Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-07-06

and soul She did not talk. She was
holding that final communion with her
innermost self with which a woman
dedicates her body to pain and sacri
fee Alix was not afraid. In those
days the spirit of the race-her race
of pioneers-shOne from her steady
eyes and even put courage IN those
about her.
Only when the ordeal was over and
an heir to the house of Lansing had
raised his lusty voice In apparent rage
at having been born to SO small
kingdom, did the frail Alix of other
days come back. AS she lay, pale and
thin, but with the glorious light Of
supreme achievement in her eyes, Mrs.
Lansing went on her knees beside the
bed and sobbed, ooh, Alix, love you
SO, love you sor'
Alix smiled Slowly she reached one
hand over and placed 1t in Mrs. Ian
sings. "YOu are crying because you
are a granny now" she said softly,
playfully.
Then came the day when AIix was
strong strong enough. Mrs Lansing
told her in a choked voice what they
knew and what everyone believed.
She cried softly in Alix' arms.
Poor mOtherv' said Alix, her lips
against the wet cheek. "How strong
you've been! How you hid 1t from
me! What burden to carry in your
heart, and smile But listen, dear
mummy. You are all wrong. Perhaps
/ would not have known it if you
had told me-then-but I know it now
Gerry is not dead. There is no river
that can drown Gerry"
"My dear" said Mrs. Lansing, fright
ened, you must not think that It's
always the best swimmers that risk
the most"
"It isn't that he can SWIM" said
ak. Her eyes turned slowly till they
rested on her son. Her bosom swelled
at the memory of the travail-the ter
rible travail that she had borne not
for the child alone, nor for Gerry
alone, but for them both. Swimming
has nothing to do with It, Somehow
/ know that Gerry is all right, some
where on this little world. Only, dear"
and here her voice faltered and her
eyes shone with tears, this little
world seems mighty big when hearts
are far apart"
Alix chung to her belief SO strong
was her faith that Mrs. Lansing be-
came infected, but the judge held out
apafnSt fhan1 tsATv hoo ri &c Will, x,o,, -
he said, at the end of months, ''but
my head won't turn. naked man
even In South America would have
caused remark. Why shouldn't he
have come back for his clothes. for his
money? After all, he wasn't d fugi-
dive from justice He was a man
wandering over the earth In pursuit of
a mere whim and whim doesn't last
forever"
Alix interrupted him. Judge,
have never been angry with you. We
all owe you too much But if you
ever say was about Gerry again"
She stopped and bit her lip but her
eyes spoke for her
my dear girl" said the judge and
only his color showed that he was
hurt, don't be angry with me. 1t
shall be as you say. I've only been
trying to save you from years of
weary waiting. If you have the cour-
age to wait for sorrow, shall wait
too"
AlIx kissed him. There" she said
sim sorry | was rough"
You! rough!' laughed the judge
Then he jumped up. I'm forgetting
my duties. have a guest of my very
own at Maple House and l must go to
him.
A few weeks before, Hon. Percy
Collingeford had looked up the Judge.
1t was as much a pleasure to the
young man as a duty he owed to his
father, whose friend the judge had
been for many years.
Collingeford was no stranger to
America but he knew far more about
lodging arroyos in New Mexico on a
cow pony than he did about lodging
the open trenches and debris of Fifth
avenue on the trail of a tea-party. He
was an Englishman, a younger son
with enough money to put him above
the remittance class, and he was pos
sessed of far more intelligence than
lie had been born with, for, from his
youth up, he had sought out expert
ence in many places. He came back
from the Klondike with more money
than he needed for his passage but
only few kindred spirits knew that
he had made it hammering the piano
IN The Fallen Star of Hope. He had
the English gentleman's common
creed: ride straight, shoot straight, tub
often and talk the kings English That
creed fulfilled, nothing else seemed
TO worry him.
He was dining with the judge at
the club one night when the name of
Wayne-Alan Wayne-foated over oc-
casionally from a neighboring table.
Later as they sat over their coffee and
cigars Collingeford said abruptly, Il
know a chap named Wayne"
"So?" said the Judge
Heard those people mention Alan
Wayne" explained Collingeford. 81
wonder If 1t was the same one-Ten
Percent Wayne of Africa
That's the one" said the Judge
and watched Collingefords face.
Hum" said Collingeford when l
saw Wayne he was in shirt sleeves
and battered sun helmet There are