Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-01-09


action. As | stared at her. amazed
and Mortified at the swift degenera-
ton now taking place in her. she
struggled up to a sitting posture in
he'd and clasped her hands entreating.
ly.
"Tell me-" she cried. as ii the
truth? Andre and Vitall--are they
really safe? You must not lie to me-
Tell me! Tell me- All is well with
them?"
sat down on the bed, drew her to
my breast and mothered her in pro-
tecting arms.
They are safe. dear" assured
her. at is absolutely true. There has
been little accident; that is all,
Ergazy. in his drugged condition, fell
and hurt his head. Andre is caring for
him. 1t is nothing absolutely moth
ing. Andre will, come and see you
presently, and"
DUt, u oil IL as sOu soy, WI. uiu
YOU lock those doors?" she cried,
ITO keep him out until such time
as you are calm enough to see him.
He IS a little overweight just now.
The accident has upset him. He must
be calm before he enters here and
you, too, must be quiet. Alexandra,
you are exhausting yourself with all
these fears and emotions. You will
make your elf i'll, fear, and"
I'm"
She laughed strangely, pressing both
hands to her wasting face.
III? AS if that mattered now,
Bozhe mol | am dying; and she talks
to me of illness!'
Dying" cried, wildly. what
what folly is this? What mad.
ness?"
She flung back her head with pas
sionate abandon.
Look at me, Myrah' Oh, Heaven,
ou huoN IL ~ tAit tIulb
Mortified, | stared at her. beheld
her now. ravaged by | knew not what
swift and terrible collapse OF all the
vital forces. | saw her beauty now all
but obliterated-that fatal beauty
which had bioomed like a rose, only to
wither like rose as well,
Terrible ravaees | beheld The skin
was faded and shrunken now; the lips
were pale and ifeless the eyes dull
and crOss-hatched at the corners by
an inlinitude of wrinkles; the cheeks
followed; the neck flaccid and weak.
In speeches. dismay gazed on her,
unable to breathe, to speak, to think
She laughed again, this time less wild.
ly but with infinite sadness.
"Myrah," said she, Quitely gently
now-calling me for the second time
by my Christian name, as if we now
had grown far closer each to each
"Myrah, am not child, to be fooled
Will llc VI oliCHIVu Will al lult
promise know the truth. | have
known it for an hour or more. Death
is upon me. 1t was hard, Myrah, to
realize that held perfection in my
.r2sp for a minute only to lose it
and life beside That was bitter
draft But now know it is--best"
Sudden tears blinded me. caught
her to my breast and held her tight,
pillowing her head upon my heart
Alexandria" | sobbed. Tell me
you know SO much more than !
know--what does it mean?'
She laughed again tonelessly, freed
herself little from my arms, and for
a moment uncovered her, eyes with a
trembling hand.
"Oh Myrah.' she whispered shud
deringly. IL don't want to die! !
can't. l can't"
"Die? No, no, no. You're not 60
ing to die, You're going to live.'
She reached up with caressing
gesture, and stroked my hair.
Don't grieve, Myrah," she babe
me. AFTER all, it is Gods way and
His will. 1t seems hard, but it must
mean something after ALL Yes,
hoped for everything. was so full
Of life and energy and ambition
Her voice sank to whisper again
IF N only could have BEEN"
She kept a moments silence. lying
on my breast and seemingly happy
there in my arms. The she smiled
vaguely that same half.mystic,
dreaming smile had seen on her face
before.
1.-THE Volge is calling me, and the
great steppes,' she whispered. THE
plains, the stars and sky above the
plains, the grass.tops waving in the
summer wind there; Myrah, only one
thing; let my grave be there, not here.
should be so lonesome here in this
strange country. They must be very,
very sure to put me to sleep beside
the big blue river--ah, Heaven, that
river--under the Russian grass and
flowers, under the Russian sky!
shall be at home there; even the night
will caress me and be kind"
Blind with tears, dumb with grief,
Graded her. She grew silent little
while, then once more whispered.
whittier. Eternal mystery. Shall