The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1916-04-21

ard to hand them to him, looked
through them, picked out one and laid
the rest aside. The one he picked out
was Clem's.
With her own peculiar wisdom Glenn
had written not about him or herself,
but about Red Hill. Alan read and
then dropped the letter to his lap. His
hands fell clenched at his sides. His
eyes, grown large, stared out down the
long vista Of the mind. Walls faded
away and the sounds of great ship
at sea were suddenly dumb. To his
ears came instead the caroling Of birds
in evening song after rain, to his eyes
vision OF Red Hill dripping light
from its myriad leaves and to his
heart the protecting, brooding shelter
Of Maple House-of home.
1t cleanses q mans soul to have been
at deaths door. Sickness. more than
love- leads man up. Alan was feel
ing cleansed-like a little child-so it
seemed a quite natural thing that the
girl who had taken charge Of him on
his arrival on board should knock at
his door and then walk in. She drew
out a camp-stool and sat down beside
him.
She was very small and very young.
not In years but with what Alan
termed to himself acquired youth. Her
nearsighted eyes peered out through
big glasses They seemed to see only
when they made a special effort, and
yet they seemed to give out light.
You are better?" she asked, and
smiled
Alan caught his breath at that smile.
Yes" he said, II am much better to-
day. l have had letter from home" ;"
You must get up now and come
Up on deck" said the girl "I'll wait
for you outside" Her voice had pc
culiar modulation. 1t attracted and
soothed the ear.
Alan frowned and then smiled. AL
right he said, wait for me-" He
dressed laboriously. His hands seemed
weighted.
On deck she had his chair ready for
him beside her own. She tucked his
rug about him and then sat down.
Don't talk ever, unless you want to-"
she said. Silent people are best"
"Why?" asked Alan.
"They are springs. Their souls
bubble"
"And the people that chatter?" asked
Alan.
They are geysers." said the girl,
and smiled.
Alan was entertained - almost
amused What do you do when a
geyser spouts?" he asked.
What do you do?" replied the girl
81 run"
I'm afraid l haven't run--always,"
said Alan. II generally try to clap a
tin hat on them"
You must be strong to do that. Pm
not very strong"
Alan glanced over her frail body.
what are you?" he asked.
'I'm a missionary. At least, | was
missionary. I've had to give it up.
One needs so much to be a mission
ary."
II never Thought of 1t that way"
said Alan. Il always thought that it
was the people that were unfit for al
most anything else that turned to mis-
Sionarying as a last resort
"Oh, no." 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 it,
is just another name for giving and
how can one give n great deal unless
one has a great deal to giye-strength
and youth and vitality:'
And you have given all!' asked
Alan.
The girls eyes filled.
NO, you haven't given all" went on
Alan quickly You are still giving.
/ must not borrow your last mite.
Eut--your voice is like nurses hand"
When Alan went TO bed he could not