Middletown transcript., 1916-06-17
-16-

IL
Maple House was riding the crest Of
a happy wave. In body 1t advanced
on the lake to picnic and supper by
moonlight and in a body it returned:
the little ones excited and wakeful, the
grown-ups tired and reminiscent Days
followed that were filed with laziness
and nights that rang with song. The
cup of life was filled to the brim with
little things. Sudden peals Of unrea-
soning laughter, shrieks Of children at
play, a rumble of the piano followed
by a rollicking college song, ready
smiles on happy faces, broke like COM
mas into the page of life, and turned
monOtOny into living phrases. But be-
meath the gayety ran the inevitable un-
dertOne. When joy paused to take
breath it found Alan half aloof and
Clem wistful behind her unvarying
sweetness.
One evening Alan found himself
alone with Nance She had frankly
cornered him, then as openly led him
off down the road towards Elm House.
"Alan," she said, you've turned into
a great fool or a great coward. Which
Is it?"
Alan glanced at her. "What do you
mean" he stammered.
You know what / 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, no harm is
going to come to Glen through me.
I'm going away. I've meant to go for
ever so long, but somehow l couldn't
Something seemed to hold me- tried
to think it was just the Hill, and that
# would be all right for me to stay on
until the general breakup. But you
have wakened me up, and the proof
that I'm not quite a coward yet is
that I'm going to get up and run"
They came to the entrance to The
Elms, but Nance led him on down the
road. run? Why are you going to
run? Alan, don't you love her?"
A tremor went through Alan's body.
II don't know" he said, whether I
love her or not. If l ever loved any
one before, then l don't love her, for
the thing that has come over me is
new-newer than anything that has
ever happened to me. l would rather
see her come down from her room in
the morning than to have watched the
birth of Aphrodite, and yet l would
rather see myself damned, once and
for all, than touch the hem of her
frock."
"WhyT
Because it is not for me. Once
Alix called her glorious. l don't know
whether that was a bit Of hyperboe
on her part or not, but to me she is
Just that. There is a glory about
Clem-the glory of pure light. Do you
think 1 dare walk into it? Me, with
my SCARED life, my blemished soul and
the moral rags that only half hide the
two? That would be cowardly. I'm
not coward enough for that"
Nance sighed. I'm disappointed In
you. l thought that if ever man lived
that knew a little about women it
must be you. won't say any of the
things l was going to say. Instead,
just tell you that you don't know
women"
They walked back in silence Nance
went into the house, but Alan said
good night and stared thoughtfully
down the road. His step quickened.
and, walking rapidly, he passed over
the moonlit brow Of the hill and down,
down into the shadows of the valley.
Hard is the battle that has to be won
twice, but when in the small hours of
the morning Alan returned and crept
noiselesslV to his room, he felt that
he had won, that he had put the final
seal on the remuneration Nance's words
had well-nigh recalled. Still wakeful,
Alan started packing He left out his
riding kit
That day awoke to clouds that low
cred and hung about waiting for the
fateful hour of seven when they might
with all due respect to atmospheric
tradition start in with an all-day rain,
but long before the hour struck Alan
had foraged for a biscuit and a glass
Of milk and was mounted and away
for a last ride.
Alan rode with the ease Of one born
to the saddle. There was nothing of
the cowboy in his get-up. He used a
mere patch Of hunting saddle, fitted
like q glove to his horses back, and
rode on the snaffle with a light hand.
The curb rein, that last refuge of a
poor horseman, hung loose and forgot
ten. Alan himself was dressed in
well-worn whipcord breeches, short
coat, soft hat, and close-ftting boots
adorned with rowelless spurs. For
his heal+'2 Red Hin had done wonders.
His boo 3 was trim, supple and as vi
brant as the young horse under it.
But Alan's thoughts were far from
saddles and saddle gear as he walked
the restive animal down the dipping
slope of Long lane and with his riding
crop steadily discouraged the early |
morning flies. intent on settling down |
to Tue business Of life on his mounts |