Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1916-07-13
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Maple House was riding the crest Of
happy wave. In body 1t advanced
on the lake to picnic and supper by
moonlight and in a body it returned
the little ones excited aud 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, rumble of the piano followed
by a 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 I mean. Glen.
You're breaking her heart"
She felt Alan's arm stiffen. For a
moment he was silent, then he said
"Dont worry. Nance. You're wrong,
OF course, but, anyway, no harm is
going to come to Glen 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
1t 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 rum"
They came to the entrance to The
Films, but Nance led him on down the
road. run? Why are you going to
gun? Alan, don't you love her?"
A tremor went through Alan's body.
III don't know" he said, whether
love her or not. If ever loved any
one before, then don't love her, for
the thing that has come over me Is
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 would
rather see myself damned, once and
for all, than touch the hem of her
frock."
"Whyw
Because it is not for me. Once
ak called her glorious 1 don't know
whether that was bit of hyperbole
on her part or not, but to me she is
just that. There is glory about
Clem-the glory of pure light Do you
think | 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. l thought that if ever man lived
that knew little about women II
must be you. l won't say any Of the
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 thoughtfully
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
noiselesslv to his room, he felt thai
he had won, that he had put the fina
seal on the remuneration Nance's words
had well-nigh recalled. Still wakeful
Alan started packing. He left out hi:
riding kit
That day awoke to clouds that low
cred and hung about waiting for thu
Hateful 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 Alar
had foraged for a biscuit and glas.
of milk and was mounted and away
for last ride.
Alan rode with the ease of one bor1
to the saddle. There was nothing Of
the cowboy In his get-up. He used :
mere patch Of hunting saddle. fttet
like glove to his horses pack, an(
ssds or the snaiiie with a light hand