Evening star., 1924-07-27

TINE train was nearing that un-
known point marked on the
ticket. Philip Lambert, sitting
erect in his section, looking
with tragic gray eyes at the levels
spread out to touch the sky. For two
days they had sped past him, miles
upon miles of red-gray and purple
desert.
The very land revolted hint
seemed SO like his life, barren, rob-
bed, finished.
He fingered the crutch that stood
beside him and moved his good foot
reslessly against his suit case. The
conductor was calling the name of
his station. The train slowed down,
stopped. He stood in the vestibule
and did not trouble to raise his eyes
to the window.
Under his breath he cursed the doc
tor who had ordered him here. Heat.
dry air, perfect rest" he said with
a grimace.
Rest. AS if he would ever know
1t again.
CdTelul, sun, "dEneU the r.
"Step's faihly high"
The train whistled creaked. rum
bled away.
Phillip Lambert raised his sullen
eyes and surveyed his place Of exile.
Desert-on all sides-white under
the monday sun. Dust eddying far
out where wind moved. He looked
back. There was the usual desert
town. small, fat, adobe for the most
part: baking hot. Up the one street
he saw pine stores; horses tied at q
looking motor cars
Completing the circle of his vision
he discovered an oasis of palms with
nat roof showing, and across the
shining line of the die-straight
tracks the long face Of a. wall, a mud
wall. solid. ancient, over whose gate
way rose an arch of dull iron letters
which read: est. Ursula's Retreat"
"Senor." said a soft voice at his
elbow. "Senor Lambairt?' A boy of
IA. slim as a racer, smiled up at him.
Yes" said the man. Can you tell
me where to find Mrs. J. SMITH"
o0ICs Sdio VIC wy. IL oSAA~ ~
breeng you"
Without more ado he picked up
the heavy suit case and wabbled
away down the platform.
Lambert followed, bitterly think
ing. He-to have to let a kid carry
for him! Oh, well--it was part OF all
tho rest Where the platform stop
ped the lad set down his burden and
put out solicitous hands to help him.
Once off the boards he found going
difticult-his crutch stuck in the deep
white sand and he hardly noticed
which way they were headed until
another voice, softer than the boys
said: welcome, senior! Look out for
the stones-don't sleep. All" And
another hand touched his elbow.
Lambert looked up from the round
stones that were beginning to show
through the sea OF sand, to behold
woman on a tagged pathway with
the palms Of the oasis behind her.
She was brown, and plump; her
abundant black hair literally streak
ed with gray.
DIR. Gebhart," she explained volu-
bly,, wrote that you, that you
she paused, searching for the most
compassionate phrase -"you still
carry the wounds OF war'-her in
iection covered him with glory
"and-I am grieved, senor.'
You are--?" asked the man. as
tonished.
Sonora Smeeth," she said. Mrs. j.
Smeeth."
THE great dim house in the oasis
was a marvel to Lambert. He
lay in the room assigned to him and
looked out to where the palms and
pampas grass and transplanted yuc-
cas- grew Justify about. the water
trickling in its tiny channels between
the whitewashed stones. His bed was
very old. Of some heavy black wood,
and exquisite quilts Of patchwork lay
above the coarse white sheets. On
the frank, dull plastered walls hung
staring Autographs of sacred scenes
Christ bending under the weight Of
the cross; the Last Supper; the An
nunciation-and in a small niche be-
SoHu the ancient uTeSseT Vas a Oeau =
tiful statue Of the Virgin with her
dreaming face her bent head crown
ed with little wreath Of fresh wild
flowers. Some loving hand had made
the wreath that dy, he knew, and
set it on the little head, so meekly
bowed. Though 1t was midafternoon
the room was already dim with
shadows-afd cool--very cool.
For one moment, as he sank into
..e peace Of this ancient house, he
forgot the source Of the keenest
wcand he bore--the fair face of a
woman. A fair. fair face. indeed,
white of brow and pink Of cheek.
like lily with the rising sun behind
it, and sky-blue eyes beneath sunny
hair. For the last five months he
nd visioned it. night and day, an
sver-present torture. If she had stood
by all the rest would have beei bear
able, but-she had not stood by.
To take a crippled husband-even
the Lambert money and his leuten-
ants bars had not been enough to
make LORNA Van Arm leap that bar
rier. SO she had kept to her brilliant
way-and he had gone his own. alone.
But who should give 4 continental?
That smell. now, coming in through
the deep slit Of the ancient win.
A,,~tr ~AA sAA