Middletown transcript., 1920-10-09
I { TALENT 4! |: y:
| bsi' 'Asnes etRssr'

~-'~~-~''
A very tired. hot and dusty looking
traveller tQiled up the seemingly never
ending hill. across q little AOwer-bor-
dered lawn and knocked timidly at
the open door of small white cottage.
The knock was answered by click of
heels. a swish of skirts and a delight
ed, tncredulous exclamation.
"Why. Patricia Moore!"
Hello. Agnes. dear. I've come at
last. but you do find the most out-of-
the-way places. Coming up that hill
takes away all the pleasure of going
down. doesn't it?"
I'VE like 1t. But never mind the
bill; come and have a cup of tea and
tell me where you have been and
what you are doing"
Patty followed her friend into the
sunny little living room and sank CRATE
fully into deep arm chair. "Please
take my hat and hang 1t where can't
find It, otherwise shall probably not
be here in the morning. Dad says he
never saw such moving van as l am.
I've left school, Agnes" She watched
for the effect of her announcement,
but Agnes only nodded.
$50 Jack told me-" she said.
"Oh. Jacks been talking. Hmm!
guess he's been looking to dad for
sympathy and dad told him what I've
dOne.'
swell. never mind; Wallace will be
SO pleased to see you"
Il don't particularly care whether
he is pleased or not, but I would like
cup of tea. Frankly. though, Agnes,
your husband is the only real human
man ever met. That's why I've
come"
"Why. Patty"
"Yes. think you and he might
make good characters for another
story"
Another one!''' Mrs. Miller laughed.
II might have known. So you are still
at it,?
Perseverance is my MOTTO"
But it doesn't get you anywhere.
You have no talent for writing. Patty.
You never had. There are so many
other things you might be able to do
If you would only try"
Marry Jack. I supposeT suggested
Patty. dryly.
THAT might be one Of the things.
Vnr, hovonsf hod opo c%orv oooon%n<1
yet"
| "Yes. l have-one." said Patty.
| meekly, and then laughed quite sud-
denly. ut was about Jack-that is, l
made him the hero and he didn't ap-
| preciate 1t. That's what we quarreled
| about" =:
So Mrs. Miller, with swift glance
at Patty's averted face. subdued her
curiosity. but long after Patty had
gone to change her dress and rest a
little, she sat with hands folded above
! cup Of tea. thinking hard. and some
time later telephone conversation
buzzed over the wires.
Jack there?"
"Jack's speaking"
''This is Agnes, and Patty has just
come"
"Patty-No"
Couldn't you come down. Jack?'
''Has she sent for me?"
Mercy, not"
Then I don't see how I can"
Don't be foolish. Jack. You know
Patty will never make the first move.
and really she is dreadfully cut up
about something. Anyway it is up
to you now. Jack. Good-by."
And when Patty came hack Agnes
was still endeavoring to drink cold tea
that was too sweet.
Bright and early next morning.
Patty, with all her traps. as Agnes hus-
band called them, set out down the
road to the camp. She found it. half
hidden among tall trees. the door
open, the room much disarranged, and
suspicious looking pile of ashes on
the hearth.
"Some one certainly has been here"
she thought as she spread her writing
material on the rickety table and be-
gan to write.
"After all. guess Agnes is right"
she thought sadly. II simply can't
make head nor tail of this plot. In
| fact, there doesn't seem to be any
plot. It was easy enough to make
hero of Jack-but he's not here any
more. So" Slowly she tore the close
ly written pages into tiny shreds.
watching them slip through her fingers
with a half smile on her lips. Ana
suddenly a shadow darkened the door
way. She did not move: only her
eyes betrayed the whirl of emotion
which set her heart pounding.
"Patty?"
From q great distance Patty called
back her voice and managed to speak.
"rm sorry II I am intruding didn't
know you were here" she said very
low. beginning to gather up the pen
Gil and bits Of paper.
II came last night, just for old times
sake. Do you remember year ago
today?"'
"Oh, yes" ....
"Are you still writing?"
81 have been."
"Patty, have you nothing else to
say?"
| Eyes, have so much to say that
there can't possibly be words enough
to express what l mean. Ten minutes
ago, Jack. was writing. Now ! think
that am going out Of business" She
held out her two hands, filed with the
torn paper. and her eyes smiled grave