The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-02-22
- Snrea
Richmond
.BURYING THE RATCHET

/ In due time she wrote the other in
vitations and not single one was
refused.
1T looks as II every one was anx-
ious to bury the Ratchet" she thought,
as she read an acceptance from one
lyoung person whom she knew had
strayed from the side of hts sweet
/ heart to worship at the shrine OF her
! young guest. 1Corinne.
The great room of Patricia's ho.Ee
was lighted with severe looking Co
lonial candIesticks with straight. un-
| shaded candles, when the Colonial
danes began to arrive. Men in satin
preeches with large buckled slippers
and heavy white wigs soon talked Sc
dately with DANES I'm sheer white
fichus and voluminous skirts.
1 Patricia herself, was a beautiful
young Martha Washington as fne
stood to greet her guests in the same
costume she had worn on q night not
so many years ago.
! As the evening wore on, each male
guest was presented with a Ratchet.
| He was told that outside in the con-
servatory In tubs and flower boxes
hidden away were numbers cores
| ponding to the ones on the handles
Of the hatchets. 1t was his duty, so
| Patricia told each one. to seek the
J proper girl and with her find the
number in the conservatory. To-
gether, they were to bury the hatchet
with whatever ceremony they found
most fitting for the time and place.
When every man had found girl,
| Patricia sat alone in the great sitting
room, the candles burned to halI
their original size. One guest had
y,t nn,pa and pptrIrfa Was tho odd
| girl.
Presently a replica OF George Wash
| ington stood in the doorway. He had
| entered. unannounced. His apologies
| to Patricia covered his emotion as he
held her little hand in his own. let
| ting the soft lace OF his sleeve fall
over it. His excuse was his desire
| TO wear the same suit he had worn
on a night they both remembered
and his difficulty in getting into it.
Patricia laughed to cover her own
embarrassment.
And I've brought along the same
| Ratchet / carried that highland for
got to bury" he said.
'The--the others are scattered
about the conservatory now, burying
theirs" Patricia told him.
Then she explained all about her
frivolous young guest who had made
sGch Skfr IN the quiet little Town ny
winning the boys from their own
sweethearts.
And what about US, Patsy" the
man asked. looking down at her.
Patricia's head dropped. She dared
not reveal 10 him her JOY at hearing
the old name once more.
Haven't We had the Ratchet out
long enough" he asked. leading her
To settle near the log fire.
still she did not speak.
Can't you tell me. PATS 90 he
persisted. Shall we not bury ours,
too Don't you want to-" He raised
her chin so as to look into her eyes.
II can not tell n lie. George"
she said. laughing "But--suppose
we burn IL instead OF burying tt
then II can never never be unesrth-
ed. Wen cut all discord this min
ute" she continued, waving the
hatchet in the air, and burn the
weapon before our very eyes"
Together. they kned before the
open fire and laid the wooden Ratchet
on the flames
"A pretty ceremony. dear, and
with world OF meaning" he said.
as they took their places once more
on the settle 10 await the return OF
the Others