The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1878-02-22
"We can buy the dress afterwards >

1
disappointed air.
'-Oh. quitel" asserted the little bru
nette.
Then" said Mr. Newton, with sigh,
@you must be sure and write very often.
and be getting your fol-de rols ready to
be married in, as soon as come home. y
Yes" said Patty, gravely. That is
more reasonable
And she went back into the house, ut
terly ignorant that, at the same time,
Stuart Waller was laying wager with a
boon companion, at the Eastworth Arms,
that he would cut out that concerted law
yer in less than four weeks.
For Mr. Waller was piqued at Patty Is
cdol indifference, and, unfortunately,
his we're the idle hands" for which Sa-
tan is said to find plenty of mischief to
do. ...
ashe's pretty. after fashion," said he
to himself: "and l mean to make her
dead IN love with me before | am
| through
Mr.. Waller was man of the world,
Patty was as young in experience as in
wears. They were an ill-matched pair,
and it was hardly three weeks before
the tongue ofgossip began to busy itself
with the widows darkeyed daughter.
Mrs Farquhar came into Pattys room
one afternoon and found her crying as
if her heart would break, and with an
open letter in her hand.
Heart alive, child! What is the
natter" cried the old lady.
Nothing, mother-nothing;" and
Patty hurriedly wiped her eyes. "Only
I've got a letter from Morris, and it
makes me so glad and so sorry"
Folks didn't cry over love letters
when was a girl said Mrs. Farquhar.
But the letter was more to Patty than
the old lady suspected. Every trusting
| word, every caressing adjustive, was an
envenomed arrow in her heart.
Patty knew that, almost unconscious
", she had been led into what seemed
to her an innocent Irritation with Stuart
Waller. She walked with him in the
twilight, and she had written two letters,
when he was temporarily absent in New
York-careless, girlish letters, although
no harm at the time, she would now give
worlds to recall.
all ask him to return them to me-"
said Patty to herself "and then I'll
turn over a new leaf will go to Aunt
Prudentias while he remains here, and
begin my wedding clothes in good earn
est"
But when Patty Farquhar profered
her innocent request. Mr. Waller
laughed in her face.
"My dear Patty" said he, "do you
take me for fool?"
"My name is Miss Farquhar," said
the girl with FISHING eyes.
Excuse me; but when you say "Dear
Stuart"
Il never said such thing" inter-
rupted Patty, with burning cheeks and
eyes afiame.
GIn the letters?'
'q said Dear Mr. Waller" painted
Patty.
Excuse me once more-your memory
plays you false"
"Win you return me the letters?"
Miss Farquhar,' with a low bow,
"they are a great deal too precious to
me?"
"You refuse?"
II never refuse anything to lady
but"
Patty did not stay to hear the con-
clusion, but flashed out into the after
noon sunshine, with huge lump in her
throat, and a curious sensation as if all
her blood was turned to fire.
What fool have been!,' she thought
pacing up and down the tiny graveled
walk like chained pantheress, and
biting her scarlet lip-@oh, what an
idiot, unreasoning fool And what will
become of me if ever Morris Newton
sees those silly scrawls? But surely"
with a troubled effect of the memory,
"in the widest moment of my inatua
ton, / never addressed him as Dear
Stuart" Be that as it may howe yer, l
must and will get the letters back"
Fired with this determination, Patty
Farquar resolved herself at once into a
private detective searched Mr.. Walters
room, and even got false key to his
trunks and went through their contents,
but all in vain. And she had the sorry
satisfaction of seeing, by Mr.. Walkers
amused and patronizing air that he knew
all about it.
"Ill have them yet" said Patty.
Miss Farquhar was standing with
clasped hands before the wide opened
door of the old fashioned oven, built by
the side of the old fashioned chimney,
and which extended a sort of hump
backed excresence out into the lilac
bushes of the back garden when Mr..
Waller came in with string Of speckled
trout depending from his finger.
"Le Penserosag" said he highly, Par
don me Patty but why are youso grave?"
She looked up so suddenly at him.
"My thimbleII" said she. 'Ithas rolled
down into the oven-my little gold
thimbleIp
"And can't you reach it?'
"No.'
at is not impossible where a ladyis
behest spurs one on" said Mr.. Waller,
gallantly. Stand aside one second. Pen
serosa."
And he sprang valiandy into the
yawnfng depths of the old brick oven.
1t was decidedly warm, for the fires
had just been out it was decidedly dark,
but no sooner had he entered than |
Patty, a brilliant inspiration lighting her |
heart and face alike, swung the massive
iron door to, fastening it with the sturdy
bolt.
"Hellol" shouted Mr.. Waller, what |
are you doing there, Patty?"
I'm shutting the oven door, breath
lessly responded Patty.
"But l can't find your thimble in this
Egyptian darknes.'