Middletown transcript., 1916-03-25
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GQIsEA-
Gerrys cahlegram 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
disappearance and when he found the
two women radiatug happiness and
excitement his heart sank lower still.
II haven't any good news" he said
ruefully before he aIighted.
Tease him" said Alix in a low
tone TO Mrs. lansing
Eat Mrs. Lansing had found new
lines in the Judges tired face AMI she
whispered back. Il can't" She put the
cablegram in the judges hand.
Whats this?'' lie said and read it.
Then lie 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
!
two months. Gerry could he here.
| Spring would have come The Hill
! would be decked out In full regatta Of
| leaf and blossom. 1t would be in fill
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 cableti Gerry and the message vas
reported undelivered. Then he cabl,'d
the American consul. There followed
long series of messages: first quick
and hopeful, then tagging but not
doubtful. then wearying silence Of
weeks, ending with the inevitable
blow. Gerry had been traced to the
San Francisco river. The 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 w.A
still in the canoe and Il suit of py]n-
mas. No further trace of Gerry had
been found. His body had not been re-
covered. The people said it waS not
unusual. He had undoubtedly been at
tackled by tiger fish. In that ease 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 it was not time to tell Alix ami
during long months they put her off
with false news Of the search They
e;l sl.ieA II farther and further into the
wildS of the suDcOntinent. The coun-
try was so vast. there was no telling
when the messenger would finally
come up with Gerry.
Alix 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-aIl her strength of body
and soul She did not talk She WAS
holding that final communion with her
innermOst self with which a woman
detlicates her body to pain and sacrl-
flee. AlX was not afraid. In those !
days the spirit of the race-her race
of piOneers-shOne from her steady |
eyes and even put courage in those
about her.
Only when the ordeal was over and |
an heir to the house of lansing had |
raised his luSty voice In apparent Iage
at having been born to 80 small a
kingdom. 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. !
Lansing went on her knees beside the
bed and sobbed. "Oh. Alix. love you
so, love you so!''
Alix smiled. Slowly she reached one
hand over and placed 1t In Mrs. Lam
sings. "YOu are crying because you
are granny now" she said. softly.
Then came the day when Alix was
enough. Mrs. LanSing
fOld Def IN Il cHOkeu voice Whit tnPV
knew and what everyone believed.
She cried softly in Alix' arms.
Poor mothpr!" said Alix. her lins
against the wet cheek. How strong
you've been! How you hid 1t from
me: What a burden to carry In your
leart. and smile. But listen dear
You are all wrong. Perhaps
would not have known 1t If you
lad told me-then-but know 1t now.
Gerry il not dead. There Is no river
hat can drown Gerry."
"My dear" said Mrs. Lansing. fright
med. "yOu must not think that. ltssl l
always the best swimmers that risk
he most"
1T isn't that he "an SWIM" said
AhX. Her eyes turned slowly till they {
eSted on her son. Her bosom swpll,,d {
It the memory of the travall-thp ter
ible travail that she had borne. not I
or the child alone. nor for Gerry !
lone. but for them both. ''Swimuing |
las nothing to dos with it. Somehow
know that Gerry Is all right sOme- I