Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1909-06-16
The
Silence
Of Patricia
BY ELIZABETH MASON

. BY ELIZABETH MASON
EsssssEsl;sssss;ss;Sl;sssss;Ss*ss,,
Challoner and Patricia had driven
down to the station to see Patrlcia's
cousin Jack off to town. Patricia was
exhibiting very pretty regret at the
impending loss Of her relative, but
ohalloner was happy for the first time
IN two weeks. 1t is aggravating to
spend your annual vacation at ho-
tel in the neighborhood of the sum.
mer home of the girl you adore, with
the special intention of bringing
things to a crisis before you return to
the city, and then to find yourself
baked in every plan by the presence
OF the middle,aged relative who has
no conception of you as man or a
lover, or in fact, as anything human
but an opponent at golf. Challoner,
who did not dare offend Patricia by
being rude to her cousin, had had to
play golf through all the precious
hours that he had planned to spend
with her, and now the two weeks had
passed and he must go back by the
night train. But Cousin Jack was go.
ing first-there was that consolation,
and there yet remained two hours to
work in.
Next week." said Cousin Jack,
as the train rolled in, II shall have
to go West for time. But shall be
back, my boy" he added encourag-
ingly, 81 shall ibe back in two months
and play you such match as you
never saw" He stopped, to Challon.
er's dismay, and began to tumble in
his pocketbook. Suppose, after all.
he should uniss the train!
you'll have to hurry, SIR" urged
Challoner, pushing him little. Cous-
In Jack pulled out one of his cards
and pressed 1t upon him.
Keep this to remind you Of that
MATCH" he said.
Cramming the card into his own
case, Challoner bodily lifted Patric-
las relative onto the moving train.
Signing with relief, he watched the
SASAhy SuI vi ol6uI. lllcu ne kOL lulO
the dog cart beside Patricia and drove
slowly home. After all, there was
nothing said in that remaining two
hours. Patricia was shy in the first
place. and did her best to keep him
at arms length. Then he had had so
little time to be sure whether she
really did care for him. Between hest.
tation and doubt the time wore away.
And yet when Challoner went back
to town that night he was happy
man. He did not think that Patricia's
eyes could wear that look for any,
one but him. He could not believe
that her manner could have been so
ehyly provocative If 1t had not meant
that she cared for him. And when,
as he had left her, he held her hand
moment in his. she had flushed and
dropped her eyes. but she had not
pulled the hand away.
Patricia" he had said, next
week is your birthday, and I'm going
to send you something prize very
much. Will you wear it-for me?"
Her smile had satisfied him.
And yet, when Cousin Jack return
ed two months later, he found Chal-
Toner with set face sitting in his
office, and trying to work against the
grain. Challoner was uncommunica-
tive on the subject of Patricia or her
family, and when the other man in
sisted upon his accompanying him
down to their home for weeks golf,
he refused CURLY.
You haven't had a quarrel with
Patty, have you?" asked Cousin Jack,
aggrieved. "and, even If you have,
you don't need to see her. You must
come. Why, man, think of that
match"
ChaHoner thought bitterly. The
week after he had returned from his
vacation he had sent Patricia down a
locket which had been his mothers.
He had taken such care in the wrap.
ping of it that 1t should not be brok-
en-. He remembered writing a rath-
er tender birthday wish upon the card
he had put in with the gift. He had
taken such pleasure in giving her the
best thing he had-and she had never
acknowledged it. Day after day he
had waited for letter that had not
come, and at last 1t had come to
him that she had only been amusing
herself with him and had never cared
anyway.
you must come" urged Cousin
Jack. ."t
81 suppose may as WELL" thought
Challoner. "I'll show her that II
hasn't hurt me-"
So it happened that early the next
day Challoner was driving UP to
Patricia's house in the same dog cart
that had held him and Patricia that
last day. But this time he was sur.
rounded by Cousin Jack and his bags
and his golf sticks. Her mother met
them and sent them up to their
rooms, where Challoner made care.
full toilet and nerved himself to be
coolly polite when he should meet
Patricia. When he went downstairs
she was Just coming up the steps.
She stopped when she saw him and
gasped a little. Challoner noticed
that she was thinner than usual and
that her mouth dropped. but he stop.