Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1877-07-27

Yes" said Patty, gravely. "That'
more reasonable"
And she went back into the house, ut
terly ignorant that, at the same time
Mr.. Stuart Waller was laying a wage
with boon companion at the Ellsworth
Arms, that he would cut out that con
ceited lawyer in less than four weeks.
For Mr.. Waller was piqued by Patty
cool Indifference, and, unfortunately, hi.
were the idle hands" for which Satal
is said to find plenty of mischief t.
do
She's pretty, after fashion" sale
he to himself; and mean to make hel
dead in love with me before I'm through
with her.
Mr.. Waller was man of the world
Patty Farquhar was as young in exper
ience as in years. They were an i'll
mated pair, and it was hardly three
weeks before the tongue of gossip begar
to busy itself with the widows dark
eyed daughter.
Mrs. Farquhar came into Patty S room
one afternoon, and found her crying as
if her heart would break, with an oper
letter in her lap.
Heart alive, child! what is the mat
teri" cried the old lady.
Nothing, mother-nothing!" and she
hurriedly wiped her eyes. Only I've
got letter from Morris, and it makes
me so glad and so sorry"
Folks didn't cry over love-letters
when | was girl, said widow Farqu.
har.
But the letter was more to Patty than
the old lady expected. Every trusting
word, every caressing adjective, was an
envenomed arrow to her heart.
Patty knew that almost unconscious.
ly she had been led into what seemed to
her an innocent enough Irritation with
Stuart Waller. She had walked with
him in the twilight, and she had written
two letters when he was temporarily ab-
sent in New careless, girlish let
ters which, although no harm at the
time, she would now give worlds to re.
call.
"I'll ask him to return them to me,
said Patty to herself; "and then will
turn over new leaf. | will 20 to Aunt
Prudencia's while he remains here, and
begin my wedding clothes in good ear
nest"
But when Patty Farquhar proffered
her innocent request, Mr.. Waller laugh
ed in her face.
My dear Patty" said he, do you
take me for fool?"
My name is Miss Farquhar," said
the girl with flashing eyes.
Excuse me; but when you say Dear
Stuart"
Il never said such thing!" inter
rupted Patty, with burning checks and
eyes afame.
. In the letters
" | said Dear Mr.. Waller,' painted
Patty.
Excuse me once more-your memo
ry play; you false" :, -,
will you return me the letters?"
Miss Farquhar, with low bow
they are a great deal too precious to
me-"
You refuse?"
| never refuse anything to a LADY,
but"
Patty did not wait to hear the conclu-
sion, but flashed out into the afternoon
sunshine, with a huge lump in her throat
and curious sensation as if all her
blood were turned to fire.
What fool I've been!" she thought
pacing up and down the graveled walk
like a chained panthress; and biting her
scarlet lip-"O, what an idiotic, unrea-
soning fool! And what will become Of
me if ever Morris Newton sees those
silly scrawls? But surely, surely" with
troubled effort of the memory, lin the
widest moment of my infatuation |
never addressed him as Dear Stuart
Be that as it may, however, l must and
wW get those letters back"
Fired with this determination, Patty
FarQuhar resolved herself at once into a
private detective, searched Mr. Waller
room, and even got false key to his
trunks, and went through their con-
tents, but all in vain And she had the
sorry satisfaction of perceiving, by Mr..
Walters amused and patrOnizing air,
that he knew all about it.
I'll have them yeti" said Patty
Miss Farquhar was standing, with her
hands clasped, before the wide opened
door of the old-fashioned oven, built by
the side of the kitchen chimney, and ex-
tending, sort of hump-backed excres-
cence, out into the lilac bushes of the
back garden, when Mr.. Waller came in
one afternoon, with string of speckled
trout depending from his finger.
"La Penserosa!" said he. lightly.
" Pardon me, Patty, but why are you so
grave?"
She looked up suddenly at him.
My thimble!" said she. "It has
rolled down into the oven-my little
gold thimble! "
And can't you reach it?"
1t is impossible"
8 Nothing is impossible when lady S
behest spurs one on! said Mr.. Waller,
gallantly. Stand aside, one moment,
Penserosa.
And he sprang valiantly into the
yawning depths of the old brick oven.
1t was decidedly warm, for the fires
had just been taken out; it was decided
ly dark, but no sooner had he entered
than Patty, brilliant inspiration light
ing her heart and face alike, swung the
massive iron door to, and fastened it
with a sturdy bolt.
Hello!" shouted Mr.. Waller, what
are yoing there, Patty?"
I'm shutting the oven door," breath
lessly responded Patty.
But l can't find your thimble in this
Egyptian darkness"
" | don't want. my thimble."
Patty-Miss Farquhar-what do you
mean?"
Il mean to have those letters back"
announced Patty.
DO you want to roast me alive in
this black hole of Calcutta of placer"
gasped Mr.. Waller.
s. don't think l care much whether
you roast or not" answered Patty, de-
liberately.
& | shall shout for help
Shout away" said Patty, with lit
tie laugh "Dorcas is hanging out the
clothes by the river, and mother has
gone to the village. Do shout"
:" Patty" imploringly.
No reply
Miss Farquhar!" more imploringly
''Well?"
Gam l to be prisoner here for
life?"
" Until you shall give me those let
ters.'
Il can't!" groaned Mr.. Waller i
haven't got them with me-