The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1915-10-15
WHEN THE GATE CLOSED
BY DONALD HOPPER.
Copyright 1915, by the Mcclure Newspa

rel, for they were no longer engaged
Nancy had given Robert his ring
and he had taken it. She coul.
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 wert
walking in the garden.
Her daughter came In. She wal
quite pale, but her blue eyes CLEANED
strangely.
What. was that sound I heard?'
went on Mrs. Arden. "A creakine
sound-did you hear it,"
Nancy flushed.
at was the gate,' she said.
1.-THE gatel" Mrs. Arden's voice
expressed her wonder.
Bob closed the gate" said Nancy.
"But-why?"
IT told him to, mother"
"It has never been closed all these
years. I don't understand it. don't
like it." The little lady was visibly
disturbed
"I 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, 1t may be for the best,
after ALL"
why, mother?" asked Nancy in
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, l believe" said
nuIS. uCH, plChlHS up ncI paper.
"I've just been reading about 1.-THE
expedition sails day after tomorrow.
Bob will have to hurry" jl5
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.
ut 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 I told him the idea was absurd
the gate has never been closed
ut is closed now" said Robert
grimly.
Two pairs Of eyes questioned him.
"Why?" asked his mother.
TITS all of between Nancy and me
we are no longer engaged" Robert
picked up magazine 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 a long-forgotten dimple |
at the corner Of her mouth.
Her husband recognized that dimple
lin younger days he had surrendered
% its wiles. Now he watched 1t,
fascinated.
$50 the engagement Is broken"
nurmured Roberts mother. Dear
ne, l am sorry, but perhaps it's all
or the best. Nancy is a dear girl,
tut perhaps she would get along bet
er with a man who could manage
Ter more than you DO, Bobby dear.
But / shall finish that luncheon set
am embroidering for her. 1t will
he ready as soon as she does marry.
here's that young Kenyon from
)verbrook-he is very devoted"
Mrs. Leigh rambled on, her dimple
lways in evidence.
The colonel watched his wife, and
lobert stared at nothing.
tits not too late to join Morrison's
reminded the colonel,
fter a while. "Of course, we hate to
st you go, son, but If you feel now
hat you are free-why hello
here's the boy gomez
He stared at Roberts empty chair.
For the first and last time in her
life Mrs Leigh actually
linked at her husband.
d
Somewhere in the distance a bell
as striking ten.
The moonlight still flooded the
arden, and shone on the closed gate.
Nancy stepped hurriedly down the
18th to the closed gate. She laid
sr hands on the gate to push it open. s
{ the same instant pair of warm,
rong hands covered hers.
Nancy" exclaimed Robert. What :
q you doing here, dear?" {
IT came to open the gate," she
hispered "Oh, 1t must never be
osed between us again.