Mexico Missouri message., 1916-01-20
Copyright BY The Century Company

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
had started the name OF Wayne on
the road to shame and that could 20
with it, He gave me five hundred dol
lars. took 1t and went. | sank low
with the name, but in the end
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 l brought the
name back in the end, l never saw
your grandfather again and he never
knew.
Here are dive 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 a Lansing nor to a
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.
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. 81
shall return the money, sir" he 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 n
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. Clem was standing stock still,
one awkward, lanky leg half crooked
as though it 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.
didn't mean to hurt you"
For one moment she clung to him
and buried her face against his coat.
through wet eyes. "Alan. I'm so glad
you've comeW
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 n shut
ter, sprang in through the window and
drew Glen after him. They climbed
to the belfry. From the befry one
saw the whole world with Red Hill as
its center. Alan was disappointed.
The hill was still half naked-almost
bleak Maple house and Elm house
shone brazenly white through budding
trees. They looked as If they had
crawled closer to the road during the
winter. The Firs, with its black bOr-
der of last years foliage, looked fune-
real. Alan turned from the scene, but
Clem's little hand drew him back.
CIematis McAlpin had happened be-
tween generations. Alan, Nance, Gerry
Lansing and their friends had been too
old for her and Nance's children were
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
illness not uncommon with single chill
dren who can just remember the good
times the half-generqtiOn before them
used to have by reason of their num-
bers. This loneliness had given her
in certain ways a precOcious develop
ment while it left her subdued and shy
even when among her familiars. But
she was shy without fear and her shy
ness itself had howerlike sweetness
that made bold appeal.
"Isn't it wonderful. Alan2" she said.
Yesterday it was cold and it rained
and the Hill was black, black. ike the
Firs. Today all the trees are fuzzy
with green and it's warm. Yesterday
was so lonely and today you are here"
Alan looked down at the child with
glowing eyes.
And, do you know, this summer