Page 384 (1/1)

"Who?"

"The ed woman, skilled in all maladies! Come swiftly, O Kromno!"

Allan started, dropped his lantern, and turned very white

"You mean--"

"Yea, master! Co on her face, pale as his own

"Come, boy!" she whispered "Let me kiss you just once before--before--"

He knelt, and on her brow his lips seemed to burn She kissed him, then with a smile of happiness in all her pain said: "Go, dearest! You o now!"

And, as he lingered, old Gesafa shrilly, seized him by the arm and pushed him toward the doorway

Dazed and in silence he submitted But when the door had closed behind hi river, a sudden exaltation thrilled hih sill and kissed the doorway of the house of pain, the house of life; and his soul flaht theuniverse

And for hours, keeping all far away, he held his vigil; and the stars watched above hi of the dawn, hark! a cry within! The cry--the thrilling, never-to-be-forgotten, heart-wringing cry of the first-born!

"Oh, God!" breathed Allan, while down his cheeks hot tears gushed unrestrained

The door opened Gesafa, weak as a child, the man faltered in Still burned the lamp upon the table He saw the heavy masses of Beta's hair upon the pillow of deerskin, and so in his heart yearned toward her as never until now

"Allan!"

Choking, unable to for, he sank beside the bed, buried his face upon it, and with his hand sought hers

"Allan, behold your son!"

Into his quivering arms she laid a tiny bundle wrapped in the finest cloth the Folk could weave of soft palainst his face he held the child, sobbing One hand sheltered it; the other pressed the weak and tree and the joy and pain of realization, of full achieve man's tears baptized the future master of the race!