Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-02-18
/ 1OM F 49,
THE NOVEL OF THE YEAR eysNSogqs{S mysS5ogss{S X NsEz

I've tried" said the Judge, "and be
| says he's not ready--not strong enough
| told him that's what he ought to go for
10 get strong-and he said a funny
ening. There's kind Of strength we must
| generate or borrow. 1 didn't borrow. 80
| now I'm generating. 1t takes time, And
then he dropped Off to sleep. Before, he
| USED TO run you through with his tongue
wheh he wanted TO stop n conversation.
| Now he just goes to sleep It's lust as
eHectiNe and almost as original"
One afternoon the Judge came in with
a smile on his face. ALAN Is better" he
| announced
isn't he better every day?" asked Al,x.
Not like this" said the Judge you
know Fleureur? or course YOU don't
| You wouldn't Well. it's long time
since Mr.. Fleureur has been asked to
cut In at bridge at the club or anywhere
| else Yesterday he came in and saw Alan
Tor the first time since his return. TIallo
| wayne, he said back again and doing
the heavy swell as ever only not quite so
heavy inside the clothes now, chi? Alan
IS getting touchy over being n weakling,
That's good sign, too, by tho way. lie
looked sideways out of his sleepy eyes at
tIeureur and you bet everybody listened
The Judge paused at thus forgetting
himself; then he went on. ALAN said, DO
clothes matter such n lot? Somehow it
seems to me IL doesn't make any difference
how much man wakes his mustache as
long as he doesn't wax his finger nails "
AliX's face lit up. "Oh. that Is Alan"
The Judges eyes twinlkled. "Yes," he
said, "and then Alan went off to sleep
like shot and Fleureur remembered an
engagement. The whole clubs cheered
up The club didn't know what was the
matter with ITSELF but It knows now 1t
was missing Alan after he had come
back"
Alan had written to Mrs. ]. Y. that he
was planning to motor from town to
Red Hill. Clem, as Mrs. j. Y.'s deputy,
had answered his letter, promising him a
warm and long welcome at Maple House.
She gave him way-bill. ITS the sim.
plest way.bill in the world" she wrote,
out of town and along the sound till you
come to the river. then up the valley till
the bald top OF East Mountain signals you
from the left. Climb the mountain and
from there the old church will lead you
home"
The old church will lead you home"
Alan repeated to himself as he let his re-
laxed body lounge across The tonneau
and trusted toEcushions and springs to
take up the bumps. His thoughts raced
ahead of him to Red Hill. In memory he
plodded over dusty roads and through
messy lanes swan, fshcd and loafed
wept and laughed He was going back to
the cradle of all his emotions.
The wind and the motion of the car
made him sleepy He dozed. He awoke
to SEQ East Mountain looming in the dis
tance Steadily the car drew into its lee
Alan sighted climbing road and called
directions to the driver. From the bare
top of the mountain he made out the old
church, a white specll on far.away hill
He stood up and traced the course they
were to follow. He was filled with a
strange excitement. Never mind the
bumps-open her up" he ordered, and
sat down and closed his eyes
The car shot down into the valley,
ratified across one bridge and then an
other, sped along the low road, overshot
the embowered mouth of Long lane, pro-
tested with the grinding of changing
gears, backed. turned and then lurched
forward again and up. Long lane was as
cool as memory and as balmy with the