Mexico Missouri message., 1916-04-13


ary."
Il never thought Of It that way"
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
her eyes on his face. How wrong
You are! Misslonarying, as you call 1t,
is just another name for giving. and
how can one give q great deal unless
one has a great deal to give-strength
and youth and vitalityT
"And you have given all?" asked
Alan.
The girls eyes filed.
"No, you haven't given ALL" went on
Alan quickly. You are still giving.
1 must not borrow your last mite.
But-your voice is like a nurses hand"
When Alan went to bed he could not
sleep. For a while the little mission
ary girl held his thoughts. He was
filed with wonder. not at her, but at
himself. For once in his life he had
not been fiippant before grave things.
From the girl his thoughts turned to
Alix. He could have cabled to her
about Gerry from Pernambuco, 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
1 4 II
he was glad he had not done so.
"Alix," he said to himself, isn't wait
ing, she's trusting. cable would
have heightened waiting by a 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 Englshman in the hills above
Granada. faint odor had brought
them to a sudden halt 1t was the
Englishman who made the surprising
discovery first. "Backberries, by
Jove!' he had exclaimed. Good old
blackberries." And then they two had
stood together, yet half a world apart,
and stared at "he berry-laden bush.
What vision of a tangled, high-walled
garden burst upon the Englishman
Alan never knew. but to himself had
come a memory of East mountain If
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 q magic
wand. The daub became a scene, q
picture, wOrld-his world.
Red Hill was spread out before him,
a texture where the threads and colors
of life were blended into a carpet soft
but enduring. Men walked and littl,
children played on it. Alan closed his
eyes and sighed. What had he beer
doing with life? Making sacking'
Sacking was commercial. 1t paid IT
cash. 1t was the national industry
But what could one do with sacking OIL
Red Hill?
Then, almost suddenly, the full spiri
of Clem's letter seized him. One die
not take gifts to Red Hill. To every
one of its children Red Hill was tht
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 Gerrys
note to Alix to Red Hill and sent
Swithson out to post it. He did no'
try to temper the shock OF the nott
with a covering letter. He was too
weak and tired Besides, he felt thai
the note carried it's own antldote t'
joy.
The next morning n message came
by hand to Alan's rooms. AK hao
come to town and wished to see him al
once. Would he please come around
He replied that he was too Ill. Hall
an hour later Swithson answered
ring at the door and Alix slipped
quickly past him into Alan's sitting
; room. There was a flush of anger II
her cheeks, but Alan was pleased tC
see no trace of tears in her eyes. A
woman's crying always touched hin
on the raw and seldom awakened his
pity.
At sight of him Alix forgot her con
Germ for herself, why, Alan" sh'
cried. what is the matter2"
Alan laughed. There was pleasant
!, note in his laugh she had never heard
before. I'm all right, Allx. Dom
|. make any mistake. I'm resurrection
in the bud. Doing fine. l don't have
to ask how you are. You're we'll
You're looking just as well as littl'
slip like you can ever look. Sit down
i do"
Alix' thoughts went bnck to hersel
4 and Immediately the flame burned
again. in her cheeks. She pulled Ger
7 ry's crumpled note from her glove an,
; tossed 1t open on the table before Alan