Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-07-27

4NRSSS~
81 Seen MIR. Lansing Bout Five Weeks
Ago."
cornered him, then as openly led him
off down the road towards Elm House.
"Alan," she said, you've turned into
a great fool or a great coward Which
is it?''
Alan glanced at her. "What do you
mean?" he stammered.
"YOu know what I mean. Glenn,
You're breaking her heart
She felt Alan's arm stiffen. For
moment he was silent, then he said:
Don't worrg, Nance. You're wrong.
OF course, but, anyway, no harm is
going to come to Glenn through me.
I'm going away. I've meant to go for
ever so long, but somehow l couldn't
Something seemed to hold me- l tried
to think it was just the Hill, and that
it would be all right for me to stay on
until the general breakup. But you
have Weakened me up, and the proof
that I'm not quite a coward yet is
that I'm going to get up and run"
They came to the entrance to The
Elms, but Nance led him on down the
road. Run? Why are you going to
run? Alan, don't you love herr"
A tremor went through Alan's body.
Il don't know" he said, whether l
love her or not If I ever loved any,
one before, then | don't love her, for
the thing that has come over me Ia
new-newer than anything that has
ever happened to me. I would rather
see her come down from her room in
the morning than to have watched the
birth Of Aphrodite, and yet I would
rather see myself damned, once and
for all, than touch the hem Of her
frock"
"WhyY
Because it is not for me. Once
Al1x called her glorious I don't know
whether that was bit Of hyperbole
on her part or not, but to me she is
just that There is a glory about
Clem-the glory of pure light. Do you
think L dare walk into it? Me, with
my SCARED life, my blemished soul and
the moral rags that only half hide the
two? That would be cowardly. Pm
not coward enough for that"
Nance sighed. I'm disappointed in
| you. l thought that if ever man lived
| that knew a little about women it
must be you. l won't say any Of the
things l was going to say. Instead, I
just tell you that you don't know
women"
They walked back in silence. Nance
went into the house, but Alan said
| good night and stared thoughtfuEy
down the road. His step quickened,
and, walking rapidly, he passed over
| the moonlit brow of the hill and down,
| down into the shadows of the valley
Hard is the battle that has to be won
twice, but when in the small hours Of
the morning Alan returned and crept
noiselessly to his room, he felt that
he had won, that he had put the final
seal on the remuneration Nance's words
had well-nigh recalled. Still wakeful,
Alan started packing. He left out his
riding kit.
| That day awoke to clouds that low
cred and hung about waiting for the
fateful hour Of seven when they might
with all due respect to atmospheric
| tradition start in with an all-day rain,
but long before the hour struck Alan
had foraged for a biscuit and a glass
of milk and was mounted and away
for last ride.
Alan rode with the ease Of one born
to the saddle. There was nothing of
the cowboy in his get-up. He used a
mere patch Of a hunting saddle. fitted
| like glove to his horses back, and
rode on the snaf1e with a light hand.
The curb rein, that last refuge of a
poor hOrseman, hung loose and forgot
ten. Alan himself was dressed il
well-worn whipcord breeches, short
coat, soft hat, and close-f1tttng boots
adorned with rowelless spurs. For
his health Red Hill had done wonders.
His body was trim, supple and as vi
brant as the young horse under it.
But Alan's thoughts were far from
saddles and saddle gear as he walked
the FESTIVE animal down the dipping
slope Of Long lane and with his riding
crop steadily discouraged the early
morning flies, intent on settling down
to the business of life on his mounts
arched neck and quivering quarters
He was thinking of Glenn Where could
he go to get away from Glenn? Not
tomorrow, not sometime, but today
Where could he go today? Once the
world had seemed to him a fenceless
pasture where it was good TO wander
where every undiscovered glade prom
ised fresh morsels to an unwearied
palate, but now in his mind the whole
world had shrunk to the proportions
of Red Hill. Where Glenn was, there
was the whole world. Already he felt
the yearning with which his heart