Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1919-10-24
PATSY
By JACK LAYTON.
Copyright. 1919. western Newspaper Union,

Copyright. 1919. Western Newspaper Union>
Peter Webster drew up his car be
fore the rambling farmhouse and
viewed it appraisingly. He had taken
upon himself the task Of selecting
suitable summer boarding place for
his senior partners nerve-worn
daughter-or rather, the task, as usu-
al, was thrust upon him.
To Peter, it seemed that he had dur
ing the past year, been called upon
overmuch to attend to the affairs Of
this same unknown Miss Patricia Penn
broke. In his opinion, his partners ia
vored daughter was one Of class to
be Stunned. So Peter deliberately
Stunned her; though difficult of car
rying out was his purpose. Not only
! the girls family and adoring mother,
but his own financially ambitious one.
were anxious to bring the two t0geth-
er, In hope of possible proud ALL
| ance.
Peter. desiring not to be cause OF
disappointment, determined to hold
aloof. He was fond of his old senior
, partner; his sympathies went out to
! the busy man, who must constantly be
burdened with added home cares.
! Therefore Peter had, with much con-
sideration, chosen Miss Pembroke's
luxurious car, and also, being musl-
clan, he had selected, at her fathers
instigation, her new concert grand pi-
ano.
! From these missions the younger
partner had formed his own opinion
of the flattered girls exactions. Patricia
! Pembroke, it seemed. was always in
the center of the social stage.
Here her "song charmed" or there
"she excelled as pianist" Far be it
from himself, Peter thought, to con-
tinue the tired old fathers charge Of
catering to this brilliant daughter.
He smiled ironically as he rang the
rusty bell on the farmhouse. The doc
tors prescription of rest for Miss Penn
broke in such seclusion would not, ne
was sure, be long followed.
Having no response to his summons,
he passed around to a rear door.
Through the screen he could see that
the orderly rooms were vacant. Then,
far back among the spreading trees
of tangled garden. he saw a blur OF
pink moving with the sway of ham,
mock, and he went in it's direction.
! The girl who looked up at him from
the depths of the hammock seemed to
be alone in green solitude. Unblink'
ingly her blue eyes regarded him, a
ruffled pink sunbonnet giving her
cheeks a ruddy glow. He saw that
the skirt of her pink cambria frock
was filled with the green peas she
was podding.
II CAME" announced Peter, ito make
inquiries concerning board, at the
farmhouse. No one was there"
"For yourself?" asked the girl calm
~, as she continued her pot1dipg.
"For a young lady," Peter replied.
"Can you tell me where to get infor-
mation?"
II can give you all the information
you want" the girl replied. 1--WE are
not taking anyone"
"But I was directed here" Peter in
sisted, evidently distressed. His search
had been long.
UNLIMITED. he dropped into a seat
beneath the trees. He hoped he might
be able to enlist the sympathy Of this
satisfied young creature in Miss Penn
broke's behalf, so that she, in turn,
would persuade her mother to take
thesnervous girl in.
"The young woman who wishes to
come" he said, sis tired out after q
hard, strenuous winter"
The girl dropped the peas into a
pan and took off her sunbonnet. The
copper gold Of her uncovered hair
cleaned in the sunlight. Peters eyes
widened admiringly.
"What work." she questioned. has
this nervous girl been doing?"
"No work." Peter answered brusque-
". "But sometimes he smiled, zone
can tire ones self out as thoroughly
through play. Here. in this peaceful
spot, occupied with your homely tasks,
II would he difficult for you to realize
how women strive and labor and wear
themselves out in selfish chase for
social favor. But that's big language
he added, "for little girl"
"Perhaps," said the ''little girl I'M
expectedly. "these women are not al
ways selfish as you think. Perhaps
there are those who have trained
them for this very success, and would
he disappointed terribly at their fall
ure"
Peter Webster stared as though a
child had suddenly risen to reprove
him. Then across the stiffness came
shrill cry.
"Patsy! called a woman's voice.
"Patsy!"
"She's calling me-" said the girl
"but you had better go and see her
first"
| Perplexedly. and with regretful
backward glance, Peter moved toward
the house. A woman stood on the
veranda.
"What do you wantY' she asked
sharply.