Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1912-05-10

little Wllte SlO2S anu Ieucueu lot Her
tennis racket. With IL swing Of snowy
linen skirts she tripped down the stairs
and out into the golden California sun
shine
Playing tennis by oneself is never
IN entertaining paStime. but ii Is
good exercise, and when one lives with
beautiful but melancholy maiden
aunt on retired country estate even
daily gymnastics can border OH the
widest excitement.
Pauline's method consisted in scrv
ing one or more balls across the net
and then dashing around into the op'
posite court and returning the sery-
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 bummed the happy little
rune broken by painting breath.
ball sailing high over the tall hedge of
Cherokee roscS into the grounds Of the
adjoining estate. and it was returned
to her with such surprising swiftness
that invo.uEtariiy she sent it back
again with cry Of triumph
again il returned. and once more
Pauline sent i; flying over the hedge.
There was II sharp exclamation. soft
steps on III" turf, and then over the
dividing wall Of roses appeared a
shock of Sul bleachad hair. pair OF
good gray eyes and handsome tan
ned countenancc
grinned the young man. holding out
the ha.!
Pauiine's bands flew to her lona
braids and wound them in their accus
toned coronet Even then she did not
look day over C.'tren. while she was
really twenty-five
Il beg yoIr pur.lon." said the
stranger. his grin fad,ng away. u
thought y0n were Il little girl. don'i
you know"
I'm not" rypla ainad Pauline with
dignity Thank you for returning tho
ball" holding ont her hand. Why. It's
not mine" she added. with IL puzzled
/ glance at him. although it has my
! initials Oh il"
"P. CO" laughed the man. Those
are mine too. I'm Paul Graham-l
live in the stone house yonder." he ex
plair ed Your ba.! disappeared. and
substituted this one"
81 know," said Pauline, with shy
smile 1--WE peeped ut the house
, through the trees. 1t looks very lone
ly and mysterious with its shuttered
,, windows"
They are ali wide open now. and II
you care fer ueichbors-here we are'
He smiled ingratiatingly. "I've heard
there used to he gate in this Chero
kee hedge wonder where ii is"
Pauline flushed le.icately and looked
away with embarrassed eyes. Il be-
lieve the gate was down in the roSt
garden 1t Is nailed up now and over
grown with roses"
why was il nailed up? DO you
know" he asked bluntly.
She shook her head slightly. u have
often wondered Once asked my
; aunt. Miss Grcye. but she never an
Swered my question \ gate between
two gardens always seems so friendly
Don't you think So?"
He nodded This used 70 be our
home. you know-thc stone house,
mean-but It is many years since we
lived here. Since WAS little boy
distinctly rccoilert that gate i'll the
hedge. and ! have always retained 4
vision OF Il stately young woman viii
| jet black hair and Il colliy beautiful
| face. WHO wai!;el in Il wilderness of
roses on the other side of the gate"
"l'hat niuSt have been Aunt Ruth
said Pauline. Only her hair is like
snow. Bat she is still beautiful and
so cold. wish she were not.
I'm taking holiday. | wish your
aunt would invite ME over 70 pay ten
mis- Perhaps she remembers me-" sug-
seStcd Graham.
I'm sure she would invite you if she
knew you were here" said Pauline
politely Il must run in now. She
wom!I s"o!d if she knew | had talked
50 long with Il stranger. But it's
awfu!ly dui! here. That is my only
EXCISE" She moved slowly away and
nodded Il friendly farewell.
The Goor Of the library was ajar. and
Pauline pushed it gently open and
peei.ei inside.
Sea- ut fat desk was Ruth
Greyc. IN the suEdueI light Of the
dimlr l'ch.ed room she looked like a
marble statue. Fer gown was white.
and Hhovp i! Ter white throat arose in
a stately column to support her beau
tiful head Yer fa"e was lovely in
spite of it's Ia!or ard crowned vii
! soft masses of Irr:nHt,lreiv whi'ered
hair Ecr brows formed straight b:lrk
lines. and the dark lashes and brown
eyes were drOored over the desk. One
white haAI c!iGad smoothly across the
paper rs she Wrcte.
Pauline watched her with admira-
ton in her eyes. What could have
i:aen :he sorrow that had taken all the
light from her aunts face and left II
n beautiful mask OF woe?
Miss Cree booked MP and caught the
CirlS admiring gaze. 4 faint pink
tinged her cheek and then faded She