Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1916-07-08

spared her faith the test of the three
long years lost out of their youth?
Gerry stood erect by he door. one
hand still holding the knob Why was
he waiting? Alix' raised hand went
slowly out to him in welcome but he
did not move. She smiled al him but
his eyes remained steadfaSt and grave.
A lump rose in Ahx' throat and then.
as pride came 70 her aid, a flare OF
color showed in her cheeks. Her lips
opened. What could she say to hurt
him enough to nay him back for this
added, unjust rebuff? She knew so
little about this new Gerry. How could
she wound him?
And then he spoke. will you please
sit down? There are things l must tell
you"
Gerry had Numbered on magic
words There is no moment so emo
tionally tense that a true woman viii
not drop the immediate issue TO sit
! down and listen to the untold things
she has wanted to hear Alix was a
true woman. The flare died out of her
| cheeks. She sank into chair beside
the duly shining mahogany table and
with nod OF her golden head mo
toned Gerry to seat opposite her
| She watched the easy swing of his
body as he moved across the room
Gerry's mind was in sore conflict, but
a body in perfect health has way OF
taking care of itself.
Gerry sat down and gripped the edge
of the table with outstretched hands
| He looked steadily into Alx' eyes.
The moment he had foreseen had come.
Alix sat in Judgment She planted her
! bare elbows on the table. laid one
hand, palm down on the other and on
| them both rested her cheek. Her head
with its heavy crown of hair was thus
to one side but also tilted slightly for
ward. That slight forward tilt gave
strength to the pose and intensity A
curious, measuring look came into
AliX' eyes. She was silent and she
WAS waiting.
Gerry dropped his eyes to the table
ana began to talk. THE things | have
got to tell you," he said. begin with
that day-our last day. l went out
and walked for hours and realized that
had been rough and unjust and to
blame. came over to the NV enue and
was standing looking at some flowers
when you passed. | saw you in the
plate-glass of the window | turned
around to make sure recognized
your trunk. l followed you to the sta.
ton. l saw Alan signal to you.
saw you get into the train.
Gerry stopped. His premise was
finished and he found that he had no
! tongue to tell the things he had thought
the long argument of the soul. He
realized that all that must he left out
! He must cOufne himself to mere phys.
teal facts, let them troop up in thu
order in which they had come upon
him and file naked before Alix She
must dress them as she saw fit as her
sympathies and her justice directed
He would give her but the ground.
work, plain simple words such as he
could command telling the events that
had come upon him and how he had
met them
or the trip out he had nothing to say
| but Of Pernambuco he told her in de
| tail Somehow il seemed the least he
could do for the filthy and beautiful
! city that had given him an unques-
tioning asylum. He told her Of the
| quay, the Lingueta. with its line of
| tall, stained houses. its vast plane
| trees and its cobbed espianade, the
| stage where the city's life was in per-
petual review. His words came slow
| ~ but they left nothing out Uncon-
sciousIy he created an atmosphere. A
light Of interest burned in AK eyes
She saw the changing scene. II
charmed her to restfulness as it had
| Gerry.
She smelt the stacks OF pineapples,
the heaped-up mangoes, the frying fish,
and through his eyes she saw the blue
skies dotted with white. still clouds
and glimpsed the secret, high-walled
| gardens with their haring hibiscus,
trailing fuchsias, fantastic garden
cockscombs and dark domcd mango
and Jack trees She sat with Gerry
and later. on the long slim coasting
craft she listened with him TO the crcak
of straining masts and stays and TO the
! lap of hurrving waters. She followed
him up the San Francisco, felt his i'm
| patience with Peuedo. took the little
stern-wheeler and learned the fascina.
{ 1f s4sfr D.