Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-07-13


and her eyes long. then he turned
away and hurried into the elevator.
When Alix got home she sat down
and wrote note to Alan-just line
to tell him that she was ready and
wished to see him. He came the fol-
lowing afternoon. At first be was
little awkward, strainirg just the least
too much not TO betray his nervous
ness. But the sight Of Alix put him
ct his ease. She had become a true
woman-true in the sense Of honor
and she was tempered as steel, but
soft with the softness of motherhood.
About her there was the peace Of an
inner shrine. She drew him into it I'M
hesitatingly and he suddenly felt IN
clean just as he had felt unworthy on
from Nance's loving arms around his
neck.
You're not looking very well, Alan"
said AliX when he was seated.
mo, I'm not on the tos Of the wave
just now" replied Alan. ''Touch Of
river fever. It's like memory-a hard
thing to shake"
I'm not trying to shake mine" said
Alix calmly. My memories have made
me-"
mo wonder you don't quarrel with
them," said Alan in frank admira-
ton.
ALAN, when are you going to come
ha of q
variety show? Wouldn't you rather
have one real steady star in life than
a whole lot of furnished tinsel ones"
Alan jumped to his feet, stuck his
hands in his coat pockets and started
walking up and down the somber
room. They We're in the library. "A
steady STAR he repeated. what a
find that would be! I've raised many
star on my horizon, Alix, but the
longer | look at 'em the more they
twinkle back. It's easier to down con-
science than to down blood"
SIN the end" said Alix, "a man
must down blood or it downs him
downs him irretrievably. Blood IN
checked is just common beast"
do you think I don't know it?"
flashed Alan. Each day l find an
old haunt denied to me. I am Ill at
ease. My world has left yours behind.
There is a pale. Behind it lies Red
Hill. Do you know I haven't been to
the Hill for three years? Behind it
lies Nance, the faithfullest, most trust
ing fOster-sister waster ever had.
And now you. You lie behind it and
toy with my soul through the bars"
AliX sprang to her feet and laid
strong, nervous hands on Alan's shout
ders. She shook him and turned him
so that he faced the light. Alan did
not laugh. There was fire In Alix'
eyes. you little thing" she said
tensely, mot to see that the bars are
down"
He turned under her hands and she
let him 60 He stood looking out of
the window at the bare trees. Alix
watched him. "Alan, you can come to
the Hill tonight. They-we-are all
going to be together here. It's Clients
birthday. If you can feel the pale
be with u.s."
"Alix, believe me or not, it's be-
cause feel the pale that won't come.
If there's snip sailing for the ends
of the earth before night it shall carry
me. This big city isn't big enough to
hold all the Hill ard leave me room
to wander outside"
Then Why-Why-"
''Ill tell you. The last time saw
J. Y, he said to me among other
things, Yesterday Glenn was crying be-
cause you had not come to the house.
I try to think, Alan, that It is because
Glenn is there that you have not come
Well, there it Is in a nutshell. I bear
the mark Of the beast. Do you think
l want Glen to see it?"
Alan's hands were locked behind
him. He turned from the window.
"Alix, 1 can't see Glenn yet. She is
expecting me. I told her that the bet
ter half Of me would look her up as
soon as | got back. But what IL some
body that doesn't know my better half
at all should see me riding-walking
with Glenn? I can't risk that. Do You
understand"
But oh, Alan" said Alix. eff you
could only see Glenn now. She's glori-
GUS Why it's three years-three years
since you saw her. You used to think
me beautiful"
"Used!' protested Alan, casting q
valufng glance at Alix' pale beauty.
"Well," conceded Alix, you think
me beautiful. Beside Glenn with her
heaps of brown hair and deep blue
eyes, | am nothing. l am worse-I
am doll. And she was born with q
strange wisdom and strength of her
own. The world has never reached
her-will never reach her. She's made
her own world and she's made it right.
And yet-the wisdom in her deep eyes,
Alan. She knows-she knows it all
and you know that she knows, only,
faith sits enthroned"
Faith sits enthroned," repeated
Alan; that's why l can't come to-
night" He looked around for his hat
and stick.
by the way" said Alix, 'why J. Y.
and why Mrs. ]. Y? I've always won
dered"
Il don't know" said Alan. "I've
L