The Equinox (Volume I, Number VI)

THE EQUINOX But Ida Pendragon, pale and fragile as rare porcelain, twisted herself and found no peace. Edgar bent over her, as vigilant as on the night of her first ordeal. In the shadow stood a physician ; at the bedside sat a nurse, and in her arms a Child. “ Brother! ” she said faintly, “ the number of the grade is Three, and I have given myself three times. Once to the brute, once to the man—my man! (her hand pressed his, oh! too feebly !) and now—40 God!“ The tears sprang to his eyes. “ It is for you,” she whispered, “ to understand the child.” She fell back. The physician ran forward He knew that he had no useful purpose there: but he motioned Edgar away. Too late. Edgar had understood the Event. He fell upon the dead girl’s breast, crash! The nurse shook herself, half angrily, as a retriever shakes off water. Then she put the child into his arms. MARTIAL NAY. r48