Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1919-03-20
Farmers and
armeretteS
BY MARJORIE E. ELLMS
Copyright. 1918. by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicste)

agreed the group OF girls SdlheTeu uu-
der a tree on the college campus. And
as a result of this agreement, long
gray roadster with a girl in red hat
At the wheel purred down the main
street of Willowdale, and stopped at
the village post office.
"Some car" said one of the men
J loupglDg on the steps. "Some girl %
he added, after Patty had entered the
post office. In few minutes she came
out and drove away The old post
master came to the door
! what do you suppose that girl
wanted?" he said. "A list Of all the
farmers round here, and how to get
! to 'em. Said she and some of her
! friends wanted TO work on Il farm this
summer to get practical experience SOS
| they could direct farm for college
! girls next sumner Asked me who
was the most likely farmer to try. I
said twas hard to tell, guessed they'd
all balk little. but" with twinkle
II said | thought Rex Trowbridge
was the most likely Teller I knew"
! Chuckles of amusement greeted
this.
Some time lAter Patty, with a dis
couraged droop to her mouth, came in
sight Of the farm of Rex Trowbridge.
She had hardly stopped her machine
when she saw tall, overalled figure
approaching. Hes quite young"
concluded Patty "and-and good look
Ing"
"Are you Mr. Trowbrldge?" sweetiy.
81 am" came the pleasant drawi.
"What can I do for youT'
Patty told her story. Mr.. Tr6wbridge
listened graveIy. I'm afraid" he be
gan. Patty wilted percepHbly, and he
paused. Il tell you what I'll do TIL
think over your proposition, and let
you know in a few days, if you'll give
me your address"
Patty gave it to him gioomlly He
was just making his refusal kinder.
Why didn't men ever think girls were
good for anything practical?
After the red hat and gray car had
disappeared Rex Trowbridge looked at
Patty'S card Miss Patricia Ames,
- Beacon street Boston" He con
tinued to look at it in delight and
amaZement then. THAT'S one on me-"
he said and tucked it carefully away
In his pocket.
A few days later Patty received
letter, badly misspelled, stating that
Mr.. Trowbrdge would take the girls
on trial. Patty showed the letter to
her friends i'm glee But he looked
like the kind that could spell" she
mourned.
July I found six farmerettes, clad
in womanalls, busily wedding on the
farm of Rex Trownrldce They lived
IN tents on nearby hill took turns
with simple camp cooking and refused
all chaperons but julius Caesar, bull
dog of highly developed protecting
powers.
Patty did her best to draw Trow-
bridge out. She sympathized with his
apparent loneliness and advised courses
of reading, but all her kind and sister
ly attention failed to bring forth the
confession Patty was sure he was on
the point of making many times
And so the days passed, and the
last week of farming came. II was
at this time that Dick, Patty's skepti-
cal older brother. decided to come 10
Willowdale to see what his sister and
her friends were cup to-"
Patty and Mr.. Trowbridge were talk
ing when he arrived.
Hello, Patl" How goes It? Glad
you're not wearing Observation-Disclosures
effects" Patty had changed to a khaki
skirt for the occasion. who was
that with you?" Mr. Trowbridge had
rapidly walked away. Patty called him
back. 81 want you to meet she be
gan. "NVhy -" for Dick had dashed
past her and was giving Rex Trow-
bridge the kind of greeting common
to old friends.
"Why, you know hint" cried Patty
slightly" said Dick. "Only room
ed with him a couple of years at Har-
ward. What's the matter?"
Patty had disappeared
Il can't understand why Rex didn't
let on himself" said Dick TO Patty
later He's Stuart Trowbrldge's
nephew you know Money TO burn.
Patty avoided Rex Trowbridee the
next day; but on the following morn
ing, while she was waiting to take TO
the station two girls who were leav-
ing on an early train, he came up TO
/ the gray car. Patty thought of her
wasted sympathy and Sisterly advice,
! and grew stern.
1T was objectionable Of me-" Rex
| said humbly. You see, II began as
n Joke. I thought I'd give you the
proper rural setting, and then when
You were so darned kind and tried to
help me and all that just couldn't
bring myself to tell YOU who was.
| Then Dick"
I'VE have gained valuable expert
ence on your farm. Mr. Trowbridge."
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