Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 19 March 1942 — Page 27

Serial Story

Kings Row

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

IND

'PARRIS was acutely ‘surprised to find an entirely new and strange feeling about:Kings Row. What held him here? = The hospital? Was it Drake

and. Randy? Was it Dr. Nolan?" " Was: it his memories of his: ‘grandmother, of Renee and Tom Cart|’ “and ‘Cassie, and of people like Colotiél Skeffington? No: He was ‘clearly convinced that it was not one of these things, or even all of ‘them. It

was something less easy of access, _lefs tangible maybe, something that had to do with the early making of him which, as parent soil, held him fast. "They had stayed on, those ‘who were here before ‘him. = Herr Berdorff, lonely, perhaps homesick at times for the idyllic Germany he remembered; Isaac Skeffington, talking of the civilized charm of country life in his Virginia; his own. great-grandfather Mitchell bred in the fastidious and ‘exacting life of a great family tradition ~all of them. They stayed on. A call ‘from Herr Berdorfl 'beg‘ging Parris to: see Vera Lichinska, who had given up her playing and returned - without’ warning, - began - for him another contact. with Kings

of an immeasurable despair.

there they: ‘Jocked* up crazy , people who ain't smart no more’. I- decided then that I knew why my father was so afraid I wouldn't be ‘smart,’

and do well with my fiddle. Simple

in a way, isn't it?” “Ye-es. Childish fear. But you

learned - soon enough what ‘crazy’ meant. Wasn't the fear gone then?”

“No, Parris. The things I feared

are not in Kings Row, but here inside of my own head! broken a connection between my [fingers and some hidden source of music which was what had been called my talent. I cannot play.”

I have

“Do:you want to play?” - “Yes.” She spoke the word out

sentment and regret when

Row tragedy.

“Her papa says she is—crazy,” “Mr, Lichinsky pulls his hair, Parris. Vera Cannot

Herr Berdorfl said.

says she cannot. play. ‘play 1"

Parris sat in the little living room above the jewelry shop where" the Lichinskys had lived ever since Parris had first known them, Vera's fine, strong hands lay rather inertly .It was hard to believe, as she told him her story, that this poised, lovely young woman was the colorless little Vera who used. to slump awkwardly along the street with ‘her violin case under her arm. I couldn’t “All at once’ I seemed to hear myself as if—as if I had never ‘heard myself before. I asked myself a question—and ‘I ‘couldn’t answer it — and then, I

in her: lap.

“I canceled my tours. play,” she said.

couldn’t play any more.”

“What was the question you

couldn’t answer?”

“I—I simply asked myself why I Played a passage just the way I

“and

ers waited quietly. then?”

“I tried to play again and it

wouldn't ‘80 any way at all.

sounded suddenly like a child—a

beginner—no meaning.”

Vera seemed to’ understand why it had all happened. As a child she ‘was a prodigy, playing wholly by intuition, but without real educa-

tion, : . 8»

“It ‘will. come back. You'll have to rest, then begin again, quietly, simply, like a child.” “What I seem to be most afraid of, Parris, ‘is the asylum here in Kings Row. I've taken a room in | Carrier st. so that I can look right out on it—all the time. I've got to stare 4t down. I stand every night and look at it until the lights are out. I can’t let it get the better of me, Parris!” Parris was disappointed. in his of‘forts to aid Vera. Her family considered her :troyble an “unwillingness to goion” and united against her in a kind of inquisitorial persecution. It was not:long before Vera shut herself: up for: good in the little room on’ Carrier. st. .. Parris explained to Herr Ber‘dorff, who spread his hands with a gesture of incredulity. “One day she is a great violinist; the next day she cannot play! I donot understand!” The two men talked, each somewhat surprised after years of ac‘quaintance at what he found in the other. Herr Berdorff was a little distressed ‘to find in Parris a strain of something that seemed at 1 times not quite bitter, but perhaps “verging near it. .Something a shade disillusioned and doubtful. These darker tones in Parris were deepened when Herr Berdorff returned to Germany. His’ little congregation did not want him any ‘{ longer. They wanted someone who was less devoted to music—someone more 'of a pastor.

“WE PASSED the asylum .once. 8 5 =

I remember the barred windows—| vividly. I asked my father what

HERR BERDORFF had - been gone two days and Parris was burning with a wearisome mixture of re-

‘the place was, and he said it was

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“THIS IS US... THE USACK TWINS... I'M A LUCILLE.

