The midland journal., 1916-04-14

"T'm a missionary. At least. / was
a missionary. I've had to give 1t up.
One needs so much to be a mission
ary."
Il never thought Of 1t that way
said Alan. Il always thought that it
was the people that were unfit for al
most anything else that turned to mis-
sionarying as last resort.
"Oh, no?' said the girl. sitting up
very straight In her chair and fixing
her eyes on his face "How wrong
you are! Missionarying. as you calI it,
is just another name for giving. and
how can one give great deal unless
one has a great deal to give strength
and youth and vitality?"
"And you have given all31 asked
Alan.
The girls eyes filed.
''No, you haven't given all" went on
Alan quickly. "You are still giving.
| must not borrow your last mite.
But-your voice is like a nurses hand"
When Alan went to bed he could not
sleep. For while the little mission
ary girl held his thoughts. He was
filed with wonder, not at her, but at
himself. For once in his life he had
not been fippant before grave things.
From the girl his thoughts turned to
Alix. He could have cabled to her
about Gerry from Pernambuco, but he
had not done so. The note that he was
carrying for Gerry was light--only a
half-sheet, probably. The lightness of
it told Alan that the things Gerry had
to say to his wife could not be put on
paper. Alan had almost cabled. Now
he was glad he had not done so.
"Alix," he said to himself, isn't wait
ing, she's trusting. A cable would
have heightened waiting by month.
Then, without volition. his mind
wandered from Alix and raced ahead
to the goal of his journey. What was
the goal of his journey? Whittier was
he bound? He reached for Clem's let.
ter and held it in folded hands. He
had no need to read it again. The
words were nothing; the picture was
all. 1t stretched before his mind, a
living canvas
Once when Alan was wandering
with an Englishman In the hills above
Granada. faint odor had brought
them to sudden halt. 1t was the
Englishman who made the surprising
discovery first. %Blackberries, by
lover he had exclaimed. "Good old
blackberries." And then they two had
stood together, yet half world apart,
and stared at the berry-laden bush.
What vision Of tangled, high-walled
garden burst upon the Engllshman
Alan never knew, but to himself had
come memory of East mountain in
autumn, so clear, so poignant, that it
had brought his throbbing heart into
his throat.
It was so now with Clem's letter.
The words were but a hurried daub.
but they touched his eyes with magic
wand. The daub became scene, a
picture, a world-his world.
Red Hill was spread out before him,
texture where the threads and colors
of life were blended into carpet soft
but enduring. Men walked and little
children played on it. Alan closed his
ewes and sighed. What had he been
doing with life? Making sacking?
Sacking was commercial. 1t paid in
cash. It was the national industry.
But what could one do with sacking on
Red Hill?
Then, almost suddenly, the full spirit
of Clem's letter seized him. One did
pot take gifts to Red Hill. To every
one of its children Red Hill was the
source of all gifts-the source of life.
On that thought he slept.
When he was back once more in his
rooms, before Swithson had had time
to open bag. Alan re-directed Gerry's
note to Alix to Red Hill and sent
Swithson out to post it. He did not
try to temper the shock of the note
with covering letter. He was too
weak and tired. Besides, he felt that
the note carried its own antidote to
joy.
The next morning a message came
by hand to Alan's rooms. Allx had
COtllG 10 tOWA anu WlSACu ~ sec hAAAA -
once. Would he please come aroundi
He replied that he was too i'll. Half
an hour later Swithson answered a
ring at the door ana Allx slipped
quickly past him into Alan's sitting
room. There was flush of anger In
her cheeks, but Alan was pleased to
see no trace of tears in her eyes. A
woman's crying always touched him
on the raw and seldom awakened his
pity.
At sight OF him Alix forgot her cons
cern for herself. "Why. Alan!" she
cried. "what is the matters?
Alan laughed. There was pleasant
note In his laugh she had never heard
before I'm all right. Allx. Don't
make any mistake. I'm resurrection
In the bud. Doing fine. don't have
TO ask bow you are. You're well.
l,.,