Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-22

House too were but family outlined in
verdure and stood like empty sherry
glasses waiting for warm wine. Further
down the road the naples stretched out
bare. black limbs whose budding tufts
Of leaves served only to emphasize the
nakedness of the trees Only the frs. in n
phalanX, scoffed at the general spring
cleaning and looked old and sullen in
consequence.
The colts, driven by Alan Wayne.
flashed over the brim of Red Hill on to
tho level top. Coachman Joe's paw was
hanging In awe and so had hung since
Mr.. Alan had taken the reins. For the
first time in their five years of equal life
the colts had felt the cut of a whip. not
in anger but as n reproof for breaking.
Coachman Joe had braced himself for
the bolt, his hands itching to snatch the
relns. But there had been no boltlng.
only a sudden settling down to business.
For the first time in their lives the
colts were being pushed. steadily. evenly
almost-but never quite-to 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
part of the seat to Mr.. Alan and, being
coachman 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 de-
scription to the Sutherland and the cook.
He snatched up pail OF water and
poured II 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 at the barn door
there wasn't drop left in their buckets,
was there. Arthur?
Nary drop" said Arthur. stable
hand.
.,And his face" continued the coach
man. Most times Mr.. Alan has no eyes
to speak of, but today and that time Miss
Nance stuck him with the hatpin-
member. cook?-his eyes spread like a
fire and eat up his face. This is black
day for the Hill Somethin' going to
happen. You mark me-"
In truth Mr.. Alan Wayne had been
summoned in no equlvocal terms and.
for all his haste 1t was with nervous
step he approached the house.
There was no den. no sanctuary beyond
a bedroom for any one at Maple House.
No one brought work to Red Hill save
such as fitted into swinging hammocks
and leafy bowers. Library opened into
living room and hall. hall into drawing
room and drawing room into the cool
shadows and high lights OF half-hidden
mahogany and china closets. And here
and there and everywhere doors opened
out on TO the Hill.
A place where summer breezes entered
TFeAlX and Dldytut Sulc VI OuN
Hence Il was that Maple House as
whole became a tomb on that memorable
snring morning when the colts first felt
n master hand-a tomb where Wayne his
tory was TO be made and buried IS 1t had
be IN before.
Maple House sheltered a mixed brood
i Y Wayne, seconded by Mrs. j, T., was
the head OF the family Their daughter,
Nance Sterling. and her babies repre-
santed the direct line. but the orphans,
Alan Wayne and Clenlatis MeAlpln' We're
on an equal footing as children or the
house. Alan was the only chlld OF J. l..
dsad brother Clematis was also OF
SVsvne blood, but so intricately removed
that her exact relation to the rest OF the
triha was never hgured out twice 10 the
sanna concluslon Old Captain McAlpln,
ratired from the regular army was an
uncls in a different degree TO every gem
ere tIon of Waynes. He was the only man
on Red Hill who dared cali ror WHISKY
and soda when he wanted IT,
NUban Alan reached the house Mrs.
" was In her garden across the road,
snryeying winters ruin, and nance Win
her children had borne the captain on 70
~ farm 10 see that oft-repeated wonder
and always welcoine ioiei uii''SA - F''
tha quite new calf. ~,
Clematis McAlpin, shy ana lons-hnoea,
.,,st al the awkward age when woman
Misses being either boy or girl had eis-
anneared Where, nobody knew she
,,i1sbt aIp.b be bird's-nesting in the swamp or
cryins over the 'Idylls OF the King IN
~ hsrn loft. Certainly she was not IN
% tne ho,,sa j. Y. Wayne had seen to that.
ene S,e,.n n' and rugged Of face he sat In the
Ibrary alone and waited for Alan lie
holass distant screen-do0r open and
hs5ru slam' Steps echoed Through The lonely
house Alan came ana st9oa geo, oesGas ssns All
Aian ,aaLsS tslI. His shoulders gere not
hsosS hs .S tIIl you noticed the slimness % his
btoS btes His neck looked too thin tll you
lss ne the strong sci Of his apaAn head