Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1911-10-20

The Gate In
The Hedge
Why 1t Was Closed and
How Opened
BY CI.ARISSA MACKIE.
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.
BY CL.ARISSA MACKIE

breath as she tied the ribbons of her
little white shoes and reached for her
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 IL never
an entertaining pastime, but 1t 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 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 atted 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 painting breath.
Once her strong young arm sent the
bull 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 swlftness
that lnvoluntarlly she sent 1t back
again with Il cry OF triumph.
Again 1t returned, and once more
Pauline sent 1t flying over the hedge.
There was Il sharp exclamation, soft
steps on the turf, and then over the
dividing wall Of roses appeared
shock of sun bleached hair, pair Of
good gray eyes and II handsome tan
ned countenance.
knocked Inc out there, little girl"
grinned the young man, holding out
the ball
Paullne'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.
81 beg your pardon" said the
stranger, his grin fading away. 81
thought you were 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 OH It,"
up. CT" laughed the man. Those
are mine too. I'm Paul Graham-I
live in the stone house yonder" he ex-
plair ed your ball disappeared, and
substituted this one"
81 know" said Pauline. with Il shy
smile 'I'ye peeped at the house
through the trees. 1t looks very lone
ly and mysterious with Its suffered
windows"
"They are ali wide open now, and II
you care for neighbors--here we arep
He smiled lngrntlatingly. i've heard
there used TO be n gate In this Chero.
kee hedge ] wonder where II IT,"
Pauline flushed dellcately and looked
away with embarrassed eyes. 81 be-
lleye the gate was down IN the rose
garden 1t Is nailed up now and over.
grown with roses"
sIYrh. ,.,.. IA ...lIuA H. .....
~ wa" "u up ~ w"
""U" "o "sAeu piu",y.
81. ane 'l.ooA nei "'"o Snsn's, ""ve
o..n "oue " Unee uSheu u1y
num- Wise oleye, ou' sue never uu'
s"eieu Ivy question a s"'e W.. ween
wv s"iuenS always seehiS 30 'r'enuiV'
Don you tninA 80
ne nouoeu' DIS USED 70 DC our
uo'"e' you NM" s'one nouSe'
micun put Is many years since we
iiVcu mere SINCE ! was niue BOY
uiS,'ncu5 rcco''ect tnut gate III inc
heuee' nhu nave niways returned
VISION VI siateiy young woman WIN
Je' p'uch hnir anu coiuly DeautiIuI
'"ce' VINO "alked III WILDERNESS OF
roses on the other sac OF the gate.
mat must nave Deeh Aunt hutn'
Saiu fauhne' oniy her mar ~ IKE
snow. nut she IL sun DeautiIui ana
30 coiu' ! Wish she were not
I'm taxing hoilday' wish your
aunt wouId lhVlte me over 10 play ten
MS. ferhaps she remembers me- sug-
gested Graham'
I'm sure she wouid invite you II she
knew you were mere Sald faulne
pohtely' must run In now. She
wouid scoiu II Sne knew had taiked
30 long WIN stranger. but us