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

| solve thee, al last"
reused myself This acquiescence
was criminal. The woman must not
be allowed TO die by auto suggestion,
by inanition, without a fight for her
life.
"Myrah." she went on, very gently.
but with great firmness, Il understand
what you are thinking Now, at the
parting. | can read you. Things are
made clear to me. Your thought is "a
thought engendered by love, but il is
useless. Nothing that you can do will
keep me here. Nor, could it, would
stay.
Death is in my heart and soul
am resigned to it. The boat is waiting
by the shore; must away in it down
the dark stream.
1T matters nothing after all, Or if
it matters, We cannot read the answer
rightly. Reaching for the unattain-
able have failed. II was impiety An
hour of happiness-then--an
"Impiety?" | tried to comfort her.
mo. Alexandra; not that Human
skill and intelligence have failed; that
was all 1t was ! who made the ter
rble mistake. 1t must have been that
liberated you too soon. Let me 90 to
Andre. Let me summon him. He"
NO" she denied me. He must
not see me now, You understand
Not now. Not now
Again she smoOthed my hair then.
lifting up that poor, ravaged face, she
kissed me on the mouth, and with her
hand tried to wipe away my tears.
"The blame is mine, not yours,
Myrah," she absolved me. 1T was
who consented to this blasphemy, this
reaching after perfection, which is of
God, not man Sol am punished.
and am content. The warning will
save others. Let all beware how they
reach out to grasp the absolute
Her voice had now grown notably
of strength and life in her, and knew
hat nothing could avail to keep
her She gradually sank down, half
on her side, and covered her poor,
wasted face with both hands. Her hair.
still as beautiful as ever, mercifully
yelled her from my sight.
Still overcome with grief and sigAt-
less with tears, bent and kissed her
as she lay there supine Once more
heard her speak-but it was more a
breath from the beyond than IA living
human voice.
"The dragon.fly, failing at the hour
if his transformation, inevitably dies,
| am tired now, Myrah. Let me 60.
Another silence followed, Relaxed,
she lay very still In terror, | raised
her head, and looked upon her face.
She was oowerless to move now, and
seemed unconscious. Pulse and respir-
alton had become almost impercepti-
BILE. A deathly pallor suffused her fea-
lures, now wan and pitiful.
Again and again kissed her with a
breaking heart, Never before had |
felt any love such as the love ! felt
then for the extraordinary beautiful
soul Never again shall | feel any
such.
Alexandria" exclaimed You
must not uie,"
For moment the eyelids flutlered
still fringed with those long, black
lashes. Then they opened, and | be
held her eyes, faded and dim.
"Good.by," she whispered. 'li
this be death--who could be afraid
OIL
She could not finish. The wrath Of
smile seemed to hover moment
over her lips.
She tried to lift her right arm, to
put it around my neck. II fell back,
nerveless
."This-is--the end" she breathed.
A few sobbing gasps and Alexandra
lay still in my arms.
Hardly had the last tremor passed
through her frame than the quiet Of
the ward was shattered by a peremp.
tory knocking at the caisson-doof