The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1915-06-26
WHEN THE GATE CLOSED
BY DONALD HOPPER.


ana ne nau lakeu IL. Sne cOulu
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, bat 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.
The gate!" Mrs. Arden's voice
expressed her wonder. M
Bob closed the gate," said Nancy.
"But-why?"
Il told him to, mother"
1T has never been closed all these
years. l don't understand 1t. / 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 1t is just as we'll, 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?''
4 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 70 go merely as the
professors private secretary"
They are to be gone year." said
Nancy, slowly.
Eighteen months. believe" said
Mrs. Arden, picking up her paper.
Nc JUDI uccu tctulH6 dpout Nv thO
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.
1T sounded IKE a gate,' she said.
ut could hardly be a 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"
"It is closed now." said Robert
grimly.
Two pairs OF eyes questioned him.
"Why?'' asked his mother.
Its all off between Nancy and me
we are no longer engaged" Robert
picked up magasine and sat down
under the lamplight
The colonel and HIS wife stared at
each other in CONSERVATION. Then
Mrs. Leigh dropped her eyes to her
knitting and long-forgotten dimple
appeared at the corner Of her mouth.
Her husband recognized that dimple
f,, n ka ho1 dar
to its wiles. Now he watched it.
fascinated
so the engagement is broken"
murmured Roberts mother. Dear
me, am sorry, but perhaps it's all
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 shall finish that luncheon set
l am embroidering for her. 1t will
be ready as soon as she does marry.
There's that young Kenyon from
Overlook he Is very devoted"
Mrs. Leigh rambled on, her dimple
always in evidence.
The colonel watched his wife, and
Robert stared at nothing.
Its not too late to Join Morrison's
expedition" reminded the colonel
after while. "Of course, we hate to
let you go. son, but If 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
winked at her husband.
Somewhere in the distance bel
was striking ten,
The moonlight still flooded the
garden. and shone on the closed gate
Nancy stepped hurriedly down the
path to the closed gate. She laid
her hands on the gate to push 1t open
At the same instant pair of warm
strong hands covered hers.
'Nancy!" exclaimed Robert. "Wha
! are you doing here, dear?"
4 Il came to open the gate" she
whispered. "Oh. 1t must never b
closed between US again!"
/ Never. sweetheart he said ten