Gilpin observer., 1916-08-03
Copyrieht b. The Century compan

and there are mighty few people that
know it. The Hills battles have never
entered the field Of gossip. Seven
years before you were born my ia
ther-your grandfather-turned me
out. 1t was from this room. He said
I had started the name of Wayne on
the road to shame and that could go
with 1t. He gave me five hundred dol
lars. took 1t and went. l sank low
with the name, but in the end l
brought it back, and today it stands
high on both sides of the water. I'm
not happy man, as you know. for all
that. You see, though brought the
name back in the end, never saw
your grandfather again and he never
knew.
Here are i've hundred dollars. It's
the last money you'll ever have from
me, but whatever you do, whatever
happens, remember this: Red Hill does
not belong to q Lansing nor to
Wayne nor to an Elton. 1t is the eter-
nal mother of us all. Broken or mend
ed, Lansings and Waynes have come
back to the Hill through generations.
City of refuge or harbor Of peace, it's
all one to the Hill. Remember that"
He laid the crisp notes on the desk.
Alan half turned toward the door but
stepped back again. His eyes and face
were dull once more. He picked up
the bills and slowly counted them. II
shall return the money, sir" be said
and walked out.
| He went to the stables and ordered
the pony and cart for the afternoon
train. As he came out he saw Nance,
| the children and the captain coming
slowly up Long lane from the farm.
He lodged back into the barn through
the orchard and across the lawn. Mrs.
j. Y. stood in the garden directing the
relaying of flower beds. Alan made a
circuit. AS he stepped into the road
swift steps came toward him. He
wheeled and faced Glen coming at
full run. He turned his back ON her
and started away. The swift steps
stopped so suddenly that he looked
around. Glen was standing stock still.
| one awkward, lanky leg half crooked
as though 1t were still running. Her
skirts were absurdly short. Her little
fists, brown and scratched, pressed her
sides. Her dark hair hung in a tan
gled mat over thin, pointed face. Her
eyes were large and shadowy. Two
tears had started from them and were
crawling down soiled cheeks. She was
Quivering all over like woman struck.
| Alan swung around and strobe up
to her. He put one arm about her
thin form and drew her to him. Don't
cry, Clem," he said, don't cry. l
didn't mean to hurt you"
For one moment she clung to him
and buried her face against his coat.
Then she looked up and smiled
through wet eyes. "Alan. I'm SO glad
you've come!
Alan caught her hand, and together
they walked down the road to the old
church. The great door was locked.
Alan loosened the fastening Of shut
ter, sprang In through the window and
drew Clem after him. They climbed
to the belfry. From the belfry one
saw the whole world with Red Hill as
its center. Alan was disappointed
The hill was still half naked-almost
|
shone brazenly white through budding
trees. They looked rs II they had
crawled closer to the road during the
winter. The Firs, with its black Dor
der of last years foliage, looked fune
real. Alan turned from the scene. but
Clem's little hand drew him back.
Clematis McAlpin had happened be
, tween generations. Alan, Nance. Gerry
. Lansing and their friends had been too
old for her and Nance's children wer'
too young. There were Elton children
of about her age. but for years they
, had been abroad. Consequently Glen
had grown to fifteen In a sort OF lone
| liness not uncommon with single chill
! dren who can just remember the goot
, times the half-generation before then
, used to have by reason of their nun
. bers. This loneliness had given he
in certain ways a precocious develop
. ment while 1t left her subdued and sh,
even when among her familars Blu
: she was shy without fear and her shy
a ness itself had a fiowerlike sweetnes
that made bold appeal.
Z "Isn't 1t wonderful. A'an3" she said
|. yesterday It was cold and 1t raine
= and the Hill was black. black, like tn
Firs. Today all the trees are fuzz
n with green and it's warm. Yesterda
I was SO lonely and today you are here.
4 Alan looked down at the child wit
e glowing eyes.