The Glenwood post., 1916-04-15

gdK

Gerry's cablegram to his mother was
forwarded to Red Hill on the very day
that the judge had gone to tell them
that no trace could be found of the
missing man. The judge was more
down-hearted than ever over Gerry's
disappearance and when he found the
two women radiating happiness and
excitement his heart sank lower still.
Il haven't any good news" he said
ruefully before he alighted.
"Tease him." said Alix in a low
tone to Mrs. Lansing
But Mrs. Lansing had found new
lines in the judges tired face and she
whispered back, 81 can't" She put the
-cablegram in the judges hand
What's this?" he said and read it.
Then he gave war-whoop, caught
Alix around the waist and kissed her.
The Firs were gay that night-gay
with the joy of happy people happily
planning. In month, say at the most,
two mouths, Gerry could be here
Spring would have come. The Hill
would be decked out in full regalia of
leaf and blossom, 1t would be in full
commission to meet him. They looked
at Alix and Alix seemed to look at
herself. He would come into his own
as never before.
The judge undertook the cabling
He cabled Gerry and the message was
reported undelivered. Then he cabled
the American consul. There followed
q long series of messages; first quick
and hopeful, ther tagging but not
doubtful, then wearying silence of
weeks, ending with the inevitable
blow. Gerry had been traced to the
San Francisco river. TIE envoy sent
on his track by the Judges orders
had reached Piranhas to find the little
town in apathetic wonder over the dis
covery of Gerry's canoe stranded three
miles down the river. The paddle WAS
still in the canoe and suit of pyja-
mas. No further trace of Gerry had
been found His body had not been re-
covered. The people said 1t was not
unusual. He had undoubtedly been at
tackled by tiger fish. In that case his
bones would have been stripped OF
flesh 1t was impossible to drag the
great river.
The judge hid in his heart the har-
rowing details. To Mrs. Lansing he
told the central fact. She was struck
dumb with grief and then she thought
of Alix. Almost hastily they decided
that 1t was not time to tell Alix ana
during long months they put her of
with false news of the search. They
carried 1t farther and farther into the
wilds Of the subcontinent. The coun-
try was SO vast, there was no telling
when the messenger would finally
come up with Gerry.
AK bore the strain with wonder
full patience. The truth was that her
thoughts were not on Gerry. Some
thing greater than Gerry was claiming
all her faith-all her strength of body
and soul. She did not talk. She was
holding that final communion with her
''innermost self with which a woman
dedicates her body to pain and sacri-
fee. Alix was not afraid. In those
days the spirit of the race-her race
of pioneefs-shone from her steady
eyes and even put courage in those
about her. :.
Only when the ordeal was over and
m heir to the house of Lansing had
raised his lusty voice in apparent rage
at having been born to SO small
1kingdom, did the frail Alix Of other
days come back. As she lay, pale and
thin, but with the glorious light Of
supreme achievement in her eyes, Mrs..
,Lap4ngG went On her knees beside the
ihed ard eQbhed :tOh, AIix, love yo0
!. AZ g! Rs.l ~ 1la!sssx1 4e s:ses.s =. I