The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1916-01-21

long, level crest it bore but three CEN
tiers OF life and, symb0l-Maple
house. the Irirs and Elm house. half
hidden from the road BY their distinc-
tive trees but as alive as the warm
eyes OF q yelled woman: and the
church.
The church was but a symbol "a
mere shell. Within, it presented the
appearance of a lumber room in dis
use, q playground for rats and a ha-
ven for dust. But without all was as
IL bad 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 the
single road which cut the crest of the
hill from north to south were ruins
Of houses that once had sheltered the
scattered congregation. But the ruins
were hard to find. for they, too. were
0vergrown by juniper, clematis and a
crOwding thicket of mountain ash.
On these evidences Of death and en-
erOachment the old church seemed to.
turn its back as If by right of It's fresh
walls and unbroken steeple it were
still linked to life. Through its small
PANIED windows it seemed to gaze con
tentedly across the road at three
houses, widely separated. that half
faced 1t in q diminishing perspective.
The three houses looked toward the
sunrise; the church toward it's de-
cline
On day In early spring Alan Wayne
was summoned to Red Hill. Snow still
hung Ia the crevices of East Noun
tain. On the hill the ashes. after the
total eclipse of winter. were meekiy
donning pale green. The elms of Elm
house too. were but family outlined in
verdure Farther down the road the
naples stretched out bare, black limbs.
Only the frs, in a phalanx. scoffed at
the general spring cleaning and looked
ole and sullen in consequence.
The colts, driven Dy Alan Wayne.
flashed over the brim of Red Hill on to
the level top. Coachman Joe's jaw
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 a
reproof for breaking. Coachman Joe
had braced himself for the bolt, his
hands itching to snatch the relns. But
there had been no boiling. only sud
den settling down to business.
For the first time in their lives the
colts were being pushed. steadily.
evenly. almost--but never qute-to
the breaking point. Twice in the long
drive Joe gathered up his jaw and
turned his head preparing spoken
tribute to a 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 coach
man of long standing in the family. he
knew ii.
Couldn't of got here quicker If he'd
let 'em bolt" said he. in subsequent
description to the stable hand and the
cook He snatched up pail of water
and poured 1t steadily on the ground
'Jest like taat He knew what was
In the colts the minute he laid hands
on 'enl. and when he pulls enl up at
the barn door there wasn't a drop left
iii their buckets. was there. Arthur?"
Nary a drop" said Arthur. stable
hand
nd 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
Eiatpin- member. cook ?-his eyes
spread Hikes fire and eat up his face.
This is a black day for the Hill. Some
tliins going to happen. You mark
me-
Ii truth Mr. Alan Wayne had been
summoned in no equivocaI terms aud.
for all his haste. it was with nervous
step he approached the house.
Maple house sheltered mixed
brood ]. Y. Wayne. seconded by Airs.
u u. was the head of the family.
Their daughter Nance Sterling. aud
her babies represented the direct line.
but the orphans. Alan Wayne and
Clemntis NcAlpin. were on an equal
footing as children of the house. Alan
was the only child Of J. US dead
brother. Clematis was also OF Wayne
blood but so intiirately removed that
her exact relation to the rest " the
tribe was never figured out twice to
the same conclusion. Old Captain
Wayne. retired from the regular army
was an uncle In Il different degree &C.
every generation Of Wayne He was
the only man on Red Hill who dared
cali for whisky and soda when he
wanted it.