The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1916-05-18
CHAPTER xxxIIl-cOntinued.
copYIRIGHZ By ZzE CENTURY, ca

In LQOSe DAYS W0en once more MS
thoughts demanded to be seen in their
relation to Alix, that steady voice
within him was his only comfort. The
flood at Fazenda Flores had swept
away all that his hands had done, but
the things that Fazenda Flores had
done for him could not be swept away
by any material force. They stood and
feared nothing-except Alix.
Wherever his mind turned, it came
back to Alix and found in her an i'm
passe. Alix assumed more and more
the pOrtentous attributes of one unat-
tached, sitting in judgment over his
acts. His memory of her frailty, Of
her fowerlike detachment from the
bones-the skeleton-Of life, her arti-
fciality, made her seem ludicrously in
congru0uS In the role of judge he
could not picture her, much less esti-
mate the sentence she would pass. His
thoughts led him daily up to that i'm
passe and left him. Then came the
doubt and the question-why should
he lead himself bodily to the impasse
at all?
He was still fighting this point when
he reached Barbados but there an Incl
dent befell which brought new light
to his mind and then new peace
to his soul.
He had gone ashore at Bridgetown
simply because his whole body, per-
fectly attuned by three years Of long
hours Of toll, was crying out for more
exercise than the narrow decks of the
freighter could afford.
When the little group of passengers
reached shore, with the exception Of
Gerry and an old returning Barbadian,
they all turned In the same direction
as If by common impulse.
The Rarbadian glanced at Gerry and
jerked his head at the disappearing
group. Men of the world in the big
sense" he said.
What do you mean?" asked Gerry.
Son." said the old Barbadian, who
was very tanned and whose kindly
eyes blinked through thick glasses,
when chap tells you he's a man
of the world you ask him If he ever
had a drink at the Ice house. You
don't have to say in Bridgetown.' Ever
have a drink at the Ice houseY Just
like that; and If he says, No. you
know he meant he was a town rounder
when he said he was man of the
world"
Gerry smiled and fell naturally in
step with the Barbadian as he moved
slowly on.
YES" said the old man. ITS sure
test. The man that hasn't crooked his
elbow at the big, round deal table in
that old, ramshackle drink-house can't
say he's really Travelled. Long-lost
brothers and friends have met there,
and when men that roam the high seas
want news of some pal that's disap-
peared down the highway Of the world
they drop in at the old Ice house and
ask what road he took. It's halfway
house to all the seven seas"
Have you lost anyone" asked
Gerry.
mo, I'm not thirsty for drink just
now," said the Barbadian with a
smile. "And you?''
Nor l." said Gerry, laughing. I'm
out to stretch my legs"
You can't do that here" replied the
old man. "YOu don't know our sun
Come with me-" He hailed a ram
shackle victoria.
Gerry hesitated You must have 6
home you want to go to and friends
to see. Don't worry about me. II
be careful about the sun"
Boy" said the Barbadian, I've go
a home and I'm going to see it, bu
there's no reason why you shouldn'
come along. AS for friends-the onel
left here won't get up to meet anyone
You are the only company and I'm th'
only host in our party"
They climbed into the rickety cal
and the Barbadian gave directions t.
the driver. The driver answered in tn
soft cultural of the West Indian black
Slowly they crawled through th'
crooked streets of the town. Gerr!
leaned back and gazed at the freak
ish buildings. They were all Of frame
work. Some swelled at the top, ant
Gerry wondered why they did no
topple over; some swelled at the bot
tom and he wondered why these dit
not cave in.
The Barbadian watched his face
Funny town, eh?'
Gerry nodded.
Presently the found themselves O.
a country road. 1t was so smooth tina
the weighted carriage pushed the oil
horses along at an unwOnted pace
Little houses-hundreds of them-tha
looked like big hencoops lined the road
Suddenly the carriage came to a hal
One of the little houses was trying t
straddle the road. From around
came screams and cries. Now, theI
yo' Gladys, when ah say heft, yC
heft."
The driver poured out an angry tol
rent Of words that tried their best t
be harsh and failed. From around th
Obstructing house came an old darkJ
When his eyes fell on the Barbadia
he rushed forward. ''Lor, Misteh Ma
colin, when did yo' get backT
Just now, Charles" said the Barbs
dian. whats the matter here|
The darky's eyes rolled. Natal
Misteh Malcolm? why, that ole Cur
mel Stewaat he's jes' SO natcherly pal
simonious that he requires me to pa
rent TO- havin' ma house on his Ian
so l says to ole nanny, Wen je'
move this here residence on to gentle
uan's lam, and Misteh Malcolm me-