The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1916-04-07

In the clty--he had telephoned to those
outside. At night he returned to Alix
but It was Mrs. Lansing that received
him in the library.
The judge was tired and his buoy
ancy had deserted him He told her
OF his failure. Mrs. Lansing was
thoughtful but not greatly troubled.
Gerry" she said. has level head
He can take care OF himself" She
went to tell Allx that there was no
news, When she came back the judge
turned to her. swell" he asked, what
did she say2"
Nothing, except that she wanted to
know II you had tried the bank"
The judge struck his fist into his
left hand Never thought of it, he
said. "That child has head" He
went to the telephone. From the presi.
dent of the bank he traced the man
ager, from the manager, the cashier.
Yes. Gerry had been at the bank on
Saturday. The cashier remembered 1t
because Mr.. Lansing had drawn GER
tain account IN full. He would not
say how much.
There" said the judge with sigh
of relief, that's something. 1t takes
steady nerve to draw bank ac-
count in full. You must take the news
upstairs. I'm Off. I'll follow up the
clue tomorrow"
Mrs. Lansing and Allx had never
given themselves TO each other. There
had been no warfare between them
but equally there had never been UNI
Outstanding. TO Mrs. Lansing's In.
herent calm, AK sclntillation had
been repellent and Alix before Gerry's
mother had felt much the same re-
straint as before Gerry's old butler.
There had been strength in Mrs.
Lansng's calm. She had been waiting
and now the waiting was over. Allx
had given herself fearful and almost
wordless into arms that were more
than ready and had then poured out
her heart In broken tale that would
have COMPOUNDED any court of justice
but which between women was clearer
than logic.
At the end Mrs. Lansing said moth
Ing. Instead she petted Alix, carried
her or to bed and kept her there for
three days. In her waking hours Alix
added spasmodic bits to her confess
slon--sage reflections after the event,
dreamy II wonders" that specialized
in the past and In the measure Of her
emotions.
4 raf ~ MI
sewed, Her soft brown hair just
touched with gray. her calm face with
its half.hidden strength, her steady
eyes. turned now on AK, now on her
work. brought peace into the room and
held II there in spite of the disquieting
lack Of news of Gerry.
When she spoke at last 1t was to
say half-shyly, You are stronger than
l had thought. | believe every woman
at the actual moment OF surrender
feels an impulse of shame and fear
During that moment desire let's go
OF her It's the last chance that fate
holds out The women who fall to
take the chance--it seems to me they
fail through weakness of spirit and
not OF flesh.
"More women are ruined by circum.
stance than by desire Women decide
to burn their bridges heblnd them and
then they think they've burned them
All the circumstances were against
you. There wasn't loophole in the
net Fate gave you your moment and
you tore your way out"
ON the fourth day Alix got up but
on the fifth she stayed In bed. Mrs
Lansing found her pale and fright,
ened. She had been crying.
"Alix," she whispered. kneellng be
side the bed. what Is III"
Alix told her amid sobs. ooh. my
dear" said Mrs. Lansing. throwing her
arms around her, don't cry. Don't
worry. The strength will come with
the need. In the end you1l be glad
So will Gerry. SO viii all Of u.s."
sit isn't that" said Alix, family
"oh. II isn't that I'm just thinking
and thinking how terrible 1t would
have been lf had run away--really
run away. | keep imagining how
1 hNlut ~ MbuAu hNNt bNtu. ~ - hAkhe
mare"
"Call Il nightmare IL you like. sweet
heart. but just remember that you are
awake"
Yes" said AlIx softly. II an
awake now. | want 10 watch the Hill
come to life and dress up for the sum
mer. 1t will amuse me. It's Ions
since l have watched for the first buds
and the first swallows. | won't mint
the melting snow and the mud. I'll
so long since I've seen clean country
mud. | want to smell It"
"You don't know how bleak the Eli
can be before the spring comes" OBJ
| jected Mrs. Lansing.
"will It be any bleaker with M
there than when you We're alone3'
| asked Allx.
Mrs. Lansing came over to her ant
kissed her. No, dear" she said.