The Press., 1911-12-20

line. but I hope you will not. Paul Graham's father is a detestable man. When I tell you that once upon a time was engaged to marry him he was widower, and Paul was a little lad in dresses then. Walter Graham Is publisher. and showed him a poem had written. Pauline, he laughed at it.''
 Pauline, startled by this sudden con fldence, knew not what to say. Max CTS of books and publishers were re- mote beings who rarely strayed into her practical little world Still. she longed to comfort the troubled woman.
 Perhaps he laughed because-was 1t a humorous poem. Aunt Ruth? ?" she asked timidly.
 "Humorousr' scofred Miss Greye. ''It was called Loves Dirge.'"
 'tOh," said Pauline faintly. "l have no doubt it was a beautiful poem"
 'It was." admitted the poetess brief Iy. After that. of course. everything was ended between Walter and me. I had the gate in the rose garden nailed up. and now the hedge has so over grown it that it cannot be found It is like the incident-it is closed for ever"
 And overgrown with the roses of memory" murmured Pauline as she left the room and went upstairs.
 In the library Ruth Greye stood with down bent head. her eyes fixed on the rug at her feet '"The roses of memory" she repeated softly. and there were tears in her eyes.
 At the end of six weeks the repairs on the stone house were about com pleted. Father and son had overseen the regeneration of the neglected es- tate until it verify bloomed as the roses that crowded it. Paul Graham had registered time by his encounters with Pauline Greye.
 They had met many times. Four times be had passed her pony cart as his motor whizzed by. Then he had tired of the car as an unsociable means of locomotion and mounted horse. Often he had overtaken her equipage and ridden slowly beside her as they talked. for Pauline had de
  Greye's permission and continue her acquaintance with the most interest Ing young man she had ever met. Their acquaintance ripened quickly, and one day when Pauline returned home and saw the reflection of her own happy face in the mirror she blushed as she realized she had learn ed the most beautiful thing in the world. After that she did not drive. She shyly kept to the northern grounds or dreamed over a book in the wide veranda-
 Paul haunted the roads restlessIy. His own love was an acknowledged fact to himself. yet because of Pau lines unguarded position he dared not trust himself to see much of her. and he was miserable when she. too, hid herself away
 One gloriously beautiful morning Ruth Greye arose from a sleepless couch and walked slowly among the dew drenched roses in her garden. She stopped now and then to inhale the fragrance of a Cloth of Gold rose or to break tiny cluster of half open ed buds. Suddenly she came to the place where the hedge had overgrown the rustic gate. She stopped abruptly and looked with startled eyes.
 The hedge had been carefully trim med away, and the rustic gate, releas- ed from its fastenings, swung idly with the light breeze. Ruth moved close to the hedge and buried her faco in the sweet smelling roses.
 There was a firm step on the path, and she looked up quickly to meet the glance of Walter Graham on the other side of the rustic gate. Her breath came quickly, and she summoned all her pride and fortitude to steel her heart against her former lover.
 His hand was on the swinging gate. You have opened 1t at last. Ruth." he said in a low tone. "Did you open 1t for me after all these years?'
 Sho did mt answo- ch~ '-'"- '~~T Ing through the vistas of the rose gar len. for in the distance two people were walking. It was Paul and Pau inc. and his arm was about her waist. md the glint of her golden hair shone against the black of his coat So Ruth md Walter had once walked in years gone by.
 Did you open the gate for me. Ruth?' repeated Walter Graham pa- Ilently.
 Ruth pointed toward the lovers. "I am too proud and obstinate to do such a gracious deed." she said slowly. 'She-PRuline-must have opened the gate for your son. Walter. let me open the gate for you. Will you come back?" She laid her hand on the gate. and it swung back for the first ttrns In many years to admit him to the gar den of his love.