THE CRAFT OF PATTIE ROANE

New Zealand Tablet, 22 June 1911, Page 1135

THE CRAFT OF PATTIE ROANE

; : Nell Lambert’s hobby was self-control. She was accustomed to say that it is the only cultured substitute for contentment and that the result of its perfect attainment is perpetual youth. The:quick growth of a frown habit, and the wrinkles that follow in its wake, were among her strongest arguments. When Pattie Roane had passed her window* in John Grent’s dog-cart, Nell had given a gracious nod and smile, and her broAv had kept its serene " satin smoothness during John’s next/call, though the severe test of a well-bred quarrel had arrived, and in a dignified and aristocratic fashion cancelled their engagement. The three-weeks that followed found her still bravely living up to the hobby. If she was a bit white and thinner, the effect Was becoming, therefore, welcome. There could be a tonic and a, change of air should the scrawny stage threaten. Pending that time her/, maid one morning announced Miss Roane.’

‘ Lower the shades a trifle, Lisette/ said Nell, as she glanced into her mirror; ‘draw* that stand of lilacs nearer, so; Miss Roane may come up.’ ‘How* sensible you always are/ said Pattie, making at once for an easy chair. ‘Here have I for three weeks been afflicted, a conscience, and you you look as if you never had one.’ • UWW ‘ Three Weeks?’ smiling. It is a long time to carry anything heavy.’ , / Well/ with a look half meek, half mischievous, ‘ I have brought the burden to you.’ // v -:ii‘ To, me? I thought a conscience was. like a railroad pass, alAvavs labelled “ Not transferable.”’ ‘I only Avant it doctored.’

But that is a very trite idea, is it .not?’ ; • • ‘What I mean is not trite/ said Pattie. She took a cluster of , white lilacs from . the stand and gently blushed her face with them. Keen eye-shots could .pierce such a hedge undetected. ‘Trite exploits are either easy or necessary.’ ; : ‘ If yon mean it is hard to do anything original 5 ;l , , ' But Ido not. I mean this is original .because too hard to be often undertaken/ J > , ‘Yet it is only a little conscience to be doctored? 5

‘ There are things to tell you,’ gravely, ‘ because we aro friends. ‘Present tense ... ‘ Yes, lowering the hedge to give' a steady look? ; ‘ Very well, 5 with a smile , that held some sarcasm lurking beneath, ‘tell onl-r.ii ?j|T U I? < . ‘That day after you told me of your engagement to John; Brent I saw his dog-cart before Ransom’s, and J happened in, don’t you know, and said something . about such 'a royal day for driving: and I smiled up at him ray very best smile. It was a bit of mischief, I knew you would be cool over the matter and- wake his resentment. ‘“Behold how great a fire a little spark kindleth, 55 5 said unruffled Nell. , ‘I asked him to come this street: and he laughed. We meant only to tease you a little nothing serious. * No ?’ _ ~ Not then,’ bending her face into the lilacs, . : i '// ‘Well, 5 coldly. r he is now. free.’ An eye-shot passed over the hedge. ‘ Knowing how that drive came about, you are still too proud to recall him?’ y '■■■■;■ . Nell settled herself more cosily among the cushions of her divan and gave her prettiest low laugh. ■ ‘ “Is thy servant a dog? 5 she said. ‘But he would come,’ said Pattie, gently. ‘There is a better way to come.’ > ‘And if he docs not choose it? 5 ‘Je suis content,’ sang Nell sweetly. '.-- ‘ ; ‘ Then, if he 5 free,’ said Pattie, well behind the flower hedge, ‘ I ought to let you understand,’ hesitating, ‘ that—that— 5 : r ‘Oh, certainly,’ said Nell, mockingly, each one for herself.’ ‘I should not have put it in just that way’: Pattie went on with a half nervous little laugh, ‘ but I shall not avoid him or be at my worst with him.’ ‘ It 5 s a woman’s business/ dryly, ‘to charm,' especially to charm one man. 5 ■■ • ' ‘lf he is the right one,’ faltered Pattie Roane."’ _ ‘True. Yet the wrong one is often entertaining and easier. ' ‘And you do not care? 5 asked Pattie, as she stood up and put the flowers back in the vase, but you’ll believe, won 5 t you, that I. mean no wrong? that I did not know what would come? • ‘You have not finished your story,’ said Nell, with sudden sharpness, ‘What has come to him, what has come?’ ... ‘lf you would be sorry, think,’ very low, ‘that he would be happy. < . ■ , ~v ‘Otherwise? In time? 5 breathlessly. ‘ Perhaps he may think of me I 5 said Pattie, and turned away her face. > She was going silently to the door when Nell, white as her lilacs, came to the lintel. ‘You have been honest/ she cried, chokingly, ‘so I wil Hell yon. I cannot bear it!’ with a sob, ‘I cannot!’ his reach?’ she asked, with a voice that trembled and with lowered eyes. ' ‘No; but I. will write and ask him— 5 alas for the hobby; tears came, ‘ ask him to forgive "me. 5 . / ‘I will wait and post the letter/ said Pattie, slowly, and went back to her chair. ... • ‘ He may be angry still, you know/ Nell said, wistfully, when the note was written and her guest on the stair but there' was no answer. • Pattie hurried out to the corner mail box and having dropped the note inside came around the turn of the street face to face with. John Brent. *'/ ‘I have been attending to some of your business, she said with a happy laugh. ' ■' ™ Thank you. It could not be in bettor hands,- I am sure,’ said John. ' ; .-:.v ‘I think so myself,’ radiantly. . Could you . pick a lock, a corner post-box ?’ ’ ' ‘Well, not without some training,. I think.’ ‘ Then the best thing for you to do is to go on to Nell’s. Say the proper thing, you know,’ rapidly. ‘ Say that you are a wreck from misery and cannot bear it any longer. 5 ‘ But—’ . v/- H ; /. k : y*' I That handsome Englishman has been sending more flowers, exquisite white lilacs. . If I were you they should go out, a back window.’ , , ‘ But—’ . ■ ; / ;:/ - She will be delighted that you came before the note reached you ; do not hint that you know about it.’ ‘ About what?’ ' ■ " ■ ”■ • ‘ The note, the note, the note. ‘Pick a corner post-box! 5 said John dazedly, but with a light drawing in his eyes. ‘ Nell has written me a note? 5 ‘ Oh, the slowness of a- man’s mind!’ cried Pattie. Are you going to stand here,, after all my brilliant plot, while that girl sobs herself ill? 111, waiting to know if you forgive her. John’s answer was in the rapidity of his stride around the corner ; and Pattie, the plotter, her face dimpling with smiles and ease of conscience, went far enough to peep' and see him run up Nell’s steps three at a time.