Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1916-06-22


said Alan. Il always thought that 1t
was the people that were unfit for al
most anything else that turned to mis-
sionarying as a last resort"
"Oh, nor said the girl, sitting up
very straight in her chair and fixing
you are! Missionarying, as you call it,
is just another name for giving. and
how can one give a great deal unless
one has a great deal to give-strength
and youth and vitality?"
and you have given all7" asked
Alan.
The girls eyes filed.
'sNo, you haven't given ALL" went on
Alan quickly. You are still giving.
l must not borrow your last mite.
But-your voice is like nurses hand"
When Alan went to bed he could not
sleep. For a while the little mission
airy girl held his Thoughts He was
filled with wonder, not at her, but at
himself. For once in his life he had
not been fippant before grave things.
From the girl his thoughts turned to
Alix. He could have cabled to her
about Gerry from Percs nbuco, but he
had not done so. The note that he was
carrying for Gerry was light-only a
half-sheet, probably. The lightness of
it told Alan that the things Gerry had
to say to his wife could not be put on
paper. Alan had almost cabled. Now
hn he haI
"Alix," he said to himself, isn't wait
ing, she's trusting. A cable would
have heightened waiting by month";
Then. without volition, his mind
wandered from Alix and raced ahead
to the goal of his journey. What was
the goal of his journey? Whittier was
he bound? He reached for Clem's let
ter and held it In folded hands. He
had no need to read it again. The
words were nothing; the picture was
all. 1t stretched before his mind, a
living canvas.
Once when Alan was wandering
with an Englishman in the hills above
Granada, a faint odor had brought
them to sudden halt 1t was the
Englishman who made the surprising
discovery first. "Blackberries, by
Jove" he had exciaiS;zed. Good old
blackberries. And then they two had
stood together, yet half world apart.
and stared at the berry-laden bush.
What vision of tangled, high-walled
garden burst upon the Englishman
Alan never knew, but to himself had
come memory of East mountain In
autumn. so clear, so poignant, that II
had brought his throbbing heart into
his throat.
1t was so now with Clem's letter.
The words were but hurried daub.
but they touched his eyes with magic
wand. The daub became a scene, a
picture. world-his world.
Red Hill was spread out before him.
a texture where the threads and colors
of life were blended into carpet soft
but enduring. Men walked and little
children played on it. Alan closed his
eyes and sighed. What had he been
doing with life? Making sackingi
Sacking was commercial. 1t paid in
cash. 1t was the national industry.
But what could one do with sacking on
Red Hill?
Then, almost suddenly, the full spirit
OF Clem's letter seized him. One did
not take gifts to Red Hill. To every
one of its children Red Hill was the
source of all gifts-the source Of life.
On that thought he slept
When he was back once more in his
rooms, before Swithson had had time
to open bag, Alan re-directed Gerry's
note to Alix to Red Hill and sent
Swithson out to post it. He did not
try to temper the shock of the note
with covering letter. He was too
weak and tired. Besides, he felt that
the note carried its own antidote to
joy.
The next morning a message came
by hand to Alan's rooms. Alix had
come to town and wished to see him at
once. Would he please come aroundi
He replied that he was too Ill. Half |
an hour later Swithson answered a |!
ring at the door and Alix slipped
quickly past him into Alan's sitting |
room. There was a flush of anger in |
her cheeks, but Alan was pleased to
see no trace of tears in her eyes. A
woman's crying always touched him
on the raw and seldom awakened his
pity.
At sight Of him Alix forgot her con-
Germ for herself. why, Alanv' she
cried, what Is the matter?''
Alan laughed. There was pleasant |
note in his laugh she had never heard
before. "I'm all right, Alix. Don't |
make any mistake. I'm resurrection
in the bud. Doing fine. / don't have
to ask how you are. You're we'll. |
You're looking just as well as a little
slip like you can ever look. Sit down,
do"
Alix' thoughts went back to herself
and Immediately the flame burned
again in her cheeks. She pulled Ger
RVS crumpled note from her glove and
tossed 1t open on the table before Alan.
He read the two or three lines in