The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1910-01-27

| on
THAT day after you told me Of your
engagement to John Brent saw his
dogcart before Ransom's, and l hap
pened in, don't you know, and said
something about such royal day for
driving and smiled up at him my very
best smile. 1t was bit Of mischief.
L knew you would be cool over the
matter and wake his resentment"
:" Behold how great fire little
spark kindleth,'" said unrufi1ed Neil
81 asked him to drive this way, and
he laughed. We meant only to tease
you a little-nct hing serious"
"No?'
"Not then" bending her face into
the lilacs.
"Well," coldly. 'he is now free"
An eye shot passed over the hedge
knowing how that drive came
about, you are still too proud to recall
himw
Neil settled herself more cozily
among the cushions OF her divan and
gave her prettiest low laugh. fs thy
servant a dogY."'. she said
"But he would come. said Pattie
gently. 4,
.There is "a bettersway to come"
"ArId II he does not choose sit?'s
"Iam content z sang Nell sWeetiy.s
'sThen II he's free, = said Pattie, wei
behind the fiowe- hedge, Il ought "a
let your understand. 2 4. hesitatiagiy
ssthafalthat,'-
.oh,certainly,' 4, said Nell moclinGly
each one for herself
ST shonld not have put 1t in just that
way Paftie went on, with. q halt
nervous. little langh, but shall not
avoid him or be ct my WORST With
him.
ct is "a woman's business,n dryly,
ITO charm especially tOs charm zone
man.
IF he Ia the right one.a faltered Pat
tie Roane.
True. Yet the wrong one IL often
entertaining and easier"
'And you do not care q asked Pattie
as she took up and put the flowers
back In the vase; But you,M believe
| won't you, that meant no wrong, that
I did not know what wouldncomef'
"You have not finished your story. !"
said Neil, with sudden sharpness
what has come TO him what has
come p
''If you would be- sorry, Il think. 2
very low, ..'that he would be happy"
| "otterwise- time 2? breathlessly.
Perhaps he may think OF me- said
Pattie and turned away her face.S
She was going silently to The door
when Neil, white as her iilacs.r came tc
the Intel.
-7'"You have been honest, she said
chokingly, $50 will tellyou. / cannot
! bear It," with a sob, II cannot!"
Pattie flushed. ''Do you want me to
go away OUT OF his reachY' she asked
with voice that trembled and with
lowered eyes.
mo, hut / will write and ask him.
alas for the hobby, tears came-''ask
him to forgive me-,
| 4 ''I will wait and pcst the letter.
Pattie slowly and went back to her
chair.
"He may De angry still, you know, y
Neil said wistfully when the note was
written and her guest on the stair.
but there was no answer.
Pattie hurried out to the corner mail
box and, having dropped the note In
side, came around the turn OF fthe
street face to face with John Brent.
IT have been attending to some OF
| your business" she said, withsa happy
laugh.
THANK you. It could not be In bet
ter hands, am sure" said John.
81 think so myself" radiantly.
Gould you pick a. lock or a corner
post box"
"Well, not without some training. !
think"
"Then the best thing for you to do is
to go on to Neil's. Say the proper
thing, you know" rapidly. Say that
you are wreck from misery and can
not bear it any longer"
4 "But"-
THAT handsome Englishman has
been sending more flowers, exquisite
white lilacs. If i were you they should
60 out Of a back window"
But
"She will be delighted that you ca me
before the note reached you, but do
not hint that you know about It,"
about whatY'
1.-THE note, the note, the notew
"Pick a corner post box" said John
dazedly, but with slight 'dawning I'm
his eye. "Neil has written me a
noteT
"Oh, the slowness Of mans mind!'
cried Pattie. @"Are you going 70 stand
here after all my brilliant plot while
that girl sobs herself HILL waiting TO
know IL you forgive hery'
Johns answer was In the rapidity
Of his stride around the corner, and
Pattie, the plotter, her face dimpling
with smiles and ease OF conscience.
went far enough to peep and see him
run up Neil's steps three at q time.
"Goodw she murmured, with a little
chuckle. But it must be admitted that
she deserved one.
That was Neirs last effort at con-
trolling her feelings when she felt ag-
grieved. She had learned that stand
ing out as II the right was all hers
without giving the other side hearing
was not self control, but injustice.
And Pattie Roane, whose mischievous
disposition was always getting her into
scrapes which her genial disposition
,1S,1o1Iv oof har o11f nf lo0rUod fh0f