Saint Mary's beacon., 1910-08-11
THE LOCKED CATE
More Effective Than the Intend
ed Ride From the Station.
ay RUTH EDWARDS.

Gu OVERWHELMINGLY NJ the rustic bridge
above her. IF that isn't just like himl
No Thoroughfare' and the gate lock
ed 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. she read It for the third or
fourth time that day. IL seemed TO re-
store her self confidence. She laughed
b herself wicketily. '.Hum! Mrs. Ora
ham is a dear. but fancy I've fooled
that conceited Jack OF hers. No. thank
you; no four mile drive with him
I'm down here, 10 be sure. Sut I won't
speak two words TO him all the time I
stay II can help It, So! Oh, dear,
wish had a 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 I'm 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" she called as he
came abreast OF her. "Can you tell
me If there In a way OF getting to Mr..
Graham's estate except by this bridget
It seems TO be closed"
The man I'm the canoe rested his mad
die across his knees and gazed at her
admiringiy
why, r. he began, then stopped.
There IL an approach by the road" he
said. but II 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 mer' he asked ca
seriy. "I could take you across In my
canoe"
She blushed charmingiy. ~ hate to
trouble you"
IL assure you 1t would give me the
greatest pleasure" he said. with an
other admiring glance.
With dexterous 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
little slender girl with the longest eye
lashes that ever dropped over q pair Of
gray eyes. I'm a 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
81 II Aalr -
piled the gay cushions at her back,
then stepped In after her.
Where are you goingr' 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 CO.
noe.
"You seem well acquainted with the
river" she said demureiy. do yon
know the GrahamsY"
He did not answer Immediately.
Yes: charming woman, Mrs. Ora
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 evil
dent you know him." he said.
"Well, L haven't seen him I'm years,
but when I saw him last he was absO-
lutely the most disa greeable, most con-
ceited and altogether most hateful boy
I ever came across" Gladys sat up
quite straight among her cushions
with q sudden energy.
Poor jack" murmured her compan-
Ion. "Still, II you haven't seem him
for years II isn't impossible that he
has improved"
Improved! Well, I'm sure I 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 hast It's
lust Ike him. SO afraid any one
wonh get into his domains. Just as
though any one with sense would want
CO."
Exactly. But possibly he wants &c
keep out that class Of people supposed
to be braver 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 ma this pleasurer'
"Ohr' she exclaimed. with incredu.
lous eyes. Anyway. l forgive you
But II 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. ''ft's simply lovely out here
IT'S the only pleasant thing about the
whole trip. Goodness. II you only
knew how I hated to comet I wept
day and night for weeks. But mother
was adamant."
He looked at her appreciatively
wondering how any human being could
be proof against eyes like those 6llet
with tears.
"Mothers are Inconsistent at times.
10 said Mime. fer instance, has beer
systematically indulging and spoilins
me all my Me and now has taken Il
into her head that must marry O CIR
she has picked out for me. whether
want TO or not"
why, that's tnst the question n