Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-07-27

tween as solemn truce.
On the freighter he had had time
enough and to spare to think. He had
spent hours going over the same
ground time and time again. For days
he sat in his chair on the short bridge
deck, staring out TO sea, making over
and over the circle OF his life from the
time he had left home He remem-
oered sitting thus on the way out. He
remembered the turmoil his mind had
been in and the apathy that had fol-
lowed, the long rest at Pernambuco.
the trip down the coast and up the
river, the glorious, misty morning at
Piranhas. Margarita, catastrophe,
awakening. What did that awakening
stand for? Again he thought, If he
could choose-would he wish to be
back as he was before-as he was on
the way out? A voice within him said
NO"
In those days when once more his
thoughts demanded to be seen in their
relation to Alix, that steady voice
within him was his only comfort. The
flood at FaZenda Flores had swept
away all that his hands had DONE but
the things that Fazenda Flores had
done for him could not be swept away
by any material force. They stood and
feared nothing-except Alix.
Wherever his mind turned, II came
back to Alix and found in her an i'm
passe. Alix assumed more and more
the portentous attributes of one unat-
tached, sitting in judgment over his
acts. His memory Of her frailty, of
her howerlike detachment from the
bones-the skeleton-Of life, her arti-
hcia1ty, made her seem ludicrously in
congruous in the role of Judge. He
could not picture her, much less est
mate the sentence she would pass. His
thoughts led him daily up to that i'm
passe and left him. Then came the
doubt and the question-why should
he lead himself bodily to the fmpasse
at all?
He was still fighting this point when
he reached Barbados but there an Incl
dent befell which brought a new light
to his mind and then a new peace
to his soul.
He had gone ashore at Bridgetown
simply because his whole body. per-
fectly attuned by three years Of long
hours of toll, was crying out for more
exercise than the narrow decks OF the
freighter could afford
When the little group of passengers
reached shore, with the exception Of
Gerry and an old returning Barbadian,
they all turned in the same direction
as If by common impulse.
The Barbadian glanced at Gerry and
jerked his head at the disappearing
group. Men of the world in the big
sense he said
What do you mean" asked Gerry.
Son." said the old Barbadian, who
was very tanned and whose kindly
eyes blinked through thick glasses,
when a chap tells you he's a man
Of the world you ask him If he ever
had drink at the Ice house. You
don't have to say in Bridgetown.' Ever
have a drink at the Ice house? Just
like that; and If he says, No you
know he meant he was town rounder
when he said he was man of the
world"
Gerry smiled and fell naturally in
step with the Barbadian as he moved
slowly on.
yes" said the old man. ITS sure
test. The man that hasn't crooked his
elbow at the big, round deal table in
that old, ramshackle drink-house can't
say he's really Travelled. Long-lost
brothers and friends have met there.
and when men that roam the high seas
want news of some pal that's disap-
peared down the highway of the world
they drop in at the old Ice house and
ask what road he took. It's halfway
house to all the seven seas"
"Have you lost anyone" asked
Gerry.
mo, I'm not thirsty for drink just
now" said the Barbadian with
smile. "And you?
"Nor l." said Gerry, laughing. "Pm
out to stretch my legs"
you can't do that here" replied the
old man. "You don't know our sun.
Come with me-" He hailed a ram
shackle victoria.
Gerry hesitated. "You must have a
home you want to go to and friends
to see. Don't worry about me- I'll
be careful about the SUM-
Boy" said the Barbadian, 'I'Ve got
a home and I'm going to see 1t, but
there's no reason why you shouldn't
come along. AS for friends-the ones
/ left here won't get up to meet anyone
till the last trump sounds. Come along.
You are the only company and I'm the
only host in our party"
They climbed into the rickety cab
and the Barbadian gave directions to
the driver. The driver answered In the
soft cultural of the West Indian black.
Slowly they crawled through the
crooked streets Of the town. Gerry
leaned back and gazed at the freak
tsh buildings. They were all of frame
work. Some swelled at the top, and
Gerry wondered why they did not
topple over; some sweIled at the bot
tom and he wondered why these did
not cave in.
The Barbadian watched his face
Funny town, eh?'