Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1905-04-12
THE FORBIDDEN
PATH
By lzoLA FORESTER
Copyright. 1905. bu lola Forester.

ITS a perfect shame. Look at thu
lawnl Cut right straight across frol
the lilacs to the sidewalk, as If we ker
little chain gang Of elephants trottin
over it. won't have 1t. Nell! I'll tur
the hose on those boys!'
Don't jabber over 1t, Kit. You
only get all red and warm and fuss,
and some one may hear you"
Kit scowled defiantly at the broa
bay window Of the house next door
The shades were lowered and tn
blinds half closed. On one windoy
sill a plump tortoise shell cat doze
comfortably. Peace evidently relgne,
within. and 1t was the habitation of tn
enemy.
II don't care who hears me. Who
ever hears Kit raised her voic,
ever so little, just enough to carry
over. the tortoise shell cat. "They
must know all about it anyway. How
would they like 1t If we trampled paths
all over their lawn day and pisgss.t?"
There comes one Of them.". Nell
paused n her sweepins on the little
vine covered porch and waited anxious
ly. "Now, don't be hhhy, SIS"
Kit sat immovable In the dandelion
starred grass and watched the coming
boy with disappearing, menacing eyes.
He was rather nice boy to look at,
too. somewhere around fifteen, and he
whistled as he came along the side
walk In front Of the Norton cottage.
There was a break In the low box
hedge, made by vandals, but this van
dial disdained It and added insult to
injury by jumping over the hedge and
boldly starting across the path.
"How do, Miss NortonT he called
cheerily. Pretty hot today, isn't it2'
Say, Dick Mclean, we don't want
you three boys .tramping' over our
lawn" Kit spoke with dignity and
severity. ut makes a regular beaten
path all the way, to your lilacs, and I
think you could use your own dawn If
you want to make checkerboard on
the grass" -.
Dick halted midway on the forbid
den way and looked at Its undertaking
course Of barrenness with interest.
ut does look queer" he said. I'm
awfully sorry we did it. When old
Mrs. Tisdale lived here she didn't give
a rap about it. 1t wasn't lawn then.
She just hung up her wash here, and
she kept chickens too"
"Well, we don't" retorted KIT most
Ever since we moved
here I've been trying to coax real
croquet lawn out of wilderness OF
chickweed and plantain. We only had
the hedge put In as a gentle hint to
our neighbours
you mean us, don't your Dick
smiled down on her good naturally.
Eyes. do" granted Kit because It
really was all the fault Of you boys,
and you don't care. You even jump
right over the hedge"
Dick got over on his own side hasti-
y. "Well, Pm sorry jumped, Miss
Norton" he said contritely. "And I'll |
ell the other boys to keep of too.
Soodby."
Kits curly head nodded an unwilling
esponse as she bent over the pansy
,ed again.
"He heard every word" Nell sat
lown on the top step and laughed.
"How do you know"
"The cat went indoors, and she never
OeS unless he Is at the desk"
There was a pause, and the pansles
Uttered from too vigorous treatment
"Well, l don't care If he did," said
1t finally, but her tone was lower. IF
hey don't stop it I'll put up barb
ire"
1t was not an idle threat, though 1t
eeded provocation to carry 1t out.
wo days later, just at noon, happy,
'isurely procession passed over the
wn. Even Dick. the traitor, was lead
lg and whistling in sweet forgetful-
ess, with baseball bat over his
BOULDER. Kit said nothing. The point |
id arrived where mere wrath was flu
lie. Early on Saturday morning she ,
lperintended tie placing Of her out
)sts Of defense, and by the time that
lie boys appeared neat array of
lrb wire strands were stretched along
,side the hedge.
IT'S all right for the boys" said Nell
itically. But what If Mr.. Mclean !
IF he can't make his little brothers I
.haye, then We will. It's bad enough (
ling next door to a perfect old crank,
| your summer vacation anyway,
Ithout being on intimate terms with I
m. Even mother says he's eccentric,
ID that means crank"
HE doesn't look like one"
well, he is. all the same. All writers A
e cranks, and the more successful l.
ey get the crankier they are. so Mr.. !"
rke Ross Mclean must be a terror. r
I'd he doesn't write books, either; not ?
al books. He only travels and writes I,
esn't make up thing out Of his own n
ad." 81. ~ ~, ,.. N
Nell did not answer. She was look =
3 over at the cool, darkened bay win n
W and thinking Of the figure beyond h
g tortoise shell cat. a figure that, O
ting at the broad, fat top desk near N
, window, sometimes turned to gaze q
sr the hedge where the pansies grew al
l the croquet balls clicked. r.
Just you wait" said Kit, following 81
: glance. "Some day those boys will IN
get and take run over that path q,
l tumble In the wire, and well see o,
louble twister turned" &c
unday evening supper was matter
individual vagary and caprice so far
the Norton family was concerned.
lily went home after dinner Mrs. O.,
rton went upstairs for a cozy nap h,
nut twilight, and the girls usually
k iced tea and salad sandwiches out n
the porch, where they could lie in n