The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-07-03

- "oS q iofSiS uudTTei. 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 it. She could
hardly forgive him for that!
Mrs. Arden sat in the living room,
reading the evening paper The win
dows were open to the balmy night.
She knew Nancy and her lover were
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?"
II told him to, mother"
ut has never been closed all these
years. l don't understand it. I don't
like it." The little lady was visibly
disturbed
II 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 ii is just as well. my
dear. OF course you and Bob are al
most too young to be quite certain of
your hearts. We were 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 a
queer tone. Best for me-or for
Bob?"
Il was thinking that now Bob
would be free to take that trip to
India with Professor Morrison. Colo
mel Leigh said it would be world OF
benefit for Bob to go merely as the
professors private secretary"
They are to be gone a year" said
Nancy, slowly.
Eighteen months, I believe" said
Mrs. Arden, picking up her paper
I've just been reading about 1.-THE
expedition sails day after tomorrow
Bob will have to hurry"
Nancy stared ints9 space.
Colonel Leigh looked across the
table at his placid wife.
What was that sound, my dear?'
he inquired.
1T sounded like gate,' she said
ut could hardly be gate" sale
the colonel There is only one gate
on the place. and that has never beer
closed"
Just then Robert came in, tall and
grave.
Your father thought he heard the
gate closing" smiled Mrs. Leigh;
but l told him the idea was absurd
the gate has never been closed"
1T is closed now" said Rober
grimly.
Two pairs of eyes questioned him
"Why?" asked his mother.
Its all OF between Nancy and me
we are no longer engaged" Rober
picked up magazine and sat dowr
under the lamplight
The colonel and his wife stared a
each other in CONSERVATION. Ther
Mrs. Leigh dropped her eyes to hel
knitting and long-forgotten dimplt
| appeared at the corner of her mouth.
Her husband recognized that dimpl'
in younger days he had surrendered
to its wiles. Now he watched it,
fascinated.
$50 the engagement is broken
| murmured Roberts mother. "Dea
me. l am sorry, but perhaps it's al
for the best. Nancy is dear girl
but perhaps she would get along bet
ter with a man who could manage
her more than you do, Bobby dear
But l shall finish that luncheon Sc
I am embroidering for her. 1t will
be ready as soon as she does marry
There's that young Kenyon from
| Overbrook-he is very devoted"
Mrs. Leigh rambled on, her dimpl'
always in evidence.
The colonel watched his wife, an,
Robert stared at nothing.
TITS not too late to join Morrison'
expedition" reminded the colonel
after a while. "Of course, we hate +,
let you go, son, but II you feel nov
that you are free-why hello
where's the boy gomez"
He stared at Roberts empty chair
For the first and last time in he
conventional life Mrs. Leigh actual.
winked at her husband.
|
Somewhere in the distance a bel
was striking ten.
The moonlight still flooded thu
garden, and shone on the closed gate
Nancy stepped hurriedly down thu
path to the closed gate. She fai(
her hands on the gate to push it open
At the same instant pair Of warD
strong hands covered hers.
Nancy" exclaimed Robert. "Wha'
are you doing here, dear?"
Il came to open the gate" she
! whispered. "Oh. it must never b.
, closed between us again."
Never, sweetheart" he said ten
Derby, and then, together, they
opened the gate.
Mrs. Arden heard the sound and
she looked at the picture of Nancy's
father and sighed and smiled