Patty—Bride
by Carolyn Wells · English · Gutenberg #49173 · 318,091 chars · public domain (US)
The Project Gutenberg eBook of Patty—Bride
This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and
most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions
whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms
of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online
at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States,
you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located
before using this eBook.
Title: Patty—Bride
Author: Carolyn Wells
Release date: June 9, 2015 [eBook #49173]
Language: English
Other information and formats: www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/49173
Credits: Produced by Mardi Desjardins, Stephen Hutcheson, and the
online Distributed Proofreaders Canada team at
http://www.pgdpcanada.net
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PATTY—BRIDE ***
Produced by Mardi Desjardins, Stephen Hutcheson, and the
online Distributed Proofreaders Canada team at
http://www.pgdpcanada.net
Patty--Bride
BY
CAROLYN WELLS
_Author of_
_The_ TWO LITTLE WOMEN _Series_
_The_ MARJORIE _Books_
_etc._
GROSSET & DUNLAP, _Publishers_
NEW YORK
Copyright, 1918
By Dodd, Mead and Company, Inc.
PRINTED IN THE U. S. A.
TO
ONE OF THE DEAREST LITTLE GIRLS
IN THE WORLD,
BARBARA BUEHLER,
THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED
CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
I Philip's Chance 9
II Bumble Arrives 25
III Captain Bill 42
IV The Boys in Khaki 59
V A Fire-Eater 73
VI A Sleighride 89
VII A Queer Chaperon 105
VIII In the Tea-Room 121
IX Letters 137
X A Valentine 153
XI Patty in Tears 170
XII Lena and Bill 186
XIII An Important Document 202
XIV Helen's Adventure 220
XV A Desperate Situation 236
XVI The Flag and the Girl Back Home 252
XVII Patty and Bill 269
XVIII Patty's Wedding 286
Patty-Bride
CHAPTER I
PHILIP'S CHANCE
"I can't _stand_ it, Patty, I simply _can't_ stand it!"
"But you'll have to, Phil, dear. I'm engaged to Little Billee, and some
day I'm going to marry him. And that's all there is about it."
"Oh, no, Patty, that isn't all about it. I'm not going to give you up so
easily. You don't _know_ how I care for you. You've no idea what a
determined chap I can be,----"
"Now, stop, Phil. You know you promised that we should be friends and
nothing more. You promised not to ask for more than my
friendship--didn't you, now?"
"I did but that was only so you'd stay friendly with me, and I
thought,--forgive the egotism,--I thought I could yet win your love.
Patty, you don't care such a lot for Farnsworth, do you, now?"
"Indeed I do, Phil. Why, do you suppose I'd be engaged to him if I
didn't love him more than anybody in all the world? Of course I
wouldn't!"
"I know you think so, Patty," Phil's handsome face was grave and kind,
"but you may be mistaken."
"I'm not mistaken, Philip, and unless you change your subject of
conversation, I'll have to ask you to go away. I should think you'd
scorn to talk like that to a girl who's engaged to another man!"
"I should think I would, too, Patty. But I can't help it. Oh, my girl,
my little love, I can't give you up. I can't tamely stand aside and make
no effort to win you back! I'm not asking anything wrong, Patty, only
don't send me away; let me try once again for you,----"
"It's too late, Phil," and Patty looked a little frightened at his
vehemence.
"It's never too late, until you're actually married to him. When will
that be?"
"Oh, I don't know. We've only been engaged a fortnight,----"
"And I only learned of it today,----"
"I know, I tried to get you on the telephone,----"
"Yes, I've been down in Washington for a week or more. But, Patty,
dearest, think how surprised and stunned I was to hear of it. I came
right over, to learn from you, yourself, if it could be true."
"Yes, Philip, it is true, and I'm glad and happy about it. I'm sorry
you've been disappointed, but--there are others----"
"Hush!" and Van Reypen fairly glared at her, "never imply that there's
any one else in the world for me! Oh, Patty, my little Patty, I can't
bear it."
His great, dark eyes were full of despair, his face was drawn with
sorrow, and Patty forgave him, even while she resented his attitude.
"You mustn't, Philip," she said, gently; "it isn't right for you to talk
to me like that. I feel disloyal, even to listen to it."
"I don't care!" Van Reypen burst out. "You're mine! You promised Aunty
Van you'd marry me! You _promised_!"
Philip grasped her hand in both his own, and gazed at her so wildly that
Patty was tempted to run out of the room. But she realised the matter
must be settled once for all, and she spoke with dignity.
"Philip," she said, "I don't think you're quite fair to me,--or to
Billee. Is it manly to talk like this to the girl who is promised to
your friend?"
