Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1916-07-21
CHA 81. l3]4ElE7E}j
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II

H.
Maple House was riding the crest Of
a happy wave. In body 1t advanced
on the lake to picnic and supper by
moonlight and in body it returned:
the little ones excited and wakeful, the
;grown-ups tired and reminiscent. Days
followed that were filled with laziness
and nights that rang with song. The
cup of life was filled to the brim with
little things. Sudden peals of unrea-
soning laughter, shrieks Of children at
play, a rumble of the piano followed
by rollicking college song, ready
smiles on happy faces, broke like COM
mas into the page of life, and turned
monotony into living phrases. But be-
meath the gayety ran the inevitable I'M
dertone. When joy paused to take
breath it found Alan half aloof and
Glen wistful behind her unvarying
sweetness.
One evening Alan found himself
alone with Nance. She had frankly
cornered him, then as openly led him
off down the road towards Elm House.
"Alan," she said you've turned into
great fool or a great coward. Which
is it?''
Alan glanced at her, "What do you
mean?' he stammered.
"You know what l mean. Glen.
You're breaking her heart"
She felt Alan's arm stiffen. For a
moment he was SILENT then he said:
"Don't worry, 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 couldn't.
Something seemed to hold me. I 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
Films, but Nance led him on down the
road. run? Why are you going tc
Tun? Alan, don't you love her?"
A tremor went through Alan's body
~f don't know" he said, whether
9ove her or not. If l ever loved any
one before, then l don't love her, fol
the thing that has come over me is
1ew-newer than anything that has
ever happened to me- would rather
zee her vSxae Down from her room il
the morning than to have watched the
birth Of Aphrodite, and yet l would
"a do mr.
FOR all, than touch the hem of hel
grock."
FWhyW
Because It is not for me. Once
Atix called her glorious. l don't know
whether that was a bit of hyperbol'
On her part or not, but to me she i.
just that. There is a glory abou
Clem-the glory of pure light. Do you
think l dare walk into it? Me, will
my scared life, my blemished soul anC
the moral rags that only half hide tn,
two? That would be cowardly. In
not coward enough for that"
Nance sighed I'm disappointed II
yeu. l thought that If ever man liveC
that knew a little about women /
Aoust be you. | won't say any of tn
things l was going to say. Instead,
Just tell you that you don't know
women"
They walked back in silence Nance
went into the house, but Alan SAT-
good night and stared thoughtful,
down the road. His step quickened
and, walking rapidly, he passed owe
the moonlit brow of the hill and down
down into the shadows Of the valley
Hard is the battle that has to be VOL
I twice, but when in the small hours o
the morning Alan returned and crep
noiselesslV to his room, he felt tina
he had won, that he had put the tina
seal on the remuneration Nance's word
had well-nigh recalled. Still wakefuI
Alan started packing. He left out hi
riding kit.
That day awoke to clouds that low
cred and hung about waiting for tn
fateful hour Of seven when they nigh
with all due respect to atmosphere
tradition start in with an all-day rain
but long before the hour struck Alal
md foraged for a biscuit and a glas
OF milk and was mounted and ava.
for last ride,
Alan rode with the ease of one borl
TO the saddle. There was nothing O
the cowboy in his get-up He used
mere patch Of hunting saddle, fitte,
like a glove to his horses back, an,
code on the snafle with a light hand