The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-07-06
WHEN THE GATE CLOSED
BY DONALD HOPPER.

Il was q lovers quarrel. II was
even more serious than lovers quar-
rel, for they were no longer engaged.
Nancy had given Robert his ring
and he had taken 1t. She could
hardly forgive him for that!
Mrs. Arden sat in the living room,
reading the evening paper The win
dovs were open to the balmy night.
She knew Nancy and her lover we're
walking in the garden.
Her daughter came in. She was
quite pale. but her blue eyes cleaned
strangely.
What was that sound I heard?'
went on Mrs. Arden. "A creaking
sound-did you hear it,"
Nancy flushed.
1T was the gate" she said.
"The gate!" Mrs. Arden's voice
expressed her wonder.
Bob closed the gate" said Nancy.
"But-why?"
Il told him to, mother"
ut has never been closed all these
years. don't understand it. l don't
like it." The little lady was visibly
disturbed
Il told Robert to close the gate;
our engagement is broken" ex-
planned Nancy.
Mrs. Arden was silent for some
time. Her eyes were thoughtful, and
she did not reproach her daughter,
as Nancy expected.
Perhaps it is Just as well. my
dear. OF course you and Bob are al
most too young to be quite certain OF
your hearts We we're all very happy
: over the thought of the families being
united; still. it may be for the best
after ALL"
. why, mother" asked Nancy in q
queer tone. Best for me-or fol
Bob?"
. Il was thinking that now Bot
would be free to take that trip tt
5 India with Professor Morrison. Colo
: mel Leigh said it would be a world O
t benefit for Rob to 60 merely as thu
. professors private secretary"
D "They are to be gone year." sait
Nancy, slowly.
Eighteen months. believe" salt
Mrs. Arden, picking up her paper
D 1--WE just been reading about it-th'
u expedition sails day after tomorrow
Bob will have to hurry"
: Nancy stared into space.
j.
Colonel Leigh looked across tn
table at his placid wife.
D. What was that sound, my dear?
he inquired.
u 1T sounded like gate" she said
1T could hardly be gate" sal
=, the colonel. There is only one gat
- on the place, and that has never bee
closed
e Just then Robert came in, tall an
&c grave.
70 Your father thought he heard TIL
e. gate closing" smiled Mrs. Leigh
10 but told him the idea was absur
the gate has never been closed"
"a 1T is closed now" said Robel
grimly.
u Two pairs Of eyes questioned hin
Why" asked his mother.
re Its all of between Nancy and m
we are no longer engaged" Robel
r. picked up a magazine and sat dow
under the lamplight.
at The colonel and his wife stared {
"a each other in CONSERVATION. The
Mrs. Leigh dropped her eyes to hi
Mt knitting and a long-forgotten dimp
n. appeared at the corner Of her mouth
is Her husband recognized that dimp
in younger days he had surrendere
ly to its wiles. Now he watched Il
fascinated.
'h $50 the engagement is broken
murmured Roberts mother. "De'
'u me, l am sorry. but perhaps it's q
ry for the best. Nancy is a dear gil
but perhaps she would get along be
ter with a man who could manai
her more than you do, Bobby des
But shall finish that luncheon 8
be I am embroidering for her. 1t W
ID be ready as soon as she does MARI
90 There's that young Kenyon fro
IN Overbrook-he Is very devoted"
an Mrs. Leigh rambled on, her dimp
= always In evidence.
Id The colonel watched his wife. Al
ny Robert stared at nothing.
q ITS not too late to join Morrison
he expedition" reminded the colon
er after a while. "Of course, we hate
let you go, son, but IL you feel nc
GU that you are free-why hello
where's the boy gomez"
is He stared at Roberts empty cha
lie For the first and last time in b
nd conventional life Mrs. Leigh actual
as winked at her husband.
is
ng Somewhere In the distance q b
GU was striking ten.
The moonlight still flooded {
garden, and shone on the closed ga
gu Nancy stepped hurriedly down t
path to the closed gate. She ID
pa her hands on the gate to push it OPP
At the same instant a pair Of war
strong hands covered hers.
Nancy" exclaimed Robert. "Wf
,ri are you doing here, dear?'
II came to open the gate" g
% whispered. "Oh, it must never
closed between us again!"
~ Never, sweetheart" he said Il
. .se Derby, and then, together, th
opened the gate.
-, Mrs. Arden heard the sound a
she looked at the picture Of Name
"o' father and sighed and smiled.
The Leighs heard it, too. and CO