Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1916-07-01
10

IL
Maple House was riding the crest of
a happy wave. In a body it advanced
on the lake to picnic and supper by
moonlight and in a body it 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 a rolicking college song, ready
smiles on happy faces, broke like com
mas into the page OF life, and turned
m0notony into living phrases. But be-
meath the gayety ran the inevitable I'M
certone. 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 / mean. Glenn
You're breaking her heart"
She felt Alan's arm stiffen. For a
moment he was silent, then be 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 go for
ever so long, but somehow | couldn't.
something seemed to hold me. | tried
to think it was just the Hill, and that
It would be all right for me to stay on
until the general breakup. But you
nave wakened me up, and the proof
tnat I'm not quite a coward yet is
tnat I'm going to get up and run"
They came to the entrance to The
Fins, 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.
I don't know" he said. whether
iove her or not. If l ever loved any
ohe before, then don't love her. for
the thing that has come over me is
ne"-newer than anything that has
ever happened to me. | would rather
zee her come down from her room in
u1e morning than to have watched the
Drth of Aphrodite, and yet l would
raFher see myself damned. once and
Tor all. than touch the hem Of her
frock."
'Why?"
Because it Is not for me. Once
AK called her glorious. don't know
whether that was a bit Of hyperbole
On ner part or not, but to me she is
5us' mat There is a glory about
S'em-the glory of pure light. Do you
'aink l dare walk into it? Me. with
.ay Scared life, my blemished soul and
ule moral rags that only half hide the
'"o' That would be cowardly. Pm
no1 coward enough for that"
vance sighed. I'm disappointed in
gu thought that if ever man lived
''ae knew little about women il
.i-o'' De you. won't say any of the
.'iiilss was going to say. Instead. l
!os' tell you that you don't know
women"
ueF walked back in silence. Nance |
"eul INTO the house, but Alan said
eoo1 night and stared thougbtfullv |
1'"n the road. His step quickened, |
s a.'o' walking rapidly. he passed over
l-ie 1oonlit brow Of the hill and down. |
po"h INTO the shadows of the valley. |
,1l'0 Is the battle that has to be won |
=" '0+' out when in the small hours of |
tIe morning Alan returned and crant /
'''seiesslV to his room. he felt that
lau won. that he had put the final |
OI me remuneration Nance's words
"eu-nlgh recalled. Still wakeful.
can started packing He left out his
riding kit. ' us
That day awoke TO clouds that Iov.
"a and hung about waiting for the
u hour of seven when they might
'l All due respect to atmospheric
F. non start in with an aIl-day rain.
1t .ong before the hour struck Alan
~ ~ i TOT. for biscuit and a glass
J.. MIX and was mounted and away
-or last ride.
B.. A,'u rode with the ease o. one born
-. '- saddle. There was nothing of
- lo"ooy in his get-up. He used a
'-' ~ p1Jch Of hunting saddle. 1tteo
- glove to his horses back. and
-7 % Ia snass with q light hand.