"No, it isn't. You're right, Patty." Van Reypen dropped her hand and
folding his arms, stood and looked at her. "But listen to me, girl. I
shall not give up until you're married to Farnsworth. If I can win you
back from him, I'm going to do so. I shall do nothing wrong. But, dear,
I'm so miserable,--so utterly heart-broken,--you won't put me out of
your life,--will you?"
Now one of Patty's strongest traits of character was her dislike of
giving pain to another. Philip could have put forth no more powerful
argument than an avowal of his disappointment. Against her better
judgment, even against her own wish, she smiled kindly on him.
"I don't want to put you out of my life, Phil, but I can't let you talk
to me like this,----"
"I won't, Patty. Just let me see you once in a while, let me keep on
loving you, and then, if you really love Bill better than you do me,
I'll see it,--I'll know it, and I'll give you up."
"All right, then, but you must promise not to tell me you care for me."
Van Reypen gave a short, hard laugh. "Not tell you! When I don't tell
you, I won't be breathing! Why, Patty, I can't any more help telling
you, than I can help loving you. But I promise not to make your life a
burden,--or myself a nuisance. Trust me, dear. I don't mean to steal you
away from Bill,--unless you _want_ to be stolen."
"I don't!" and Patty's smile and blush showed plainly where her heart
had been given.
Phil winced, but he said, blithely, "Very good, my lady. There's no use
being too down-hearted about it all. Give me my chance,--that's all I
ask."
"But, Phil, the time for your 'chance' as you call it, is past. I'm
engaged to Little Billee;--to me that's as sacred, as unbreakable a
promise, as my marriage vows will be."
"Oh, no, it isn't! Lots of people break off an engagement."
Philip's lightness annoyed Patty, and her mood changed.
"Well, then," she said, "if you can so bewitch me that I _want_ to break
my engagement to Bill Farnsworth, I'll do it, but you've about as much
chance as--as nothing at all!"
"I'll _make_ a chance! Oh, Patty, don't forget you said that! Don't
forget you said if I can win you away from him, I may do so! Listen,
dear. I'm not over conceited, or vain, but I do think that you don't
quite know your own mind, and you're a little bit dazzled by Bill's big
masterfulness and you don't realise that perhaps there are other things
worth while."
"I don't know what you're talking about, but I'll stick to my word. And
I'll add that I know you _never_ can cut Bill out, because I love him
too much. So, there now!"
"Maybe I can't, maybe you're right, but I'll have a go at it, all the
same."
"Of course, you know, I'll tell him of this conversation."
"Of course you may. There's nothing underhanded about my determination.
If I can win you from him, it'll be done fairly, and in that case,
Bill's own sense of justice would make him willing to give you up."
"Little Billee give me up! Willingly? _Nevaire!_"
"He would, Patty, if you told him yourself that you loved me more."
"Oh, _that_! But I've no expectation of ever doing that."
"Who can say? You're a fickle little thing, you know----"
"Indeed I'm not!"
"Yes, you are, and always have been. You're fond of Bill just now,
because he's been doing the caveman act, carrying you off from the
Blaney party, and such things, but you'll soon tire of him,----"
"Stop, Philip! I won't listen to such talk."
Patty put her hands over her ears and pouted. It was nearing twilight of
an afternoon in late January, and the two were in the library of the
Fairfield home. Patty had become engaged to Farnsworth while on a visit
to Adele Kenerley, and had but lately returned from there.
This was her first interview with Philip since her engagement, and she
had dreaded it, for she knew Phil's stubborn and persistent nature would
not tamely submit to an end of his hopes. Patty had firmly resolved that
if Philip insisted on telling her of his love for her, she would refuse
to see him at all; but her gentle heart could not let her summarily
dismiss him. She temporised, not because she cared for him, or had the
least thought of disloyalty to Farnsworth, but because she couldn't bear
to hurt him by forbidding him to come to her home.
She tried to change the subject. She was sitting in the corner of a huge
davenport, and her little house dress of pink Georgette was very
becoming. She rather hoped that Farnsworth would come in while Phil was
there, but it was uncertain whether he could arrive before dinner or not
until evening.
"I won't listen," she repeated; "if you'll talk about something else,
nod your head, and I'll stay; but if not, shake your head, and I'll run
off to my own room."
Van Reypen nodded his head, and Patty took her hands away from her ears.
"All right," she said, smiling; "if you'll be just a casual friend, go
ahead and be it. But I don't want to hear any more absurd talk about
people's breaking their engagements."
"Righto! What shall we talk about?"
"About Bill."
This might have proved a dangerous subject, but clever Philip would not
allow it to be. He was honest and earnest in his love for Patty. He
really believed that she had said yes to Farnsworth on the spur of the
moment, and that further thought would make her willing to reconsider
her decision. Moreover, he was quite willing his rival should know of
his own intentions, and he had only feelings of good fellowship for him.
