Middletown transcript., 1916-07-01

It was late afternoon of a day in the
gorgeous month A shower had fallen
on Red Hill and after it had come the
sun. Wisps of mares-tail cloud hur-
ried across the clean-washed heavens
as though they were ashamed to be
caught in their ragged clothes under
blue sky. Downy-topped masses of
cumulus poked drowsy heads over the
horizon and watched them run. Out
of the dome Of heaven filtered a single
trill of song.
The Hill was very still but presently
from far away on the West Lake
road came the whinny of a horse; a
little later, a little nearer, peal of
laughter; then the sound Of wheels and
chattering voices. A wagonette, two
spring wagons and pony cart burst
from Long lane and wheeled right and
left. They were full of grown-ups
turned young for a day and youths
that thought they would be young for
ever.
The wagonette, swinging down the
road toward Maple house, suddenly
swerved and plowed through the tall
grass. Alan and Glen on the end seats
were almost thrown out. Alan looked
back at the road and stared. A fat
donkey had claimed the right of way
and held it. Several lengths of legs
stuck out from her bulging sides. Be
hind her hurried painting nurse.
Alan turned to Clem. "Do donkeys
never dieY
"Oh! hope not" said Glen grave
ly. "You change them. We changed
ours while you were away"
$50 she has been changed" said
Alan. "Well, that's something"
"Silly," said Glen, you've been see>
ing that donkey every day for weeks" ;"
NO." said Alan, ''this is the first
time I've really seen her"
The sun took last long look at Red
Hill and dropped out Of sight. Then,
as though he would come back and
look again, he sent up a broad after
glow that climbed and climbed till the
tip of the very clouds that peeped over
East mountain were tinged with the
rosy light.
From an open upstairs window came
Clem's soft voice. eyes, dears, pink
night-caps. Those big sleepy clouds are
putting them on because they are just
glad to go to bed"
81 wanta pink night-cap."
"Why, darling, night-caps are only
for white-headed people and white
headed clouds. Just wait until you're
White-headed. Now climb into bed and
I'll tell"
Beyond the mountain-ash thicket a
love-sick Bob White kept saying
Goodnight" to his mate She an
swered sleepily.
From Maple house, The Firs, and far
down the road, from Elm house warm
lights flashed out and settled down
into a steady glow A burst of young
voices swept into the night and died
away, followed into the silence by soft
laughter. From The Firs came the
last angry wall Of the fat young god,
choked off in midfight by the soft
hand of sleep. Then the scurrying of
many feet along the dusty road, silence,
and last of all, the trailing whistle of
boy signaling good-night-sound say
ing good-by to a happy day.
Hours passed before the moon
popped into the sky, hurrying just at
first as though she knew she were
forty minutes late again. One by one
lights went out Other lights cleaned
from upper windows; then they, in
turn, went out Red Hill had gone to
bed.
From Maple house Alan slipped out
to smoke last cigar. He hesitated a
moment and then strobe through the
long grass laden with seed and just
decking itself with dewy jewels for the
night. He crossed to the old church.
The door was open. He entered and
climbed the crumbling stairs to the
belfry. He jumped into one of the
arches and sat down, his legs dangling.
His eyes wandered slowly over the
familiar scene. From behind their
trees Maple house, The Firs and Elm
house blinked up at him dreamily. Be
fore them ran the ribbon Of road,
white under moonlight, dipping at each
end into the wide world. Up and down
the road before The Firs, paced two
| figures-Gerry and Alix. Gerry's arm
was around her. Long black shad-
ows, all pointing to the west, like
fallen silhouettes cut the moonlight.
Above them, the autumn-painted trees
gave out golden echo of light.
Alan drew a great, quivering breath.
''NIy boy, you have been far, far
away" J. Y. had said and he had an
swered, yes, but l have come back"
But it was only now, tonight, that he
had really come back
Alan's wandering eyes settled on
Maple house. Even as a hen gather
eth her chickens under her wings" he
whispered.
And then the peace Of home descend
ed upon him. On his SCARED spirit he
felt the touch of the healing hands Of
home. It's sweetness and its power, its
love everlasting demanding love for
ever, knocked at his waking heart and
found the door open. Far, far had he
wandered in the world Of mind and
the world of men, but in the end he
had come back like a Wayne to the
eternal mother of the Waynes. To
night he knew that his drifting soul
had dropped anchor at last.