The Glenwood post., 1916-07-01

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 a note addressed to
Alix.
Lieber turned from watching the
boat out of sight. It was bearing Alan
away with Kemp installed as nurse
as far as the coast. Lieber 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 boy. He climbed
to Gerry's room and sat down on the
bed. Gerry had never seen him look
so tired.
+ 49," said Lieber, "you escaped"
Gerry nodded gravely. Lieber looked
at him with dull eyes. 1--WE passed
Fazenda Flores The house still stands
It's on little island" Gerry nodded
again. Lieber shrugged shoulder i'm
patiently. "Why aren't you up thereT
Gerry braced himself and told him.
In a dispassionate tone he told him
the history of those terrible moments
of destruction and death. II am not
there" he finished, because there is
nothing left. Three years-all my life
here-have been wiped out. Marga-
rita-she knew from the beginning.
From the beginning she hated the
ditch. have been a curse. l 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, II don't be-
neve Margarita would have chosen to
have things different. She got her jour
d'extase and died before it was over.
IL don't think we need be sorry for
her. Why didn't you go away on the
boat?"
II don't know" said Gerry "1 tried
to, but couldn't. just buried her
and the boy last night. l couldn't run
away like that, as though it were all
over. OF course I know 1t is all over,
but when one falls an endless depth in
sleep and suddenly wakes in a cold
sweat 1t takes time for the mind to
catch its balance. It's that way with
me. I've fallen from a height. I've
walked to a cold sweat. l must take
time to get the balance Of life and get
1t 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 hesi-
tatinsly.
Gerry shook his head. "No," he said.
'"I can't DO that. I'm just going to sit
here and wait for while ahd then I'm
going home. There's something I've
got to straighten out After that, I
don't know. But there's something I
wish you'd do for me, Lieber. and that
IL to look after old Dona Maria and
those two old darkies at Faxenda Flo
res They won't last long, any Of
them, and don't want them to lack
for anything. I'll square up with you"
Lieber nodded listlessly. "I'll look
ont for them." ... .... t....q 49, =.
The next morning early Gerry saw
him OF. There was wistful look in
the old mans eyes a. from the top
Of the cliff he turned and gazed down
the river. "Lieber," said Gerry, "you
can count on me to do what I can for
You when I get home. Do you under
standT
Lieber flushed. Their eyes met. He
took Gerry's outstretched hand and
sripped 1t hard. Then he rode away
without 4 word. a
Lieber threw bis horse into rapid
rack that was faster than q galiop. II
was a killing pace. but he knew the
mettle Of his mount Late In the after
noon he came to the confines Of his
ranch. The broad-eaved house in ths
distance looked very still and Deserted.
Bsycud 1t doomed the solitary Joa t1Ss.
somsthins bad happsasa - ~ jse'
tree during ~ two oays ~ Aad bsaat
AWAY, 4 Aa4 beeeQa q heaeqa. H