The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-04-17

heard those of Saint Gabriel or SAINT Mlchael!
That limitless sncerity-what could that do
here, not only in this village, but in France or
in the whole world? His cry was the Truth
but what was he?
When they thot it over they said: Gle is
much more than we are" when they thot it
over, they pitied him as little child and thot of
his poor mother who had put him into this hell,
but above other men.
|" A H, it's she, it's shew whispered everyone.
The accursed.
His wife, who had left him not so long ago.
You must admit that she did it in a deyilishly
dishonest fashion. She went off arm in arm with
the other man, and left everything topsy turvy,
not even supper ready (fOr the husband-well,
you wouldn't say anything; nor for the old peo
ple-but for the two childrenD
| Naturally everyone had it in for her now. She
came from the station, along the road and then
along the street. like the wind blowing the doors
shut. And since Saturday evening, which is more
lpopulous than other evenings, she had hidden her
self in the cottage of an old woman who wasn't
so particular.
And he?
There were two or three neighbors who came
that night to peer into his window that seemed
as black as COAL to see what he was doing all
alone in his house.
They saw him striding up and down and star
ing at the fireplace. 1t was the same room that
they shared before-their little household where
the most newly bought thing always seemed to
make a clean spot. And it was the fireplace that
had never been lighted since their last evening
together Che had not suspected then that it was
the last) and that fire had been the beginning of
cold.
He walked all night in the room crowded with
his. memories, with hundreds Of images of her
ktthepast has the character Of not existing any
more, but to make up for that it is innumerabe.)
There we were, drawn there by curiosity. We
kept watch or we said "I'm sleepy" or we drows-
ed. But whenever we opened our eyes or our
ears, there he was walking and walking.
This is what passes for presence or absence
if people are there all the reasons against them
crowd in on If they are not there, all the
reasons for them come from afar.
Once he wavered-we saw him. 1t was as tho
we all wavered, because the woman had really
remained everywhere.
He went out on the balcony, and tho he didn't
notice u.s. we were frightened by this man who saw
what we didn't see and we took to our heels.
The next day, of course, was Sunday, and she
was out in the square He also.
He had his blue jacket on and a thick red
wooden waistcoat. But it was hard to see any
thing except her gray dress.
soon there was only little space between
them,, more noticeable because the people drew
away and went to the sides of the square, where
| they could keep an eye on whatever happened.
All, it was serious! She didn't even cry any
more. Nothing. Like at the circus when the
music stops.
There they we're, in plain sight she, and he.
And all the neighbors made themselves small,
and there wasn't any one but her and him.
He went straight to her and held out his arms
to her.
That was what he was building all during the
long night; that straight line. And during how
many other long nights; for such actions are the
end of long thoughts.
"May come back?'
Eyes"
Yes The last magnificent spear-thrust in the
light: yes.
They came back to the house as before Sud
denly the weather had changed with the sunset,
-. a