The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1920-03-11

lie WAS Siftn5 hCA LhC
pernicious 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, ali others being
classed as furbelows Of the pampered
sick room, and with these they work
as with elementals. XIII 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 N,asms 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. II am
here" he would say ever as his lids
closed. "Never forget, I'm here for
you. Touch me or speak to me and
I'll awake" 1t was true. In spite o.
his long vigil he kept deep slumber
at a distance by an effort OF the will
like q 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
found Andrea unusually subdued and
still, but he was not deceived. He
looked at her eyes and saw that their
pupils still appeared conve and CLASSY
like the eyes of a fish. They stared at
him with an Unreasonable gravity.
When her dry lips parted, he shrank
ever before she spoke.
u wish you would go away" she
said quietly. II don't like to look at
you; / don't wish you to look at me.
l will be glad If l never see you again.
There Is no one in the world that l
wish ever to see again. Please send ME
that niger, Bathtub. If I must have
some one / 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
glazing craal. The rays of the sun
descended on that beaten space with
an almost audible contact. The leaves
of the acacias were s%hriveied; 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. II
vas empty. It's hollow infinity pressed
down upon his breast with a measure.
less weight. He had come out for q
parley, remonstrance on his lips, but
he had forgotten that In the 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
a 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 al
my heart. at my bare lungs and all
the unnamable beastly things inside
Of me. You leave me alone with a
nigger-when I'm torn open. i don't
hate you. You are nothing"
Her voice went on for a 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 Snown no
one ever to suffer before. Her spirit
spoke from beyond pail. In that hour
he learned a great truth. Pain Is q
wall, a barrier. So far and no farther
can flesh go and still hold to the mem.
cries. the fears and affections of every
day life. Beyond that barrier is a vol,
where love itself is a stranger, wher,
life and death are one and equally OF
no account.
He did not know when he fell asleer
or when her voice ceased, but on awak.
ening such a 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 or
eyes or air to breathe. He was cold
as though the sun In setting had
slipped down and out beyond any ri-.
ing. He leaned over and put his face
close to her lips. They were parted.
Her hand was lying outside the GOV.
erlet. He took it up gently. Tt was
warm and moist. She was sleeping.
he drew erect, his body tense In the
first realization of a great and over
whelming 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 half
buried In the covers of the cot. When
again he awoke, the sun had changed
Its mind and come back; day was
streaming across the floor in a single
band of light; but he did not stir. On
his head he felt Andrea's hand, and
In his ears was the lingering caress
OF her voice. Lots Of goo1 II did to
tell you to go away. White Man." she
was ~murmuring. "You came back.
You brought me back. White Man,
love you a little"