The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1918-08-08
At the Garden
Gate
oo
icepyrisht. 1919. Western Newspaper Union
BY GEORGE ELMER COBB


acting out sweet little love stor
all by themselves. SO far they wer
only friends they told themselves, bu
their inner consciousness revealed I
them that they were fast drifting int
that delightful phase of super-exist
ence where life is one tinted, de
lirious whirl Of ecstatic Joy.
Aida was a schoolteacher. SO wa
her sister, Marcia. in rural distric
fifty miles distant. The family was /,
pleasant one, the mother of the old
. fashioned, fast-dlsappearing type, In
| dulgent and sympathetic. the father 6
storekeeper of the town with trade
enough to keep things comfortable
He was content. and not willing tc
coyet business expansion at the cost
of risking his little capital and pass
ing sleepless nights worrying over it.
1t was by mere chance that Bruce
had become acquainted with Aida.
The biggest rainstorm Hillsboro had
ever known was on the program In
active display, one warm spring after
noon, when he was absolutely ma
rooned upon rise of ground near the
roadside, with no shelter except an
open stock shed. He was rather glad
Of the company Of two horses which
crowded out of the drenching rain
with him. They were docile and
friendly. 1t had begun raining just
-
schoolhouse called In the odd two
dozen scholars from the playground.
There was no afternoon recess, for the
rain never let up until four o'clock.
BY that time the roadway was a rush
ing torrent and the water was up over
the steps of the little frame building.
At its open doorway stood the pretty
schoOlteacher. with a, dismayed face
noting the grewsome prospect. while
at the windows the pupils crowded
generally, very much entertained by
the novelty Of their situation.
Conditions were less discouraging
at the roof shelter. The water had
been over shoe tops for an hour, but
water would have landed Bruce on
the higher level. A sturdy framework
Of planks. apparently used as
bridge across some creek or ditch, had
been swept from It's moorings and had
landed directly against the side of the
shelter shed. There came a final fear
full downpour, resembling a cloud
burst, Bruce saw that the water had
come up clear over the threshold of |
the little schoolhouse and was pour |
Ing In over the floor.
Something ought to be done for |
those refugees. They'll begin to get |
frightened soon. There may be no
danger, but there will be some wall
ing among those little tots when 1t be-
gins to get dark"
Bruce studied the watery waste be-
tween the shed and the schoOlhouse.
and then tried to calculate how far the
boating, but stalled platform might be
utilized as a raft. When he waded
around to II the water was up to his
knees, and he doubted not that 1t was
waist high farther down the slant In
he direction of the marooned pupils
Ind their teacher. Across one side Of
ne shed was stretched long pole be-
ond which a food trough had been
placed to contain fodder for the horses.
was thick, staunch and secured by
ais at both ends.
The very thing" decided Bruce,
ore 1t loose, waded to the platform
nd got upon it. Then using the pole
s deity as he had manipulated 1t
men a lad playing the castaway
float on home pool, he started his
ulky bark in the direction of the be-
'aguered ones Gagged within the little
de was inspired nightly to diligent
Tort as the schoolmistress appeared
Its door, waving her handkerchief
The little ones clus-
red about her and at the windows,
eeping up a babel of excited cries
ID cheers. The experiment was
re success, and as, for the first time
ose at hand, the eyes of Bruce rested
the lovely face of Aida Wrenn, he
It all his trouble we'll recompensed.
the three groups the little ones were
fled across the expanse to where
ISIS Wrenn, fully familiar with the
Biography Of the vicinity, pointed out
rising bluff path. Dry shod and
ttering with rare excitement, the a
tie ones dispersed, able to reach 6
eir homes In safety. Miss Wren in |
ted on remaining behind until the
It of her charges were safely deliv /
ID from peril and discomfort.
How can we ever thank you for Q
lr wonderful work." she fiuttered.
she stepped upon the raft. "What a
that?' she added, with quick d
Inward glance. Then she shuddered a
creak had sounded out; the [
1erpinning Of one end of the school K
Use had given way. Lopsided, the g
ncture toppled and rested four feet
p In the water. crushing the door
windows out of shape, a wreck.
truce Tyrrell found himself quite a
o In tEa avaS of tho liffla cnnr1u- m