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

she said, after q pause, land I'm go
9ng to let her do the talking for a mo
ment If l learned absolutely that
that Gerry can never come back to me,
there is no man that l would turn to
quicker than to you" COllingeford
gave her a grateful look and the flush
under his tan deepened. Don't mis-
understand me-" she went on. Il like
you whole lot, but l have never
thought of marrying anyone but Ger
ry. I'd like to marry Gerry. I've new
er married him yet. Not really"
They walked ON for some time in 81
lence. Collingeford's thoughts had
raced away sOuthwards and Alix'
followed them unerringly. Don't
make one horrible mistake, Percy"
she said when she was sure. Don't
imagine that l could ever love the
bearer of i'll tidings."
Collingeford flushed, this time with
shame. "No, of course not" he STAN
mered
You see-or can't you seer" she
went on, that all this new life of
mine I've hung on to a single hook OF
faith. l could not break out from this
probation for any other man. | do
not mean that woman can love but
once-not necessarily. But | do think
that ones life must spring from new
chrysalis to meet new love fairly.
Second loves at first sight have a tang
of the bargain counter and the ready
made Love is not a chance tenant.
He must build or grow into a new
home"
They walked on in a full silence.
Collingeford's shoulders dropped. For
THE first time in his life he felt old.
you are right-you are always right, "
he said at last. Il shall go away
somewhere where it's easy to sweat"
Somewhere where it's easy to
sweat exclaimed Alix What an
ugly thought"
Its only Bodsky," said COllingefOrd
reminiscently. "Bodsky says you can
drown any woman's memory in sweat.
Good old Bod! | wonder where l shall
find him"
oh" said Alix, "if it's Bodsky's,
one mustn't quarrel with it simply be-
cause it is ugly. But"
But what?" said Collingeford.
81 was going to say, But what naked
Language! Perhaps it is one of those
truths one shrinks from because 1t
starts in by slapping ones face. Any
iS
1T hurts a woman to be forgotten"
Collingeford smiled. Just sO," he
said and stopped before an uptown
ticket agency. DO you mind?" he
asked, with a wave of his hand. They
went in and he bought a passage for
England. He was to sail the following
afternoon. He looked so glum over 1t
that Alix consented to lunch with him
and see him off.
He came for her the next day a lit
tile late but, when she saw his face,
she felt shock and forgot to chide
him. Her eyes mirrored the trouble in
his but somehow she felt that it was
not the parting from her that had
turned him pale in night. He helped
her into the waiting cab and then
sank back into his corner.
AK laid her gloved hand on his
knee. "What is it?" she asked.
Collingeford's face twitched. He
fixed his eyes through the cab window
on nothing "Bodsky," he said, lis
dead. He has been dead for months"
''Oh," cried AliX, I'm sorry. I'm
sorry for you She did not try 10
say any more. She had put all her
heart into those few words.
Collingeford drew out his pocket
book and took from it a sOiled sheet
OF paper-a leaf torn from a field note
book He held it out to her with trem-
bling hand. Il wouldn't show it to
anyone else. Trouble has made you
great-hearted. Read it."
Alix puzzled over the slip of paper.
whats the name of the place? l
can't make it out"
Its a little hole on the borders of
Thibet. That papers been handed
along for five months. The envelope
1T came in was in tatters'
Dear Old Pal" read Alix, do you
remember what l used to tell you?
When man has seen all the world he
must go home or die. When we last
parted l had three places left to see,
but they haven't lasted me as long as
I thought they would. l have sent you
my battery. The bOres are a bit too
big for the new powder and you can't
use the guns, l know, but you'll have
q home, old man, and you can give
them a place in rack. They will
make a little room as wide as the
ends of the earth. 1 didn't kill her. l
made her kill herself. Bodsky."
Alix was puzzled again, but then she
remembered. $50 he didn't kill her,
after ALL" she said
"Kill her! Kill what?" said Col
1ingeford. "Oh, yes. l remember. AS
IL that mattered."
1T matters. 1t does natter cried
.Alix, outraged.
Forgive me-" said Collingeford. 81
had forgotten that you never knew
Bodsky. You said Yesterday that Bod
sky used naked language. You were
right Bodsky undressed things. Just
as some people see red and some blue,
Bodsky saw things naked. He could
look through a black robe of rumor
spangled with lies and see truth naked.
He was naked himSelf-naked and I'M
oshomoH har1 mo tO mako