“It's fun hing twins! So many unexpected things happen

Henry Bellaman

Cary| |

Whitehead called him. Whitehead, a lawyer with Col. Skeffington’s old He, had called ‘at the suggestion: ot .Skeffington, who hoped -

Benny Singer. “Doctor, he’s in serious’ trouble,” Whitehead said.

time.

outside of his gate.” “Any of them seriously hurt?”

chell.”

with Mr. Whitehead. The young lawyer was intelligent-looking, quick and sympathetic. The commission appointed to examine Benny Singer and pass on-his: responsibility for his acts consisted, to Parris’ extreme dismay, of -an antagonistic doctor, a pompous one, a substitute professor of psychology, a law partner of Fulmer Green, the

| new. prosecuting attorney, and the Rev. Cole, with whom Parris had |! ;

had words when he first returned to Kings Row. Parris, acting chairman, controlled himself jwith the greatest difficulty through the courtroom proceedings. |: The discussion was personal, vindictive, unintelligent and stubborn. He argued hospital and rehabilitation against prison or gallows. He reminded them of society’s duty to the weak, They were tight-lipped, unyielding. Dr. Cole, indignant and selfrighteous, pivoted his judgment .on a-chance-to:repay Parris for that old altercation. Dr. Cole finished his expression of -gpinion with, “It is our duty to hand this erer over to

Jesus Christ." - en

PARRIS arose and Bowed slightly: - “you have helped this afternoon to hand a helpless man over to legal murder. I seem to recall that another judge in circumstances not

hands. I doubt, Dr, Cole, that such a simple procedure would serve to cleanse your own.” The color faded partly from the minister's face. over-his words as he faced Parris.

to Christ in—in this ridiculous and insulting comparison?” “Dr. Cole, some-of the simple people of this world—simple but deep and rich in wisdom—always ‘speak | — of ‘the ‘mentally deficient as ‘God’s children.’ You may remember that

er recklessly said: ‘Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.’ Remember?” He turhed to the staring group of men. “Good afternoon, gentlemen. I trust that all of you may be able to sleep well tonight.” - '

what was happening. He had smiled and looked interested through the whole day, ranted, rabble-roused, made jokes about the evidence, clowned, played for the death of a human being: Fulmer’s : gang behind him- again,

pack—closing in for the-last time. There was na saving Benny. Sam Winters built the gallows. Parris walked with Benny up to them one balmy afternoon in =arly May, holding his arm and tlalking quietly. Benny looked down at the group

| lof upturned - faces. Fulmer Green

was there. Wardlaw, editor of the

| | Chronicle.. A small crowd had gath-

ered on ‘the ‘roof of Hoxey’s feed

|store. overlooking the inclosure. A

little of the bewildered look came back to Benny's eyes, and then he smiled—a childish, almost welcoming smile. “Hello, everybody,” he said. Copyright, 1940, by Henry Bellaman (To Be Continued)

(All events, h BR

ie be able to do something for

“Seems: that a]! gang of half-grown kids around|| Jinktown have been nagging him, : playing jokes and the like for a long: This afternoon they were at |; it again, and this Singer fellow got|i} a gun and shot into the gang—just i

* “He killed two ‘of them, Dr. Mit- |!

Parris ‘was favorably impressed ||

OUR: BOARDING HOUSE.

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the arm of the law, and beyond that \ to trust in the mercy of the Lord

RED RYDER

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ERE HE Ti S LIA Boat SET LE A REBUTTAL,

¥ EeAD, TWIGES! INSTEAD OF WASTING. MY INTELLECTUAL POWERS AS : DEFENSE MESSENGER, T SHOULD HANE CHARGE, OF WAR ESPIONAGE! wT AM PERFECTING A LURE TO TRAP | SOMETIMES YOU : SPIES WHOLESALE Jase HAK-K AEE wer IT'6 QUITE SIMPLE ;TOO «ev MERELY BROADCAST FAKE APPEALS THAT JAP BUTLERS ARE URGENTLY NEEDED IN

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entirely dissimilar first washed his|]

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“Do you realize that you are ac-[ LY tually likening this idiot murderer d

the man whose name you use rath- ~

Benny had not “really realized|

while . Fulmer . Green|

Parris told Drake -and Randy. The|™

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