it out ... like to lie in the dark an' think," answered a deep,
sepulchral voice.
"Whatever _is_ the matter with you, Paul?"
"Ain't you heered? Ain't Ma told you?"
"No!"
Paul struck a match and lit the lamp. I sat on the side of the bed and
talked with him.
"Ain't you heered how I been married?" he began.
"So that's it, is it?" I anticipated prematurely, "and you weren't happy
... and she went off and left you!"
"Yes, she's left me all right, Johnnie, but not that way ... she's
dead!"
And Paul stopped with a sob in his throat. I didn't know what to say to
his sudden declaration, so I just repeated foolishly, "why, I never knew
you got married!" twice.
"Christ, Johnnie, she was the best little woman in the world--such a
little creature, Johnnie ... her head didn't more'n come up to under my
armpits."
There followed a long silence, to me an awkward one; I didn't know what
to do or say. Then I perceived the best thing was to let him ease his
hurt by just talking on ... and he talked ... on and on ... in his slow,
drawling monotone ... and ever so often came the refrain, "Christ, but
she was a good woman, Johnnie ... I wish you'd 'a' knowed her."
At last I ventured, "and how--how did she come to die?"
"--baby killed her, she was that small ... she was like a little girl
... she oughtn't to of had no baby at all, doctor said...."
"I ki
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