River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1907-05-16

he strolled round his lawn and reyeled
in his beautiful possessions. Although
still on the right side of 40, he was a
retired business man. The death OF
a relative had enabled him to quit an
occupation both distasteful and un-
profitable. Mr. Patton had no foolish
scorn Of the tea trade, but he felt no
reluctance in leaving it when his rel
atives legacy allowed him to indulge
the two desires of his mind-literary
work and gardening His success in
the latter was apparent to anyone who
PASSED Ailsa View; in the former he
had not yet made a bid for fame, ow-
ing to a strange lack of appreciation
on the part Of publishers.
James Patton was confirmed wo-
man hater Although ten years had
passed since his first love had Tilted
him, James vas still unable to see the
humor of that event or of anything
else in the world
1t was a gay morning in early April,
and the bachelor was enjoying his &C
customed promenade along the care
1ull3 LCIuCu Wdiho VI I4o 5cAl
His whole attention was concentrate
ed on his crocuses, and he strolled
round and round, never seeming to
raise his eyes from his beautiful lawn.
A movement in the shrubbery along
the south wall put him on the alert
and, STOPPING down, he picked up a
couple Of pebbles from the path. In
addition to women, Mr. Patton hated
cats The cat had evidently some
business in view, for she was. crouch
ing and preparing for a spring. Sud
denly Mr. Paton's arm went up and
the next moment nasty thump on
the ribs caused the cat to emit dis
nal yell and leap for the top of the
wall
"Oh, naughty, naughty" said some
one behind him.
Mr. Patton wheeled round quickly.
A little girl, hugging a hideous doll,
was standing on the footpath, gazing
at him.
Il beg your pardon. Did you
speak," said Mr.. Patton. She simply
nodded and repeated her observation:
Naughty, naughty"
Mr. Patton stared at the child for a
moment, then continued his stroll.
Poor pussy cat" said the little one.
Naughty mani" she added, as the OBJ
iect Of her disapproval moved further
away.
Finally, annoyed at his want of at
tention, she picked up a small hand
ful of gravel and flung it through the
ratings The missile did not come
near striking Mr.. Patton, but it scat
tered and fell among his crocuses.
GO away, little girl" he said an
grily, ''or I'll get the policeman for
you"
Two minutes later a woful wall
came from the ratings.
Lost my dolly, lost my dolly" said
a fearful voice.
Mr.. Paton's eyes Immediately caught
sight of a ragged-looking bundle lying
at the foot of the low stone wall
Wen, it serves you right for being
SO careless" he said, unkindly. You'll
never see your dolly again" ne added,
solemnly Are you satisfied now?"
A storm of tears was the answer he
received.
We'll. Well" he exclaimed hastily
Now, if | give you back your dolly,
will you promise never to come here
again."
The child signified her acquiescence
in the arrangement. Whereupon Mr..
Patton stepped gingerly over the soft,
damp earth and secured the unattract-
ive-looking object of Juvenile affection.
Alas! Dolly's china head had struck
upon a stone and was split in twain,
Never mind, little girl" whispered
Mr. Patton, hurriedly, and, to tell the
truth, dreadfully sorry
"Oh, naughty, bad man! You has
killed my dolly!' cried the child, pas
sionately.
What! Dye think | did it? Why,
confound it! You're making mistake
See! Don't go away"
But the small figure was moving
along the railing and pressing her
broken Joy against her bosom.
The bachelor shut the gate and
walked up to the house without so
much as a glance at his crocuses.
He shut himself up in his study, but
somehow he could not apply himself
to his work. In the afternoon he
took the train to Glasgow, returning
late in the evening.
The next morning he proceeded to
make his usual promenade of the gar
den, but it might have been observed
that his eyes turned oftener to the
ratings than to the lawn. He remained
out Of doors longer than was his wont.
and when he went in at last there
was a queer, worried look about his
eyes.
After an early dinner he surprised
his landlady by telling her that he was
going out for the afternoon. 1t should
be mentioned that Mr.. Patton had not
left his house or garden for years
without the express purpose of a visit
to the city. But for the time being
Mr.. Patton was in an extraordinary
frame of mind. An old desire had
been reused to trouble the peace he
had forced upon himself. James Pa
ton HAD fallen in love again with the
woman who Tilted him ten years be-
fore-who married a man, in the eyes
OF her parents, immeasurably superior
to struggling tea merchant. James
had neither seen nor heard of his