Middletown transcript., 1916-05-27

SlScps TUT WulW CuC Ittic uiSSIUH-
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 hippant 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 be 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
paper. Alan had almost cabled. Now
ne was glad he had not done so.
''Alix," he said to himself, isn't wait
ing. she's trusting A 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 EnglIshman in the hills above
Granada, a faint odor had brought
them to a sudden halt. 1t was the
Enghshman who made the surprising
discovery first. "Blackberries, by
Jove" he had exclaimed Good old
blackberries." And then they two had
stood together, yet half a world apart.
and stared at the 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 in
autumn, so clear. so poignant, that it
had brought his throbbing heart into
his throat
1t was so now with CIem's letter.
The words were but a hurried daub.
but they touched his eyes with a magic
wand. The daub became a scene, a
picture. a world-his world.
Red Hill was spread out before him,
texture where the threads and colors
of life were blended into a carpet soft
but enduring. Men walked and little
children played on It, Alan closed his
eyes and sighed. What had he been
doing with life? Making sacking2
Sacking was commercial. 1t paid in
cash. 1t was the national industry.
But what could one do with sacking on
Red Hill?
Then, almost suddenly, the full spirit
of Clem's letter seized him. One did
not take gifts to Red Fill. To every
one of its children Red Hill was the
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 Gerry
note to Alix to Red Hill and sent
Swithson out to post it. He did not
try to temper the shock Of the note
with a covering letter. He was too
weak and tired. Besides, he felt that
| the note carried its own antldote TO
| joy.
The next morning a message came
| by hand to Alan's rooms. AK nad
come to town and wished to see him az
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 IN
her cheeks, but Alan was pleased 10
see no trace Of tears in her eyes. 4
woman's crying always touched him
on the raw and seldom awakened ms
pity.
At sight of him Alix forgot her con-
cern for herself. why, Alan" she
cried. "what Is the matterP'
Alan laughed. There was pleasant
note in his laugh she had never heard
before. "I'm all right, Alix. Don't
make any mistake. I'm resurrection
in the bud. Doing fine. l don't have
to ask how you are. You're well.
You're looking just as we'll as a little
slip like you can ever look. Sit down.
| do"
AHx' thoughts went back to herself
and Immediately the fame burned
again in her cheeks. She pulled Ger
ry's crumpled note from her glove and
tossed it open on the table before Alan.
He read the two or three lines in
which Gerry told her he would arrive
shortly. The brief note was intention
ally colorless. "Well?' he asked.
Alix turned flashing eyes on him.
"Well? Is that all you have to say2
Alan, it Is not well. I've come here
because you must tell me-sOmebOdy
must tell me-now-all the things that
that note hides behind It's wonderfully
blank, weakened, little. hypOcritieal
| face"