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.
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