Green Valley

when he went off by himself into the still corners of his world and let

he scaled the thinking, wondering part of himself and opened wide his heart to the great whisper that rippled the grain, to the sweet song

ul from doubts and stilled the many strange longings that mad

corners from which to watch life as it went by.

n for good measure, was a little knoll, smooth and gras

t knoll three snowy, bridal birches, the rough trunks of horse-chestnuts and a few solemn pines. As if that were

Here he sat and looked off at the dimpling, rippling farmlands, the wandering old roads and a

rough the far willow hedges caught the glittering sheen and sparkle of Silver Creek. An

being repaired for its owner. But from the knoll no sound of hammer or sight of workmen marred the soft silence and sunny peace

ix years old and claimed it for her very own, sharing its beauties with no one, not even her brother. When she grew to young ladyhood she of

it looked from her grove. So it was with something very close to

s! What are you doin

the cool blue of the sky and the world's fresh beauty that he took her appearance as a part of the pic

stillest, most heavenly nook in Green Valley.

ace years and years a

th us both using it?"

is the sort of a place that

er her a seat or give her a chance to take herself off gracefully. And Nanny was begin

suddenly and looked up at her with ey

," Nan was startl

n't you

searched about for

l is a grandmot

she saw quite suddenly that this big young man knew

reen Valley picture and painting in its stead the India of his memory, the India of gorgeous color, the bazaars, the narrow streets; the

ng on in his heart, took advan

ld are

ty-ei

n't you

d should I be?"

athers of two or three children at

urry. He, unlike a woman, can always marry. And I intend to have children-many chi

he idea that a woman must hurry to the altar. She felt that she ought to feel embarrassed but the innocent sincerity with which it was all uttered kept her from blushing and her eyes from snapp

ile she tr

er guilty loafing he

at should I

ons you ought to be devo

l. Doc Philipps says he won't be up for some time yet, so to cheer him up I've promised him a party. I also drove to the station with Mrs. Bates' ancient horse and brought home her new incubator. While I was there Jocelyn Brownlee came down to

pectacle as we went along, and I know that one little red-headed boy in this town was late for school because he followed us halfway home. We passed the Tomlins p

r with her domestic troubles and how in some mysterious fashion this young man had worked a miracle. For both Agnes and Hen were as

word to say about what made her so contented and happy. Green Valley saw her look at Hen as if he were suddenly precious and smooth his pillow and wait on him. And Green Valley w

ce of women and his knowledge of Hen's domestic affairs was, she told herself, a crazy, impossible creature and he could sit in his

up speed the big chap under

t go,

ed straight at him and found him looking at her in a way that made the whole green world sudd

d too. Because for the first time in her life she was conscious of her heart. She felt it beating queerly an

m and she sat down, folded her hands in her l

n an odd, quiet way as if they two were at home alone and the world was shut out and

of poor, dictatorial Agnes Tomlins. She had always picked out Hen's shirts, bought his ties and ordered his suits and Hen had never reb

hes of a very real and unpleasant temper. Agnes, baffled, curious, hurt, angry and afraid, had at last taken

er and let you see what's in it. And I'll do it to please him. But I won't open it myself and he's the only one I'll let do it. S

s son paused and looked so long at

red impa

as guarding so carefully fro

s, some letters from a chum that's dead, an old knife his grandfather once gave him when he was a

gs. Then it died. And nobody, it seems, knew how Hen missed that baby, not even his wife. But he had kept that box of toys in his tool shed all those years and in the last year had put it in the drawer with a few other tr

re he first knew that his wife cared about him. She had selected him for the lady's choice number.

rs and friends poke fun at you. After a while, of course, you learn to laugh at yourself on the outside and folks get to think that it's all a joke for you too and that you don't mind. But

they didn't mind showing it often. I banked an awful lot on that baby. And he did sure like me. He followed me all around and minded me better

n looked ste

hear any more?"

nough to be trusted with things like that," Nanny said brokenl

oing away because I didn't want to

and mean and wicked. But oh, won't I b

y number of boys in this town who will love it and look up to Hen," said the man who did not understand women. The sun was slipping low in the west, pouri

ng down toward it, "there is

to burn or give away. Some day when the rain is drumming on the roof and the gutters are spouting and all the birds are tucked away in

too," enviously cried Nanny Ainslee and t

a last widespread glory that bathed every grass blade in Green Valley and in this strong and golden light Nan saw the 6:10 pulling in and Fanny Foster

h, for the Brownlees had supper early. Jocelyn flapped and flapped, then folded

n was waiting till he came closer before she waved to him and greet

lyn's happy, eager child face. David slowly drew nearer. But after one careless look at the little fi

. Then slowly the little figure went down the steps and into the back garden. There it stood moti

story of Jocelyn's morning ride with the minister in the Bates' ancient carryall had already gone the rounds, even finding David in the f

perhaps a lovely romance. She knew that he was innocent, as innocent as Jocelyn. And she knew that Green Valley meant no harm. It was nothing. And yet s

walk home with her Nanny wa

I never let anybody escort me

one and left John Knight