The Irish standard., 1916-03-25

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the burden they carried up through
the main street. Eyes were tired of
the familiar sight The hour of wecp-
ing. the allotted tears. were long since
spent They buried them that night.
Gerry went back to his room. He
sat for long time looking out on the
starry river. Then unconsciously he
picked up the old tweed suit and hung
1t carefully on chair. The rest of
his scattered things he swept uncere-
moniously upon the floor and threw
himself full length on the bed. He
was exhausted and slept.
He was up early the next morning.
He made the old woman bring water
and bathed In his room. ut Is wise"
she said. For many days there will
be poison in the river" Gerry did not
answer. He closed the door and went
through his ablutions and toilet with
great care. His beard he had ALWAYS
kept close clipped. Now he shaved i,
off. The tan Of his face looked like
mask above the fresh white of his
| newly shaved jOwls and chin. He
picked out the best of his linen and
dressed. Lastly, he put on the old
tweed suit. 1t fell naturally to the
lines of his body all except the waist
band Of the trousers. He drew the
back strap as close as 1t would "a.
Still the trousers were Il little loose Mt
the waist. At first he was puzzled.
then he understood. He looked mt him
self in the broken glass with COR
gcous but sadly furnished frame that
hung on the wall. His shoulders
seemed to carry the coat better than
before He could hear Jones 4 Jones
say. "a splendid fit, sir. You can't
pick 1t up anywhere"
Gerry turned from the glass with a
sigh. He was restless The heavv
tweeds seemed to bind his limbs and
chest. but he would not take them OH.
He sat at the window and watched the
little stern-wheeer splash up 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. He had not
waited for her. He must go back and
tell her, OF course. but what then?
A cavalcade came down the street.
At Its head was carried litter and on
the litter lny Alan. He had refused to
ride In hammock again. Behind him
rode Lieber and Kemp. Gerry drew
back from the window and watched
them make their way down to the
little stern-wheeler. She had brought
little freight, there was none for her
to take away. BY three o'clock she
gave 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
Alix.
Lieber turned from watching the
bont out Of sight. 1t was bearing Alan
away with Kemp Installed as nurse
as far as the coast Liebcr stumpetl
heavily up the street. leading his horse.
From his window Gerry called to him.
Liebcr took the reins from his arm
and handed them to boy. He climbed
to Gerry's room and sat down on the
bed. Gerry had never seen him look
so tired.
$50" said Lieber. "you escaped"
Gerry nodded gravely. Lieber looked
at him with dull eyes 1--WE pissed
Fazenda Flores. The house still stands.
It's on n little island" Gerry nodded
again. Liebcr shrugged n shoulder i'm
patiently. "Why aren't you up thereY'
Gerry brnced himself and told him.
In dispnssionate tone he told him
the history of those terrible moments
Of destruction and death. II am not
there" he finished, because there il
nothing left. Three years-all my life
here--have been wiped out. Marga-
rita-she knew from the beginning.
From the beginning she hated the
ditch. have been curse. hnve
brought ruin" Gerry stirred before
him. His face was white and drawn.
Lieber shook his head judicially.
mo, 1t would have been the same. ex-
cept that without you there would
have been nothing to sweep away.
Margarlta would still be alive. There
would have been no boy" He paused.
Somehow" he went on. II don't be.
lieve Margarita would have chosen to
have things different. She got her jour
dextase and died before it was over
IL don't think we need be sorry for
her. Why didn't you go away on the
bont?"
II don't know" said Gerry. II tried
to, but couldn't just buried her
and the boy last night. l couldn't run
away like that, as though 1t were all
over or course know 1t is all over,
but when one falls an endless depth in
sleep and suddenly wakes in Il cold
sweat 1t takes time for the mind to
catch its balance. It's that way with
me. I've fallen from height. I've
walked to cold sweat. must take
time to get the balance Of life and get
1t right. You can't hurry over these
Transitions. because somehow 1t
wouldn't be decent"
Lieber nodded. "YOu don't feel like
riding back with me-" he asked hest.
tatingly.
Gerry shook his head "NO" he said.
II can't do that I'm just going to sit
here and wait for while and then I'm
I,