oking away.

Hop. (coming forward). He is here (she looks at him for a second
as though in recognition, then her face is cold as before, her eyes
shining). God!

[He turns away. She looks past him; sees Bev's body on the coat;
goes quickly to him, dropping to his side, her arms around
him.

Winth. (to Hopkins). Where--has she gone? It seems so dark.

Hop. I saw her swoop down like a mother bird to her young. (Winthrop
tries to speak; his voice fails; he sinks limply back on the blanket).
Steve! Only fainted. Ah! (he rises and goes slowly to Fair; when he
speaks, his voice is very soft). Won't you speak to him. He may be
dying?

[Fair has risen to her feet. She comes slowly forward. She sees
Winthrop, and for a second a wild flash of joy crosses her
face. She starts forward, but stops herself suddenly, her
hands before her eyes. She stands for a moment, very white
and quiet; when she speaks, her voice is low and very tired.

Fair. Better so! Better so!

[She turns once more to the body. Two soldiers come forward at
a sign from Hopkins, but old Cupid steps before them.

Cupid. I ax yer pardon, sir, but dis hers my place. Ole Mistus
done told me ter tek ker on him.

[He goes to the body and lays the flag over his arms, lifting
Bev as though he were a child; his arms under him, his head
against his breast. He starts slowly off (Left), followed
by Fair, who walks as one in a dream. [They exit (Left).

It begins to snow more heavily. The men stand watching them.
Slowly the old boat comes into view. This time Cupid is in
the bow, trying to shield his burden from the storm. Fair
stands at the other end, rowing. The snow grows thicker
and thicker 'till, as the boat is nearly off, it is blotted
from the sight. The soldiers stand with heads uncovered
in the driving storm as

THE CURTAIN CREEPS SLOWLY DOWN.

End of Project Gutenberg's The Southern Cross, by Foxhall Daingerfield, Jr.

*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SOUTHERN CROSS ***

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