The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-07-09
PATTY'S LETTERS.

glimpse Of paradise" looking around ad-
miringly at the shady lawns, the clemaLis-
hoTdered porch and the rose hedges all
spriukled over with pink buds. II am sure,
madam, You will reconsider your decision,
and take NE for a few days, and l Will
promise to be no more trouble around the
house than kitten"
Mrs. Farquahar was but human, and the
upshOt of affairs was that Mr.. Walters
trunk arrived the next day.
"Oh mother" said Patty Farquahar,
knitting her pretty eyebrows, why did you
let him in? Aud we SO peaceful and COM
Portable here!'
".Child. why shouldn't ~" said the
widow. He's 10 pay ten dollars week
board, and have no use for the little three
cornered room over the parlor."
81 don't know" said Patty, slowly, but
it seems to me l feel exactly as Eve must
have felt when she saw the serpent with
ing his way into Paradise.
''NOnsenser exclaimed Mrs. Farquahar,
almost angrily.
But Patty only laughed and ran away
under the shadow of the pink buds TO meet
her lover Morris Newton.
Little ONE said Morris, i'm prisoning
both her soft White hands in his, :" have
got bad news for YOU"
Bad news, MOrTis?"
"Pve got to 90 to Omaha next week to see
about those silver mines that one Of my
clients has an interest in
ION, dear" said Patty. pursuing up her
strawberry of mouth.
" shall be gone six months"
Worse and worse" said Patty.
But if you say so, Patty" drawing her
to his side, I'VE can be married first and
maxi wedding trip of it."
THE ideal! flashed back Patty. drawing
herself out of his embrace. And l with
out single dress made!'
We can buy the dresses sfterward."
That's all a man knows about IT,"
You're sure it's impossible?" with
disappointed air.
oh, quite" asserted the little brunette
Then" said Mr.. Newton, with sigh,
you must write very often, and be getting
yOnr fol-de-rols ready to be married as soon
as | come home"
Yes" said Patty gravely, that's more
reasonable"
And she went into the house utterly iGnor-
ant that, al the same time, Mr.. Stuart Waller
was laying a wager with boon companion
at the EasterwoTth Arms, that 'he could
four weeks"
For Mr.. Waller was piqued by Patty's
cool indifference, and, unfortunately, his
were the idle hands" for which Satan is
said TO find plenty of mischief to do.
shes pretty alter fashion" said he to
himself, and mean to make her dead in
love with me before I'm through"
MI. Stuart Waller was man Of the world.
Patty tarquahar was as young in expert
emce as in years. They were an il-mated
pair, and it was hardly three weeks before
the tongue of gossip began to busy itself
with the widows dark-eyed daughter.
Mrs. Farquahar came into Patty's room
one afternoon and found her crying as if her
heart would break, with an open letter in
her lap.
Heart alive, child! whats the matter?"
cried the old lady.
Nothing. nothing, nothng!' cried Patty,
hurrledly wiping her eyes. "Only | have
got letter from Morris, and it makes me
feel so glad and sOrry."
Folks didn't cry over 1--we letters when.I
was girl" said Mrs. Farquahar.
But tile letter was more TO Patty than her
mother suspected. Every trusting word,
every caressing adjective was an envenomed
arrow In her heart.
Patty knew that almost unconscfously
she had been led into what seemed to her
an innocent Irritation with Stuart Waller
She had walked with him in the twilight,
and she had written him two letters, when
lie was temporarily absent in New York
careless, girllsh letters, which, although she
had no thought OF harm at the time she
would know give worlds to recall.
q" I'll ask him to return them to me-" said
Patty to herself, ''and then I'll turn over a
new leaf. Will 90 TO Aunt Prudenc!a's
while he remains here, and begin my wed
ding clothes in good earnest"
But when Patty Farquahar preferred her
innocent request Mr.. Waller laughed in her
face.
My dear Patty" said he, do you take
me Tor fooI!
my name is Miss Farquahar," said the
girl, with flashing eyes.
Stuart"
Il never said such a thingp' interrupted
Patty, with burning cheeks and eyes a1ame.
g In the letter."
81 said Dear Mr.. Waller" painted
Patty.
Excuse me once more. Your memory
plays you false"
viii you return me the lettersp"
Miss Farquahar," with a low bow.
they are a great deal too precious To me-"
" You refuse?"
81 never refuse anything to lady; but"
FATTY dld not Stay TO hear the conclusion,
but flashed out into the afternoon sunshine
with large lump in her throat and a curl.
Gus 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 idiotic, un-
reasonable fool! And what will become of
me II Morris Newton sees those scrawls?
But, surely, surely, in the widest moment
Oh lniatuatlon, l never addressed him as
Dear Stuart! Be that as it may, however,
must, and will, get those letters back"
Fired with indignation, Patty Farquah ar
resolved herself INTO private detective,
searched MI. Walters room, and even got
false key to his trunk, and went through
the contents, but all in vain. And she had
the satisfaction of perceiving by Mr.. Wal
lers amused and patr0niZng manner that
he knew all about it.
III have them yet" said Patty.
MISS tarquahar was standing with
clasped hands before the wide-opened door
OF lhe old-fashioned oven, built on the side
OF the kitchen chimney, and extending
sort OF hump-baek excrescence out into the
lilac bushes Of the back garden when MIR.
Waller came in with a string of speckled
trout depending from his finger
La PenserUsa!" said he lightly. Spar
don me, Patty, but why are you so grave?''
MY thimble," said she, at has rolled
down into the oven-my little GOLD thimUle."
And you can't reach t?"
ut is impossible"
Nothing is impossible when q lady's be-
hest spurs one on" said Mr.. Waller, gal
lantly... stand aside one second, PEN
serosa."
And he sprang valiantly into the yawn-
ing depths of The old brick 0ven
1t was decidedly warm, for the fires had
just been taken out; it was decidedly dark,
put no sooner had he entered than Patty,
brilliant Inspiration lighting her heart and
face alike, swung the massive iron door to,
and fastened it with the sturdy bolt.
"HelIor said MIR. Waller; what are you
doing, Patty?"
'i'n shutting the door," Patty breath
'But l can't find your thimble in this
Egyptian darkness"
II don't want my thimble."
"Patsy-Miss Farquahar-what do you
mean?"
Il mean to have those letters back" an
nounced Patty.
do you want to roast me alive in this
black hole of Calcutta?"
Il don't care much whether you roast or
not" replied Patty.
II shall shout for help"
"Shout away" said Patty, with laugh.
Dorcas is hanging out clothes by the
river, and mother has gone to the village.
Do shoutT
Patty" imploringly said Waller.
"Weil?"
Am / to be prisoner here for life ?''
Until you give me those letters"
a. can't" said Waller. haven't got
them with me-"
' But you can tell me where they are,
suppose" reioined Patty.