The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1911-09-12

The Gate In
The Hedge
Why 1t Was Closed and
How Opened
By dANssA MAcKIE
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911
BY dARssA MAcKlE

Pauline hummed tune under hel
breath as she tied the ribbons Of hei
little white shoes and reached for bel
tennis racket With swing Of snowy
linen skirts she tripped down the stairs
and out into the golden California sun
shine
Playing tennis by oneself is never
an entertaining pastime. but it Is
good exercise, and when one lives with
a beautiful but melancholy maiden
aunt on retired country estate even
daily gymnastics can border on the
widest excitement.
Pauline's method consisted in serv
ing one or more balls across the mel
and then dashing around into the Cd
posite court and returning the serv-
ice with lightning rapidly and again
darling back to return the stroke.
Pauline fitted back and forth with
pink cheeks and shining eyes. Her Ioos
ened hair fell in two long braids below
her slender waist, and under her
breath she hummed the happy little
tune broken by painting 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 swifrness
that involuntarily she sent it back
again with cry of triumph
| Again 1t returned. and once more
Pauline sent it flying over the hedge.
There was sharp exclamation. soft
steps on the turf. and then over the
dividing wall of roses appeared q
shock of sun bleached hair, a pair OF
good gray eyes and a handsome tan
ned countenance.
Knocked me out there. little girl
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 day over fifteen. while she was
really twenty-five.
Il beg your pardon" said the
stranger, his grin fading away. II
thought you were little girl, don't
you known
I'm 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 it has my
initials on it."
"P. CT" laughed the man. Those
are mine too. I'm Paul Grahanl-I
live in the stone house yonder," he ex-
plair ed. "Your ball disappeared, and |
substituted this one"
II know said Pauline, with a shy
smile. Eve peeped at the house
through the trees. 1t looks very lone
ly and mysterious with its suffered
windows"
They are all wide open now, and If
you care for neighbors- here we areI''
He smiled overwhelmingly. eve heard
there used to be gate in this Chero
kee hedge. wonder where it u.s."
Pauline flushed delicately and looked
away with embarrassed eyes. II be-
lieve the gate was down in the rose
garden. 1t is nailed up now and over
grown with roses"
why was it nailed up? Do you
known" he asked bluntly.
| She shook her head slightly. II have
often wondered. Once / 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 so?"
He nodded. This used TO be orr
home, you know-the stone house. 1
mean-but 1t is many years since we
lived here. Since | was a little boy +
distinctly recollect that gate in the
hedge and have always retained a
vision Of a stately young woman with
Jet black hair and coldly beautiful
face, who walked In a wilderness Of
roses on the other side of the gate"
THAT must have been Aunt Ruth
said Pauline. only her hair is ike
snow. But she is still beautiful and
so cold / wish she were not"
'I'm taking holiday l wish your
aunt would invite me over to play ten.
mis-. Perhaps she remembers me-" sug-
gested Graham.
I'm sure she would invite you If she
knew you were here" said Pauline
politely. Il must run in now. She
would scoid If she knew had talked
so long with stranger. But It's
awfulIy dull here. That is my only
excuse" She moved slowly away and
nodded friendly farewell.
The door of the library was ajar, and
Pauline pushed it gently open and
peeped inside.
Seated at Fat desk was Ruth
Greye In the subdued light OF the
dimly lighted room she looked like a
marble statue. Her gown was white,
and above it her white throat arose in
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
eyes were dropped over the desk. One
white hand glded smoothly across the
paper as she wrote
Pauline watched her with admira-
ton in her eyes. What could have
been the sorrow that had taken all the
light from her aunt's face and left it
beautiful mask of woe7
Miss Greye looked up and caught the
girls admiring gaze. A faint pink
tinged her cheek and then faded She
wiped her pen and placed 1t on the
tray. thrust her papers in velvet port
folio and arose to her stately height.
Pauline" she said In her slow con-
lay out new court on the north side
Of the house. In the meantime please
do not play tennis"
why notY' asked Pauline boldly.
Because I desire it." returned her
aunt haughtily. THAT should be rea-
son enough, Pauline. but / will add
that the owners of the house next door
have returned. and | forbid any one
Of my household having communica-
ton with them"
II am sorry" said Pauline calmly,
but have been talking with the son.
Paul Graham"
what do you mean7 Where did you
meet himY' demanded Miss Greye
quickly.
In few words Pauline related the
incident which had led to her acquaint-
ance with young Graham. HE said
he used to know you when he was a
little boy, Aunt Ruth. but II you don't
wish me to l won't speak to him
again"
Miss Greye's fine eyes blazed with
anger. al do not forbid vnIi To Pam