Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-22

In word he had the perfect proportion
that looks frail and Is strong. As he
| stood before his uncle, his eyes grew
dull. They were slightly blood-shot in
the corners and with their dulness the
clear-cut lines of his face seemed to take
on perceptible blur.
]. Y began to speak He spoke for a
long quarter of an hour and then summed
up all he had said in a few words. I've
been no uncle to you, Alan, I've been
father. I've tried to win you, but you
were not to be won. I've tried to hold
you, but It takes more than a Wayne to
hold Wayne. You have taken the bit
with a vengeance. You have left such
wreckage behind you that we can trace
your life back to the cradle by your
failures. all the greater for your many
successes. You're the first Wayne that
ever missed his college degree. / never
asked what they expelled you for and l
don't want to know. 1t must have been
bad bad for the old school Is lenient. and
proud of men that stand as hlgh as you
stood I'm your classes and on the held'
Money! won't talk of money, Tor you
thought ii was your own"
For the first time Alan spoke "What
do you mean, sir?''
With the words his slight form straight
ened, his eyes blazed, there was slight
quivering OF the thin nostrils and his
features came out clear and strong.
j. L.
been wrong. Alan" he said slowly, but
I've been your banker without telling
YOU Your father didn't leave much. II
saw you through Junior year.
Alan placed his hands on the desk
between them and leaned forward. How
much have / spent since then-in the
last three years?"
j, Y. Kept his eyes down, "You know
more or less. Alan. We won't talk
about that. l was trying to hold YOU
But today l give 1t up. I've got one
more thing to tell you. though, and
there are mighty few people that know
it. The Hills battles have never entered
the field of gossip. Seven years before
YOU were born. my father-your grand
father-turned me out 1t was from this
room. He said / had started the name
of Wayne on the road to shame and
that l could go with II. He gave me
five hundred dollars. took II and went.
| sank low with the name. but in the
end 1 brought it back and today it
stands high on both sides of the water.
I'm not a happy man. as you know, for
all that. You see, though l brought the
name back in the end. 1 never saw
your grandfather again and he never
knew.
Here are FIVE hundred dollars. It's
the last money you'll ever have from
me- but whatever you do, whatever hap
pens remember this: Red Hill does not
belong TO a Lansing nor to a Wayne nor
to an Elton 1t is the eternal mother
OF us all. Broken or mended. Lansings
and Waynes have come back to the Hill
through generations. City OF refuge or
harbor Of peace. it's all one to the Hill.
Remember that"
He laid the crisp notes on the desk.
Alan half turned toward the door but
stepped back again, His eyes and face
were dull once more. He picked up the
bills and slowly counted them Il shall
return the money. sir" he said and
walked out.
He went TO the stables and ordered
the pony and cart for the afternoon
train. AS he came out he saw Nance,
the children and the Captain coming
slowly up Long Lane from the farm.
He lodged back into the barn through
the orchard and across the lawn Mrs.
j. r. stood In the garden directing the
relaying % fiower-beds. Alan made a
circuit. AS he stepped into the road.
swift steps came towards him. He
wheeled and faced Clem coming at fun
run. He turned his back on her ana
started away. The swift steps stopped
50 suddenly that de looked around. Clem