The Southern herald., 1914-04-10
AT THE OSAGE GATE
BY KATHERINE HoPsoN.

Time had been when the Tylers and
Warrens were on the best of terms and
the children of the two families played
together But there came a later date
when the heads of the households had
some business that involved a dis
puted title deed. There were misun-
derstandings and bitter words which
left in their train rancor and resent
ment. And the once smoothly trimmed
Usage hedge between the two lawns
grew into something that resembled
a forest
So it happened that through their
early youth Donald Warren and Edith
Tyler saw very little of each other
But it also happened that they both
went away the same year to the State
university, and for the first time since
their childhood became really ac-
quainted. A forgotten gate in the
overgrown hedge was made to yield
again on its rusty hinges and serve
as trysting place.
But not a word of their love did
they breathe to their respective fam,
ilies-eVen when they were graduated
and their romance, long past the
puppy stage, had assumed the proper
tions of a full-hedged engagement.
When one family gave a social
function the enemy would give an,
other-a more pretentious one if pos
sible. Therefore, when Edith Tyler
gave house party that June to some
out-of-town friends Mabel Warren
Donald's sister, gave one likewise
And the comings and goings of the
rival party furnished conversation
for the other.
On this afternoon, the Tyler party,
after heated game Of tennis, was
resting under the shady naples when
Lucy Bartel remarked:
Il verify believe Donald Warren is
in love with that red-haired Gleason
girl He is certainly her devoted
cavalier" Just then the couple in
question sped past in Donald's new
touring car.
"Yes," remarked another girl, I've
seen several things to make me think
So"
Edith Tyler smiled with her lips,
and said never word.
Mr.. Jonathan Tyler, her father, who
had heard these remarks chuckled. Il
shouldn't wonder if the family encour-
ages them. The Gleasons are the
largest landowners in their county,
and old Warren would look upon the
match as suitable"
Edith listened and wondered. Could
1t be true? Donald-her Donald
making love to another girl? Covertly
she felt a slender chain she wore
about her neck beneath her dress.
From 1t was suspended a diamond
Maybe that is why he was so late
last evening. Meetings between them
were now few and far between owing
to their duties as host and hostess.
But she now saw other reasons.
Trifes became magnified. Thus did
the green-eyed monster gnaw at her
heart.
She had received a note from Don
asking for a few words at the Usage
Gate-for so they designated their
trysting place. After what she had
heard, Edith was first disposed to re-
fuse Then she decided to be pur-
posely late to try him. But when the
hour came she was on time.
Eight o'clock came and he did not
appear Quarter past! Three quar-
ters The night grew dark and damp,
Somewhere nearby, she heard the
lonely cry of a hoot owl. At this she
gathered her dress around her and
fled back to the house where her
! guests were merrily dancing. Thus
she just missed an eager hurrying
man who arrived Just after she had
gone.
mo doubt he was with that Gleason
girl and forgot all about me-" A lump
rose to Edith's throat and was angrily
choked back. We'll, l don't have to
stand this. Other young men appreci-
ate me anyway" She thought of Tom
Sanford, one of the guests who had
been very attentive, Hitherto, she
had held him at a distance, but now
she encouraged him. When he asked
her to go with him to Barview the
last of the week to circus, she ac-
cepted.
The Penlow Brothers World Re-
nowned Circus was a much heralded
event, and all the countryside at
tended. Early that morning, Edith
saw Don go whizzing by in his car.
Beside him on the front seat sat Ruth
Gleason with a fetching green scarf
protecting her Titan locks.
Soon Edith and Tom Sanford were
following suit in the latter's runabout.
Edith wore on her curly brown head a
blue auto bonnet which accentuated
the color of her eyes. Apparently, she
was happiest of the happy, and gayest
of the gay.
When the afternoon show was over,
the crowd became so dense that the
young people of the Tyler house party
became separated. They had prepared
for such a contingency by planning to
meet at the parlors of the hotel.
From there they would go together to
a picnic supper given by one O: