The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-04-03
At THE Usage GATE
By KATHERINE HOPSON.

Time had been when the Tylers and
Warrens were on the best OF terms ana
the children of the two families played
together. But there came 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 Edlth
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 &C.
quainted. x forgotten gate in the
overgrown hedge was made to yield
again on its rusty hinges and serve
as trysting place
But not 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
tons OF a fulltledged engagement.
When one family gave 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 a heated game Of tennis, was
resting under the shady naples when
Lucy Bartel remarked
81 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 a word
Mr.. Jonathan Tyler, her father, who
had heard these remarks chuckled. y
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. Gould
1t be true? Donald-her Donald
making love to another girl? Covertly
she felt slender chain she wore
about her neck beneath her dress
| From It was suspended diamond.
Maybe that is why he was so late
last evening. Meetings between then
were now few and far between OWNS
to their duties as host and hostess
But she now saw other reasons
Trifles became magnitied Thus die
the green-eyed monster gnaw at he
heart.
She had received note from Dol
asking for a few words at the Osag'
Gate-for so they designated thei
trysting place. After what she hat
heard, Edith was first disposed to re
fuse. Then she decided to be pur
posely late to try him. But when tn
hour came she was on time.
Eight o'clock came and he did no
appear. Quarter past. Three quar-
ters The night grew dark and damp
Somewhere nearby, she heard tn
lonely cry Of boot owl At this sh
gathered her dress around her an
fed back to the house where he
guests were merrily dancing. Thu
she just missed an eager hurryin
man who arrived just after she ha
gone.
mo doubt he was with that Gleaso
girl and forgot all about me-, A lum
rose to Edith's throat and was angril
choked back We'll, | don't have I
stand this Other young men apprec
ate me anyway. She thought of Toi
Sanford. one Of the guests who ha
been very attentive. Hitherto, sh
had held him at a distance, but no
she encouraged him When he aske
her to go with him to Barview ii
last of the week to circus, she a
cepted.
The Penlow Brothers World r
nowned Circus was a much heralde
event, and all the countryside a
. tended Early that morning, Edit
saw Don go whizzing by in his ca
Beside him on the front seat sat Rut
Gleason with a fetching green sea
protecting her Titan locks
Soon Edith and Tom Sanford We
following suit in the latters runabor
Edith wore on her curly brown head
blue auto bonnet which accentuat,
the color of her eyes Apparently, 81
was happiest of the happy, and gave
of the gay.
When the afternoon show was ov,
the crowd became so dense that 4
young people of the Tyler house par
became separated. They had prepar
for such contingency by planning
meet at the parlors of the hot
From there they would so together
picnic supper given by one