The Yale expositor., 1916-07-06

door. Gerry lay exhausted. He could
not think any more. A great weight
lay on his brain. The ten minutes
doze in the chair at Alan's bedside had
not been rest, but nightmare. Pres
emily he fell into sleep. a deep sleep
that was all Inconsistencies.
1t was almost night when he awoke
and with the awakening the weight
settled back on his brain. only now he
had the strength to think in spite of It,
He got up and went out in search of
Lieber. Lieber heard him and came
out into the hall. Gerry nodded
towards Alan's room. ITS all right.
Mr. Lansing. He must have solid
mind. Your talk didn't excite him
didn't even disturb his sleep. He's on
the road up-weak, a baby. but he's
started life again. He's asked for you
twice. Seems to have something he's
got to get Off his chest to you. You'd
better go in"
Gerry sat down once more beside
Alan. The questions he must ask
crowded TO his lips, but he forced them
back. He tested his strength with res
olutions and held them. II was his
way OF reaSsuring himself. He want
ed to feel his trmness rising in him to
meet the :trugge he felt must come
when Alan spoke.
Alan knew he was there. lie saw
him through half-closed eyes, but.
more than that, he felt him. His
brows puckered in a frown 1t was
still hand 10 use words. Gerry. last
night wanted to tell you more only
1 couldn't had to sleep. AiiX didn't
go with me. She only came 10 the
train. When kissed her she woke
up and found she wasn't--carnal after
ALL She went back home. You didn't
turn up. You never turned up. They
traced you TO a river, an empty ca
noe pyjamas you know" He
stopped and sighed as though his task
were over.
The veins on Gerry's forehead stood
out in knots. His chin rested on his
clenched hands, his elbows on his
knees. "Alan," he said, where is
Alix now? What has she done?"
Alan opened his eyes and looked at
him. "She is waiting. She has always
waited for you to come back. She
would not believe you were dead, be-
cause of the boy"
"The boyr groaned Gerry. What
boy?"
Yours" said Alan. "He is a great
boy. There is a new AliX since he
came. She is as far from me and
what she was as the stars. She is a
steady star. But it's all right now.
You'll go back to her"
81 can't" whispered Gerry hoarsely,
more to himself than TO Alan. 1--WE
got a wife here. I've got a child here.
TO me he Is my first-born."
Alan's eyes opened, this time in won
der. A twisted smile came TO his lips.
your he said. Your and then the
smile changed to faint disgust. he
turned his head on the pillow away
from Gerry and slept.
The next morning found Gerry still
| at Lieber's. Outside the heavenly
bowl Of blue was virgin OF clouds. II
stretched and domed in a sphered eter
nifty of emptiness. Through its de
pressing void the sun swan slowly
pitilessly, as though 1t were loath &c
mark the passing minutes. The whole
earth baked. Strong trees wilted ant
turned up the wrong sides of theil
leaves on the sea of heat like dyini
| C.b fvr flaafr rybffn hnIlfnl
the last gasp. Not a breath of ali
stirred Heat rose from the ground il
an unbroken, visible wave. my God.
said Alan, gazing with wistful, far
seeing eyes beyond the familiar, repel
lent scene. IA homeward feve
parches up my tongue" There wa
such an agony of longing in the words
that Gerry was frightened. He looke'
questioningly at Lieber.
"No," said Lieber, "he's not dying
He was dying, but he's changed hi
mind. He's going to go home instead
81 believe he's right, Gerry" sail
Alan with a faint smile. But | didn'
change my mind. He did 1t for me
He's I'm line for life-saving medal
Lieber's all right" He stopped. tire
out.
Lieber began to talk to Gerry
"How's the water In the ditch, MI
Lansing?"
"Mlghty low" said Gerry. He spok
almost absent-mindedly.. For the frs
time in months the ditch was far fror
his thoughts.
"Its hard luck" said Lleber. "Th
rivers never been so low before-nc
in the memory of man. We do nc
/ hear the falls any more. The river
asleep. DO you want me to send m
, men down againT
, "It's no use" said Gerry. 81 don
dare deepen the ditch any more. II
! way below the normal level now"
2 Alan stirred. whats that about
} ditchT"
In unhurrled phrases and To-
Q voice Lleber told him the history {
!. Fazenda Flores since Gerry's adveI
: and of the great part the ditch hs