The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-11-23
At Patsy MuIl's.


when he died it seemed only right and
proper, considering his historic services
TO his country, that his daughter should
be made the incumbent of the office from
which death had taken him.
Patsy was not popular but she was an
institution. 1t seemed almost as much a
part Of ones patriotic duty to believe in
Patsy as TO believe in the constitution of
the United States. She was a taciturn
woman, who kept TO herself and her cats,
of which there were so many that It
would lay one open TO the suspicion of in
accuracy to mention the number They
were wild-eyed cats who regarded hu-
mainly in general with the same suspic-
ion which their mistress showed But
that may have been largely because they
were kept forever in twilight. The build
ing used as a postoffice at Heldar was
owned by Patsy, and only the front part
Of it was. literally speaking, federal
property. The rear Of the structure had
long been used by the Mulls for a family
residence-in fact it had been their home
before a postoffice was mentioned for
| Heldar. The upper story had fallen into
6esuetude, but in three rooms on the
ground floor Miss Patsy had her being
These rooms never were visited by the
sunshine, for not only had they a dismal
northern exposure, but the gloom increas-
ed by drawn blinds. Miss Patsy kept
her house mum. 1t confded nothing TO
! the curious. Her front door was the
door of the postoffie, and behind the glass
| pigeon holes no one was ever permitted
| TO set foot. Her rear door was almost
equal inhospitable, and its mistress SCI
dom emerged from it save to empty the
| ash pan, and then she locked the door
! behind her while she went on that err
rand.
They were easy-going folks at Heldar.
What was. was right, had long been
sort of unconscious proverb with them.
Perhaps they had got into this philoso-
/ phic way of looking at things because, as
| a community, they had suffered a good
many disappointments.
| 1t sometimes seemed as If the town was
accursed, and as If everyone who left It
was false to It, There was Dick Sim
! mons, for example who left his mother
praying for his prosperity. and who had
seemed the tenderest of sons, but who
had not sent a word home in years. The
distant city had swallowed him up. There
was Enoch Brand, who went away TO
make home for his sweetheart, &ivian
Oxford and who sent no word and re-
turned no more. There was John Harri-
BON, who promised to send his father the
place, but who forgot TO keep his word.
But 1t Is foolish to cite the cases. II
! seemed as II there never had been a COM
munity with so much reason for bitterness
Of spirit as that Of Heldar.
The worst of it, for sensitive souls,
sometimes seemed to be the fixed delight
which Patsy Null took in these disap-
pointments. The sardonic smirk upon her
face would be emphasized when the an
xious watcher for the expected letter
would be turned from the window empty
handed day after day. She almost never
spoke. She merely shook her head or
nodded it. She asked no questions, but
every one was aware that she kept
abreast with the doings in the town. Little
went on that was not talked over IN the
postoffice, and If aPtsy was economical
with her voice she was prodigal with her
curiosity.
There were certain fanciful women who
said that It seemed as If Patsy was sort
of evil spirit who brooded over the town.
It seemed as If she had hunger for dis
appointment. and enjoyed seeing her
neighbors suffer. Her little eyes, which
were too close together. shone with VI
cious brightness when she heard that an
other lover had forgotten his troth or an
other son his duty to his parents.
became pathetic A sort Of apathy rest
choly hymns at church, they talked OF
the sorrows of life, and above all they
resigned themselves to the inevitable.
But 1t happened that Jeanette Vail
came to town. She was the niece Of the
Hansons. who had lived there always.
The town felt a furry Of something akin
to excitement at the advent of this glow
ing young beauty. the heiress, is it was
learned to a goodly fortune. The sight
of her on her wheel. CHANGING along the
street was invigorating, and Heldar tenn
porarily forgot its depression. A dance
was got up In her honor, and her eaiety
and charm seemed to bring fresh life
to.the girls whose lovers never came back
and TO the young men whom fortune had
stranded In the quiet spot.
The first time Jeanette had occasion 70
go to the postefT1ce there was sensation.
As usual one Of the wid-eyed cats were
looking out Of the window.
Dear me- postmistress." fcrfed jean
pette. with good-natured condescension,
sis that your cat?'
The cat blinked gloomily, and the post
mistress did not answer. but as she ap-
peared at the window another cat was
visible on her shoulder.
on must ne iona OF CdtSs SAID the
girl pleasantly The group in the post
Office held their breath. 1t was unheard
of for the sour Patsy to be addressed IN
this casual fashion.
Have you any mail for Miss Vail
Jeanette Vail?"
But you haven't looked. How can
you know?"
With a flash Of anger from her little
eyes aPtsy looked. but returned with
mute denial.
ITS strange" said Miss Vail. doubt
fully. II hope you have made quite
sure"
What Patsy did 70 cause the cat on her
shoulder to arch its back and spit at the
girl outside the window II would be diff /
cult to imagine. but the onlookers did not |
appear surprised. Miss Vail went home /
that night ill-content, and the next day /
she was at the postofice again. Again /
the postmistress indicated by a shake az I
her head that there was nothing for Miss 1
Vail The place was occupied by a num- I
her Of persons. and they looked at her 1
sympathetically. 1t seemed TO them that /
the United States mali was only made 20 4
disappoint poor folks. But they were TO /
hear something amazing.
''Postmistress said a clear. young /
voice 7 know there are letters waiting 4
for me- II Is sure ! must have them 4
Two cats looked out Of the window, but 4
Miss Patsy had disappeared. The girl 4
tried the door. but Fl was locked. She I
appealed % the men. but they shook taei- /
heads. They were among the inert Feltar .
fatailsts. And that evening she was told 4
tales II thu hearts that were broken and /
the hopes that weer blasted
You needn't think Harry didn't write :
70 met cried Miss Vail. because 7 know 4
he did" And tire next morning teIe- +
gram went OF 70 Washington just what .
= sr-a-aF +ra TIsfSa~ HrIk never et1fta 4