Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1916-07-13


lake. Tho children were sclemnly
grave and then gixgling By ats and
starts.
The Eitons had come hack from
abroad. From ELM Hsuse Cousin
Frances Elton. COMMONLY known a
Tom. short foe tomboy. came racing
across the lawn waving towel ana
bathing clothes and Ii high treble
giving creditahle imitation or an In
dian warwhoop. At Toms cry tAs
children stampeded on to the veranda
with sibilant cries Of. "Sshshr Mrs.
]. Y. looked at Nance aud NaAcs
smiled resi2nedly. They put away
their work. ordered the wagonette and
the colts-celts no longer. alas. SAVE
In name--and departed with 4 wax0n.
load Of suppressed youth. From Long
lane fioated back peals OF young laugh.
ter. breaking bounds az the overhang,
Ing trees hid the hill from view.
Glenn sat on the vast window seat
and toyed with 4 book. ]. X. came
and dropped down beside her. "well,
Glen, he's come back"
Glenn nodded. "Are you sure he
doesn't want anything. Uncie joint
He hasn't had thing to eat since
seven o'clock this morning."
Alan's bell tinkled. Glen started to
her feet and then sat down again,
You'd better 60" But when ]. Y.
strobe of she followed.
"Why h the house so auietf ID Il
on account OF the captain?' asked
Alan.
BLESS you, no. The captain sleeps
for week at time. The children
have gone over to the lake.
Il just wanted to tell You that I like
their noises--they're new. There's
nothing really the matter with me ex.
cePt that I've got to take things In
turn, and lying still and sweating
comes first After that. perhaps toner
row, I'm going to eat The penulti
mate act on my list IL cigarette and
the ultimate IL to get up In the old bel
fry and YELL" He turned over and
sank his head Into the pillows.
"All right, my boy" said ]. r., smii
ing. There's only Glenn and myself
here and Wen 80 and try to make
noises like the children" He came out
OF the door In time to catch sight 0f
Clem's skirt as II whisked around the
corner OF the hall. He followed and
found her already seated at the piano
Her fingers wandered over the keys
and then her soft. full voice broke ont
In one old seng after another. She was
happy because she felt that singing
she was with Alan.
Alan stirred I'm hts bed and listened
He determined that tomorrow he must
be well. Robbed Of this afternoon. he
was being robbed OF half or life. He
cursed the fever and then, az he felt
how near Clem's voice brought her n
him, he blessed 1t.
At night when all the rest OF the
household had gone to bed, J. Y. softly
| opened Alan's door and looked I'm.
Alan was awake and nodded. j. Y.
| came In and pottered about the room.
He rolled bit OF paper into an amplei
| shade and further yelled the night
| lamp. The lines In j. US rugged face
| were softened to lines Of sweetness.
He asked IL there were nothing he
could do and then turned to leave the
| room. With his hand on the door, he
| paused and smiled down on Alan. my
boy, You have been far, far away"
Far away" replied Alan drowsily,
but / have come back"
The braeing mir OF Red Fill and q
long nights sleep enabled Alan to keep
his word with himself. He was up and
out on the day following his arrival
but he still felt delightfully."- lazy and
pitifully weak. Glenn took charge OF
him. First she tried to settle him In
hammock with many pillows, but
Alan shrank from the hammock. They
spread rugs instead in a nook under
the trees, and Alan stretched himself
out amid a riot Of many -celored cusb.
ions, while Glen sat close by In Low
rocking chair and talked and read and
talked.
Talking or reading, Glenn was
| ocoitU VI oShkht u htuA
| Was IL possible that one could live
twenty years In an old world, ri
elbows with life for twenty years, and
remain SO fresh, SO untainted? Hi,
own life rose up before him am
Knocked at him. Was II possible that
one could live thirty years In this
! same world and be 80 old? FL
shrugged shoulder petulantly. He
would not think--ha refused to think
while he was so weak
When Glenn talked, IL was like a
| child dreaming aloud; when she was
silent one felt the presence OF woman.
hood. wise with the unconscious accu
| mutations Of generations and una.
Dashed. When Glenn talked Alan was
at ease, but when she was silent hs
was moved@-troubled. A SCARED man
may play with child and no harm
to either. He can detach himself from
his past as from the child and at a
safe moral distance turn to watch Its
unconscious gambols. But with n
woman it Is different. Womanhood IL
a force; It's mission to embrace. to sac
rifice. 1t is unreasoning. Like funda.
mental man IL demands a god and
worships the god that comes to fts