St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1904-02-10
THOROUGHFARE
BY RUTH EDWARDS
BY RUTH EDWARDS
Copyright. 1908, by T. C. Mcclure

y
AWelI, never,'' Gladys sat down on
the bank of the little stream and gazed
despairingly at the rustic bridge above
her. eff that isn't just like him! No
Thoroughfare' and the gate locked and
too high to climb. Now, what on earth
am to do anyway
The whispering wind and the lap
ping waves gave her no reply, al d,
pulling letter out of the front Of her
blouse, she read it for the third or
fourth time that day. 1t seemed to re-
store her self confidence. She laughed
to herself wickedly. Hum! Mrs. Ora
ham is dear. but I fancy I've fooled
that conceited Jack of hers. No, thank
you; no four mile drive with him.
I'm down here, to be sure, but won't
speak two words to him all the time
I stay if I can help it. So! Oh, dear,
I wish l had boatr
AS if in answer to her desire a red
canoe shot out from beyond the bend
and came noiselessly down the river.
A man sat in the stern welding the
paddle with a swift grace. Gladys
arose among the long grass and the
daisies. Her mind was made up.
81 beg pardon, "sshe called as he came
abreast of her. "Can you tell me if
there is a way of getting to Mr.. Ora
hams estate except by, this bridge? 1t
seems to be closed
The man in the canoe rested his pad
die across his knees and gazed at her
admiringly.
NV hn no, CT
''There is an approach by the road,'' he
said, ''but it is quite two miles to the
other side."
'Oh," she said, 'I know! But I've
walked so far already" She glanced
ruefully down at her dusty patent
leather ties.
would you allow me?'' he asked ca
gerly. 81 could take you across in my
canoe'
She blushed charmingly. 81 hate to
trouble you"
81 assure you it would give me the
greatest pleasure he said, with an
other admiring glance.
With a dextrous stroke or two he
brought the graceful little craft up to
the bank and landed. He was tall and
brown and broad shouldered, and as he
stood looking down at her he saw a lit
tie slender girl with the longest eye
laSheS that ever dropped over pair of
gray eyes, in a dark blue foulard, bare
headed in the golden sunlight, big
black hat held in one hand. On her
forehead and around her ears danced
little truant wisps Of curly hair.
He helped her into the canoe and
JoI +ha 81 lao
then stepped in after her.
where are you going?" she asked as
he pointed the canoe up stream. 81 I'M
derstood you to say you would take me
across" she added, with some stateli-
ness.
'That's such nasty place to land"
he replied alphabetically. cts much
better little farther up
His dark eyes sought hers, and they
both laughed. 1t was obvious to the
most casual observer that the sloping
shore on the other side was most adj
mirably adapted for Bleaching the ca
noe.
you seem well acquainted with the
river" she said demurely. do you
know the Grahams?"
He did not answer Immediately.
Eyes; charming woman, Mrs. Ora
ham, he admitted at last.
ooh, yes; lovely. It's a pity her son
doesn't take after her, Gladys replied,
with high scorn.
Her companion grinned. tits evil
dent you know him. he said.
well, l haven't seen him in years,
but when I saw him last he was abso-
.4o1x 49,
ceited and altogether most hateful boy
I ever came across" Gladys sat up
quite straight among her cushions with
sudden energy.
"Poor Jackr' murmured her COM
panion. "Still. if you haven't seen him
for years it isn't impossible that he
has improved
Improved! Well, I'm sure hope so.
There certainly was room for improve
ment. But 1 don't believe he has. The
idea of shutting people out by locking
up that bridge the way he has! It's
just like him. So afraid any one
would get into his domains. Just as
though any one with sense would want
to-
Exactly. But possibly he wants to
keep out that class of people supposed
to be Drawer than angels, you know"
''Fools?" she questioned. Then they
both laughed again.
You're not very polite she said
How can you expect me to be SYM
pathetic when the bridge being locked
has given me this pleasure?'
"Ohr' she exclaimed, with incredu-
lous eyes. Anyway, 1 forgive you.
But if I'd had my way shouldn't have
been here at ALL
Now, it's you that are impolite.'' he
said.
Eyes, and ungrateful,'' she admitted
frankly. ITS simply lovely out here.
It's the only pleasant thing about the
whole trip. Goodness. if you only
knew how hated to come! / wept
day and night for weeks. But mother
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