Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1925-01-31
"At the Gate of
Heaven"
By MARTHA WILLIAMS

/ 'tItIy SldHilileTeu dCIOSS llle w ICOA
gate. "Scuse me not gettin down
in the awfulest hurry, l am" he ran
on. "We're shy a band, you see, so
I'm after Old Shed and his crew befo'
they git snapped up"
ION your way! Quick-and then
cox chanted from the porch steps.
waving him away with both hands.
Joe grinned happily, swung his hat
high with his best flourish, and gal
Hoped down the long shady lane. He
had lost sleep in his fear Of being
too late-that town fellow, Roger FL
ton, had been rushing Joy so hard
ever since he landed at his uncle's,
three days back.
Joe was fair-minded. He admitted
to himself that under other conditions
Roger wouldn't be wholly bad sort.
Say as a brother-in-law. Just right
for Peggy Gentry-if only he would
think so. Peg was mighty pretty
even prettier than JOY; also she was
wild for towns, travel, what she called
seeing life. The fact had worried Brer
Joe no little. Roger could give her
these desires Of her heart. If only he
could be shown his role of special
providence. Joe stood ready to dover
Peg with his one big winning, the
ReelfoOt Stake, plus the astounding
price of Light Heels, the unexpected
winner.
Old Shed swore by his conjure-bag
to "be dar SADLY night, right at chick
en-roost time, wild three fiddles, err
banjo, err gittar, an de triangle" SO
after dinner-the hour was noon. I'M
derstand-he flung himself full length
in the hammock as happy as he was
tired.
Peg, framed in the doorway, looked
ostentatiously over his head, saying
carelessly: "Joy is giving herself sur
prise party tonight, and wants us to
come. Are you too tired?"
"Won't be after l snOoze an hour"
from Joe drowsily-then suddenly
wide-awake: did she tell you who
else is comin'?'
Everybody in three miles round
with the Eltons for good measure"
Peg answered. Looks to me her cap
is set Roger-fashion, and pinned fast
and tight. I don't see such a much
in him-do your"
Eyes, d-a him." Joe exploded.
"He's got manners, looks, money to
spend as he likes: he knows things
we never heard of-but he shan't have
JOYFUL scalp him first"
DON'T" Peg counseled, grave, but
twinkling. "The best people don't
wear scalp locks any more. Besides
'twOuld be mean to crab Tommy No
lens act"
"Good Lord! Why? Joe demanded
"T'm why" Peg giggled. "Tommy's
so crazy about me he thinks Roger is
stuck on me, too"
Joe sprung up, laughing in spite Of
himself. II wish Tommy was seer"
he said mysteriously. "Say, Peg, If
he knew what he was talkin' about,
what would you say?"
"Tll say to you, oh. you goose!"
Peg flung over her shoulder as she
ran away.
The surprise party went with
rush. Dancing on the piazza, cards In
the living room. solitudes for two on
benches out in moonlt shade. Joy was
a marvellous h0steSs--she played no
favorites-not even Roger. Joe adj
mitted as much to himself, but grudg-
ingly. Certainly Rogers eyes chung
to her wherever she moved, entreat-
ingly, almost despairingly, it seemed.
BY two in the morning there re-
NAMED only the patient WilcOXes, the
persistent Tommy Nolen, Roger, Joe
and Peggy. She had been in wild spir-
it's all evening; now she crOuched at
the end of the huge mahogany sofa,
her eyes downcast; her face musing.
Tommy and Roger. making caryatides
Of themselves, stood either side the
tall chimney-piece. making talk
deliberately, but evidently with ears
strained toward the piazza, whittier Joy
had dragged Joe-without much trOu-
BILE.
If only the ears had been long
enough. fine enough. they would have
heard this: "Joe, you must help-1
don't know how to ask it-but it's
about Roger"
"Well. what about himr' Joe
gloomed.
"I-I-that is-we feel rather re-
spOnsble for him-Tommy Nolen is ?
donkey-.fla t-but donkeys can kick
frightfully, you know"
"What's Tommy got to do with Ro
ger?" from Joe breathlessly.
"Why-don't you know he swears
he'll kill him-for cutting him out with
Peg?"
Explosive silence-then a howl Of
laughter, a rush Of feet-Joy fell upon
Tommy crying: "Come out! Come
out. Nobody has proposed to me to-
night, and the n ION almost down"
Joe laying violent hands upon Peggy
to drag her toward the front dOol
where his car stood in waiting. At
the door, as by second thought, he
called cheerily to Roger: Brother, If
it suits your notion. we'll take you on
bop,or HE ayac his voice ahOyo all