Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-02-16

"A splendid 1t, sir You can't pick It
up anywhere"
Gerry turned from the glass with n
sigh. He was restless. The heavy tweeds
seemed to bind his limbs and chest, but
he would not take them off He sat at
the window and watched the little stern
wheeler splash Zip to the bank. Luckily
for her, she had been three days late in
starting up the river; else that trip would
have been her last. Gerry tried to exert
himself to the trouble Of packing and
getting on board, but he felt listless.
Why should he hurry back? Alix had
waited, was waiting, but not for him, lie
had not waited for her. He must go
| back and tell her of course; but what
then?
cavalcade came down the street. At
It's head was carried n litter and on the
litter lay Alan, He had refused to ride
IN hammock again Behind him rode
l,ieber and Kemp. Gerry drew back from
the window and watched them make their
way down to the little stern wheeler. She
mad brought little freight. there was none
Tor her to take away BY o'clock she
gave a long shrek of warning and half
an hour later she warped out into the
river and chugged away down stream.
AT the last moment Gerry had sent down
to Alan note addressed to Allx.
bieber turned from watching the boat
out of sight. IL was bearing Alan away
with Kemp Installed ms nurse ns far as
the coast, Lieber stumpcd heavily up the
street. leading his horse. From his win
dow Gerry called to him. Liober took the
reins from his arm and handed them to
n boy. lie climbed to Gerry's room and
sat down on the bed. Gerry had never
seen him look so tired.
So said Lieber, "you escaped"
Gerry nodded gravey. Lieber looked
at him with dull eyes. I'VE passed Fa-
zenda Flores. The house still stands
It's on little island" Gerry nodded
again. lieber shrugged a shoulder i'm
patiently. "Why aren't you up there?"
Gerry braced himself and told him. In
dispassionate tone he told him the his
tory of those terrible moments of destruc-
tion and death.
Il am not there" he finished, because
there Is nothing left Three years-all
my life here-have been wiped out. Mar
garita-she knew from the beginning.
From the beginning she hated the ditch.
nave Deen n curse. | have brought
ruin Gerry stared before him His
face was white and drawn.
Lieber shook his head judicially. mo
1t would have been the same except that
without you there would have been moth
ing TO sweep away. Margarlta would still
be alive. There would have been no boy"
He paused. Sometimes" he went on, 81
uoil bclleNe MdfBarlta would have
chosen to have things different. She got
her jour d'extase and died before it was
over IL don't think we need be sorry
for her. Why didn't you go away on the
boat?"
II don't know" said Gerry. "I tried to,
but | couldn't. | just buried her and the
boy last night. | couldn't run away like
that as though 1t were all over. OF course,
l know 1t Is all over. but when one falls
an endless depth in sleep and suddenly
wakes In cold sweat It takes time for
the mind to catch its balance. It's that
way with me. I've fallen from height.
I've walked to n cold sweat. | must take
time to get the balance of life and get 1t
right You can't hurry over these tran
sitions, because somehow it wouldn't be
decent"
Leber nodded. you don't feel like
riding back with me?" he asked hesitat-
ingly.
CONTINUED TOMORROW