The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1881-10-21
PATTY.

worse every dayp' sonloqulzed Squire
Berrian. drawing his eyebrows together
in a perplexed frown, II must really
write to Sister Jane and see if she can
not spare n of the girls to come and
keep house for me. The very idea
It's a wonder l have never thought OF
that before. The girls must be all
grown by this time. and married. per-
Ihaps. some Of them. Even little Pat
~, the youngest Of all. is q woman
grown, and a good housekeeper, I'll
be bound, or she would be no daughter
OF James As for hiring q housekeep-
!er, I've had enough of that-going Of
without a moments warning, and leav.
ing me to the tender mercies of old
Aunt Cindy. However, l must write
TO Jane at once, for l shall certainly
commit suicide. or go demented. If this
state OF anarchy continues much
longer"
4Phronie. the eldest girl, was married. she
wrote: "and Cyrena, the second, was engaged
ana was making preparations for her own
wedding. Roxie had been sick, aud could moi
leave home at present, but Patty, the young
est, might 90 aud keep house for her uncl,.
concluded Sister Jane.
I'm glad it's Patty, after ALL"
unused the squire, as he drove down to
the station to bring her out. 'sthough ]
haven't seen her since she was nine
years old. That's twelve years q !
Bless me, how time fiesl Is it possible
1 shall be forty IN my next birthday"
1t was possible. certainly, for il was
. fact; but nevertheless the forty years
must have dealt kindly with the squire.
for his firm. erect figure, his raven hair
and clear, piercing, gray-black eyes.
nigh have belonged to q much younger
man.
"And so this is little Patty" he said.
casting a pleased glance at the tall,
slender girl who stood before him, in
her pretty traveling-suit. her fair,
rounded cheeks dimpling with smiles
and bushes. "And you are going to
be my little housekeeper. and order
Aunt Cindy around. and take care Of
your old uncle generally, Patty?" said
the squire, a. they drove home over the
grassy road behind q span of sleek,
prancing baJs.
Eyes, uncle" said Patty, demurely,
dropping her golden eye-lashes I've q
pair of the bluest eyes Squire Berrian
had ever seen.
"How bashful she isr' he thought.
mot at all like Sister Jane. 1 never
knew her to be bashful in my life."
Basiful or not, Patty proved ar ex-
cellent housekeeper. and her uncle new
er ceased congratulating himself on OBJ
tanning such q treasure.
81 uvn now what | SHOULD do with
out you now, Patty" he said. Il am
Just beginning to know what a home
should be. l hope you won't be get
ting married and going to keep house
for some other fellow" be added, hal
in Jest.
"Oh, no-indeedr' promised Patty
b~lushing at the very thought.
1.-THE child is as timid as a wood
thrush" thought the squire.
They were seated in the vine.
wreathed porch, on the shady side o.
the brown old farmhouse. The squire
sat tilted back in his easy, split-bot
toned chair, lazily tanning himself
with his broad-brimmed hat; while
Patty, with a stray CLEAN of sunshine
fiecking her golden braids. rocked bact
and forth in q low sewing-chair. somt
bits of scarlet needlework in her lap.
"Good-evening, Squire Bcrrian! :
didn't s'pose you'd be home this tim'
O. day"
Patty WINGED at the shrill, sharp tone
of Miss Prudence Ketchum, whose al
gular figure suddenly doomed upon thu
porch before them.
Miss Prudence cast a sharp, scruiin
izing glance at Patty, then turned
with q melting smile, toward the squire
81 heard that my second-cousin, Pat
ty Champion, was a-keeping house fol
you," she explained; $50 l made bolo
to run W and see her this afternoon
I've been a-visiting at my sisters, Over
on Muddy, and just got back to-day
and heard Patty was here. The dea,
child must be home-sick, so far away
from her folks"
.'She must speak for herself" sale
the squire. placing a chair for Miss Pru
dence.
..But where is shep" demanded the
visitor.
''Why, here" said the squire. 90
thought you were acquainted, as she IL
your cousin. you say"
'.ThatP" The very rufncs on Mi Il.
Ketchum's lilac sun-bonnet shook witt
severity and righteous indignation rs
she cast n whitening glance at Patty
esquire Berrian, that's no moro Patty
Champion than you air! You've beer
imposed on squire"
"Then who is shep" demanded the
squire, looking puzzled.
Miss Ketcl,um tossed up her heae
and united her RULED bonnet-strings,
in her excitement.
"Who is sheP An iinpostor, OF
Who else could shn beP'
Miss Prudence said the squire,
sternly, 'there is a mystery here which
/ will unravel if YOU will give me tic
opportunity. w. ttever Patty's mo-
tive was,it was a good one, ! am sure
"Oh, indeedT' snapped Miss Pm.
dence. .'It's very easy for some fol 8
to be imposed on by q doll-baby faci
and a lot of yellow hair! But l thans