St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-07-19
PATTY's LESSON.


his pretty shop-girl, what ails you of
late?"
What ais me?" repeated Patty, shrug-
glng up one shoulder and looking very hard
at the box of mixed harpins that she was
making pretext of arranging Nothing
alls me. Why should you ask?"
Because" said Mr.. Denbrooke, with
grave fatherlY kindness, ''you are not
your old self at all. Because your mind is
not on your business. Because whatever is
worth doing at all is worth doing well.
Patty, my girl, you're an orphan, and our
Charley thinks deal of you-two good
reasons that l should be glad to have YOU
here in my store But, Patty, your serv-
ces will be worth nothing at all TO me if
you don't put little more heart into
them"
Patty contracted her pretty arched
brows and muttered something abOnt mot
expecting to spend all her days III a thread
and needle store" which Mr. Denbrooke
made 1t not convenient to hear. But
Grizzly Walters, the foreWoman nodded her
head significantly as Patty went OUT
Abr said Grizzly in a meaning sort of
monosylable, she's got beauw
''EhH said Mr.. Denbrooke. "Oh YOU
mean my nephew Charley" with glance
at the high-ralled cashiers desk where the
identical Charley in question at that mo-
ment engaged in footing up long column
of figures
mo. Not your nephew. Patty has
taught herself to look higher than anv store
clerk now"
''Grizzy Walters, what do you mean?"
demanded Mr.. Denbrooke.
HE boards at the ST. Nicholas and wears
line broadcloth and vanished boots,' said
Grlzzy. Hes fine gentleman, and comes
I'D mere OFTEN to buy little things. / saw him
when he first came and said something
pretty to Patty about her blue eyes. They
walk together Sunday afternoons. and Patty
thinks she's going to be fine lady,"
Il must speak to Patty about it," said
MI, Denbrooke, much disturbed.
Patty! Patty" he demonstrated. Fine
gentlemen don't mean any good when they
come philandering around store girls. Take
warning. Patty, child"
But Patty Price only founced out of the
room.
1t was late when she escaped from the
store that night-past 10, with full moon
shining in the sky; and just as she slipped
out OF the side door, Charley Dennbrooke
came from the other entrance.
II may go home wi th you, Patty?"
I'D rather walk alone" said Patty.
cit is late"
Il am not at all afraid"
docs she mean to give me the mitten?"
he asked himself. ''rll follow her at a
distance, and see that she gets safe home.
She can't prevent that"
But Charley wavered in his resolution
when. turning the corner by the park, he
saw Patty joined by a tall. stylish figure in
fur-trimmed overcoat and silk hat. He
paused second, looking after them, and
then turned back, with heart as heavy as
lead in his bosom.
Meanwhile Patty tripped along by the
side of her cavalier, as light as a lark.
''Let me see," said Mr. Sinclair. Pattv's
companion. sits your 18th birthday to-
morrow"
''How did you know it?" cried out the
enchanted girl.
"A little bird told me" (dr. Sinclair
might have said with more truth that the
innocent damsel had divulged the fact some
days ago in her unconscious prattle). land
| haven't forgotten it. l don't forget.
Here's birthday gift for you.''
Not 500 bill?" cried Patty, as the
CLEAN of a street lamp fell across the slip
of paper in her lovers hand
"Oh, that is nothing 1 would have
picked out something myself if 1 lad
thought | could have suited you"
Patty's eyes glittered. Here was prncely
generosity! How long would it have been
before Charley Denbrooke gave her 500
bill.
She asked for an afternoons holiday the
next day and went out with glowing cheeks
and dimpling lips to make all-important
purchases. What would Grizzly Walters
and all the other shop-hands say when they
saw her in a new velvet basque? She
bought it and ordered it sent to the store.
''Fll try it on there" she thought, land
then they can all see it,"
But the next morning as she took off her
bonnet and shawl in the back of the store
in walked the proprietor of the velvet cloak
establishment with big policeman at his
elbow.
eve want Miss Martha Anne Price"
said he. ''She bought cloak at our place
yesterday, and she paid for it with one Of
the new counterfeit bills. Here it is-a
500 BILL"
''Impossible!' cried Mr.. Denbrooke.
''Quite out of the question:, - said Charley,
bouncing down from the cashiers desk.
Our Patty never could
1T is quite true" said Patty, as she adj.
vanced, pale as death and trembling all
over. Il did buy the cloak. did paw the
500 bill forit and received $40 in change.
Here it is in my pocket now. But l never
dreamed that the bill was anything but a
good one''
''Fve heard all that BEFORE" remarked
the policeman "Where did you get it?''
ut was given me by Mr.. Montpensier
Sinclair" she answered, in low tone.
''Can YOU identify him?''
Certainly"
Then praps you'd better come along
with US. If you're really only tool in his
hands, why things won't go quite so hard
with you. Step lively, anyhow We can't
stand here waiting all day.
'Stop" said Charley Denbrooke, 81 will
go with her''
And Patty's lmpid eyes, all swimming in
tears, thanked him.
Mr.. Montpensier Sinclair was duly ident-
flied by the poor mortified PATTY.
oh" said Mr.. Sinclair, who sat on a
rail at the police station, swinging his legs
easily and chewing a straw for lack of a
cigar, it's the pretty shop GIRL l thought
So"
And Patty colored redder than ever with
indignant modification.
AS 1t was so evident that she was only an
instrument i'll the hands of the crafty coun-
terfeiter, Patty Price was released without
any further trouble, and she returned to the
store sadder and wiser girl.
Charley" she faltered 'I've treated
you shamefully."
''Never mind that, Patty, darling,n SID
young Denbroke. Were all liable to mr.
takes, and I'm only glad you've found yours
out before it was too late"
And so they kissed and made up" as all
true lovers should