Middletown transcript., 1916-03-25

I'll go now" He went off and all
that day he sought In vain for trace
Of Gerry. lie went to all his haunts
in the city-he had tPlpphoned to those
outside. At night he returned to AiiX
hut it was Mrs Lansing that received
him in the library.
The judge was tired and his buoy
ancy had deserted him. lie told her
Of his failure. Mrs Lansing was
thoughtful but not greatly troubled.
Gerry" she said. has level head.
lie can take care of himself" She
went to tell Alix that there. WAS 10
news. When she came back the judge
turned to her. Well" he asked, what
did she say
Nothing except that she wanted to
know if you had tried the bank"
The judge struck his fist into his
left hand. Never thought Of it," he
said. That child has IL head" lie
went to the telephone. From the preSi-
'lent of the bank he traced the man
agPr, from the manager. the cashier.
Yes. Gerry had been AT the bank Oh
| Saturday. The cashier remembered it
because Mr.. Lansing had drawn GER
tain account in full. lie would not
say how much.
There" said the judge with sigh
Of relief. THAT'S something. 1t takes
a steady nerve to draw bank ac-
count in full. You must take the news
upstairs. I'm off. Ill follow up the
clue tomorrow"
There was a new look Of content
mingled with the worry in Mrs. Ian.
Sings face that made the Judge say as
he held out his hand In farewell
Things better?"
Mrs Lansing understood him. Yes"
she answered. and added, I'VE have
been crying together"
Mrs. Lansing and Alix had never
given themselves to each other. There
had been no warfare between them
but equally there had never been un-
derStandlng. To Mrs. LanSiHg's in
herent calm, Alix' scintiIlation had
been repellent and Alix before Gerry's
mother had felt much the same re-
Strant as before Gerry's old butter.
There had been strength IN Mrs.
I-ansng's calm. She had been waiting
and now the waiting was over. AliX
had given herself fearful and almost
wordleSs into arms that were more
than ready and had then poured out
her heart in u broken tale that would
have cOnfOunded any court Of Justice
but which between women was clearer
than logic.
At the end Mrs. Lansing said moth
ing. Instead she petted Aix. carried
her off to bed and kept her there for
three days. In her waking hours AliX
added SpaSmodic bits to her confess
Sion-sage reflections after the event.
dreamy Il wonders" that Speculnted
i'll the past and In the measure of her
emotions.
Mrs. Lansing sat and listened and /
Sewed. Her soft brown hair lust I
touched with gray. her calm face with /
its half-hidden strength. her steady .
work. brought peace into the room and
held it there in spite of the disuuietiny
lack Of news of Gerry.
When she spoke at last it was TO
say half-shyly, You are stronger than
had thought. believe every woman
1t the actual moment of surrender
feels an impulse of shame ami fear
During that moment desire lets 20
of her. It's the last chance that fate
holds out. The women who fail to
take the chance-it seems TO me they
fail through weakness OF spirit and
not of flesh.
More women are ruined by clrcum-
stance than by desire. Women decide
to burn their bridges hebind them and
then they think they've burned them.
All the circumstances were against
you. There wasn't a IoophOe in the
net. Fate gave you your moment and
you tore your way out"
On the fourth day Alx got ND but
on the fifth she stayed in bed. Mrs.
Lansing found her pale aud fright
"AIix." she whispered. kneeling be-
side the bed. what is It?'
Aix told her amid sobs "Oh. nv
dear" said Mrs. Lansing. throwing her
arms around her. don't cry. Don't
worry. The strength will come with
the need. In the end you'll be glad.
So will Gerry. So will all OF u.s."
1T isn't that" said AHx, family.
oh It isn't that. I'm just thinking
and thinking how terrible 1t would
lYve been If had run away-reaIIy
run away. keep Imagining how
awful it would have been. 1t Is night
mare"
Call 1t nightmare II you like. sweet
heart but just remember that you are
awake"
Yes" said Alix softly. 81 am (,
awake now. | want to watch the hin +,
rome To life and dress up for the sum -.
mer. II will amuSe me. It's lons
since ] have watched for the first buds ,
mud the HrSt swallows. wont mind .
the melting SHOW and the mud It's
so long since I've spen clean country
mud. want to smell It," .
You don't know how bleak the nm ,
an be before the spring comes" OBJ /
iectrd Mrs. Lansing. Ia
will 1t he any bleaker with me I
here than when you were alOneY" q
ISkPd Alix. I
Mrs Lansing came over to her and c
kissed her. NO. dear" she said. 70