Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1916-07-27

Maple House was riding the crest or
q happy wave. In body it advanced
n the lake to picnic and supper by
moonlight and in body 1t returned:
the little ones excited and wakeful, the
grOwn-ups tired and reminiscent. Days
followed that were filed with laziness
and nights that rang with song. The
cup of life was filed to the brim with
little things. Sudden peals Of unrea
soning laughter, shrieks of children at
play, 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 un-
dertone. When joy paused to take
breath it found Alan half aloof and
Glenn wistful behind her unvarying
sweetness.
One eveEipg Alan found himself
alone with Nance. She had frankly
cornered him, then as openly led him
or down the road towards Elm House.
"Alan," she said, you've turned into
q great fool or great coward. Which
10 itT'
Alan glanced at her. What do you
snean?" he stammered.
"You know what 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 60 for
ever so long, but somehow / couldn't.
Something seemed to hold me. / tried
to think 1t was just the Hill, and that
1t would be all right for me to stay on
until the general breakup. But you
,ave Weakened me up, and the proof
that I'm not quite 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 to
run? Alan, don't you love her?'
A tremor went through Alan's body.
II don't know" he said. whether
love her or not. IF l ever loved any
one before, then I don't love her. for
the thing that has come over me Is
new-newer than anything that mas
ever happened to me. l would rather
see her come down from her room In
the morning than to have watched the
birth Of Aphrodite, and yet / would
rather see myself damned, once ana
for ALL than touch the hem OF her
frock."
"WhyT'
Because Il is not for me. Once
AHx called her glorious. I don't know
whether that was a bit of hyperboie
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 1t? Ne, with
my SCARED life, my blemished soul and
the moral rags that only half hide the
two? That would be cowardly. In
not coward enough for that
Nance sighed. I'm disappointed III
you. / thought that il ever man lived
that knew a little about women II
must be you. l won't say any or tne
things | 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 SAID
good night and stared thoughtfuiiy
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 oil
the morning Alan returned and crep'
noiselesslv to his room. he felt thai
he had won, that he had put the hna
seal on the remuneration Nance's words
had wellnigh recalled. Still wakeful
Alan started packing. He left out Ms
riding kit.
That day awoke to clouds that low
cred and hung about waiting Tor the
Hateful hour of seven when they mieh'
with all due respect to atmosphere
tradition start In with an all-day rain
but long before the hour struck Alan
had fpraged for biscuit ana gsass
OF milk and was mounted and away
for a 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 q
mere patch of hunting saddle, fitted
like n glove to his horses back. And
rode ON the snat1s with 4 light hand