The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1916-02-17

H2TA AL|
Gerry's cablegram to his mother was
forwarded to Red Hill on the very day
that the judge had gone to tell them
that no trace could be found of the
missing man. The judge was more
down-heartel than ever over Gerry's
disappearance and when he found the
two women radiating happiness and
excitement mis- heart sank lower still.
81 haven't any good news" he said
ruefuIly before he alighted.
Tease him." said Allx in a low
tone to Mrs. Lansing.
But Mrs. Lansing had found new
lines in the judges tired face and she
whispered back, 81 can't" She put the
cablegram In the judges hand.
whats thss?' he said and read 1t.
Then he gave a war-whoop, caught
Alix around the waist and kissed her.
The Firs were gay that night-gay
with the JOY VI happy people happily
, planning. In month, say at the most,
, two months Gerry could be here.
] Spring would have come. The Hill
, would be decked out in full regalia Of
| leaf and blossom. 1t would be in full
, commission to meet him. They looked
at Alix and Alix seemed to look at
D herself. He would come into his own
2 as never before.
, The judge undertook the cabling.
| nd hn M a q
= reported undelivered. Then he cabled
q the American consul. There followed
q a long series of messages; first quick
n and hopeful, then tagging but not
Y doubtful then wearying silence Of
weeks, ending with the inevitable
l. blow. Gerry had been traced to the
a San Francisco river. The envoy sent
on his track by the judges orders
I had reached Plranhas to find the little
| town in apathetic wonder over the dis
lI covery Of Gerry's canoe stranded three
" miles down the river. The paddle was
still in the canoe and a suit of pyja-
mas. No further trace of Gerry had
been found His body had not been re-
\ covered. The people said it was not
unusual. He had undoubtedly been at
tackled by tiger fish. In that case his
| bones would have been stripped OF
U flesh. 1t was impossible to drag the
great river.
| The judge hid in his heart the har'
rowing details. To Mrs. Lansing he
told the central fact. She was struck
dumb with grief and then she thought
of Alix. Almost hastily they decided
that it was not time to tell AliX anC
during long months they put her of
with false news of the search. They
carried it farther and farther into thu
wilds Of the subcontinent The cOun
try was so vast, there was no telling
u when the messenger would inall!
\ come up with Gerry.
Alix bore the strain with wonder
full patience. The truth was that he
thoughts were not on Gerry. Some
thing greater than Gerry was claiming
all her faith-all her strength Of bod,
and soul. She did not talk. She wa
holding that final communion with he
innermost self with which a wOma
dedicates her body to pain and sacr
fice Allx was not afraid. In thos
days the spirit of the race-her rae
of pioneers-shone from her stead
"e eyes and even put courage in thos
about her.
n Only when the ordeal was over an
his an heir to the house of Lansing ha
m raised his Iusty voice in apparent rag
Tho at having been born to so small
4 kingdom, did the frail Alix of oth'
,ed days come back. AS she lay, pale an
,en thin, but with the glorious light
.au supreme achievement in her eyes, Mr.
Lansing went on her knees beside Il
-. bed and sobbed, "Oh, Alix, l love "
,or SO, love you sov'
oo+ Alix smiled. Slowly she reached OF
IN. hand over and placed 1t in Mrs. La
hon sings. "You are crying because "
are a granny now," she said, soft
,oe. playfully.
In Then came the day when Alix W
ooo strong-strong enough. Mrs. Lanstl
hS, told her in a choked voice what tn
~. knew and what everyone believe
oon She cried softly in Alix' arms.
nto "Poor motherr' said Alix, her II
,;th against the wet cheek. "How stro
you've been! How you hid 1t trC
hon me! What a burden to carry In 70
tho heart, and smile. But listen, de
nd mummy. You are all wrong. PerhA
for would not have known 1t II ,
aoU had told me-then-but know 1t no
o~s Gerry is not dead. There is no ri'
I'D that can drown Gerry"
,vo, "My DEAR" said Mrs. Lansing, frig
No. NO. ened. "you must not think that.
aUv always the best swimmers that r
, ~ the most"
hot SIT isn't that he can swim, 9
+hs AHx. Her eyes turned slowly till u
ovo rested on her son. Her bosom swell
that at the memory of the travail-the
hor4 rible travail that she had borne,
mn for the child alone, nor for Ge
ms. alone but for them both. "SWlmm
Ha has nothing to do with It. Somen
tbs know that Gerry is all right sol