The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1918-06-22
At the Garden
Gate
@<o
By GEORGE ELMER COBB

Bruce Tyrell and Aida Wrenn were
acting out sweet little love story
all by themselves. SO far they We're
| only friends they told themselves, but
| their inner consciousness revealed to
them that they were fast drifting into
that delightful phase of supcr-exist-
enc" where life is one rOse-tinted, de-
liriouS Whirl of ecstatic joy.
Aida was a schoolteacher. SO was
her sister, Marcia, In a rural district
| fifty miles distant The family was q
| pleasant one, the mother Of the old
| fashioned, faSt-diSappearing type, in
| dulgnt and sympathetic, the father Il
| enough to keep things comfortable.
| He was content, and not willing to
cayrt business expansion at the cost
| Of ri>AinI his little capital and pass
! Ing >IcepleSs nights worrying over it.
It 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 10 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
of JD haII of ~ a.,
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 q 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 q 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
a run of hundred feet In knee-deep
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 its mornings 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 it 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
floating, but stalled platform might be
utilized as raft. When he waded
around to 1t the water was up to his
knees, and he doubted not that 1t was
the direction Of the marooned pupils
and their teacher. Across one side Of
the shed was stretched long pole be-
yond which food trough had been
placed to contain fodder for the horses
1t was thick. staunch and secured by
nails at both ends.
THE very thing" decided Bruce,
tore it loose, waded to the platform
and got upon it. Then using the pole
as deftly as he had manipulated it
when a lad playing the castaway
afioat on home pool, he started his
bulky bark In the direction of the be-
leaguered ones Gagged within the little |
schOolhouse.
He was inspired nightly to diligent |
effort as the schoolmistress appeared |
at It's door, waving her handkerchief |
encouragingly The little ones clus- |
tered about her and at the windows,
keeping up babel Of excited cries |
and cheers. The experiment was a |
close at hand, the eyes of Bruce rested |
on the lovely face of Aida Wrenn, he |
felt all his trouble well recompensed. |
In the three groups the little ones were
RATED across the eXpanse 10 where |
Miss Wrenn, fully familiar with the |
topography of the vicinity, pointed out |
a rising bluff path. Dry shod and
fiuttering with rare excitement, the |
little ones dispersed, able to reach
their homes in safety. Miss Wren in
sisted on remaining behind until the
last Of her charges were safely deliv-
cred from peril and discomfort.
How can we ever thank you for
your wonderful work." she fluttered,
as she stepped upon the raft. what
is that?" she added, with a quick
backward glance. Then she shuddered.
A grinding creak had sounded out; the
Of one end Of the school
house had given way. Lopsided. the
structure toppled and rested four feet
deep In the water, crushing the door
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