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Show i HIS WEDDING i i i J By JANE GORDON J I EJ"""""""-"""""""'""""""iS (Cg), 1924, Western Newapaper Union.) PATTY was wilful; Patty was perverse per-verse ; Patty used well the power of her charm. For charm she had, or tha five big tried brothers, to say nothing noth-ing of Mrs. Perkins, the housekeeper, would not so long have held happily to her sway. When quite an infant she had begun to rule the parentless household, and her rule had continued undisputed ever since. Richard, when he learned the overwhelming fact of his love for Patty, sat down promptly In his office chair and considered a way out of his problem ; there seemed no way out but to win Patty teaching her perforce per-force to return the affection that obsessed him to the exclusion of all else. Looking into a blissful, though uncertain future, Richard saw himself, like the five brothers, Patty's submissive submis-sive slave. Then a tormenting thought occurred Patty had been, so far, obdurate ob-durate to other worthy admirers who sought to claim her, despite her per-verseness per-verseness and mockery. Poor Robin Train had gone abroad to heal a damaged heart, while Patty continued her nonsense songs seated on the wide bench that other swains were eager to share with her, before the piano. Charlie Holt, too, had been hit hard. Patty told Richard confidently con-fidently that he could not help the tragedy. "I think," she said, these friends of yours all like me, through pure contrariness ; they know I don't want any one of them or any lover. Lovers turn Into rulers, and I enjoy my own sweet way." "I asked her to stay at home during dur-ing the hot weather," ,Brother Ted told Richard, "and she Immediately packed and went away. It Is always so lonesome without Patty, I wanted to keep her here. But she will do as she likes." "I begged Patty to get a nurse for me during my serious illness," Brother Bob confided, "but Pat would care foi me herself; has not slept a night through In weeks. What Patty wl!i do, she will." "Mrs. Town would have come in to do the house work while I was laid up with rheumatism," Mrs. Perkins rej marked, "but Patty was so afraid hei brothers might not have the usual attention at-tention that she did the work herself and the child not used tu cooking. "Patty Price," Charlie Holt spitefully spiteful-ly exclaimed, "will canter about on her brother's fiery horse, though he has repeatedly asked her not to drive, Serve her right if she broke her neck." And so on, always Patty would, oi Patty wouldn't. Patty would go riding In romantic moonlight with some good-looking youth when Richard, in his tormenting torment-ing jealousy, had entreated her not to do so. There were days when Patty, Pat-ty, willful no longer, but all apparent sweet submissiveness, would turn a responsive re-sponsive ear to Richard's pleading, and promise that "some day" she would think about marrying him. Na other, he knew, had gained this encouragement. en-couragement. Acting upon a suggestion given by his experienced sister, Richard tried the old means of provoking jealousy. I This was disastrous. Patty in her conquering power would brook no rivalry. ri-valry. And all the time his love deepened deep-ened like the unmanageable emotion it Is. Far from remorseful in the havoc she had caused was Patty. In desperation Richard went away. In the adjoining city he had his inspiration. inspi-ration. The printed name of "Price" In a town paper caused his eyes for a moment to blur with sudden fear for two names were linked in an engagement engage-ment notice "Miss Price to marry Howard Gibbs." Trembling investigation investiga-tion proved the Miss Price not to be Richard's adorably perverse Miss Price. Two weeks passed three, and he refrained from writing to her. It was hard not to receive a line himself. The home town paper kept him Informed In-formed concerning the girl he loved. Patty must be well or she could not have attended the Leslie reception; I'atty must be at home. Missing him? That he could not know. After the fourth week Richard called long distance. dis-tance. At the thrilling sound of Patty's Pat-ty's voice over the wire he almost lost his resolution; but he persevered. "Called you," he said, aiter some conversation, con-versation, "to state a piece of news. 1 am to be married. Patty. You must be the first to know." Silence, prolonged pro-longed silence, encouraging or discouraging. discour-aging. Richard could not learn. The voice trembled under brave effort at control "Married, Dicky! ou 1 When is it to be?" "Tomorrow evening," be cheerfully responded. "Get the license today." An unmistakable choking murmur, then Patty's controlled font "Who are you going to marry?" It seemed she could not finish with t he chummy name she had bestowed ; no "Dicky," cow. "1 am going to marry you, Patty. No more nonsense, my dear. 1 will this time. I'm driving back to town to get you at once. There will then be time for the license. Marriage' tomorrow to-morrow evening at eight." Richard rang off. He could not see the subdued Patty who caught her breath in an agony of relief. Then, her dimpling smile returning, she met her brother in the hall. "I've got to get ready to ride Into the city with Dicky to get a marriage mar-riage license." said Patty. "1 do love a masterful man and a clever one." |