The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1926-12-24
The Patience Of
Patricia
BY RUBY DOUGLAS
tcopyright.)

OIOW did they happen 10 cali
you Patricia?" asked big Tom
Singleton Of his lovely companion,
Patricia Reese.
''For two reasons" she replied mys-
teriously.
Because, / suppose even In your
bassinette you had patrician ARP
he taunted.
The girl laughed delightful rip
pie. "No-that was not one Of the
reasons, true 1t might have BEEN"
what thenr
MY grandfather whose nrst
grandchild / was-was named Pat
rick"
"Yesrs. the man said.
"And-f was born on the seven
teenth day Of March, st. Patrick's
day In the morning." she replied, INT
lngly.
Reason enough-T'm satisfied. But
l insist that my guess is the best rea-
son Of the three"
"For which--thank you," murmured
Patricia.
This was the frivolous conversation
that had been part OF their early
acquaintance. Now, after three years
of more than friendship Patricia was
beginning to wonder whether or not
1t would have been better II their &C
Quaintance never had become more In
innate than 1t was In those playful
days. She had been engaged to Tom
for two years and she was afraid
to marry him. That she loved him,
she never doubted for an instant, but
that she would never have the pa
tience and courage and endurance to
teach him to control q temper that
had been allowed to grow wilder and
more unreasonably destructive with
each Of his formative years, she
doubted. It was the only reason she
had not married him before now. She
was fearful lest, once married, he
would cease to make the effort b
overcome his violent disposition. What
the waiting amounted to. really,
Patricia had often told herself, was
a season Of probation In which they
could both learn whether or not they
cared enough TO strive-and overcome
It together.
I'm paying an awful penalty for
my temper, Pat" Tom said to her ons
day IN a season Of remorss after IN
unreasonable outbreak.
Patricia was silent. It never oe-
CURED to him that she, too, might
be suffering Perhaps she would hava
liked the comfort, pleasure and sscur
ity of little home Of her own witt
the man she loved.
Il suppose / have set myself bach
further than ever nowr he asked
Patricia looked at him with thu
same level, kindly understanding sx
preston in her eyes that she AWAY
wore on these occasions Sometime
she wondered at her own patience b
forgive him. And yet-in her heart
she knew he was not wholly to blam'
for the hold this temper had on hin
before he was old enough to think TO-
himself She had known other mem
bers OF his family.
"No, Tom, really believe you hav'
made great progress in two years
You try-and you frequently succeed
That's Improvement, isn't it?"
He nodded, muttering ruefuliy
"Some-I suppose.
III I said / would marry you 1
you could be good until-well, sa,
until my birthday Would that be an
encouragement
Patricia" the man cried, leApin
almost across the room to seize he
hand. ITS what I need-assuranc
that you really will marry me som
day-after ALL"
"All right then. Tom, we will leav
1t that way. We have our lives I
live, we want to live them together
and I'm getting tired-and lonely, my
self-waiting and forgiving. Wouldn
1t be worth while to try-for m,
dearf" she asked, q plaintive note
her voice that he had never hear
there before
The next holiday came with It's vivi
accessories and Tom and Patriot
were invited to party with grou
of young people they had known fo
years.
A cold March wind had blown q
during the day and the thermomete
was dropping fast.
There had been signs Of spring an
winter precautions had been don
away with, even to the elimination {
antifreeZe fluid In the radiator {
Toms little car.
When the dance was over and Tol
and Patricia came out to 60 home, th
motor would not start 1t had chose
this day In its last hour to freeze!
Tom tried every vile he knew {
to induce the car to 60. but 1t woul
not. Even In the dim light from tt
dash Patricia could see symptoms ,
his rising temper, his red face, h
narrowed eyes, his quick breathin
his sharp movements and tone.
There was nearly q half hour ,
infinite patience on her part an
heroic effort at control on his befol
the means Of getting home was final
decided upon.
At last, Patricia won and they pc
mitted themselves to be towed to
garage some three miles distant.
| Meantime, Tom had remembers
what 1t would cost him to lose h
temper-and, he, too. had won Il
battle.
"One month from tonight. then
were his last words to her.
Yes, dear, one whole, long mont
/ .rd xro,u ~ r,or.,oa,, -h,~~o~-