El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-03-24
Jerry Gray--SOIdier
A short storT.

back, and there stood Kate Gale Win
raindrops shining like a wreath Of
leads upon her hair, and the shawl She
threw back from her face and throat
You exclaimed jerry and his
face hardened
Well Kate, what's the natter"
She gave no answer-merely looked
at him with a gaze of strange intensity,
for here she was to make a last pas
sicnate attempt to force Jerry's will
toward her
why are you here?' Jerry asked
her.
Coming close to him she laid firm
little hands upon his shoulders.
Jerry. look at me.'
I'm lOOkiu' and tonight I see naught
in you to please me, Kate"
I've come all the way by bus to
sec you. Aren't you glade
Glad. after what You told me two
days ago. It amt possible, Kate
This is just more pain for me. and I've
got enough to bear as it is" He shook
off her hands. Let me be, girl, and
go your ways alone"
You don't mean that You can't,
Jerry. 1t would break your heart
Jerry" she said softly.
when them He answered, giving
her level gaze. Even with a broken
heart, man can work and work ana
work" Bitterly he ended: Seems
that's all I'm here for
You're more to me than any man
can ever be. Jerry That's why I want
you to leave this life. which means
future misery and want for both of us"
Because I won't leave my dad. who
is old and infirm, and join your uncle
in Montreal Gracious, Kate, I'd be
traitor to do it,"
You're making too much of it." She
said sullenly- MI Gray would be
pleased - see you doin' we'll Uncle's
made lots of money in Montreal;
you'll do the same, and with far less
work Instead of having to make
clocks you've only got to receive and
sell en- Jerry, Jerry, she pleaded,
for Gods sake, for your own sake,
for love Of me. don't say no. I can't
marry you if you stay here-I daren't-
It's not all for myself I'm talking"
Jerrys mouth quivered and then be-
came very still. his eyes grew vacant,
cold as steel Gazing into them, Kate
knew that her task was hopeless.
This lover Of hers might crave her
as man Graves living water. but he
was soldier, and even without brave
uniform, answered only to the bugls
call of duty.
IF you ever tell my father why
were parting he began. and she
broke in with a wild piteOus cry.
Parting? You an me it's coming to
that?'
Jerry nodded. Unless you're con-
tent to take what London gives US,
Kate"
She shivered- This horrible. mis-
cradle place; how I hate it, Poor
people all around
She turned her head and gazed at ?
window upon which raindrOps fell and
Joined to make headlesS sliding snakes
Poor people pressing US down.
everywhere, lighting for a mOuthfuL
The rich wasting and wasting. think
ing nothing OF me an you We're only
the lower middle class" she said in a
blood and bones for England. and now
were going to be crushed fiat through I
Injustice and Indifference
Jerry gave her a grave thoughtful
b. Poor little Kate. I'm sorry for you,
hoping so much and now so disappOiut-
e. It's certain you don't see as I do
what owe TO my dad My dear, my ?
dear. / amt ungrateful. though this
Fostering of yours has given me more
pain than you know, but I'm here TIL 3
my dad drops. that's sure. and please ?
500 ne II i've long time yet"
she threw herself against his breast, ]
ner hands locked tightly around his {
neck But Jerry remained rigid under .
the embrace }
He dared not touch her hair or re- 4
sp0nd 10 the passionate warmth of her 4
arms for fear Of the temptation to !
Gently he lifted her hands away. /
moved from her, and as she, painting 4
and with tear stained cheeks watched ]
MN, jerry lifted her shawl from the
cold cement floor and wrapped il I
about her sadly
Goodbye. Kate Never think I'm
bitter against you Never think /
Wasn,t true Maybe I was wrong ever
y ask You TO be my wife. and vet I
don't know. Sometimes We were so Z
happy together that being poor didn't
seem to matter once" He choked a Z
little This is bOOdbye-gOOdbye for
US both, fer can never bear 10 see
you again 1t isn't for another girl
m giving you up, but Just fox my . III
-Sther SAKE No he finished, in
clear, cold tone, go away hOme.''
Day and night Jerry worked alone.
A mlddleaged male nurse came tO
,ook after Thomas Gray, while Jerry
did the work of two behin6 that saff-
ron wall which hid him ana bis shed
rom the street.
Six months gone; the docks were III
no wise ready for their passage 10
Montreal sharp letter came from !
David Gale Jerry snat.hel 4 moi ent /
n which TO set briefly on cheap PAPER
Ee cause Of delay; He begs'I another
hree months An, nov swiftly they
PASSED, and with what mhUman pa
lence Jerry labOred On.
But at length the last Of the clocks /
vas nearly completed, anG Jerry
bought he might have a moment Of
ase, for every Overfatigued faculty,
very tangled nerve was shriekine ont I
Is plant for rest
Thus Jerry threw MS head on stiff !
feary arms, and, just as he was. sat
own on a little stool and succumbsd Z j
o deep slumber, his face turned side ,
Ways 5!, on his sprawiing hands.
The daylight faded, darkness came.
n the shed where odd little noises
aade by the passing Of a oIacksveG /
a right over Lerry's feet. by crea6s
I timber. and the faint. regular rhythm ]
L a clock. Then the door fell back. q
nd there stood a woman. fashiluably q
ressed, with veil and grey fatherrd
al, and little glove covered hands out
lreJched as though she knew thac they c
-ary burden.
A little sob as she leaned over Jerry, s
er warm breath on his cold check a
Jerry she cried. Jerry jerry
From out that deep slumber he came.
was quite dark in the she'd but he
new that Kate Gale was with him.
i viii never let YOU go" he esaid,
nd a sob leaping from out his hearti q
murdered upon her mouth. n
Inen she. with bitter cries of self a
"Oh. Jerry-oh beloved. I can bear v
us no longer I've come back to be / h
Dor with you. for all Uncle David's ( o
indness couldn't bring me peace. Tve
zen a wicked girl without trust in I n
-aVen-but the distance. the silence, it o
as dreadful / couldn't stand EN-, 80 q
had to come back. dearie, to you C.
her hands ere on his bair. IN U
ead1ly they moved to and FRO Then / is
his cheeks tLey came and felt the a
blows under an unshaven growth
hat touch alarmed the fingers They G.
frank away Rates face and heart 81
ok their place Jerry's head was le