The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1916-06-30

20. rAAlsAzs5 -
ID
MapIe House was riding the crest of
"a Happy wave. IN . body II advanced
on the lake to picnic and supper ~
moonlight and IL body II returned
fise little ones excited and wakefui. the
grown ups tired and reminiscent Days
followed that were filled with lazlness
aud lights that rang with song The
cup ~ ne VAS Giled 10 tie brim with
little things Sudden peais or unrea-
s0ping laughter. sfrlsks " children 81
play. a rumble of the piano followed
By rOllieking college song. ready
smiles ~ happy faces. broke ike com
mas into the page of life. and turned
nonotOny into living phrases : But BE-.
meath the gayety rsn the Inevitable un.
dertOue. when JOY paused TO take
breath i found Alan half aloof and
Glenn wistful behind her unYarylng
sweetness
One evening Alan found himself
alone with Nance. SHE had frankly
coruered him, then as openly led him
of down the road towards Elm House
Alan she said, you've turned into
great fool u d great coward Which
IN it1'
Alan glanced NJ her what do you
FneanY Be stnmmered.
aYou know what I mean. Glen.
You're breaking her heart
She felt Alan's arm stiffen For
moment he was silent, then he said
Don't worry. Nance. You're wrong.
Of course, but anyway, 20 harm Is
going 10 come 20 Glenn through me
I'm going away. I've meant 10 20 for
ever 50 long. but somehow | couldn't
Something seemed 10 hold me / tried
to think II was just the Hill. aud that
Il would be an right for me 70 stay on
until the general breakup. But you
have Weakened me up. and the proof
that I'm not quite a coward yet Is
that I'm going 10 get up and run"
They came 70 the entrance 10 The
Films but Nance led him on down the
road. ''Rung why are you going 70
rum Alan. don't you love herr"
A tremor went through Aims body
II don't know" be said. whether !
love her or not If ever loved any
one before, then ] don't love her, for
the thing that has come over me Is
new newer than anything that has
ever happened 70 me. | would rather
see her come down from her room III
the morning ran 70 have watched the
birth Of AphfSdIte. and yet ! would
rather see my Self damned, once and
FOR all, than touch the hem OF her
frock"
WHY
Because II 5 not for me. Once
ak called her glorious. / don't know
whether that sas q bit or hyperbole
on her part % DOT. but 20 me she Is
Just that There is glory about
Clem--the giorT Of pure light DO you
think ] dare walk into ~ Me, with
my Scared life ny blemished soul and
the moral rags hat only half hide the
twoY That w'.ild be cowardIy. I'm
not cowhrd en- igh for that"
Nance sighed I'm disappointed IN
you. thought that II ever man lived
that knew O little about women IL
must be you ! won't say any Of the
things vas going to say. Instead.
Just tell you that you don't know
women"
They walked back 10 silence Nance
went into the house, but Alan said
good night AMI stared thonghtfully
down the road. His step quickened
and, walking rapidly. be passed over
the mOonlit bra'Y ~ the bin aud down,
down into the shadows " the valley
Hard IN the btt 'le that has 10 be won
twice, but wheb IN tie small hours Or
the morning Alan returned and crept
noiseiessiy % his room be felt that
ne bad won. that be bad put The nnal
zeal on the renuf citation Nance's words
had weII-nigb recalled sdll wakeful,
Alan started packing. He left out his
riding KIT.
That day awOle 10 clouds that low.
cred and burg about waiting for the
sfafeful hour of seven when they might
with al due respect 10 atmospheric
tradition start ie with m aII-day rain.
but long before the hour struck Alan
had f0raRsd FOR biscuit ana glass
Of milk and xas mounted and away
for q last ride.
Alan rode with the eaee Of one born
20 ne saddle. There VAS nothing Of
DE cowboy 10 his eetuD. Tfe used a
mere patch of hunting saddle. fitted
like b zJ0ye " bis horses baek, and
gode on tie snafis with tight hand.