Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1885-11-13
A GATE AJAR.
BY BERTHA BERTON.

am just dying for n glimpse Of
Sunnyside," Madge Wilson exclaim
ed, AZ she turned away from the win.
dow and began to pace the room. For
some minutes she had been gazing ear.
nestly toward . beautiful country resi-.
dence. 1t stood on q slight elevation,
that served to enhance the effect dis
lance also lent enchantment TO the
scene, for IL was half mile away, and
he pillars and turrets of the stately.
mansion were Rild"d by the glancing
rays OF the afternoon sun.
Msdge Wilson paused in her walk
up and down the room, and leaned over
her sisters chair.
am going Tor q walk. Edie, will
you come with me" she said, coaxinR-
y, and her bonny brown curls mingled
with Elith's golueD locks.
1t Is too warm" Edith answered,
g buc where are you going? 2"
To Sunnyside. The work men have
gone, every thing il in readiness for it's
new master, and l may never have a
chance to Boo the place again"
I" l wonld not go, Madge," Edith re-
sponded. Some harm may come OF
II. Remember, it was curiosity that
barred tho gates of Eden
"Oh, nonsense" Mage answered,
lightly. The gates OF Sunnyside are
already barred, doubtless, but can
walk by the grand place cat may
look npon q king you know" and
laughing merrily at the quaint old saw =,
Madge ran off for her hat.
1t was q lovely midsummer day, with
signing south wind that rushed the
ieaty foliage and kissed the maiden 3
olivo cheek, and rioted with her glossy
riDglets.
Eiith Willison watched her merry.
light hearted sister as she disappeared
down the shady, curvinR road with q
misgiving regarding her going. Bat
she need not be worried II she were gone
/ till night, MadRe had said at starting,
for Abe intended to call on friend be-
| fore her return.
AS unlike as possible were the two
sisters, and they lived OF the rambling.
old fashioned country house of their
guardian, Robert Selwyn, an eccentric
old gentleman, who petted or scolded
his pretty wards according TO his Va.
| riable moods.
l Madge Wilson, the younger of the
1.-TWO, WAS an impulsiye, warm hearted,
| gleeiul girl, whose fancies were as tickle
az the summer wind. Her bright, dusk
face was generally wreathed with
smiles. and to know her was TO love
her still, she sometimes had willful
moods when her wishes clashed with
the authority of her dear old guardian,
whom she loved almost Ike father, IN
jspite of his restraint.
Edith's sweet face was pale and pure
ss a white lily her violet.blue eyes
were gentle in expression, and her heavy
braids of golden hair were wound
=. labout her shapely head like coronet
She was endowed with a quiet dig
nifty, that coDtrasted forcibly with
Msdge's capricious moods. AS thu
elder sister, she was wont 70 advise Ant
oounsel, though often without effect, q
in the present instance, and she resumed
her embroidery with Sigh an she won
ldered when Madge would become NOR
steady.
Mr.. Selwyn was absent, and althongl
/ Everything moved on the same unde
the efficient care of the steward All,
:, his wife, Edith kept wishing for bis re
turn.
Il A lovely walk Madge Willi.on had
over the half mile Of shady countr.
= road, but her thoughts were less on tn
;. beautiful landscape spread out befor
her than the object to be attained
} close inspection OF Sunnyside
She felt confident that the place wa
: yet unoccupied, for old Richard ha
told her 30 but it was all in perfec
d readiness for the coming of it's ne'
,'lowner /; he was likely 10 come aDy day
' and now or never, Madge felt that sh
: lmust have peep at the beautiful res
z denco.
= Its owner she had never seen, thoua
!: she had mentally invested him with d
the attributes of hero. Ho was
- istranger, but rumor had 1t that he wa
= iimmensely rich, that he was young an
\ Handsome, and, more thai all, Inma
Tried.
What if
Madgedid not finish her sentence
lshe had spoken to herself rs she wake
Ialong, but the roses In her dusk cheeh
II grew brighter. and her dark .fringeC
hazel Dyes were luminous with the Ill
uttered thought for where Is tho mait
= On of seventeen who INDUCES in no da,
idreams of II rose. colored future. wherei
love holds the throne and wears Il
I crown
More beautiful, even, than the Ell
In Icbantment of distance was the realit
as she neared the grounds that surroul
u: ded tho massive, gray stone mansion
VS. with It's quaint gables, and turre.s, an
" oriel windows.
TWAS EMPOWERED in n macs of ivie
land roses, and jsponicas, and the gran
| told sentinel elms and rop,ars folde
itheir rugged, quarry arms about 1
heavy walls.
A vnlvety lawn, where murmurir
fountains threw up slveTy spray, vi
,also interpreted with raro shrubs al
llowers and there were NOISY terrace
Land rustic arbors, and fairy grottoes
i wilderness of beauty seemed spread oi
Ehkea panorama bsfore tho young mai
ten's ardent gaze.
Alb, II 40 much ln-elinoss could
Efound cut of doors >, W haL mast the ln:eri
sof tho mansion be? and Madge leant
5a.einst the gate and vaguely wonderet
Perhaps she eauad heavily and Il
), cate could not have been securely Ia
NJ ftauod, for it swung slowly open an
~ liz she would be- 80 bold, Mac 20 Will
10 ssan might go even closer TO the gra
2 sstons mansion.
~ Alas, for her sense of prophet!
ga Curiosity, that as Edith hat remind'
Il her, has made trouble FOR women, al
OF men as we'll, over since the wor
began, impelled Madge onward, Al
Ihar feet pressed the velvety sward