The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-09-11
Pat answered the bell.

Pat answered the bell.
Gather up the debris, Patty" said
Miss Prettyman, loftily, to the maid;
"and be as noiseless as possible, for Mr..
Hanford is going to read"
Patty stopped over the pile of broken
china, and Mr.. Hanford cleared his
throat.
"The gentleman is about to give us q
sample of the personals found in the
city papers," whispered Howe to the
parlor maid, in distinctly audible
tone. "What do you think of them, as
! a rule, Miss Patty?"
Il don't think of them at all, said
she, coldly. Il never read them"
"This one takes the cake as the
saying is, went on Hanford. "Now,
listen moment, ladies and gentlemen,
and then give me your opinion. y
Miss Cleopatra s..
cousin: If my presence is distaste-
full to you, will try to find you no
longer. But, for the sake of your
father and mother, return to your
home. / will not force myself upon
your notice, but will say that half of
your grandfather's money shall be given
to you, providingyou will let me know
where to send it. Sorrowfully yours,
"F. s. H."
That was Howe's advertis ement, and
recognized it instantly, for he had
showed it to me privately one time,
and L wondered how he would take
Hanford's scathing criticism.
At the words Miss Cleopatra S.
Pat had stiffened up straight as a ram
rod and turned pair of big-surprised
eyes upon Hanford-anger, amazement,
and incredulity expressing themselves
by turns upon her face.
Nobody thought to express an opin-
ion; we were all struck dumb at Pats
look and action.
at strikes me-" said Miss Prettyman,
with an arch glance at Howe, who,
quite pale, stood CHANGING furtively at
Pat, lit strikes me that the object for
which l entered this house is attained
at las&'
The object for which she had entered
that house! Good gracious! We
women looked askance from one to the
other. What on earth did Miss Pretty
man mean? She smiled at Howe and
made a motion with her hand. "Of
course these women" with slightly
scornful emphasis on "these women, !"
"are burning up with curiosity to know
what all this means. Let us explain. I"
Pat reached out trembling hand
for the paper Hanford still held.
Twill you let me look at that per-
sonal 2" she faltered.
And then that false, deceitful, good
for-nothing Miss Prettyman put her
arm around Pats waist, and said, in a
voice that would have melted an ice
berg:
you shall see the paper all you
like, dear girl, after awhile. But just
now let me introduce you to all those
people IN your proper character of
Miss Cleopatra Sherman, heiress to
half a million of money, and cousin of
Mr.. Frank Sherman Howe"
And some way Mr. Howe had hold
of Pats hands the next moment, and
began telling something about his sus-
pecting her to be his cousin, from her
strong resemblance to the photograph
he carried in his pocket, and that, not
daring TO let her know of his suspicious,
he had hired female detective to come
into the house and watch her, and how,
just the day before, Miss Prettyman
had actually discovered proof of his
suspicious in box of letters she had
found in Pats room, and-to make a
long story short, that detestable
Pat was great heroine for
the next four and twenty hours,
and the landlady gave very lofty toss
TO her head when one by one we
slipped out OF the parlor and hunted
her up to tell her the news.
ut don't surprise me at all to hear
that Pattys somebody" said she, with
very superior air. "But what does
surprise and amuse me is the way you
ladies have been taking on over that
Miss Prettyman, who is nothing but a
female detective. l think this time
you pulled the wool over your own eyes.
Mr. Howe conducted Pat to her home
next day; but, before they went away,
he called at my door.
"Good-by, madam" says he, blithe-
ly; you always told me that would
marry my cousin at last if / would
only persevere in carrying on the siege.
And 1 am glad to let you know that L
think you're true prophet. 1 shall
send you cards for the wedding"
From behind my window-blind L
watched them ,enter the carriage, and
as Pat-I will call her so still-raised
her hands in the sunlight, saw gilt
tering on the first finger of the left
one blazing stone, which convinced
me that the poor old grandfather's
fortune would be settled as he wished
it should be.