Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1922-07-01


voice, a mere whisper, beside him.
lie turned upon her lifeless eyes.
Gone" he echoed.
"Oh, Alix-my darling My own big
sister" Cherry sobbed, falling to her
knees and passionately kissing the
peaceful face. "Oh, Allx. dearestT
The women about broke into tears.
Peter pressed his hand close against
his aching eyeballs, wishing that he
might cry.
"She drove here" he heard a mans
voice saying IN the silence, land she
must have lost control Of her car for
a minute. Then-do you see?-the
wheel slipped on the bank. Once it
got this far, no power in Gods
earth"
NO power in Gods earthr' another
mans voice said in solemn confrma-
ton.
Peter" Cherry said, will you come
to me as soon as you CAM I shall
need you"
AS soon as I can" he answered
absently
The car drove away, and he heard
Martin moan again as It moved.
"Joyce" said q mans kind voice
close beside him. He recognized the
voice rather than the distressed face
Of an old friend and neighbor. "Joyce,
my dear fellow" he urged affecdonate-
ly. tell US what we may do and Wen
see TO #. Pull yourself together, my
dear chap Now. shall I telephone for
an-an ambulance? You must help us
just a little here and then wen spare
you everything else"
THANK you, Fred" Peter answered
after q moment Thank you. VIII
you help me my-wife-home?"
you wish it that wayT' the other
man said anxiousIy.
please" Peter answered simply.
And instantly there was moving and
clearing In the crowd, a murmuring
of whispered directions.
After a while they were at the noun
tain cabin, and Kow, with tears run
ming down his yellow face. was helping
them. Then they went into the old llv-
ing room, and AliX was lying there,
splendid, sweet, untouched, with her
brave, brown forehead Swallowed soft
ly by her brown hair, and her lashes
resting upon her cheeks, and her fin
gers clasped about the stems Of three
great, creamy roses.
There were other flowers all about,
and there were women In the room.
White draperies fell with sweeping
lines from the merciful yelling Of the
crushed figure, and Allx might have
been only asleep, and dreaming some
heroic dream that lent that secret
pride and Joy to her mouth and filled
those closed eyes with a triumph they
had never known IN life
Peter stood and looked down at her,
and the men and women drew back.
But although the muscles of his mouth
twitched, he did not weep. He looked
long at her, while an utter silence
Glled the room and while twilight
deepened into dark over the cabin and
over the mountain above 1t.
$50 that was your way out, Allx?"
Peter said In the depth Of hts soul.
THAT was your solution for US am
You would 60 out of life, away from
the sunshine and the trees and the
hills that you loved. so that Cherry
and I should he saved? l was blind
not to see IL. have been blind from
the very beginning"
Silence. The room was filing with
shadows. On the mantel was O deep
bowl Of roses that he remembered
watching her cut-Was It yesterday or
centuries ago?
Il was wrong" he said. "But I
think you would be sorry to have me
face-wnat 1 am facing now You
were always so forgying, Alix; you
would be the first to be sorry"
He put his hand over the ugerish
pain that was beginning to reach his
heart. His tbraat felt thick and
cboked. and stlll he did not cry.
"An hour ego" he said, ST it had
been tha. the least thought Of what
this meant to you might have reached
me an hour ago, I. would not have
been too late. AK. one look into your
eyes an hour ago might have saved
rus all, Fred" Peter said aloud with
bitter Toan. cllnchlnr tight the
hands If tie I'D friend who had crept
IN TO stand beside him. Fred, she was
here. I'll all her health md Joy and
strength only today And now"
81 know-ola man" the other man
muttered. Tie looked arIous1y at Pc
tars terrible face. In the silence the
dog whimpered family But when Pc
ter, aezer an endless five minutes
turned away. 1t gas TO speak 70 his
friend fl in almost normal voice.
Il must 20 down and see cherry
Fred. She took her husband to the
old housp: they were living there
Helen VIII stay here" the ogd man
assured him quickly. "I7l drive ycu
down ana cone bRcE here We thought
perhaps a few Of us could come here
tomorrow afternoon. Peter" he added
timidiv. with bis REDEEMED eyes filing