The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1908-09-26
Patty's Visit to the Reunion
By Euebn Snead Rornett
Copyright. by shortstory Pub. COB
By Euelyn Snead Rornett

SopSriSnt. oy Sn'
Patty Eldred was pink of cheek and
brown of hair. which was perhaps the
reason that when the colonel. her IA
ther. promised to take her to the re-
union in Louisville she ordered pink
umbrella edged with a gold-brown
stripe.
Patty had always gone everywhere
with her father, but that everywhere
vas neither far nor wide. as, with the
exception OF the Lee ball at The
White" and two trips to Richmond.
she had never left the town of Dins-
more. where she had first seen the
light The excitement of making so
extended a trip inclined her to airs.
SO when she waved her hand from
the hack of the train to the crowd of
devoted SWANS who had come with
flowers and candy to speed her on her
way. she rather hurt the feelings OF
viii Rogers. whom she was supposed
TO favor
As the train was about rounding
curve he had run by the car calling:
I've a great mind to get ahead of
these fellows and meet you in Louis
ville''
To which she had replied: do you
think l would look at you by the side
of the gallant Kentuckians? If you
know when YOU are well on you will
stay where you are"
Which retort reused a certain quail
ity in VIII that he went home and
packed his valise. Dinsmore was on
the highway and trains were plenty.
Patty's train must needs make so
many stops to pick up soldiers and
their families that it was late by
two hours. The colonel grew fidgety.
for he was on the program for an an
swer to the first speech of welcome
TO the national committee at eight
AS they left Lexington he looked at
his watch. made a calculation, and
announced that by the time he had
taken Patty to the hotel and dressed
himself he would be just one hour
too late.
Arrived in Louisville. he put his
daughter ard her belongings into a
coupe and gave minute instructions
and large money to the driver.
AS i engaged the rooms several
days ago. you will have no trouble
whatever" said he as he banged the
carriage door.
When she reached the hotel the
crowd In the lobby was somewhat
confusing, and Patty became a trifle
nervous. A cheerful bellboy piloted
her tc the desk. &here she registered
in a good vertical hand, and. with an
air that she fancied was nonchalant-
~ cosmopolitan. asked to be shown
to her rooms.
The clerk questioned and invest
gated and reported that no rooms
had been engaged and that none were
TO be had. Patty's looks appealed to
him. and he heard her tale and ad-
vised her to go up to one of the par
lors. where her father should be sent
the moment he arrived.
Patty entered the very red and
white room and settled herself in a
big armchair near the window, where
the roar of carriages and the buzzing
of many voices fostered meditation.
but prevented slumber. She was
unaware of the lapse of time when she
was suddenly brought to a conscious
ness of her surroundings by the en-
trance of string of porters bearing
cots with which they rapidly trans
formed the parlor into dormitory
and then-Oh. horrors,-an awful man
in the corner actually began taking of
his clothes,
Patty fed only to bump against
more men in the corridor and more
cots. Making her way back to the
Office now swarming with gray coats
she again sought the desk. A strange
clerk listened politely to her tale OF
woe. He was certain that her father
had not Yet arrived. but as he might
come at any moment he advised her
to stay in sight and-impelled by the
pink cheeks and brown eyes-he even
went so far as to wake sleeping sol
der and make him vacate his chair.
Tired as Patty was. she was too for
iorn and nervous to sit still. She was
also embarrassed by the attention she
at,racted-so many men all staring
She left her chair and went over to a
less conspicuous place by the wall. A
little farther on she spied glass door
ajar and edging her way towards II
found that it led to a dark empty room
containing n row of chairs shroudet
in white. She chuckled as she fount
that here she could escape observa
tion Yet still remain in sight of the
desk In she slipped. closing the
glass door and. lifting the sheet
climbed into one of the chairs
Funny place for a dentist" she
said aloud as, settling herself with /,
relieved sigh. she fixed her eyes. OIL
the big register distinctly visible OIL
the clerks desk. As soon as a fami
liar head bent over that register sh,
was ready TO come to light. In tn,
meantime here was soothing darkness.
end rest from staring eyes. The chat
offered a comfortable reclining posi-
ton with its cool linen head-rest
En.sx..,, .a,,iiOi h,- h..s. ,.s Aoe..-