Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-11
OLD PEMBERT0N'S GIRL.
A THANKSGIVING MYSTERY.
T. c. HARBAUGH.

village, anu oreW up In front OF the post
Office, where was always to be found at that
hour crowd of loaiers.
Everybody knew at a glance that the
youth was old Enos Pemberton's hired boy,
and expectation was at once on tiptoe.
'Patty Pemberton has drownded her
selfT' cried the boy.
He was surrounded in an instant
"Where?" vociferated 20 voices at once.
"In the water, of course Dye 'spose
she do it in plowed field ?'
"Can't they resuscitate her?' put in q
young doctor with gold spectacles.
They'll wait till they find her, first"
"Ohr said the crowd in perfect unison;
and the boy, having delivered his message,
rode back, leaving the entire population of
the village to follow at its leisure, which
proved the greatest haste imaginable.
Every one knew "Old Pemberton's girl y
She was wild, romping creature, and full
of tom-boy tricks, although there was moth
ing particularly "bad" about her. She
could break a colt and bake a pie to perfec-
ton, which her sister Molly, Just home from
school, could not do; though, when it came
to botany and the languages, she left Patty
Gar in the shade" as Patty herself ex-
pressed it.
1t was queer freak for ''Old Pemberton's s
girl" to drown herself She seemed to enjoy
life, had no real lovers that anyone knew
of, and was the last person capable of COM
mitting such a deed-to the peoples no.
tions.
The Pemberton farm was the largest in the
neighborhood. A part of it was very wild
ground. A deep stream flowed through this
particular portion, and, in some places, its
course was marked with chasms whose walls
were rough and lofty. 1t was agreed by the
excited populace, as it swarmed out to the
Pemberton homestead, which was within
sight of the village, that Patty must have
fallen into the creek, for the idea Of suicide
could not be entertained.
1t was soon learned that the body had not
been found. The stream had been searched,
and the whole neighborhood was still at the
task; but at last reports Patty was still
missing.
"They found her bonnet near the Deep
Hole" said Enos TO the young doctor in the
gold spectscles "She went into the woods
70 look for table flowers for tomorrow. Mr..
Phillips, my daughter Molly's city friend,
is to be with US, and Patty thought to make
things sort O. cheerful for him. 1 believe
you've met Mr.. Phillips?"
The doctor thought he had; yes, he remeni-
bered an introduction by Miss Molly. Mr..
Phillips was a nice young gentleman. If he
(the doctor) was not mistaken, he was a
person well known in the city.
Zone of the rising business men of
N" added Enos Pemberton, promptly.
"He was afraid he couldn't be with us to-
morrow, as his uncle, from whom he will
inherit a comfortable fortune, is very low;
but Molly heard from him this morning to
the effect that the uncle had surprised them
ali BY getting better. Now poor Patty has
cast a cloud over our Thanksgiving, and
Just, too, when Mr.. Phillips needs restp'
The doctor hoped that everything would
vet "turn out for the best," and then Joined
the hunters along the creek.
"Ain't it queer?" asked young Zeke Zeb-
edee, as he thrust his big brown hands into
the eapacious pockets of his overalis and
looked into his companions face. The
two had been the most jealous searchers for
i'old Pemberton's girl"
"What's queer?" was the response,
"Why, that she didn't leave any note
behind. That's customary, you know.
They've found nothin' but the bonnet"
''It strikes me that they'll find nothing
else
Looks that way"
"Jealous?" roared Jack Juniper. stI'd
like to know what'd make Patty Pemberton
Jealous. Come, Zeke! you can't catch me
that way. Why, she'd rather break the
scrubbiest colt in the kentry than fall in
love with king!"
Young Zeke doubtingly shook his head.
"All gals are more or less queer, said he
f'You don't know when some are in love,
nor when they get jealous. Patty told me
once that ="
''Told you, Zeke?'1
Told mer' emphasized young Zebedee.
well, that's queer, too; but 90 on. What
did old Pemberton's girl tell you?''
Zeke, who was an overgrown country
youth, but not at all bad locking, assumed
confidential air, calculated to impress his
single auditor.
''she told me that she didn't intend to
remain single always" be went on. ''She
said she had several mighty good friends,
and among 'em she named-who do you
think?"
doctor Lancet, the young chap who is
over yOnder looking for her now?''
mo! She mentioned young Mr.. Phillips
from the city.
IL
They're looking for him on the late train
tonight"
"An' it was to decorate his Thanksgiving
table with flowers that Patty went to the |
WoodsI'
Zeke's listener appeared dumfounded for
B moment.
cit isn't naturalp' said he at length. |
i'There's all the difference in the world be- |
tween the two girls. One like Patty /
wouldn't strike fine chap like Phillips. |
Why, he's got money boarded up, they saw,
and when he takes a wife he wants one |
with the rough edges polished a little. |
Patty's diamond in the rough. Don't tell |
me that Pemberton's girl was jealous of her
sisters beau.
Young Zebedee did not persist, although
t was evident that the argument had not
him of his error; and the two
vent back to the search with opinions of
heir own.
All night they piled the sorrowful search.
Lights were seen and voices were heard
llong the turbulent creek, and messengers
rom the different parties arrived at the
arm house from time to time.
The late train brought the Thanksgiving
,uest from the city. Young Mr.. Phillips
Fas horrifed at the situation. He had an
icipated the most enjoyable Thanksgiving
f his life, and to have his hopes dashed to
arth in this terrible manner was-well, he
ould not do justice to his feelings.
Thanksgiving Day dawned with the mys-
eryof Patty Pemberton's disappearance still
Insolved. The sun crept over the hilltops.
nd birds sang sweetly among the boughs; !
nd nothing IN nature told that an awful
alamity had fallen upon the neighborhood.
Mr.. Phillips had been one of the last to
ONE back from the well-hunted territory.
lie had tramped the banks of the creek for
sveraI miles, tearing his fine clothes on
ZONES and briers. He had forded it in
umerous places, to the utter ruination of
is stylish pantaloons, and at the end of his
unit for the time he looked very unlike a
usiness man who would soon inherit a cool
fty thousand from Midas-liKe uncle.
Zeke Zebedee saw the Young merchant |