Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1907-05-31

cuses. Every morning after breakfast
he strolled round his lawn and reveled
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 I'M
profitable. Mr.. Patton had no foolish
scorn of the tea trade, but he felt no
reluctance in leaving 1t when his rel
ative's legacy allowed him to indulge
the two desires of his mind-literary I
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 a confirmed wo-
man hater. Although ten years had
| passed since his first love had Tilted
him, James was 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 ac-
| customed promenade along the care
fully tended walks of his garden.
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.
| movement in the shrubbery along
the south wall put him on the alert
and, STOPPING down, he picked up
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 a 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 hideous doll
was standing on the footpath, gazing
at him.
II 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.
, EOOT pussy cat, IHS llIIlc OAC.
Naughty mani" she added, as the OBJ
ject of her disapproval moved further
away.
Finally, annoyed at his want of at
tention, she picked up a small hand
full 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, cor I'll get the policeman fol
q you"
Two minutes later a woful wal
2 came from the ratings.
f Lost my dolly. lost my dolly!" SAIL
n fearful voice.
Mr.. Paton's eyes Immediately caugh
sight of ragged-Iooking bundle lyini
e at the foot of the low stone wall.
: well, it serves you right for beini
so careless" he said, unkindly. "Youl
; never see your dolly again." he added
't solemnly. Are you satisfied now?"
e A storm of tears was the answer b
received.
well, Welt" he exclaimed hastily
3 Now, If give you back your dolly
n will you promise never to come her
again?"
The child signified her acquiescenc
% in the arrangement. Whereupon MI
Patton stepped gingerly over the soft
!; damp earth and secured the unattraci
lve-looking object of juvenile affection
a Alas! Dolly's china head had struc
r. upon a stone and was split in twaiI
10 Never mind, little GIRL" whispere
Mr.. Patton, hurriedly, and, to tell tn
truth, dreadfully sorry.
q. "Oh. naughty. bad man! You ha
lv killed my dolly!" cried the child, pa
:. sionately.
III What! Dye think did 1t? VIII.
confound it! You're making mistake
i See! Don't go away"
But the small figure was movin
u along the railing and pressing he
IL broken joy against her bosom.
The bachelor shut the gate an
walked up to the house without {
much as a glance at his crocuses.
He shut himself up in his study, b,
ne somehow he could not apply himse
he 10 his work. In the afternoon /
took the train to Glasgow, returnin
late in the evening.
Is The next morning he proceeded
n make his usual promenade of the ga
den, but it might have been observe
that his eyes turned oftener to Il
eo ratings than to the lawn. He RENAME
nv out of doors longer than was his won
ha and when he went in at last the
was a queer, worried look about h
-or eyes.
be After an early dinner he surpris,
t;o his landlady by telling her that he WI
going out for the afternoon. 1t shou
be mentioned that Mr.. Patton had n
sal | left his house or garden for yea
IL without the express purpose OF a Wis