The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-01-09
Through the Orchard Gate
By HARRIET WHITNEY

about because gave Joe Lawton most Of
the jelly cake out of the lunch basket.
But ne came over as usual in the even
ing. and as usual Becky had left tie
clothes line in the trees. and it happened
to sag a little, and caught Ben right
across his poor sunburned nose where il
was tenderest. The war broke out then
Among other things he said if I wanted
him to come would at least see that he
could get in without manning himself I
said he could come the front way as a
well regulated person would, or not come
at all. He said it would be not at all.
then-and after the fray / nailed up the
gate"
"And SO nailed out the only man YOU
ever knew that was worth a yard of CAL
ico," was Mrs. Belinda's consolation.
you might as well unnail it now, and
let 1t be of somes use, as long as the
whole business is ancient history, and Ben
vanished away into airy nothing. He
won't bother you any more. While you
are incoming among dismal memories and
frogs, entrenched behind your nailed-up
gate, he is living comfortably somewhere,
with fat little wife, and probably seven
children. No doubt one Of them, little
freckled one who NEEDLES, is named Mar
jorie.'''
It was dark now, and Marjorie's cheeks
could burn unseen.
'Kree-e-ee,'' croaked the frogs de-
risively.
Before the mists were out of the hollow
lands the next morning, Marjorie Bennett,
| with claw hammer, was drawing the
bent and rusted nails from the old orchard
gate.
Belinda told the TRUTH she admitted
in the inner circle of her heart, II nailed
my own happiness out when drove in
| these nails. However. the crooked little
nails of miserable pride and temper Il
| c911e6 thn rnfvf11ra
| drove every day would inevitably have
| had the same effect in time. And not a
| nail here is an atom more rusted than
my hopes Of his ever coming back But
the old gate may as we'll be Of some use
/ to others. Belinda knows a few things,
and I dare say it's true all she said"
/ The hammer fell into a big bunch Of
| spiderwort on the outside of the gate
1 and Marjorie rested her elbows on the
! top rail of the fence The clover lay in
deep pillows, crested with the silver of the
/ dew. The ruffles on her pink gingha m
! gown was limp and wet. The early sun
/ looked at her through a soft long vista Of
! orchard, out of amethystine vapors.
Robin songs dubbed and splashed all
| about. -.
The gate swung wide open on loose
hinge that creaked note of relief.
II must have Hiram Bean fix it, Mar
jorie decided practically, coming out of her
4 retrospect anu passing through the gate
| in quest of the hammer
/ A man had trampling along the
I orchard, leaving a wake of crushed wet
I clover behind him. ~
l. you've broken the latch" he said with
a laugh that swept Marjorie into old paths
and byways, while he spread a broad
brown palm for her hand, "just the way
long ago, so could never keep you out of
it any more
II could nail it together again. she
said sedately, with eyes that sparkled un-
!. der their lashes.
.'No; you couldn't drive the nails
straight. Look at those wretched little
, twisted things. Mayn't I come through
the old gate now, Margie emily if do
you can't bar me out any more"
: Il will never try she answered, with
dimples Of happy laughter that were
swiftly washed out by a, recollection.
Wait, Ben, I'm afraid-at least Be.
linda said
What did Belinda say?"
81 That you must have married some ono
Il long ago. :.T.5! ~ ~ u.s.
4 "Oh, Belinda! It was Belipda'sE dear
delight when we We're all less than ten, to
create strife by getting me suspected by
i, you of a deeply rooted resolve to marry
) Peggy Dodson when we grew up. She has
come just about as near the mark now
{. M. MdISle, MI beIl > lldLle is 10 De MAR
s iorie or nothing. Providence has let me
come back at just the right time. Let's
) take hold of hands and race through thai
gate the way we did when were were little
come He caught Marjorie's hand
.Now-one for the money and two fol
the show, three to make ready and four
to-go.'
Like two needless children they sped
: laughing, with linked hands, through the
old orchard gate, straight into an en-.
l chanted country. t~5s