Philip had a sportsman's nature, and his idea was to let the best man
win. He did not attach quite so much importance to the fact of the
engagement as most people do, and he truly hoped yet to win Patty's
affection and make her both willing and anxious to dismiss Bill in his
favour.
Patty had not given him any encouragement for these hopes. In fact, she
was so truly in love with Farnsworth, that it never occurred to her that
she could ever care less for him, or have any room in her heart for any
other man. But she couldn't seem to say this bluntly to Philip. She
found it easier to let matters drift, and now, as he began to speak in
praise of Farnsworth, she listened eagerly and assented and agreed to
all Philip said.
"Yes, he is splendid," she acquiesced. "I didn't know there was such a
noble nature in the world. You see, I've learned a lot about him since
we've been engaged."
"Oh, of course. Yes, old Bill is a corker for bigness in every way. I'm
banking on his big nature and his broad outlook, to understand my case."
"Now, now, you're not to talk of 'your case'! You promised not to."
"With thee conversing, I forget all--promises!" misquoted Philip.
"Well, you mustn't, or I'll send you packing! Thank goodness, here comes
Nan; _now_ will you behave yourself?"
Mrs. Fairfield came in from out-of-doors, and drew near the blazing log
fire.
"Well, children, what are you discussing so seriously?" she began;
"Philip, my friend, if you please, will you push that bell and let us
have lights and some tea. I've been to three committee meetings and I'm
just about exhausted. Where's Billee-boy, Patty?"
"I'm afraid he won't be here until after dinner. He said it was unlikely
he could come before."
"Well, try to bear it, Patty. Can't Philip beguile you for a time?"
"Yes, he's a great little old beguiler, Phil is!" and Patty smiled at
her guest.
"Of course I am," declared Van Reypen. "I can beguile the birds off the
trees,--but _not_ Miss Patricia Fairfield, when she is waiting for her
big Little Billee. Howsumever, I'll do my best. Do I gather that I'm
asked to dinner in place of the absentee?"
"You are _not_!" replied Patty, promptly, but Nan said, "Why, yes, Phil,
stay. I'll entertain you, if Patty won't."
"Thank you, Ma'am. That would suit me all right."
"And how about your aviation training? When do you begin that?"
"It's uncertain. I did expect to start for Wilmington next week, but
matters are delayed by a screw loose in some of the red tape, and it may
be a couple of weeks before I start."
"What? I didn't know you thought of going," put in Patty, surprised.
"Yes, I've settled the preliminaries and I'm waiting further orders."
"Going to Wilmington? Why, we won't see you any more, then."
"You don't seem terribly upset over that! But, you will see me, I'm
afraid. Wilmington is not so very far off, and the course is neither
long nor strenuous. Why, it only takes about four months in all."
"And then will you really fly? Up in the air, in big machines?"
"Such is my firm belief, Mademoiselle."
"And will you fall and break your neck? They say they all do."
"I'll not promise to do that, unless you insist upon it. And it isn't
done as much as formerly, I believe."
"Why are you two sparring so?" asked Nan, laughingly. "Aren't you good
friends, at the moment?"
"As good as anybody can be, when the lady he admires has been and went
and gone and engaged herself to somebody else," and Philip frowned
darkly.
"Oho, so that's it! Well, our young friend here is certainly engaged to
her big Western suitor. Now, shall I look out for a sweet little girl
for you?"
"No, thank you, Ma'am, it's a case of Patty or nobody, where I'm
concerned. But the game's never out till it's played out. Patty and
Farnsworth may one or both of them yet change their minds."
"You wouldn't think so, if you saw them together," laughed Nan. "They're
just about the most engagedest pair you ever saw!"
"Oh, come now," said Patty, "we don't show our affection in public,
Nan!"
"Well, you have great difficulty not to do so. It's all you can do, to
hide it successfully."
"And why should they?" asked Phil. "There's no law against that sort of
thing, is there?"
"Tell me more about your aviating," said Patty, by way of changing the
subject. "What do you do to learn?"
"Dunno myself, yet. They say the only way to learn to swim is to be
thrown into the water. So I daresay the way to learn to fly, is to get
in an aeroplane and start."
"Nonsense! You have to be taught."
"Then I will be taught. But I'm going to be a good aviator. I'm sure
I'll like the stunt, and I want to begin as soon as possible."
"I wish I could do some war work," and Patty sighed.
"Good gracious!" said Nan, "I don't know any girl who does more of it
than you do, Patty! When you're not down in that old office doing
clerical work, you're knitting like a house afire. And you are on two or
three committees and you write slogans for the Food people and for the
Liberty Loan Bonds, and oh, I don't know what all you do!"
"All of a sudden, isn't it?" asked Philip, interestedly. "Have you been
doing these things long?"
