Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1920-09-24
PAT
BY AGNES q. BRooAN.
"a. 1920. western Newspaper Union)

perfect unity. Sue despised dogs
with an experience born Of long SUI
fsring from DeLancy's many boyhood
pets, and Delaney himself dlsllked
girls as much as his sister loved them.
Long ago he had adopted. In de-
Tense, a manner of dignified alo0fness
which, with his precise courtesy, was
supposed to impress the frivolous
minded with awe. And the adopted
manner In time became habit. Sue,
herself, In all her happy plump com
placancc, was unable to break down
the wall of frigidity between when her
brother chose to erect 1t. Yet the
clever man had many admirers, ana
Professor Vanes presence as lecturer
or guest was eagerly sought. he felt
the loneliness Of his bachelorh0od for
the first time when Miss Sue insisted
upon leaving him to the care or the
housekeeper while she enjoyed long
desired visit In the nearby city.
Delaney was SO lonely that his mind
reverted to past canine pets and their
comforting companionship, and when
Saunders at the club mentioned some
Irish setter pups which he had located
and intended buying, Delaney daring
" made an offer for one Of the dogs,
hoping to have 1t installed and trained
to the avoidance Of certain cushions
and chairs before Sue returned. Her
kind heart, he knew, would not de-
mand the animals dismissal. Saun-
ders promised his friend that the dog
would be forwarded. SO, upon a
humid summer morning, the professor
exchanged his strictly correct attire
for old outing toys and proceeded to
cut the grass. Delaney was handed
telegram as he moved the back
lawn. Its wording was brief:
Meet Pat at trolley station 1:1o
a. m. this (Tuesday) morning. See
you later. >.
It was now ten o'clock. The dog
would soon arrive. Delaney consid-
cred the best means Of conveying the
animal from the distant suburban sta
ton to his home. The only practical
solution seemed the light cart which
Tom, the gardener, kept for home
trucking. He had not long to walt for
the incoming train and Immediately
sought the baggage room. No dog was
there: that was evident. At the last
moment Saunders must have met with
some difficulty In sending on his
charge. Perhaps he would wire again
The professor decided to go home and
see. As he hurried hlong, hands thrust
into the pockets of his sofled khaki
trousers, pretty woman standing be-
fore him, INSTRUCTED his way.
"Wait minute" she ordered
"Were You sent her to meet me? an
Miss Powers"
Delaney confusedly declared thai
he had not been sent. Confusion wal
foreign to the professor His assured
manner appeared to have departed
with the assurance of proper attire
The young woman ruminated, and thu
terminating brought certain deep ant
charming glints to her already charm
ing eyes.
"Well," she remarked casually. II
really doesn't matter; you may drive
me out to Park Heights. When we ar
near the residence section ! will ge
down and walk the rest of the way
She was searching, as she spoke, II
sllk.llned purse and, holding out t
Delaney Vane dollar bill, cllmbe'
to a place on the seat Of the cart. A
he hesitated the gllnting blue eye
grew troubled.
"Oh! Perhaps" said Miss Powers
"you do not happen to be going m
way. just thought il you we're
!: "You would not care to ride In
wagon" Delaney suggested tentative
| ". Strangely enough he was hopin
that she would.
Bother about the wagon" laughe
the girl. II wanted to find somethin
different In the country"
SO the professor took his seat besd
her.
II came, you see," she explained
"for visit. Miss vane is the deares
soul, and invited me to come back wit
her. But at the last moment she wa
persuaded to remain over for an Ell
tertainment, and sent me on aheat
She wired her brother, the professo
to meet me, but"
HI Miss Powers smiled. From what
have heard, meeting young women
not his forte" she said.
ii Delaney drew up the horse In I'll
middle of the road and bent to stal
into the girls face
III "What," he asked, sis your III
name, If l may know2"
II The blue eyes regarded him wonde
ingly.
il "Patricia Powers" the girl replied.
II Professor Vane smiled. His frient
would have been surprised at the BIO
ishness of that smile.
i Sues letters have been full Of &c
| tain Patricia, recollect," he muse
"Pat,' think she called her. 1t mu
| have been her telegram that l receive
| this morning, after all"
III He actually chuckled.
II "And l came down to meet Pa
with the trucking wagon!"
II But I don't understand" said Il
| girl.
II "Of course you don't" this new 10
/ GUS Delaney told her, "You wi
though, before we reach home. /
going to drive you way round t
park"
Professor Vane no longer dlglik