The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1916-04-15

, 6OueIuluS Seeueu 10 uOlO me. Crle0
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
nave Weakened me up, and the proof
that I'm not quite coward vet IL
mat I'm going to get up and rum"
Ihey came to the entrance to The
Ems 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 I
love her or not. If ever loved any
one before, then I 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 1 would
ratner see myself damned, once and
for all. than touch the hem of her
frock"
"Why?"
Because it is not for me. Once
AK called her glorious. don't know
"nether 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 I 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. I'm
not coward enough for that"
Nance sighed. "I'm disappointed in
you. 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 thoughtfuAy
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
mad well-nigh recalled. Still wakeful,
Alan started packing. He left out bis
riding kit. .,,,.-.,.,s,-... -..-~
That day awoke to clouds that low.
cred and hung about waiting for the
Hateful 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 hunting saddle, fitted
like glove to his horses back, and
rode on the snaf1e with light hand.
The curb rein, that last refuge of q
poor horseman, hung loose and forgot.
ten. Alan himself was dressed In
well-worn whipcord breeches, short
coat, soft hat and close-fitting boots
adorned with rowelless spurs. Fol-
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 Glen. Where could
he go to get away from Glen? 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.
1sed fresh morsels to an unwearied
palate, but now in his mind the whole
world had shrunk to the proportions
Of Red Hill. Where Glen was, there
was the whole world. Already he fel,
the yearning with which his heart
must henceforth turn to it's sole desire
He crossed the valley, and, as his
horse breasted the opposing hill, he
thought he heard an echoing hoofbeat
behind him. He turned and with one
hand resting on the horses quarter
gazed back through the gray light, but
Long lane was yelled from view by
| Overhangfng trees. As he lifted his
hand, its impress, clearly defined al
an image, caught his eye. How strangeI
He had ridden thousand times and
he had never noted such a thing be
fore. 1t was simple when reduced to
| physical terms. The horse was WARM
and moist, the hair cool and dry. His
hand pressed the hair down into the
moisture. But when he had reasoned
out the why and wherefore and tick.
eted the phenomenon. the impress still
stared back at him. To his mood II
seemed an emblem Of Isolation, thing
cut off, discarded, useless. With q
smile Of rebuke at his fapcies he
touched the horse with his crop and
gave him his head. The horse sprana
forward, cleared the top of the hill,
and the rhythmic clatter of his hoofa
as he dashed along the pebble-strewn
road seemed to cleave the still morning
In two. ..
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