Gilpin observer., 1916-08-03

Red Hill was hemmed In by the
breathing silences of scattered woods,
open fields and the far reaches OF
misty space, as though 1t were In hid
ing from the railroads, mills and high
ways of an age Of hurry. Upon its
long, level crest 1t bore but three CEN
ters Of life and a symbol-Maple
house, the Firs and Elm house, half
hidden from the road by their distinc-
tive trees but az alive as the warm
eyes Of q yelled woman; and the
church.
The church was but a symbol
mere she'll Within, it presented the
appearance of lumber room in dis
use, a playground for rats and ha-
ven for dust. But without all was -
1t had ever been, for the old church
was still beloved. Its fresh, white
walls and green shutters and the aspir-
ing steeple, towering into the blue,
denied neglect and robbed abandon
ment of its sting.
In the shadow of its walls lay an old
graveyard whose overgrown soil had
long been undisturbed. Along the
single road which cut the crest Of the
hill from north to south were ruins
of houses that once had sheltered the
scattered congregation. But the ruins
were hard to find, for they, too, were
overgrown by juniper, clematis and a
crowding thicket of mountain ash.
On these evidences Of death and en-
croachment the old church seemed to
turn its back as II by right of its fresh
walls and unbroken steeple 1t were
still linked to life. Through Its small
paned windows 1t seemed to gaze con-
tentedly across the road at three
houses, widely separated, that half
faced 1t in a diminishing perspective.
The three houses looked toward the
sunrise; the church toward its de-
cline.
On day in early spring Alan Wayne
was summoned to Red Hill. Snow still
hung in the crevices Of East Noun
tain. On the hill the ashes, after the
total eclipse Of winter, were meekly
donning pale green. The elms Of Elm
house, too, were but family outlined in
verdure. Farther down the road the
naples stretched out bare, black limbs.
Only the frs, in a phalanx, scoffed at
the general spring cleaning and looked
old and sullen in consequence.
The colts, driven Dy Alan Wayne.
flashed over the brim of Red Hill on to
the level top. Coachman Joe's jaw
was hanging in awe and SO had hung
since Mr.. Alan had taken the reins.
For the first time in their FIVE years
Of equal life the colts had felt the
cut of a whip, not in anger but as a
reproof for breaking. Coachman Joe
had braced himself for the bolt, his
hands itching to snatch the reins. But
there had been no bolting, only a sud
den settling down to business.
For the nrst time in their lives the
colts were being pushed, steadily
evenly, almost-but never quite-to
the breaking point. Twice in the long
drive Joe gathered up his jaw and
turned his head, preparing spoken
tribute to a master hand. But there
was no speaking to Mr.. Alan's face. Al
that moment Joe was a part Of the
seat to Mr.. Alan, and. being a coach
man Of long standing in the family, be
knew II.
Couldn't Of got here quicker II he't
let 'em bolt" said he, in subsequent
description to the stable hand and thu
cook. He snatched up pail Of watel
and poured 1t steadily on the ground
"Jest like that. He knew what wal
In the colts the minute he laid hand
on 'em, and when he pulls 'em up a
the barn door there wasn't drop lef
in their buckets, was there, Arthur? 2
Mary a drop" said Arthur. stabl,
hand.
"And his face" continued the coach
man. "Most times Mr.. Alan has n,
eyes to speak Of. but today and tina
time Miss Nance struck him with tn
hatpin-'member. cOOk?-his eye
spread like fire and eat up his face
This IL a black day for the Hill. Some
thin's going to happen. You mari
me-"
In truth Mr.. Alan Wayne had beel
summoned In no equivocal terms and
for all his haste. II was with nervou
step he approached the house.
Maple house sheltered a nike,
brood. j. Y. Wayne, seconded by Mrs
]. Y, was the head of the family
Their daughter. Nance Sterling, ant
her babies represented the direct line
but the orphans, Alan Wayne an
Clematis McAlpln, were on an equa
footing as children of the house. Ala
was the only child of ]. Y.'s dea
brother. Clematis was also Of Wayn
blood, but so intricately removed tina
her exact relation to the rest OF tn
tribe was never figured out twice I
the same conclusion. Old Capital
Wayne. retired from the regular arm,
was an uncle in a different degree
every generation Of Wayne. He wa
the only man on Red Hill who dare
call for whisky and soda when b
wanted it