Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1915-09-04

even more serious than lovers quar-
rel. for they we're no longer engaged.
Nancy had given Robert his ring
and he had taken II. She coult
hardly forgive him for thatl
Mrs. Arden sat in the living room
reading the evening paper The win
dows we're open to the balmy night
she kuew 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 heard?"
went ON Mrs. Arden. "A creaking
sOund-did you hear it?"
Nancy flushed
1T was the gate" she said
Tho gate!" Mrs. Arden's voice
expressed her wonder.
Bob closed the gate" said Nancy.
~-But-why?"
Il told him to, mother"
ct has never been closed all these
years. don't understand il. | don't
like it," The little lady was visibly
disturbed
4 tod Robert to close the gate;
our engagement is broken" ex-
planned Nancy
Mrs. Arden was silent for some
time. Her eyes we're 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 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 a world of
benefit for Bob TO so merely as the
professors private secretary"
They are to be gone a year." said
Nancy, slowly.
Eighteen months, l believe" said |
Mrs Arden. picking up her paper |
1--WE just been reading about 1.-THE |
expedition sails day after tomorrow !
Bob will have to hurry"
Nancy stared into space.
Colonel Leigh looked across the |
table at his placid wife.
What was that sound, my dear?" |
he inquired.
at sounded like a gate" she said
IT could hardly be gate" said
the colonel There is only one gate
on the place, and that has never been
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 Robert
grimly.
Two pairs of eyes questioned him
''Why?" asked his mother.
It's all off between Nancy and me |
we are no longer engaged" Robert |
picked up a magazine and sat dow (
under the lamplight
The colonel and his wife stared at |
each other i'm CONSERVATION. Then |
Mrs. Leigh dropped her eyes to her .
knitting and a long-forgotten dimple
appeared at the corner of her mouth. [
Her husband recognized that dimple I
in younger days he had surrendered |.
10 its wiles. Now he watched it, |
fascinated.
$50 the engagement is broken"
murmured Roberts mother Dear
me. / am sorry. but perhaps it's all
for the best. Nancy is a dear girl, !
but perhaps she would get along bet |
ter with a man who could manage
her more than you do. Bobby dear.
But / shall finish that luncheon set
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 dimple |
always in evidence.
The colonel watched his wife, and |
Robert stared at nothing.
IT'S not too late to Join Morrisons !
expedition" reminded the colonel, |
after while. "Of course, we hate to |
let you go. son, but IL you feel now
that you are free-why hello
where's the boy gomez"
He stared at Roberts empty chair.
For the first and last time in her
conventional life Mrs. Leigh actually
wlnked at her husband.
Somewhere in the distance a bell
was striking ten.
The moonlight still flooded the
garden. and shone on the closed gate.
Nancy stepped hurriedly down the
nath 10 fha closed gate She laid |