Fair play., 1920-06-19
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,ST. ALBAN'S BELLS
BY CLEANER r. JOHNSON.
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t@. 1920. by Mcclure Newspaper syndicats)
Among the many cities, towns and
villages scattered over the world there
Is not one which does not have some
particular characteristic, some custom
which makes 1t apart from all others.
It is the little village Of st. Albans,
situated among the broad, slopIng hills
Of New England, which will perhaps
bring out this spirit most clearly, for
about Its quaint custom the romance
Of Anne Bryce and John Cameron Is
woven.
On the slope behind st. Albans
stands small church, and by its door.
way one may read a bronze tablet
stating that in 1865 the church was
erected by n certain Charles Long
worth In memory of his son, who died
for the Northern cause In 1861. AS
the old sexton comes up on his tour
Of work and inspection he will tell
you that whenever any festivity takes
place in the village 1t was the wish Of
the founder that the bells In the Ivy
covered tower be rung.
Many times the bells had pealed
forth while white-clad brides had
slipped elusively away with their hus-
bands, and 1t was on such an occasion
when the minister's son had been mar
ried that Anne Bryce and John Cam
eron were sitting on grassy knoll
overlooking the village.
"The Klondike calls me tomorrow,
Anne" he said gently. Then looking
toward the Northwest, "What land
Of promsei What shall / not be able
to do for you when l return! And
then 1t will be but year or so before
| l am back again!"
"But q year or so," Anne murmured.
"But, perhaps the next time the bells
Of st. Albans ring it will be for you
and me, Anne"
The sun was setting. They rose and
walked slowly down into the village.
The next morning John Cameron, de-
parted for the Klondike, and, as the
train slowly drew out from the station.
Anne waved a goodbye with her hand
kerchief. then quickly rubbing her eyes
she went home to wait "for year or
so."
| Three years had passed, and Anne
Bryce's pretty little cottage seemed
to reflect the very atmosphere of the
July day. The front gate creaked, and
tall, good-natured looking man
stnlked up the path. Anne was sitting
on the piazza shelling peas.
"Mornin', thought I'd come to talk
little bit, do you mind. Amer"
"Oh, Joe, of course don't mind. Sit
down."
Joe stretched his long legs the
length of the steps. ate two or three
green peas and then asked:
Heard anything from John? When's
he coming or isn't he coming at all?"
She sighed. "I'm waiting. Joe. !
haven't heard anything about him
since he left, except that one letter he
wrote just before he got to Alaska;
but I believe he is safe, and ! will
always keep to my promise that I'd
be here when he came home!"
"Umph! Anne, If he doesn't come
back pretty soon do you think you
could ever look my way?"
mo. I'm sorry, Joe, but I said I
haven't rung since he went away. He
hoped they would ring for us when
he returned, and l know they WILL"
And she set the dish of shelled peas
down with thud as II to emphasize
her determination. Joe arose awk.
wardly.
swell. must be a.goin'; perhaps
you may consider my proposal some
time, Anne" And he sauntered of
disappointed.
"lf ! didn't have any more to do
than to sit on folks doorsteps and pro-
pose declare would" Anne ex-
claimed as she hustled about In the
kitchen, and then stopped short and
turned around for she saw a shadow
fall across the doorway.
A very different sort of man stood
before her now; pale, tired and hag-
CARED looking, his face partly covered
by long beard. while his hair was
streaked with gray. For a moment
Anne looked startled, then with a lit.
tie cry she fairly few to him.
John, ] waited oh, so long, but
you are here now. 1t all seems too
good to be true!"
"Yes-Anne here ! am. I haven't
brought back what l hoped ! could,
goodness knows, but. in spite of that,
perhaps"-and as he looked down into
her face-"Yes, surely the bells Of st.
Adams will ring for US as they never