Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 16, 1921 — page 19: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

10 I looked for the first. time into her violet- purple eyes. They were clear, steadfast, flawless as a’ perfect amethyst, though darkened by the ordeal through which she was passing—the eyes of a true woman, high-spirited, brave, loyal, and pure. They strained toward me. And suddenly she threw out a perfectly rounded arm, a slender hand, as one who asks for succor. more she smiled, a smile so wistfully yearn- ing that my whole heart answered its ap- peal. This was Naia of Aphur—wife of my friend Jason Croft. In that instant I felt she was worth all and more than he had dared to win her. This was Naia, the wo- man who months ago had told him that-in the silence of the night she had heard the beating of the wings of Azil, the bringer of new life, because of whch 1 was here now beside her in that holiest of moments in a medical man’s existence, when with hand and brain he waits to welcome a new life’s birth. Her lips moved. Distinctly I heard her speak: “Dr. Murray—good friend. of -my be- loved, who tells me of your presence in re- sponse to his appeal for your assistance to us—I bid you welcome to our home. Thrice welcome are you, upon whose coming de- pends, as he tells me also, our future hap- piness together, as well as the life.of our child.” « She addressed me most surprisingly in English, until I bethought me that Croft had doubtless taught her the tongue, ex- actly as he had taught her so much else: to fly the first airplane on Palos, the control of the astral body itself. Her words moved me oddly.’ I rose to answer: ‘“‘T am more than happy to be here, Princess Naia, and to bid you be of good cheer, remembering that even now Azil stands close by the gateway of Be, in charge of a new-born soul.” And then I sank back, confused. I had spoken wholly on impulse, voicing the in- most emotions of my heart, forgetting my nebulous condition entirely for the instant in the spell of what seemed so real. With a feeling akin to acute annoyance at my Her lips parted, and once . ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY, inability to speak thus to her directly I resumed my chair. But even so, it seemed that I had reached her—that in some way akin to that in which Croft had assured me he would be able to follow my mental. direction while working, she had sensed my meaning and intention. Women are intuitive by nature, more susceptible to the waves of a personal or thought vibration. Her lips moved again as I ceased speaking. ‘“* Azil,” she whispered. “ ba that new soul is so long in passing, my friend.” I turned to Croft. “Come,” I hurled my thought force to- ward him. ‘“‘ Let us spare her more bodily anguish than must be endured. Let us make an end.” Of what followed I shall say no word. Suffice it to state that Jason Croft labored, grim of lips and pallid of feature; that I sat in that weirdest position of assistance capable of conception; that the lights burned on in that room where the pale form of Azil spread his Wings on the pedestal of wine-red wood; that the eyes of Naia of Aphur widened until they were two dark pools no more than fringed by the purple iris; that the two female at- tendants waited, intent on naught save the catching, the rendering of obedience to each of Croft’s intense though low-pitched words, And then suddenly the man turned to me a face transfigured past anything I had ever pictured—a thread of sound—a wail- ing, trailing vibration—the first note of waking vocal strings, pulsed through the room—and Jason Croft the physician, the father, was kneeling beside that couch of copper, no longer the iron-nerved worker, the laborer for unborn life, but the hus- band, the lover, clasping the slender body of Naia of Aphur in his, arms, and shaken by a strong man’s sobs. I turned away my eyes. And then his voice boomed out, strange- ly exalted and triumphant: “ Murray—we win—win, man—thanks to you and—God!” I turned back. Croft spoke to one of the attendants. She crossed to a curtained doorway and lifted the purple drapings. Go NOOK C@