Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1916-04-14
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Red Hill was hemmed In by the
breathing sllences OF scattered woods.
open fields and the far reaches OF
misty space. as though 1t were ia hid
ing from the railroads, mills and high
ways OF an age OF hurry. Upon It's
long, level crest 1t bore but three cen
tiers Of life and symbol-MapIe
house, the Firs and Elm house. half
hidden from the road by their distinc-
tive trees but as alive as the warm
eyes OF yelled woman; and the
church.
The church was bnt q symbol
mere shell. Within, 1t presented the
appearance of lumber room In dis
use, a playground for rats and ha-
ven for dust. But without all was as
It 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 sac
single road which cut the crest Of the
hill from north to south wera ruins
of houses that once had shei :ered the
scattered congregation. R.h the ruins
were hard to find. for they, too. were
overgrown by Juniper, clematis and q
crowdlng thisSet Of mountain ash.
On these evidences OF death and en-
croachment the old church seemed to
turn its back as IL by right OF its fresh
walls and unbroken steeple II were
still linked to life. Through Ita small
paned windows It seemed to gaze con-
tentedly across the road at three
houses, widely separated, that half
faced it in 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
DOMINIC pale green. The elms or Elm
house. too, were but family outlined In
verdure. Farther down the road the
naples stretched ont bare, black limbs.
Only the firs, in a phaianx, scofred at
the general spring cleaning and looked
old and sullen In consequence.
The colts, driven Dy Alap Wayne.
flashed over the brim Of Red Hill on to
the level top. Coachnan Joe's jaw
was hanging In 9we and 80 had hung
since Mr.. AIEu had taken the relns.
For the frst time in their Eve 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. bis
hands itching to snatch the reins. But
there had been no boiling, only sud-
den settling down to business.
For the first time Ia their lives the
colts were being pushed, steadily,
evenly, Almost-but never quite-t0
the breaking point Twice in the long
drive Joe gathered up his jaw and
turned his head. preparing spoken
tribute to master hand. But there
was no speaking to Mr.. Alan's face. At
that moment Joe was q part or the
seat TO Mr.. Alan. and. being a COACH
man OF long standing In the family, he
knew It.
Couldn't Of got here quicker II he'd
let 'em bolt" said he, in subsequent
description to the stable hand ana the
cook. He snatched up 9 pail OF water
and poured it steadily on the ground.
Jest like that. He knew what was
in the colts the minute he laid hands
on 'em. and when he pulls 'em up az
the barn door there wasn't q drop left
In their buckets, was there, Arthur
.NaFy Drop said Arthur. stable
hand.
-And his face" continued the coach
man. +MOst times Mr.. Alan has no
eyes to speak Of. but today ana that
time Miss Nance struck him with the
hatpln-'member. cook f-his eyes
spread like a are and eat up his face.
This II black day for the Hill. Some.
thin's going TO happen. You mark
me-"
In truth Mr.. Alan Wayne had been
summoned IN NO eQuivocai terms and,
for all his haste. It was with nervous
! step he approached the house.
AAp1G AOu8G HMGAIETG4 mILGI
brood. J. Y. Wayne, seconded by Airs.
J. T., was the head OF the family.
Their daughter. Nance Sterling, and
her babies represented the direct line
but the orphans. Alan Wayne and
Clematls McAlpin. were on an equal
footing as children OF the house. Alan
was the only child OF ]. US dead
brother. Clematis was also Of Wayne
blood. but 30 intricateIy removed thai
her exact relation to the rest OF the
tribe was never figured out twice "a
The same conclusion. Old Captain
Wayne. retired from the regular army
vas an uncle in 9 different degree q
every generation 90 Wayne. He wal
the only man on Red Hin who dared
sall for a whisky and soda when he
wanted IT.
When Alan reached the honsa Mrs
J. Y. was IN her garden across thu
road. surveying winters ruin. and
Nance with her children had born,
the captain on to the farm TO zee tina
oft-repeated wonder and always wel
come forerunner OF plenty. the guilt
new calf.
clematis McAlpin. shy and lOnl
iiEnbed. just at the awkward age whel
woman misses being either boy or GlFI
had disappeared. Where. nobody kneW
She might be blrd's-nesting ln "a
l 5Wnu1n M srv1ne aver tha ssfssuEEn Z,