"Some of them," said Patty. "But I have done more of late. I feel so
useless unless I do."
"Yes," said Nan, "and then you work beyond your strength, and overtax
yourself, and the first thing you know you will be useless indeed!"
"Why, Patty? Why these great works?" asked Van Reypen.
"Oh, because of Bill," Nan answered for her. "You see he's so mixed up
in war work, that Patty must needs to do a lot also. And she's such an
extremist, she's not satisfied with doing a _bit_, it must be a whole
lot of bits."
"Don't believe her, Phil," said Patty, gaily. "I do what I can, and no
more. Also, I'm going to put a stop to this idea that I'm a delicate
plant,--for I'm not. I'm as healthy as--as a backwoodsman."
"Fine comparison. Your sturdiness is exactly that of a backwoodsman! You
could haul logs, if you want to, I dare say."
"Don't be funny. But I am heaps stronger than I used to be. It's a whole
lot better for me to _do_ things than to sit around and be coddled."
"That's true, Patty. What are you doing, that I can help you with? Any
sort of work where you could use a pair of willing hands?"
"But you're going off aviating----"
"Haven't gone yet! Dunno when I will go. In the mean time let me help
you. What's your newest plan?"
"Well, for one thing, I'm going to help entertain the boys in khaki. A
committee has asked me to, and if Nan agrees, I mean to devote one
evening a week to it. Say we ask a few to dinner, and some more to come
in the evening, and have some music and games and make it pleasant for
them."
"Count me in. I'll gladly help out with such a program. Even after I go
to Wilmington, I can get up here once a fortnight at least,--maybe,
oftener."
"All right. Now, what I'm thinking out, is how to make it pleasant for
the boys we invite. I'd like to give them some real pleasure, not only
some music and silly chatter."
"Such as what? I mean, what have you in mind?"
"Well, I thought of getting some interesting lecturer----"
"Cut it out, Patty. They don't want lectures,--of all things!"
"What do they want?"
"I think the most of them want just a home atmosphere, and a few hours
of pleasant company, without much reference in the chat to war
conditions."
"Do you think so?"
"I'm sure of it. If you ask half a dozen soldiers and have your father
and Mrs. Fairfield here, and a few girl friends of yours, if you like,
I'll guarantee your visitors will be better entertained than if you had
the finest lecturer that ever droned out a lot of platitudes."
"All right, Philip, you help me to get up such a party, and try
it,--will you?"
"I sure will, and that with much quickness. Shall we say a week from
tonight?"
"Yes that will be fine. I'll ask Elise and----"
"Don't go too fast. I'll find the khaki boys first, and then you get the
rest."
"All right," agreed Patty.
CHAPTER II
BUMBLE ARRIVES
"Hello! Patty Popinjay! Where are you?"
As a matter of fact, Patty was curled up in a big armchair near the
library fire, waiting for that very voice.
"Here I am!" she cried in return and jumped up to be grabbed in the arms
of a handsome, jolly-looking girl who came flying into the room. "Oh,
Bumble, I'm so glad to see you!"
The newcomer laughed.
"Bumble!" she exclaimed; "I haven't heard that name for years. Let me
look at you, Patty. My! you're prettier than ever! Well, I just _had_ to
come. I couldn't resist, when I heard of your engagement. Where's the
man? Show him to me at once!"
"Oh, he isn't here, for the moment. But you'll see him soon. I'm only
afraid you'll cut me out. Why, Bumble,--Helen, I mean, you're utterly
changed from the little girl I remember."
"Of course I am--in appearance,--but no other way."
"Are you still the happy-go-lucky, hit-or-miss little rascal you used to
be?"
"Of course I am. Oh, Patty, doesn't it seem long ago that you spent that
summer with us? And to think I've scarcely seen you since! Not since
Nan's wedding, anyway."
"No; and you only in Philadelphia! It's ridiculous. But, I've tried to
get you over here time and again."
"I know it. But I went out West to Stanford, and I was there so long, I
almost lost track of all my Eastern people. Your Best Beloved is
Western, isn't he? Oh, Patty, tell me all,--everything about him."
"All in good time, Helen, honey. For now, I'll just say that he's the
dearest and best man in the whole world, and that you'll agree to that
when you see him. Now, come up to your room, and fix yourself up. You
look as if you'd been through a whirlwind!"
"I always look like that," and Helen Barlow laughed.
She was Patty's cousin, and had come to New York for a visit. She had
often been invited and several times had planned to come, but something
had prevented her, and as the Barlow family were of a most undependable
sort in the matter of keeping engagements or appointments, it surprised
nobody that Helen had not carried out her plans. Indeed the surprise was
that she was really here at last, and Patty stared at her hard to
reassure herself that her guest had positively appeared.
