Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-05-19

r UCY CROSBY was dead. One moment
she was of the quick, moving about the
~~ house, glancing in at David, having
Minnie in the kitchen pin and unpin her veil;
and the next she was still and infinitely
mysterious on her white bed She had fallen
outside the door of David's room, and lay
there, her arms still full of fresh bath towels,
and fixed and intense look in her eyes, as
though outside the door. she had come face
to face with messenger who bore surprising
news. Doctor Reynolds, running up the
stairs, found her there dead, and closed the
door into David's room
But David knew before they told him. He
waited until they had placed her her bed,
had closed her eyes and drawn a whAe cover
let over her, and then he went in alone, and
sat down beside her, and put hand over
her chilling one.
eff you are still here, Lucy" he said,
land have not yet gone on, | want you to
carry this with you. We are all right here.
Everybody is all right. You are not to worry"
After time he wentAback to his room and
got his prayer book. He could hear Harrison
Mi1Ier's voice soothing Minnie in the lower
hall, and Reynolds at the telephone. He
went back into the quiet chamber, and open
ing the prayer book, began to read aloud
"'Now is Christ risen from the dead, and
become the first fruits of them that slept"
Davids voice frightened. He put his head
down on the side of his bed.
He was very docile that day. He moved
obediently from his room for the awful after
math of a death, for the sweeping and dust
ing and clean curtains, and sat in Dick s
room, not reading, not even praying; a lone
ly yet indomitable old figure.
When his friends came, elderly men who
creaked in and tried to reduce their robust
voices to a decorous whisper, he shook hands
with them and made brief, courteous replies.
Thea he lapsed into silence, and they felt shut
off and uncomfortable, and creaked out
again.
Only once did he seem shaken. That was
when Elizabeth came swiftly in, and put her
arms around him as he sat- He held her close
to him, saying nothing for long time. Then
he drew deep breath.
81 was feeling mighty lonely, honey" he
said
He was the better for her visit He insisted
on dressing that evening, and on being helped
down the stairs. The town, which had seemed
inimical for so long, seemed to him suddenly
to be holding out friendly hands. More than
friendly hands. Loving, tender hands, offer
ing service and affection and old-time friend
ships. 1t moved about sedately, in dark
clothes, and came down the stairs red-eyed
and using pocket handkerchiefs, and it sur
rounded him with love and loving kindness.
When they had all gone, Harrison Miller
helped him up the stairs to where his tidy
bed stood ready and the nurse had placed
his hot milk on stand. But Harrison did not
go at once.
"What about word to Dick, David?" he in
quired awkwardly. 1--WE called up Bassett,
but he's away And 1 don't know that Dick
ought to come back anyhow. If the police are
on the job at all they'll know he may try to
come"
David looked away. Just how much he
wanted Dick to tide him over these bad hours
only David knew But he could not have him.
81 guess I can fight this out alone, Har-
rison," he said. "And Lucy will understand"
He did not sleep much that night. Once or
twice he got up and tiptoed across the hall
into Lucy's room, and looked at her. She was
as white her pillow, and quite serene. Her
hands, always a little rough and twisted with
service, were smooth and rested
''You know why he can't come, Lucy" he
said once. "It doesn't mean that he doesn't
care. You have to remember that" His sub
lime faith thatsshe heard and understood, not
the Lucy on the bed, but the Lucy that had