Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1916-06-23

not think any more. A great weight
lay on his brain. The ten minutes
doze in the chair at Alan's bedside had
not been rest, but a nightmare Pres
emily he fell into sleep, a deep sleep
that was all unconsciousness.
1t was almost night when he awoke
and with the awakening the weight
settled back on his brain, only now he
had the strength to think in spite of it.
He got up and went out in search of
Lieber. Lieber heard him and came
out into the hall. Gerry nodded
towards Alan's room. ITS all right,
Mr.. Lansing. He must have a solid
mind. Your talk didn't excite him
didn't even disturb his sleep. He's on
the road up-weak. baby, but he's
started life again. He's asked for you
twice. Seems to have something he's
got to get off his chest to you. You'd
better go in"
Gerry sat down once more beside
Alan. The questions he must ask
crowded to his lips, but he forced them
back. He tested his strength with res
olutions and held them. 1t was his
way Of reassuring himself. He want
ed to feel his firmness rising in him to
meet the struggle he felt must come
when Alan spoke.
Alan knew he was there He saw
him through half-closed eyes, but,
more than that, he felt him. His
brows puckered in frown. 1t was
still hard to use words. Gerry, last
night l wanted to tell you more only
couldn't. had to sleep. Alix didn't
go with me. She only came to the
train. When l kissed her she woke
up and found she wasn't-earnal after
all. She went back home. You didn't
turn up. You never turned up. They
traced you to a river, an empty ca
noe pyjamas you know" He
stopped and sighed as though his task
were over.
The veins on Gerrys forehead stood
out in knots. His chin rested on his
clenched hands, his elbows on his
knees. "Alan," he said, "where is
Alix now? What has she doneY
Alan opened his eyes and looked at
him. "She is waiting. She has always
waited for you to come back. She
would not believe you were dead, be-
cause Of the boy"
"The boy" groaned Gerry. "What
boy?"
Yours" said Alan. "He is a great
boy. There is a new Alix since he
came. She is as far from me and
what she was as the stars. She is a
steady star. But it's all right now.
You'll 60 back to her."
II can't" whispered Gerry hoarsely,
more to himself than to Alan. "I've
got wife here. I've got child here.
To me he Is my first-born."
Alan's eyes opened, this time in won
der. A twisted smile came to his lips.
Your he said. your and then the
smile changed to a faint disgust. He
turned his head on the pillow away
from Gerry and slept.
The next morning found Gerry still
at Liebers. Outside the heavenly
bowl Of blue was virgin of clouds. II
stretched and domed in a sphered eter-
nifty Of emptiness. Through its de-
pressing void the sun swan slowly,
pitilessly, as though 1t were loath to
mark the passing minutes. The whole
earth baked. Strong trees wilted and
7 turned up the wrong sides of their
leaves on the sea of heat like dying
fish turning up their white bellies at
the last gasp. Not breath of air
stirred. Heat rose from the ground in
an unbroken, visible wave. "My God,
said Alan, gazing with wistful, far.
seeing eyes beyond the familiar, repel
lent scene, ga homeward fever
parches up my tongue" There was
such an agony Of longing in the words
that Gerry was frightened. He looked
questioningly at Lieber.
"No," said Lieber, "he's not dying
He was dying, but he's changed his
mind. He's going to go home instead
II believe he's right. Gerry" said
Alan with faint smile. "But didn't
change my mind. He did it for me
He's in line for a life-saving medal
Lieber's all right" He stopped, tired
out.
Lieber began to talk to Gerry
"How's the water in the ditch, Mr.
Lansing"
mighty low" said Gerry. He spoke
almost absent-mindedly. For the frs
time in months the ditch was far from
his thoughts.
"Its hard luck" said Lieber. "Tht
rivers never been so low before-nOt
in the memory of man. We do MOI
hear the falls any more. The river i;
asleep. DO you want me to send my
men down againY
"It's no use" said Gerry. ~ dom
dare deepen the ditch any more. It.:
way below the normal level now"
| Alan stirred. What's that about 6
ditchY
In unhurried phrases and a low
voice Lieber told him the history Of
FaZenda Flores since Gerry's adven
and of the great part the ditch hat