Helen Barlow was a pretty girl, about Patty's own age. Her soft brown
hair was curled round her ears, in the prevailing mode, but it showed
various wisps out of place, and needed certain pats and adjustments
before a mirror. Her hat, a brown velvet toque, was a little
askew,--even more so than she meant it to be,--and the long fur stole,
over her arm, dragged on the floor.
Without being positively unkempt, Helen was untidy, and Patty well
remembered that as a child she had been far more so.
The two girls went up to the room prepared for Helen, and soon her outer
garments went flying. The hat was tossed on the bed, upside down; the
stole slipped to the floor as the long cloth coat was wrenched open and
one button pulled off by an impatient twitch.
"Never mind," Helen said, "that old button was loose, anyway. Oh, Patty,
how trim and tidy _you_ look!"
It was second nature to Patty to be well groomed, and she would have
been sadly uncomfortable with a button missing or a ribbon awry, unless
intentionally so. For Patty was no prim young person, but she was by no
means untidy.
She laughed at her cousin's impetuous ways, and picked up the scattered
garments, as fast as Helen flung them down.
"Don't you have a maid, Patty? I supposed of course you did."
"Oh, we have Jane. She maids Nan and me both, when we want her. But she
does a lot of other things, too. We don't have as many servants as we
used to. Patriotism has struck this house, you know, and we've cut out
more or less of the luxuries."
"Good for you! I'm patriotic, too. Do you knit?"
"Of course; who doesn't? Now, Bumble,--oh, yes, I'm going to call you by
the old name if I want to,--do try to make yourself look tidy! Take down
your hair and do it over. Your hair is lovely,--if you'd take a little
more pains with it."
"To be sure! Anything to please!" and Helen shook down her short curly
mop. "Let me see his picture," she demanded as she brushed vigorously
away. "Quick! quick! I can't wait a minute!"
Patty ran out of the room, laughing, and returned with a photograph of
Farnsworth.
"Stunning!" cried Helen, "he's simply great! Wherever did you catch him?
Are there any more at home like him? 'Deed I _will_ steal him away from
you, if I possibly can. Oh, Patty, do you remember Chester Wilde? Well,
he wants me to marry him, but I can't see it! That's one reason I ran
away from home, to escape his persistence."
"I do believe you're a belle, Bumble! You're fascinating, I see. Mercy
goodness, you'll cut poor little me out with everybody!"
"As if you cared! Now that you're wooed and won!"
"Of course I don't care. You can have all the others,--and there are
plenty,--only, so many of them are going or gone to war."
"I know, all my best ones have, too. But you couldn't like a man who
doesn't _want_ to fight!"
"I should say _nixy_!"
"What's your Bill do? Is he in camp?"
"Oh, no. You know, he's an expert mining engineer, and he's used,--I
mean, his services are used by the government. I can't tell you all
about it, because I don't know all myself; and what I do know, I'm not
allowed to tell, in detail. So don't ask, Helen; just know my little
Billee is doing his full duty,--and then some!"
"Little! _Is_ he little? He doesn't look so, from this picture."
The photograph showed only the head and shoulders of Farnsworth, but it
hinted a large man. However, Patty said, just for fun:
"You can't tell from that. But I don't mind how little he is,--he's all
the world to me!"
She looked a trifle embarrassed, so, thinking Farnsworth must be
decidedly undersized, Helen dropped the subject.
Her trunk had arrived, and Jane appeared, to assist in unpacking.
"Get out a pretty frock," Patty directed her guest, "and I'll help you
get into it, and then we'll go down and see Nan, she'll soon be home."
"Where is she?"
"Chasing some committee, as usual. We've both lost our individuality
now, and we're merged in committees. I'm a member of quite a number, but
Nan belongs to more than I do. Here, Helen, put on this bluet,
Georgette, satinet thing."
"Rather dressy?"
"Not too much so. It's nearly tea time, and people often drop in and I
want you to make a good impression. And for gracious' sake, do your hair
more carefully than that! Here, let me do it,--or Jane."
"All right," and Helen dropped into a chair before the toilette table,
while the deft and willing Jane quickly twisted up the brown locks.
"Now you'll do," said Patty, after a final critical examination. "Oh,
wait, this sash end is loose."
"I know, the snapper's off. Never mind."
"But I do mind! Helen Barlow, you're as bumbly as ever! We used to call
you that because you were as heedless and careless as a bumblebee----"
"There was another reason," Helen laughed.
"Yes, because you were so fat! You've pretty nearly gotten over that."
"Thank you, lady, for dem kind woids! A little guarded, aren't you? Know
then, that my sole end, aim and ambition is to get thin, really
thin,--slim, slender, willowy,--merely a slip of a girl----"
"You haven't quite achieved all that!" and Patty laughed. "But if you're
trying to, I'll help you. No sweets, you know."
