ny
picture galleries at all."

"Oh, of course there are. They're bound to be there. And maybe a family
ghost! A spectre, that stalks the corridors when one of the family is
about to die--"

"Hush! You bad child! What awful ideas!"

"I've just been reading a story about a family spectre. I think they're
_most_ interesting."

"Well, we'll cut out the spook show. _I've_ no liking for clanking chains
and hollow groans!"

* * * * *

Impatiently Patty waited for the answer to her letter, and one day it
came.

Farnsworth was in New York on business, and so she put it away unopened
until his return.

"Goody girl!" he cried, when she told him. "Nice of you, dear, to let us
have the first reading together."

"Oh, I couldn't gobble it up alone,--I like everything better if I have
it with you."

And so they sat side by side on the porch, and read the long looked for
missive.

* * * * *

"DEAR COUSIN PATTY;" it began.

I was so surprised and pleased to get your letter I hardly knew what to
do. It seemed as if the dream of my life had at last come true. I've
always wanted to go East,--to see New York,--oh, I'm so excited I can
hardly write! And dear Cousin William! How kind of him to tell you about
me,--for I was a very small baby when he was here. My father has told me
all about it. When shall I start? I accept your invitation with joy. I
have saved up my money and I have enough, I think, for the ticket. How
much does it cost? But I can find out somehow. Father sends his respects
and he says I may go. I am all ready. Can't you telegraph me, so I can go
soon?

With grateful thanks,
I am yours very sincerely,
AZALEA THORPE.

"Well," said Bill, "what do you think of that for a letter?"

He looked thoughtfully at Patty, as he spoke.

"Why," she hesitated,--"I think it's a very nice letter--"

"Wait, now,--be honest!"

"Well, I--oh, I don't know,--but I looked for a little more--simplicity,
I guess. This sounds as if she had resorted to a 'Complete Letter-Writer'
for help."

"Just what I thought, exactly! But I don't know as we can blame her if
she did. The poor child is doubtless unversed in polite correspondence,
and she did her best,--but she felt she needed a little more elegance of
construction and so forth, and she picked out some dressy phrases from
the book."

"It doesn't matter, anyway," said Patty, generously, "she's glad to come,
and