The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1923-03-09
THE OPEN GATE
BY JANE GORDON
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS;

more. The sickness which claimed
her has choked the song in her throat.
Il heard her sing at your presenta
ton recital" the visitor said. He
voice was marvellous / could not be
lieye when learned of the misfortune
that Frederick Vaughns career mus
be blighted at Its beginning. / an
sorry for her."
The music master smiled; his eyes
gazed out from beneath his shaggy
white hair.
"You need not be sorry" he said.
"Many stories hear from my pupils
their own. That OF the little Fred
erica Is, think, unusual You appear
to be interested. sir; you have come
far to question. Would you like to
know the story. as she has, in part.
told II TO me?"
The man bowed. "You may know.
MASTER" he said, "that had learned
to love your little sinner"
at was years ago" the old man be-
gan. that the girl lived with her
grandfather in the estate on the Hud-
home. And because the mother had in
her youth dared to defy her father,
and go away to marry the man she
loved. he guarded the child left to his
care. jealously against an outside
world. The granddaughter was kept
prisoner inside the gates that in
closed the estate. His happiness and
hope had gone out through those
gates. he told the lawyer who was his
only coniidante. Frederick. the girl
had been called. as nearly as might
be. his namesake. And as she roamed
about the gardens among the bios
SONS she. little white blossom her.
self. the lawyer who spent much time
with her grandfather bestowed upon
her the name. Blossom she became
to the servants who loved her: she
was allowed no friends. And one
morning. the woman who was still her
adviser. remarked petulantly:
"'He that keeps his gates barred
against a needy world may also keep
good from coming in Thinking over
these words, the girl turned the key
and threw wide the gates. Then
breathless from her daring she sat
down to walt AS she sat boy came
running through the gateway "a
wild-eyed boy In q velveteen Jacket
His words gasped out Mt her, He is
following me- And If he finds me he
will take me back to be beaten-to
risk my life over and over. saw the
omen gates and rushed inside. Soon
they viii come and ask you did you !
see me and you viii say
"'Oh, I cannot say a Ile.' cried
Blossom distressed.
"'No.' the boy returned. you can
run on past the gates. then you may |
tell them that you saw boy running
down the road. I shall not be
harmed. lie assured her anxiety.
Lock your gntes behind me-
"Perplexed. dominated, she obeyed.
Almost Immediately the men came,
gathering on horseback along the high
steep paths.
ale would not be here she heard
me say-'these gates are always
ocked'
abruptly one man questioned the
frightened girl. Ohedlently she re-
,eated her story. She had seen boy
n n veiveteen jacket. He had run
IN down the road.
1.-THE men rode on.
.sT~ro--c... t,,rr,o, fc,vord fba hC,toa |
There. up In tree beside the garden
vail the hoy called to her.
"1 climbed up the outside he said.
md swung down to the ground
1.-The WALL the girl cried, is too
Ugh for any one to climb :
"Tlie hog laughed his relief. That
my trick he explained.
"'For the first time | nm grateful
Or my training. am an acrobat.
he man who was searching for me is
~ trainer-inanager. bring him
loney Every day risk my life in
eatli-leap. He made himself my
uardinn He got me, you see, years
20, from IN orphpn asylum. know
1ly the name "F9anc0is''-which he
I'VE me-
you shall not go backr Blossom
I'D. Here you VIII never be found.
will take you to Barney, who cares
r. our gardens. Barney will be your =
iend--if you are worth It.
1.-THE dark eyes of Francois were
isty with gratitude. From the pocket
his jacket he brought forth golden
.nket. For YOU, he said; my
ednl for the highest leap. Keep it,
love you"
And" added the cd musician, ito /
e dly she left here Frederick. the =
lger. wore an chain beneath her
.es, the golden medal.
''Frederica had small legacy OF 81
r own; she used 1t in her instruc- OF
m She used to read to me the "!
endly letters Of Francois, who had m
me from gardener to be her grand
ther's constant companion. 1t be-
n by the young man reading TO the ar
lely old man and ended In secre- m
-yship.
SO" the music master finished tho