"Gracious, Patty, I haven't tasted candy for two years! And as a sugar
conserver, I'm right there! Not a lump of it comes _my_ way!"
"Good for you! Then, with exercise, and not too much sleep, we'll soon
get you into condition!"
The girls went down stairs, and found Nan already there.
"My dear old Bumble!" she cried; "no, no Helen for me! I knew you too
long by the old name to change."
"But, Nan, I don't like it! Please don't. Such a horrid name!"
"All right, then. I'll try to say Helen, but if the other slips out
sometimes, you must forgive me. Now, how's everybody? Bob all right?"
"Fine! In camp, of course, but he gets home occasionally, or we go to
see him. Dad and Mother sent all sorts of messages and greetings,--and
hoped I won't make you too much trouble--as if I _could_!"
"Indeed you can't!" cried Nan, warmly. "We're just awfully glad to see
you, and you must stay just as long as you possibly can. Has Patty been
telling you of her latest escapade?"
"She wrote me of it,--that's mostly why I came. I thought the sight of
the flirtatious, coquettish, altogether frivolous and fickle Patty
Fairfield tied down to one man, would be worth seeing!"
"Huh!" remarked Patty, "when you see the man, you'll not wonder! Anybody
would be glad to be tied to him."
"I'm going to cut Patty out, you know, Nan," Helen declared, "but it's
more likely she'll throw him over and fly to some newer flame,----"
"Oh, _very_ likely," Patty mocked, her eyes dancing, "oh, ve-_ry_
like-_ly_! When I throw him over, Bumble, you have my full permission to
pick him up. But until then,--hands off my property!"
The tea things appeared then, and Patty did the honours, remarking,
"Yes, we do have tea, 'most every day, and we have sugar in it,--but we
skimp it some and we don't have really rich cakes."
"I'm glad to get it," and Helen accepted her cup. "I forgot to get any
luncheon, and I'll just make up for it now."
Whereupon she proceeded to devour cakes and biscuits, until Patty
silently despaired of ever helping her in a quest for slimness!
But Patty looked at her cousin affectionately. Helen was so jolly and
gay-looking, so wholesome and smiling, and so sincerely glad to be with
them, that she made herself thoroughly welcome. Her dark eyes were
beaming with good nature, her round, plump face was alight with good
will and her laughter bubbled forth like a child's.
She put her little fat hand up to her lips. "Honest, I'm trying not to
giggle so much," she said, "but I just can't help it! When I'm happy, I
have to chuckle, and that's all about it."
"Giggle all you like, my dear," said Nan, "I'm glad to hear it. There's
so much sadness in the world, that a truly merry laugh like yours is
infectious and does us all good. Now, make yourself at home, Helen, and
don't mind it if I seem to neglect you. I'm not really going to do that,
but I do have an awful lot to see to,----"
"Oh, I know, Nan. And Patty has, too. But I'll be a help, not a
nuisance,--you see if I'm not. Why, Patty Fairfield! you said he was
little!"
The original of the photograph she had seen, strode into the room and
when Helen saw big Bill Farnsworth, she knew Patty had chaffed her.
Farnsworth went to Patty and grasped both her hands in his.
"All right?" he said, looking deep into her blue eyes.
"All right," Patty returned, with an answering gaze, and so true was the
sympathy between them, that a sort of telepathic message was exchanged
and further words were unnecessary.
Then Farnsworth turned to greet Nan, and to be presented to Miss Helen
Barlow.
"She told me you were little!" Helen exclaimed, looking at the
broad-shouldered giant who faced her.
"Not quite that, I think," Bill smiled at her, "Patty probably called me
Little Billee, which is her pet name for her lord and master!"
"Future lord and master!" corrected Patty, "not yet, not yet, my child!"
"'Serene I fold my hands, and wait,'" Farnsworth quoted, with
undisturbed equanimity. "I'm very glad you've come, Miss Barlow. Perhaps
you can entertain Patty and keep her from getting _too_ impatient at the
time that must elapse before I can take her for keeps."
"Vanity Box!" exclaimed Patty. "Me impatient, indeed! Just for that,
Little Billee, I'll put the date six months later."
"Later than what? I didn't know you'd decided on the date for the festal
occasion. You told me last night you hadn't."
"I'm living up to the reputation for fickleness Helen has just wished on
me," Patty laughed. "But I'll give you some tea, Billee mine, if you'd
like it. Oh, what a lot of people! You make the tea, Nan!"
Patty left the table to welcome her new guests. Elise Farrington and
Daisy Dow were followed by Chick Channing and Philip Van Reypen.
After introductions and greetings all round, Helen looked about her with
an air of great satisfaction.
