The Press., 1911-12-20
The Gate In
 The Hedge Why It Was Closed and
 How Opened
 By 0-ARISSA MACKIE Copyright by American Press AssO-
 citation, 1911

' linen skirts she ripped down the stairs and out into the golden California sun shine.
 Playing tennis by oneself Is never an entertaining pastime, but 1t Is good exercise, and when one lives with a beautiful but melancholy maiden aunt on a retired country estate even daily gymnastics can border on the widest excitement.
 PauIine's method consisted in serv- ing one or more balls across the net and then dashing around into the op- posite court and returning the serv- ice with lightning rapidity and again darting back to return the stroke.
 Pauline fitted back and forth with pink cheeks and shining eyes Her loos- ened hair fell in two long braids below her slender waist, and under her breath she hummed the happy little tune broken by panting breath.
 Once her strong young arm sent the ball sailing high over the tall hedge of Cherokee roses into the grounds of the adjoining estate, and 1t was returned to her with such surprising swiftness that involuntarily she sent 1t back again with a cry of triumph.
 Again it returned. and once more Pauline sent it flying over the hedge.
 There was a sharp exclamation. soft steps on the turf. and then over the dividing wall of roses appeared a ahock of sun bIeached hair, a pair of good gray eyes and a handsome tan ned countenance
 grI grinned the young man, holding out the ball
 Pauline's hands flew to her long braids and wound them in their accus- toned coronet Even then she did not look a day over fifteen, while she was really twenty-two.
 'T beg your pardon" said the stranger. his grin fading away. "I thought you were a little girl. don't you known
 'Tm not" explained Pauline with dignity. Thank you for returning the ball,'' holding out her hand "Why. it's not mine" she added, with a puzzled glance at him. although 1t has my initials on it''
 p. G.Y' laughed the man Those are mine too. "Pm Paul Graham-I live in the stone house yonder," he ex- blair ed 'Your ball disappeared. and substituted this one"
 -I know" said Pauline, with a shy smile "Pve peeped at the house through the trees It looks very lone ly and mysterious with its shuttered windows"
 -They are all wide open now, and If you care for neighbors-here we arer' He smiled ingratiatingly. "Pve heard there used to be a gate in this Chero- kee hedge wonder wSsFe 1t Is l"
 Pauline flushed delicatesJ and looked away with embarrassed eyes 'T be- nsve the gate was down in the rose garden. It is nailed up now and over grown with roses"
 'Why was 1t nailed up? Do you knowr' he asked bluntly.
 She shook her head slightly. T have often wondered Once I asked my aunt, Miss Greye. but she never an- swered my question A gate between two gardens always seems so friendly Don't you think sop He nodded. "This used to be our home, you know-the stone house, mean-but 1t Is many years since we lived here Since I was a little boy l distinctly recOllect that gate in the hedge, and I have always retained a vision of stately young woman with Jet black hair and a coldly beautiful face, who walked in a wilderness of roses on the other side of the gate"
 That must have been Aunt Ruth," Raid Pauline. "Only her hair is like snow. But she is still beautiful and SO cold I wish she were notT
 ~Pm taking a holiday. I wish your aunt would invite me over to play ten niR Perhaps she remembers me-" sug- gested Graham
 ~pm sure she would invite you if she knew you were here," said Pauline politely. T must run in now. She would scold if she knew I had talked % long with a stranger But it's awfuIly dull here. That Is my only excuse." She moved slowly away and nodded a friendly farewell
 The door of the library was ajar, and Pauline pushed it gently open and peeped inside.
 Seated at a fat desk was Ruth Greye. In the subdued light of the dfmly lighted room she looked like a marble statue. Her gown was white. and above 1t her white throat arose in a stately column to support her beau tiful head Her face was lovely in spite of its pallor and crowned with soft masses of prematurely whitened hair. Her brows formed straight black lines. and the dark lashes and brown syes were dropped over the desk. One white hand glided smoothly across the paper as she wrote Pauline watched her with admfra- ton in her eyes. What could have been the sorrow that had taken all the ' light from her aunt's face and left 1t c beautiful mask of woe9 Miss Greye looked up and caught the !, girls admiring gaze. A faint pink ] t1Rged her cheek and then faded She l wiped her pen and placed 1t on the ] tray, thrust her papers in a velvet port folio and arose to her stately height Pauline" she said in her slow con- tralto. 'I have instructed James to Lay out a new court on the north side of the house In the meantime please do not play tennis"
 "Why notY asked Pauline boldly.
 Because l desire It." returned her aunt haughtily. That should be req son enough, Pauline. but 1 will add that the owners of the house next door have returned. and forbid any one of my household having communica- tion with them"
 T am sorry" said Pauline calmly. but I have been talking with the son. Paul Graham" .
 'What do you mean7 Where did you meet himr demanded Miss Greye quickly.
 In q few words Pauline related the incident which had led to her acquaint- nncM with YnunR Graham "Ha said |