Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1873-02-21
PATTY's PLOT.

Loves me better than the whole world.
does he" said Patty Perorel, shaking her
bro@n tendrilly rings Of hair over faded
rc~e bud and knot of crumpled ribbon.
"Oh. dare say but you see, gravely ad
dressing space, I've beard that sort OF
thing before Love must be an awful cpl.
/ demic nowadays. And all the worlds a
4 lottery; and I, for one, don't want to draw
4 a blank 0 dear, dear! how I wish could
\ really see into mans heart How I Wish
\ had any means of ascertainiug whether
Ralph Penrhvn really cares for me, or
wbeth be has heard of Uncle Hutchnson's
ten thousand dollars. 0 dear me and
Patty sighed a sigh deep enough to stir al
ahe red cinnamon roses that were nodding
their turbancd crests at the easement.
And then she jumped up, and went about
her business
Which Glanced to be girl hunting Just
ahen For Mrs. Maurice Peronel, Patty s
cousin, was chronicaliy in the suds, SO to
speak, on the domestic service question. and
| eur Patty knew the inside Of every Intell-
gence Office in town
Its cook this time, is it, Bessie!" said
she.
"A cook" said Bessie. 30, Patty.
Patty, don't get married and go to house
keering. 1t takes all the romance out of
| one"
81 don't know but what you are right
Patty assented reaectively. And away she
went to the Intelligence Office.
1t was crowded, on this bot July day.
with the miscellaneous assemblage Of Tor
lorn feminty who are always seeking situa
tons, and like the lover in the "N1istletce
Bough" find them not" Patty looked
round obviously. She was something Of a
physiognomist. and she did not exactly like
the locks of the raw material where with she
was surrounded.
Il had better bide my time littls," she
thought, and down she nestled into tho cor.
ncr of prodigious sofa, to wait with what
patience she might.
GAS she seated herself. the sbrll piping
voice of on old lady beyond made silence
vocal
"You won't do for me-, she said mo
followers that's my rule My kitchen
ain t place for all the loa6n' fellers 10 town
to smoke in. Ask everybody in Darling
vile, if you want to know what kind OF q
housekeeper Rachel Penrhyn is. Everg-
body in Darlipgvile knows me. No follow
ere. no ribbons, and no hoop skirts,
IL guess then, ma'am, you won't do for
me, said the Milesian damsel, with an in
dignapt toss Of her jockey hated head; Il
don't 20 nowheres, can't have my young
man come and see me Of Saturday night.
Patty Peronel listened with mischievous.
ly sparkling eyes and cherry cheeks. This,
then, was the eccentric Aunt Rachel. Of
whom Ralph had often told her-the grim
old spinstyr who ''kept house" all by herself,
in the quaint village Of Da,liogville, where
the tlms lined the streets like green.kirtled
sentinels and everybody went to bed at half
pat nine o'clock.
Very sudden resolves will sometimes rush
through our brains. lightning express fash
ion, in short space Of time. and almost be.
fore the shrijl tones Of Miss Rachel's falsetta
voice had ceased to vbrate on the air. Pa.
ty Peronel stood dipping odd little courte
sizes before her.
eff you please. ma'am, woul | suit p
Miss Rachel glared through her moon
shaped spectacle glasses at the trim figure
robed in sober gray.
4 "You child y quoth she. "Why, you're
such chit of a thing %
II am nineteen. ma'am p
what can you do p
"a little of every thing, ma'am," Patty
answered demurely.
What's your name p
"Martha, ma'am, please"
( Apparently the cross examination that fol
lowed was satisfactory to Miss Rachel Pen
rbyn, for she finally told Patty ahe NIGH
"come aud try at seven dollars msuth
II may 60 home for my clothes, a'am 7
said Patty, with dropping eyellds and handl
folded.
Eyes; but be sure you meet me at tn
railroad station at four precisely"
Patty promised, and ran home to Mrs
Peronel
where's my girl ?" demanded thu
matron.
, II haven't got any. I'm girl, myself
3 Bassie-at seven dollars month, and-nt
followers ~
"What under the sun do you mean 2 sn'
Patty explained.
Don't scold, Bessie-now don't that's
darling. I'm Caliph iiaroun Alraschd Ii
t disg uise. that's all 1t will be such fun
Where's my gingham dress, and the llttl
linen collars and the big bib aprons! 70
my bubble would hurst altogether if
shouldn't meet Aunt Rachel at the station
four o'clock precisely"
What change it was, from tho swarm
ing city streets, radlatipg sc'nt'llatloD'
heat from every curb-stone, to the old feo
rhyn house, where the century old elm
= formed green canopy Of shade, and tn
clove.pinks and old fashioned blue .heil
blossoned along the borders. And MAJ
tha," the new maid, settled into the groove
at once rs if she had lived all her life unds
: Aunt Rachel's roof.tree.
L Il believe l am going to like this girl,
II said Aunt Rachel. "But then, OF course.
q new broom sweeps clean; and I'm mo-
afraid to believe in any one, since keturs