"This is as I thought it would be," she said, contentedly; "I do love
afternoon tea, and we never have it at home. And I love people dropping
in to it."
"Into the tea?" asked Channing.
"Yes, in to the tea, of course. And such lovely people! I want to know
you all at once, but I suppose I'd make better headway by taking you one
at a time."
"Take me first," begged Chick, who was much attracted by the sprightly
newcomer.
"No, me," laughed Philip. "You can get acquainted with me in two
minutes,--I'm the easiest of us all."
"Then I'll leave you till the last," smiled Helen. "After all, I believe
I'll talk to the girls first. I want them to like me----"
"Oh, don't you care about the boys liking you?" said Patty.
"They will, anyhow," Helen retorted, and she sat down by Daisy and
Elise, ignoring all the others.
"Tea, please," said Philip, sauntering over to Patty, who had returned
to the tea-table.
"One lump or two?" she asked, holding the sugar tongs.
"One and a smile," he replied.
Gravely, Patty dropped one lump in his cup, equally gravely, she gave
him an idiotic smile, that was merely a momentary widening of her mouth.
"Very pretty," commented Phil; "don't see how you manage such a sweet
smile! The tea is 'most _too_ sweet, I think. Give me another bit of
lemon."
"Here you are," said Patty, spearing the lemon with a little fork. "Now,
Philip, listen to me. I want you to do all you can to make it pleasant
for Bumble,--I mean, Helen, while she's here."
"Of course I will. I'm always nice to your friends, you know that."
"I do know it, but I want you to be _specially_ nice."
"All right. Say, flowers tonight,--candy tomorrow,--opera invitation as
soon as I can manage it,--a theatre party,----"
"There, there, now don't overdo it! No; she doesn't eat candy, but you
may send some flowers."
"Some to you too."
"No; not to me----"
"Then not to her."
"Oh, Phil, you said you'd be nice!"
"Well, I will; to both of you. But not to Bumble--I mean, Helen, alone."
"But you mustn't send flowers to me, now that I'm engaged. Come here a
minute, please, Little Billee."
"Yours to command," said Farnsworth, approaching.
"Tell Philip he can't send me flowers."
"Philip, you can't send Patty flowers," Farnsworth said, obediently.
There was a smile on his face, but in his voice there rang a note of
command that angered Van Reypen exceedingly.
"I can _send_ them," he returned, defiantly, "she needn't accept them."
"Leave it that way, then," Bill said, carelessly, as if the matter were
of no moment. "Patty, come out to the dining-room a minute, will you,
dear?"
Jumping up, Patty left the room without a glance at Philip.
Farnsworth followed her, and they went into the dining-room.
They were alone there, and he took her gently in his arms.
"What is it, Patty?" he asked. "Van Reypen been kicking over the
traces?"
"Yes; he seems to think he--he likes me yet."
"Of course he does. How can he help it? But, my darling, there's to be
no petty jealousy between us and him. I trust you, dear, too well, to
think for a minute that you'd listen to him if he says things that you
don't want to hear. Now, never think it will bother me, for it won't.
You love me, don't you, Patty?"
"Yes," she returned, and the blue eyes that met his left no room for
doubt.
"Then, that's all right. Don't give him a thought. Darling, I've brought
your ring."
With a smile of pleasure, Farnsworth produced a lovely ring. It was set
with a single pearl, which he had told Patty suited her far better than
a diamond.
"Do you like it?" he asked eagerly. "Oh, Patty Blossom, _do_ you?"
"I think it the most beautiful ring I ever saw!" she replied, her eyes
glistening, as he slipped it on her finger.
"My pearl," he whispered, close to her ear, "my Patty Pearl. This seals
our betrothal, and makes you mine forever."
"Am I any more yours than I was before I had it?"
"No, you little goose! But this is the bond,--the sign manual----"
"Oh, Little Billee! _what_ a joke! But I accept my bond,--I glory in it!
Oh, Billee, what a beauty pearl it is!"
"The purest and best I could find,--for my own Patty Blossom. Now, I've
bad news, darling."
"Bad news soon told, Br'er Fox," smiled Patty, quoting from her
well-beloved Uncle Remus. "What is it?"
CHAPTER III
CAPTAIN BILL
"It's this," said Farnsworth, looking serious. "I have to go to
Washington."
"Good gracious!" exclaimed Patty, "one would think you were booked for
Kamschatka or Siberia, the way you say it!"
"But I mean, I have to go there to stay."
"How long?"
"Indefinitely. I've no idea how long; also--I may have to go further
yet."
"Over there?"
"Yes. But that's not likely at present. However, it's bad enough to go
to Washington. How can I leave _you_?"
"I'll go, too."
"No, dear, that won't be practicable. I shall be in the University Camp,
drilling engineers, I suppose, but I want to do more and bigger things
than that. I can't tell you all about it, Posy Face, but as soon as I
get further orders I'll know better where I'm at."
