Radio mirror (Jan-June 1948)

THE OTHER JOHN PERKINS here lost a dear one?" Mrs. Liss nodded sadly. "That's why we're here, of course. To find the answer to those old, old questions — • 'Why?' 'Why tears, why heartbreak?' As you yourself, are asking yourself — otherwise, you wouldn't be here." "I — " Ma choked, but Mrs. Liss didn't notice. She'd risen swiftly to her feet. "I do beg your pardon," she exclaimed, "but there's Miss Finney, and I must sit with her. Poor Miss Finney — hers was that terrible fire, forty years ago! Sisters, mother, father, and the young man she was going to marry — gone, just like that! Please excuse me — it's been a great pleasure — " "Thank you," said Ma. "If you ever come to Rushville Center, I'd like you to visit me — " Mrs. Liss laughed gently. "I recommend that you come here. You won't know the meaning of peace until you do. May the spirit guide you both." And she hurried off. "Ma," said Shuffle in a low voice, "be we in a den of loonies, or is this something so big and wonderful that my mind can't rise to the occasion and comprehend the grasp of it?" "I — " Then her hand descended upon Shuffle's arm in a grip that, he said, he felt for a week afterward. "Shuffle!" The room was suddenly hushed. A young man had come in, was approaching the desk, book in hand, a finger marking his place. He was thin and pale, and a little stooped, not straight as John had been. But otherwise — "Oh, Shuffle," said Ma in a strangled voice. "You was right. It's — he's — " The young man read. "Life and death are one, for who shall measure the infinite? The outmost star, the undreamed of stars beyond, space and time without end ... in all the world no ending. Who can then speak of a life that ends? Lay your sorrows aside, you who suffer, for there will be time for joy in all the eternity to come." Ma cried soundlessly, and wiped her eyes, and cried again until the reading was over. "He's good," she said over and over again. "I — Shuffle, don't you think he's a good man?" "This Dr. Joseph?" Shuffle asked. "Tarnation, Ma, he sure is!" She sighed as if a weight had been lifted from her heart. "I've got to see him. Shuffle. Talk with him — " His heart ached for her. This was what he'd been dreading. Drat Bassett, and Pendleton, and the town, for forcing her into it. "Oh, no. Ma! Please — " And then Professor Bassett came up. He was sure handsome. Shuffle admitted grudgingly, for a middleaged fellow. Dressed well, carried himself well. And his voice was as soft as a pussy-cat's fur. "Good evening, my friends. I hope you enjoyed the reading." Ma swallowed, tried to force a hint of a laugh. "I hardly know what to say. Professor Bassett. I thought what was said tonight was real sincere and true. But whether I enjoyed myself — " "Of course," said Professor Bassett softly. "You're referring to that tragic resemblance — your late son, and my young son-in-law." "Son-in-law!" Shuffle exclaimed. "Didn't you know?" asked Ma. "Dr. Joseph's married to Professor Bassett's daughter, the girl with the pretty name, Starr." "If it would soothe your mind," said the professor, "you can meet Dr. Joseph. Of course, if it would cause you pain — " "The pain's been caused already," said Ma heavily. "And since I'm bound to be meeting him in town sooner or later — yes, I'd like to see him. Could — could I see him alone?" Professor Bassett didn't like that so much, Shuffle thought. But he gave in gracefully. "Alone? I think — yes, certainly. He — he's rather an unworldly young man, you know. Perhaps I'd better explain to him that you — If you'll excuse me just a moment." He bowed. "Your servant, madame." "Ma," begged Shuffle, "why should you plague yourself? You ain't got the terrible delusion, the absolutely hopeless idea that this boy is — " "Is John hisself?" she finished. "No, Shuffle. This is — something else. What brought us here, what brought that boy here, and brought all these other folks here — it Fay ain't simple. Shuffle. It's — I can't help feeling it's part of a — part of a great plan." "Everything's part of the great plan. Ma," he grumbled. "But I just don't see why you want to cause yourself more pain and heartache." "I didn't mean just the heavenly plan," Ma said. "I meant — hush, here's Professor Bassett." And so Shuffle had to contain himself. He felt in his bones that there was something wrong at Pleasant Haven; he felt that Ma felt it, but she would say nothing more about it, not that night, nor for some time afterward. All Shuffle knew was that when she saw Dr. Joseph that night, she asked him to come to dinner whenever he could. And the next day, when Dr. Joseph called the lumberyard office and said that he and Starr would be delighted to come to dinner that very evening, Ma's face lighted as if the rising sun were upon it. "You'll come, too, won't you. Shuffle?" she begged. "I want you there. And — land o'Goshen! What'll I do about Evey and Willy? I just don't feel like asking them — " "They're going to Pendleton's tonight," said Shuffle drily. "Mathilda made up with Evey after she found out you went out to Pleasant Haven last night. Sure made a difference, that visit. Charley Brown calling to ask for your trade, back this morning, and Mark Matthews apologizingj'i " Ma,' why'd you ask Dr. Joseph to dinner?" ' ' ^-^ "To fatten hirrt' up," said Ma. "He's real thin and peaked." Then she said honestly, "Oh, Shuffle, I can't explain it! I been thinking about my garden. Each winter it goes; each spring I fix it up and it comes up again. In the same way I guess I'm reaching for someone to take the place of Johnny. Oh, I know this Dr. Joseph is different from John in many ways, but he's honest and serious and gentle, and — you see what I'm driving at. Shuffle. It's like Johnny hisself is living again, since his main qualities are still living." 1'HERE was something in what she said. Shuffle admitted to himself as he met Starr and Dr. Joseph in Ma's parlor that night. The boy was like John — a thin, serious John. Starr was a little thing, kind of orientallooking. Shuffle thought, in her straight, robe-like dress and sandals, but pretty, with her red-gold hair and her great dark eyes that hardly ever left her husband's face. And he noticed Fay smiling approvingly, as if she felt as he did about them. "It was very nice to be asked here," said Joseph. "We don't know very many people — " Ma was beaming. "After we get acquainted," she promised, "we'll talk about asking other young folks in to meet you. It's right that young people should take part in the life of the town, such as it is, even if you are philosopher." Starr looked uncomfortable. "We — we don't know if we can get out every often. He — my father—" Rapidly, she changed the subject. "This is a very pleasant room. So comfortable and homelike — " "I knew it would look like this." Joseph spoke almost to himself. "I used to live in a place like this when I was a boy. In a real home. Some day I'd like to live in a home again, wouldn't you, Starr?" Ma's eyes narrowed slightly; she'd suddenly become very quiet. "Er — uh — you'd rather have a home of your own than live at Pleasant Haven?" "I must live at Pleasant Haven," said Joseph sadly. "I owe Starr's father so much money. And he saved my life." "Please, dear," Starr begged. "These friends aren't interested in that!" "Aren't you interested?" Joseph asked naively — and then the doorbell rang. Fay went to answer. Ma saw Starr and Joseph start as Professor Bassett's voice floated into the room. "Good evening, Mrs. Henderson. Are my daughter and son-in-law here? Ah — there you are! You've been quite naughty, my dears! You've caused me no end of trouble. Starr, my child, there's no reason to look so jrightenedl I'm not here to eat you up. In fact, I'll join you if I'm invited." Joseph himself looked scared half to death. Ma thought. But he was defiant. "But you weren't invited!" he burst out. "And I — I was looking forward to