The Mena weekly star., 1920-03-18

WCAN ttVinNIt6 NttN EfltlFH InTEtI that she was a fighter, begged witl, gasping, heartrending means for opium, and relief, and when he refused. her tongue turned bitter, sharp as a ser pents tooth. Each word she said was chosen to wound. Herself the most fair-minded of women, she became unjust, ungenerous and cruel as dead love.
 He was giving her the treatment for pernicieus malaria. Together with every other white man who has served apprenticeship to Africa he had an extraordinary store of rough and ready medical knowledge. To such men only six drugs are essential, all others being classed as furbelows of the pampered sick room, and with these they work as with elementals. Kill or cure is their motto the saving idea being that If the patient can't stand punishment. he would go under in any case.
 On those rare occasions when An drea's spasms conquered his reluctance to use the needle he would watch her until the opiate stilled her and then fall into his chair and to sleep. 'I am here," he would say even as his lids closed. Never forget, I'm here for you. Touch me or speak to me and I'll awake" It was true In spite o1 his long vigil he kept deep slumber at distance by an effort of the will like a man who sets a clock in his mind and trusts to his subconscious self to call him at the hour marked
 The afternoon of the second day k found Andrea unusually subdued and still, hut he was not deceived. He looked at her eyes and saw that their pupils still appeared convex and glassy Ike the eyes of T fish They stared at him with hn unreasonable gravity. When her dry l.ps parted, he shronK even before she spoke.
 T wish. you would go away" she said quietly. T don't like to look at you; 1 don't wish you to loak at me. l will be glad if I never see you again. There is no one in the world that wish ever to see again. Please send me that nigger. Bathtub. If I must have some one l would rather have him.
 He arose. called Bathtub and made him squat on the floor where her eyes could quickly find him; then he went to the door behind her and stood for long time looking out across the glaring craal The rays of the sun descended on that beaten space with an almost audible contact. The leaves of the acacias were shriveled; not a woman or a child was visible, and even the fowls crowded close in the shad- ows Of the caves.
 He took one step out and looked up into the bowl of blue. His tired eyes searched 1t from horizon to zenith and back to the hot level of the earth. It was empty. It's hollow infinity pressed down upon his breast with measure less weight. He had come out for a barley, remonstrance on his lips, but he had forgotten that in tho tropics God walks only at night.
 He turned, went back to his post and sat down, dismissing Bathtub with a nod Andrea's eyes were still fixed in
 
 lightless stare. Presently she began to speak. "You bring me here, you let me fall i'll, you shame my body. You are like the men that strap down little dogs and open them. You are like that. You have been staring at my heart. at my bare lungs and all the unnamable beastly things inside | of ,,,o Vo.t, laoNo mo olnpo with O nigg 'r--when I'm torn open.- I don't hate you. You are nothing"
 Her voice went on for long time. He dropped his face In his hands, but he did not try to stop his ears. They listened to all she said, they told him she was suffering as he had known no one ever to suffer before. Her spirit spoke from beyond pain. In that hour he learned great truth. Pain is a wall, barrier. So far and no farther can flesh go and still hold to the mem ories, the fears and affections of every | day life. Beyond that barrier Is void where love itself is a stranger, where life and death are one and equally of no account.
 He did not know when he fell asleep or when her voice ceased, but on awak' ening such silence met him as struck his heart cold. She was still-still as death. Night had fallen. but he was unaware of darkness. He felt that never again would he need light ol eyes or air to breathe. He was colo as though the sun in setting had slipped down and out beyond any ris ing. He leaned over and put his face close to her lips. They were parted l Her hand was lying outside the GOV erlet He took it up gently. It was warm and moist. She was sleeping.
 He drew erect, his body tense in the first realization of great and over wheIming relief; then his spirit melted within him and his nerves relaxed from the long. hard strain. His limbs crum pied, his head nodded and fell for ward, lower and lower until, one arm outstretched, he lay with his face hali | AZNNRRVf1 1