Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1916-06-30

One needs so much to be a mission
ary."
81 never thought of it that way"
said Alan. 81 always thought that II
was the people that were unfit for al
most anything else that turned to mis-
sionarying as last resort"
ooh, nor said the girl. sitting up
very straight in her chair and fixing
her eyes on his face. How wrong
you are! Missionarying, as you call ii,
is just another name for giving, and
how can one give a great deal unless
one has a great deal to give-strength
and youth and vitalityT
"And you have given all?" asked
Alan.
The girls eyes filed.
"No, you haven't given ALL" went on
Alan quickly. you are still giving.
I must not borrow your last mite.
But-your voice is like nurses hand"
When Alan went to bed he could not
sleep. For a while the little mission.
airy 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 Cem'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, a faint odor had brought
them to sudden halt. 1t was the
EngliShman who made the surprising
discovery first. "Blackberries, by
Jove! he had exclaimed. "Good old
blackberries." And then they two had
stood together, yet half a world apart
and stared at 'he berry-laden bush
What vision Of a tangled, high-walled
garden burst upon the Englishman
Alan never knew, but to himself had
come memory of East mountain in
autumn, so clear, so poignant, that II
had brought his throbbing heart into
his throat.
1t was so now with Clem's letter
The words were but a hurried daub
but they touched his eyes with a magic
wand. The daub became a scene, {
picture, world-his world
Red Hill was spread out before him
texture where the threads and color!
of life were blended into a carpet sof
but enduring. Men walked and LITTLE
children played on it. Alan closed hi!
! eyes and sighed. What had he beer
I doing with life? Making sacking
+ Sacking was commercial. 1t paid II
cash. 1t was the national industry
But what could one do with sacking OF
!, Red Hill?
! Then almost suddenly, the full spiri
=, Of Clem's letter seized him. One die
G not take gifts to Red Hill. To ever.
q one Of its children Red Hill was thu
4 source of all gifts-the source Of life
n On that thought he slept.
9 When he was back once more in hi
G rooms, before Swithson had had tim
g to open a bag, Alan re-directed Gerry
+ note to AliX to Red Hill and sen
9 Swithson out to post it. He did no
r try to temper the shock of the not
with a covering letter. He was to-
-, weak and tired. Besides, he felt tina
- the note carried its own antidote t
!. joy.
II The next morning a message cam
q by hand to Alan's rooms. Alix hat
n come to town and wished to see him a
= once. Would he please come around
" He replied that he was too Ill. Hal
q an hour later Swithson answered
ring at the door and Alix shppe'
quickly past him into Alan's sittin
. room. There was a flush Of anger Il
Il her cheeks, but Alan was pleased t
y see no trace of tears in her eyes.
Il woman's crying always touched hin
!, on the raw and seldom awakened hi
u pity.
At sight Of him Alix forgot her con
u Germ for herself. why, Alan! sh
cried, "what Is the matter?
= Alan laughed. There was pleasan
;, note in his laugh she had never hear
before. I'm all right, Alix. Don
:. make any mistake. I'm a resurrection
II in the bud. Doing fine. / don't hav
:, to ask how you are. You're vel
u You're looking just as well as httl
:, slip like you can ever look. Sit down
IL do"
:, Alix' thoughts went back to hersel
- and Immediately the flame burne,
again in her cheeks. She pulled Ger