Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1904-02-17
no
THOROUcaFARE.
BY RUTH EDWARDS
Copyright. 1903, by 7, C. Mcclure

Ev>N~NN~nN~rnNNNNN~NN~orr~.
"Well. | neverr' Gladys sat down on
| the bank of the little stream and gazed
despairingly at tke rustic bridge above
her. IF that isn't just like him! No
| Thorouehfare' aud 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, and,
pulling letter out of the front of her
blouse.- sire read 1t for the third or
fourth time that day. II seemed to re-
| store her self confidence. She laughed
| to herself wickedy. Hunt 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 I won't
| speak two words to him all the time
| stay IL can hetp it. So! Oh. dear.
| | wish had boat.
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 n swift grace Gladys
| arose among the long grass and the
| daisies. Her mind was made up.
81 beg pardon" she called as he came
| abreast of her. Can you tell me II
| 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
, admringly.
why. I"-<he began, then stopped.
''Thcre is an approach by the roaC," he
| said, but 1t Is quite two miles to the
| other side"
oh" she said, 81 know! But I've
| walked so far already" She glanced
| ruefully down at her dusty patent
leather ties.
Would you allow meT' he asked ca
gerly. Il could take you across in my
| canoe"
She blushed charmingly. Il hate to
| trouble you"
Il assure you 1t would give me the
greatest pleasure" he said. with an
other admiring glance.
| With 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 lit
| tie slender girl with the longest eye
lashes that ever dropped over pair of
gray eyes, in dark blue foulari. bare
headed in the golden sunlight. big
| black hat Leid in one hand. On her
| forehead and around her ears danced
| little truant wisps of curly hair.
He helped her into the canoe and
piled the gay cushions at her back.
then stepped in after her.
where are you goingT' she asked ss
he pointed the canoe up stream. II I'M
| dcrstood you to say you would take me
across" she added. with some stateli-
ness.
That's such a nasty place to land
he replied alphabetically. ITS much
better little farther up"
His dark eyes sought hers, and they
both laughed. II 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 Grahains:"
He did not answer Immediately.
Yes; charming woman, Mrs. Ora
ham," he admitted at last.
"Oh. yes; lovely. It's pity her son
doesn't take after her" Gladys replied
with high scorn.
Her companion grinned. "Its evi-
dent you know him." he SAID.
"Well, haven't seen him in years
but when | saw him last he was abso-
lutely the most disagreeable, most con
ceited and altogether most hateful boy
ever came across" Gladys sat up
quite straight among her cushions with
sudden energy.
"Poor jack. mu-mured her com
panion "Stlll, if you haven't seen him
for years it isn't impossible that he
has improved"
"Improvedi Well. I'm sure hope so
There certainly was room for improve
ihtiit Ibut hOil btiiCNt ht hucs L hS
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"
"Foolsy' 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"
"Ohw she exclaimed, with incredu-
lous eyes. Anyway, l forgive you
But if I'd had my way shouldn't have
been here at all"