The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1910-08-03
The LOCKED CATE
More Effective Than the Intend
ed Ride From the Station.
by RUTH EDWARDS.

ABOVE her. III that isn't Just like him.
No ThorouEhfare' and the gate lock.
ed and too high to climb Now. what
on earth am to do anywayT
The whispering wind and the lap
ping waves gave her no reply, and.
pulling letter out of the front of her
blouse, she read 1t for the third or
fourth time that day. 1t seemed TO re-
store her self confidence. She laughed
to herself wickedly. Hum. Mrs. Gra-
ham is dear, but 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 if l can help it. So! Oh. dear.
wish ! had a 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 a swift grace. Gladys
arose among the long grass and the
daisies. Her mind was made up.
II beg pardon" she called as he
came abreast of her. "Can you tell
me If there is way of getting to Mr..
Graham's 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.
why. r. he began, then stopped
There is an approach by the road" he
said. but it is quite two miles to the
other side"
"Oh," she said, II 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. Il could take you across in my
canoe"
She blushed charmingly. II hate to
trouble you"
Il assure you it would give me the
greatest pleasure" he said. with an
other admiring glance.
With a dexterous stroke or two he
brought the graceful little craft up to
the bank and landed. He was tall aud
brown and broad shouldered, and as
he stood looking down at her he saw a
little slender girl with the longest eye
lashes that ever dropped over pair of
gray eyes. in dark blue foulard, bare
headed in the golden sunlight, a 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
piled the gay cushions at her back.
then stepped in after her.
Where are you going" she asked
as he pointed the canoe upstream. II
understood you to say you would take
me across" she added. with some
stateliness.
THAT'S such nasty place to land"
he replied apologetically. ITS much
better a little farther up"
His dark eyes sought hers, and they
both laughed. 1t was obvious to the
most casual observer that the sloping
shore of the other side was most ad-
mirably adapted for beaching the ca
noe.
you seem well acquainted with the
river" she said demurely. do you
know the Grahams?"
He did not answer Immediately.
Yes; charming woman, Mrs Gra-
ham," he admitted at last.
"Oh, yes; lovely. It's a pity her son
doesn't take after her." Gladys re-
Piled 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 a sudden energy.
Poor Jack" murmured her compan-
ion. still, if you haven't seem him
for years 1t isn't impossible that he
has improved"
improved. Well. I'm sure / hope so.
There certainly was room for improve
ment. But 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 braver 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?"
"Ohw she exclaimed. with incredu-
lous eyes. Anyway, l forgive you.
But II I'd had my way l shouldn't have
been here at ALL"
Now it's you that are impolite," he
said.
''Yes, and ungrateful," she admitted
frankly. Its simply lovely out here.
It's the only pleasant thing about the
whole trip. Goodness, II you only
knew how hated to come! i wept
day and night for weeks. But mother
was adamant."
He looked at her appreciatively.
wondering how any human being could
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