The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1916-05-11
-16


Maple House was riding the crest oi
happy wave. In body 1t advanced
on the lake to picnic and supper by
moonlight and in a body 1t returned
the little ones excited and wakeful, the
grown-ups tired and reminiscent. Days
followed that were filed with laziness
aud nights that rang with song. The
cup of life was filled to the brim with
little things. Sudden peals of unrea
soning laughter, shrieks of children al
play, a rumble of the piano followed
by rOllicking college song, ready
smiles on happy faces. broke like com.
mas into the page of life, and turned
monOtony into. living phrases. But be-
meath the gayety ran the inevitable un-
dertone. When joy paused to take
breath it found Alan half aloof and
Glenn wistful behind her unvarying
sweetness.
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
a great fool or great coward. Which
Is it?''
Alan glanced at her. what do you
meanY' he stammered
You know what l mean. Glen.
You're breaking her heart"
She felt Alan's arm stlffen. For a
moment he was silent, then he said !:
Don't worry, Nance. You're wrong,
Of course, but, anyway, no harm is
going to come to Glen through me.
I'm going away. I've meant to go for
ever so long, but somehow l couldn't.
something seemed to hold me. tried
to think it was just the Hill, and that
ii would be all right for me tC stay on
until the general breakup. But you
have wakened me up, and the proof
that I'm not quite a coward yet is
that 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 herr"
A tremor went through Alan's body
al don't know" he said, whether
love her or not. If l ever loved any
one before, then l don't love her, fol
the thing that has come over me Is
new-newer than anything that has
ever happened to me. l would rather
see her come down from her room in
the morning than to have watched the
birth Of Aphrodlte, and yet l woulG
Eather see myself damned. once and
for all, than touch the hem of heI
frock."
'Why?"
Because it Is not for me. Once
Aiix called her glorious. l don't know
whether that was bit of hyperbol'
on her part or not, but to me she II
just that. There is a glory abOu
Clem-the glory Of pure light. Do yoI
think I dare walk into it? Me, will
sRy SCARED life. my blemished soul an(
the moral rags that only half hide thu
two? That would be cowardly. In
mot coward enough for that"
Nance sighed. "I'm disappointed IL
you. I thought that If ever man LIVED
that knew a little about women i
must be you. won't say any of tn
things l was going to say. Instead,
just tell you that you don't know
women"
They walked back in silence. Name,
went into the house, but Alan saiC
COED night and stared thoughtful!
down the road. His step quickened
and, walking rapidly, he passed owe
the moonlit brow Of the hill and down
down into the shadows of the valley
Hard is the battle that has to be VOL
twice, but when in the small hours o
the morning Alan returned and crep
noiselesslv to his room, he felt tina
he had won, that he had put the fina
seal on the remuneration Nances word
had well-nigh recalled Still wakeful
Alan started packing. He left out hi
riding kit.
That day awoke to clouds that low
cred and hung about waiting for tn
fateful hour of seven when they nigh
with all due respect to atmosphere
tradition start in with an allday rair
but long before the hour struck Ala
had foraged for biscuit and glas
of milk and was mounted and ava
for last ride.
Alan rode with the ease of one borI
TO the saddle. There was nothing O
the cowboy in his get-up. He used
mere patch of hunting saddle, fitte
like glove to his horses back, an
rode on the snafie with light hand
The curb rein. that last refuge of
poor horseman, hung loose and forgot
ten. Alan himself was dressed Il
weII-worn whipcord breeches. shor
coat, soft hat, and close-ftting boot
adorned with rowelless spurs. Fo
his health Red Hill had done wonders
His body was trim, supple and as VI
brant as the young horse under it.
But Alan's thoughts were far fro1
saddles and saddle gear as he, walke
the restive animal down the dippin
slope of Long lane and with his ridin
crop steadily discouraged the earl
morning flies, intent ON settling dow
10 the business Of life on his mount