Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-07-20

trouble Of packing and getting on
board, but he felt nstless. Why should
he hurry back? Aix had waited, was
waiting, but not for him. He had not
waited for her. He must go back and
tell her, Of course. but what then?
A cavalcade came down the street
At its head was carried litter and on
the litter lay Alan. He had refused to
ride in hammock again. Behind him
rode Lieber and Kemp. Gerry drew
back from the window and watched
them make their way down to the
little stern-wheeler. She had brought
little freight. there was none for her
to take away. By three o'clock she
gave a long shrek of warning. and
half an hour later she warped out into
the river and chugged away down
stream. At the last moment Gerry had
sent down to Alan q note addressed to
Alix.
Lieber turned from watching the
boat out Of sight. 1t was bearing Alan
away with Kemp installed as nurse
as far as the coast. Iieber stumped
heavily up the street, leading his horse
From his window Gerry called to him.
Lieber took the reins from his arm
and handed them to a boy. He climbed
to Gerry's room and sat down on the
bed. Gerry had never seen him look
SO tired.
$50" said Lfeber, you escaped"
7 10 %
at him with dull eyes. eve passed
FaZenda Flores. The house still stands.
It's on little island" Gerry nodded
again. Lieber shrugged a shoulder inn
patiently. why aren't you up there?'
Gerry braced himself and told him.
In a dispassionate tone he told him
the history Of those terrible moments
Of destruction and death. Il am not
there" he finished, because there is
nothing left. Three years-all my life
here-haye been wiped out. Marga-
rita-She knew from the beginning
From the beginning she hated the
ditch. [ have been a curse. | have
brought ruin" Gerry stared before
him. His face was white and drawn.
Lieber shook his head judicially.
mo, it would have been the same, eX-
cept that without you there would
have been nothing to sweep away.
Margarita would still be alive. There
would have been no boy" He paused.
Somehow" he went on, 81 don't be-
ieve Margarita would have chosen to
have things different. She got her jour
d'extase and died before it was over.
II don't think we need be sorry for
her. Why didn't you go away on the
boat?"
II don't know" said Gerry 81 tried
to, but I couldn't. 1 just buried her
and the boy last night. l couldn't run
away like that, as though it were all
over. Of course know it is all over.
but when one falls an endless depth in
sleep and suddenly wakes in a cold
sweat it takes time for the mind to
catch its balance. It's that way with
me. I've fallen from q height I've
walked to q cold sweat. I must take
time to get the balance of life and get
it right. You can't hurry over these
transitions, because somehow it
wouldn't be decent"
Lieber nodded you don't feel like
riding back with me?'' he asked hest
taingly.
Gerry shook his head no" he said
81 can't do that. I'm just going to sit
here and wait for a while and then I'm
going home. There's something I've
got to straigkten out. After that,
don't know. But there's something
wish you'd do for NE, Lieber, and that
| is to look after old Dona Maria and
those two old darkies at Fazenda Flo
res. They won't last long, any OF
them, and I don't want them to lack
for anything. I'll square up with you
Licber nodded listlessly. "Tll look
out for them"
The next morning early Gerry saw
him off. There was a wistfu look in
the old mans eyes as from the ton
of the cliff he turned and gazed down
the river "Lieber." said Gerry, you
can count on me to do what | can for
you when I get home Do you under
standW
Lieber flushed. Their eyes met. He
took Gerry's outstretched hand and