Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1916-07-14


cleared his trail for him. Them was
all the things he said l should tell
you"
Kemp stopped talking and downed
his drink. Alan sat silent and thought
full. Lieber was gone and made a gap
in his life that he never knew had been
filed. He wanted to know more. He
turned to Kemp. "Well?"
"YOu remember the joa tree at Lie
ber's, Mr.. Wayne? One O. the lone
soonest trees on earth, reckon, except
when the Booganviller comes out an
then it's happy mountain O. red and
purple that kind O. lights up the hull
desert"
Alan nodded.
"Well, then, you remember the big
bowlder Of araywacke under the tree.
That's Lieber's headstone. He had a
mason up from the coast and he made
US carry him out under the tree to
watch the man work. He give him a
model cut into a boa'd to copy FIN.
I'm some reader, but them words beat
me every time. l corralled 'em on a
bit O. paper, though, an here they be-"
Kemp drew a slip of paper from the
same old wallet that housed 1.-THE
Purple City" He handed it to Alan.
"Wish you'd put me on" he said. "All
I know is it amt American an it
amt Mex"
The words on the slip looked as If
they had been printed by a child with
painstaking care. Alan stared as he
saw them. "Qui de nous ma pas eu
sa terre promise, son jour d'extase, ct
sa fin en- exil?" he read slowly to him
self, and then, with his eyes far away,
translated for Kemp, "'Who of us has
not had his promised land, his day Of
ecstasy and his end in exileP"
Kemp nodded and held out his hand
for the slip of paper. He put it back
in his wallet and said, II suppose the
Teller tibet wrote that was thlnkin'
mostly of a mans mind. but when it
comes to facts them words don't fit
Lieber. He got more exile than was
comm to him; it ct up the ecstasy an
more of the promised land. But l
dom know. They's lots of folks that
needs to worry more'n Lieber over
crossin' the divide"
They sat thoughtful for some time
where are you staying, Kemp"
"Astor house"
, Alan looked at his watch. "Come
on" he said. We've got to hustle.
We've just got time to rush down and
get your bag"
what for?" drawled Kemp.
81 was bound for our place out in
the country when found you. We've
got Just forty minutes to catch the
, train. You're coming with me-"
, A wary look came into Kemp's eyes
your folks out there. Mr.. Wagner
, he asked.
| yes" said Alan, and then added
] Kemp, do you take me for man that
l would steer you up against game
you don't hold cards in?"
NO. said Kemp, 81 don't" and
then found himself hated and hurried
into taxi before he could further pro
test.
> If Alan had any qualms about intro
ducing Kemp to Red Hill they were
. soon allayed. Kemp was duly present
G ed on the lawn at Maple House. TIC
. everything in petticoats he took off his
q hat and said "ma'am," but before the
\ men he stood hated and vouchsafed G
r short "Howdyw accompanied by {
y handshake where it was invited.
o Strange to Kemp must have seemed
' the group Of which he found himsel
the center. At a tea table under thu
9 biggest maple sat Mrs. J. Y. She called
e Kemp and motioned to a chair beside
e her. Kemp let his 1anky frame dowI
s slowly on the fragile structure, took of
4 his domed hat and laid 1t on the gras!
v at his side. For an instant Mrs. ]. Y
It fixed her soft, myopic gaze on him ant
A then looked away. Glen brought hin
k a cup Of tea and biscuit. Kemp helC
=" the cup and saucer in the hollow o
d his hand and looked obviously at thei
+ contents. would you like something
t. else, Mr.. Kemp?' asked Mrs. ]. Y
= softly, "some other drink, l meanW
/. Kemp's quick eye roved over TIL
e group. He saw that nobody was tax
n ing anything but tea and at the sam,
s time he noted gratefully that nobod.
e was watching him. The judge ant
l. ]. Y. were talking to each other
!. Nance, junior, and Cousin Tom wer
e kneeling before Gerry, junior, stolel
# for a short hour from Alix. Tha
}, dwarf Moloch, arrayed in starch.
It white that stuck out like ballet Skin
/. above his sturdy, fat legs, was gravel.
4 devouring a sacrifice of cake. Charli
J. Sterling lay full length on the grount
r while his brood, with shrill cries at hi
r. frequent eruptions, buried and re
/ buried him with sofa pillowa Nance
q Alan and Glen slipped tea and cheeret
r on the children's efforts.
Kemp turned twinkhng eye Of
d Mrs. J. Y. II amt sayin', ma'am, the
this mixture Is my usual beverage, bu
man don't ayDect tn have his uslla