The Glenwood post., 1916-07-15

SAnAxa
my Boy, You Have Been Far Awav."
A hutter and then a sigh Of disap-
pointment went. through Maple House
at Alan's immediate eclipse. The
children foresaw an order for silence
or veto on the afternoons excursion
to the lake. ]. Y. became restless and
wandered noiselessly about from room
to room. Glen sat in the great win.
dow and dreamed and listened for
Alan's bell. She would not go to the
lake. The children were solemnly
grave and then giggllng by fits and
starts.
The Eltons had come back from
abroad. From Elm House Cousin
Frances Elton, commonly known as
Tom, short for tomboy, came racing
across the lawn waving towel and
bathing clothes and in a high treble
giving a creditable imitation Of an In
dian warwhoop. At Toms cry the
children stampeded on to the veranda
with sibilant cries Of. "Sshshr' Mrs.
J. Y. looked ut Nance and Nance
smiled resigneo,y. They put away
their work, ordered the wagonette and
the colts-coIts no longer. alas, save
In name-and departed with q wagon
load OF suppressed youth. From Long
lane fioated back peals Of young laugh
ter, breaking boupls as the overhang-
ing trees hid the hill from view.
Glenn sat on the vast window seat
and toyed with a book. ]. Y. came
and dropped down beside her. "Wsn.
Glen. he's come back"
Glen nodded. "Are you sure he
doesn't want anything, Uncle Johnf
He hasn't had thing to eat since
seven O'Clock this morning" IL
Alan's bell tinkled. Glenn started to
her feet and then sat down again.
You'd better CO." But when ]. 7.
strobe OF she followed.
why is the house so quiet7 Is II
on account of the captain?" asked
Alan.
BLESS you, no. The captain sleeps
for a week at a time. The children
have gone over to the lake."
II just wanted to tell you that like
their noises-they're new. There's
nothing really the matter with me ex.
cept that I've got to take things in
turn, and lying still and sweating
comes first. After that, perhaps tomor.
row, I'm going to eat The penulti.
mate act on my list is cigarette and
the ultimate is to get up in the old bel
fry and yell" He turned over and
sank his head into the pillows.
"All right, my boy" said J. Y, smil.
ing. There's only Glen and myself
here and we'll go and try to make
noises like the children" He came out
| Of the door in time to catch sight OF
Clem's skirt as 1t whisked around the
corner of the hall. He followed and
found her already seated at the piano.
Her fingers wandered over the keys
and then her soft, full voice broke out
In one old song after another. She was
happy because she felt that singing
she was with Alan.
| Alan stirred In his bed and listened,
He determined that tomorrow he must
be well. Robbed Of this afternoon, ha
was being robbed of half Of life. he
cursed the fever and then, a. he felt
how near Clem's voice brought her to
him. he blessed It
At night when all the rest Of the
household had gone to bed, ]. Y. softly
opened Alan's door and looked in.
Alan was awake and nodded. ]. I.
came in and pottered about the room.
He rolled bit of paper into an amplss
shade and further yelled the nisnt
lamp. The lines in J. Us rugged facs
were softened to lines Of sweetness.
He asked IL there were nothing b
could do and then turned to leave ths
room. With his hand on the door, hs
paused and smiled down on Alan. my
boy, you have been far, far away"
Far away" replied Alan drowsily,
"but have come back"
The bracing air of Red Hill and Q
long nights sleep enabled Alan to keep
his word with himself. He was up and
out on the day following his arrival,
but he still felt delightfully."- lazy and
pitifully weak. Glen took charge Of
him. First she tried to settle him in
a hammock with many pillows, but
Alan shrank from the hammock. They
spread rugs instead In a nook under
tho trees, and Alan stretched himself
out amid . riot Of many-colored cush-