"Are you bothered and troubled, my Billee Boy?"
"I am, Patty. I don't want to worry you with it, dearest, and you
couldn't understand it all, anyway, but there is a lot of backbiting and
undermining and wire-pulling in Washington, and it even mixes into Army
and Navy matters."
"Then you'll have to be an undermining engineer, won't you?"
"Patty! You little rogue! You'd make a joke out of anything, I believe."
"'Course I would! Now, Billee, you mustn't look so down-hearted. You've
got me for a joy and a comfort,--not for a burden and a--a millstone
about your neck!"
"I like to have you about my neck, all right,--but you're a
featherweight, not a millstone."
"Where will you be? What's this camp?"
"The Engineering Corps, you mean? Oh, well, there are a lot of
units,--Camouflage, Foresters, Gas and Flame, Wireless, Telephone,----"
"There, there, that'll do! I'm bewildered. Which are you to be in?"
"That's the trouble. It looks to me as if I'd be in the Searchlight
gang----"
"What do you know about searchlights!"
"Nothing. To be sure I've invented one--"
"Oh, Billee, have you? And you never told me!"
"Hadn't time. There's only time enough, when I'm with you, to tell you
what I think of you."
"What do you think of me?"
The lovely face was wistful and sweet, the blue eyes shone with
affection and the scarlet mouth drew down a little at the corners, for
Patty saw by Farnsworth's pained expression, that he was really
disturbed at their coming separation and the uncertainties of his
future.
"I think," the big man spoke, slowly, "I think you're the loveliest
thing God ever made. A thousand times too good for a big brute of a man
like me----"
"You don't treat me like a brute," observed Patty.
"No; I treat you as I think of you,--a lovely rose petal of a girl,--who
ought not to hear of wars or rumours of wars----"
"Nothing of the sort, William Farnsworth! If I were that, I'd deserve to
be put under a glass bell, and left there to die of asphyxiation! I'm
_not_ a silly roseleaf,--I'm a willing, working patriot! Why, I'm as
energetic as--as Molly Pitcher or Barbara Frietchie--or Joan of Arc!"
"That's right, dear, that's the right spirit! But you know, Pattibelle,
you're not physically fitted to go on the rampage, as your flashing eyes
indicate. You're the sort who must 'stay, stay at home my heart and
rest; homekeeping hearts are happiest.'"
"Little Billee, you do quote the beautifullest poetry! Where _do_ you
pick it all up?"
"Oh, I've a store of it somewhere in the top of my head. And I mean no
disparagement of your enthusiasm, Patty, but you can't do hard work, and
so----"
"And so I must knit and knit and knit, I s'pose! Billee, dear, when you
go to Washington why can't I go too, and work in the Canteen
Department?"
Farnsworth smiled at her. "Do you know what the Canteen Department is?"
"Not exactly; but Louise Dempster has gone to it,----"
"Oh, it's the Commissariat Department, but it's no place for you----"
"Why?"
"There, there, don't snap my head off! Only because you're not robust
enough for the work. If you're going in for real help, there's always
the hospital or ambulance work."
"I--I couldn't, Billee! I--I'd faint, I know! Oh, dear, I'm no good, and
never was and never will be!"
"Not so very much good to your Uncle Samuel I admit," and Farnsworth
grinned at her, "but a whole heap of good to one of his humble
citizens."
"Which one?"
"This one!" and Bill grabbed her in his arms.
"Drop me," Patty murmured, half smothered in his shoulder, "somebody's
coming!"
"Let 'em!" But he set her down and began to speak seriously. "You do all
you can for the Red Cross, dear, and that will be your share. Now, don't
worry over it, or think you ought to get into the game in any other way.
You can't do it, but you can and do accomplish a whole lot,--besides
your knitting. Blossom Girl, remember _I'm_ in this world, as well as
the rest of the U. S. A. and you'll give _me_ of your love and fealty
and----,"
"Do you think I will, Sweet William?"
Patty's very soul looked out of her earnest eyes, and Farnsworth kissed
her reverently, "I know you will, darling. Now, you've helped me a lot
already by your cheery and pleasant attitude about my going away----"
"But I don't know all about it yet."
"I don't know much myself. I'll have further instructions soon----"
"And a uniform?"
"Of course. I'll rank as a Captain, and----"
"Oh, Captain Bill! How I will love you then! Come in the other room, I
must tell of it! Nan, Billee's going to have a uniform!"
"Heavenly!" cried Helen Barlow. "Oh, I adore uniforms! And Mr.
Farnsworth will be stunning in one!"
"You may call him Bill, if you like," said Patty, in the generosity of
her enthusiasm.
"All right," said Helen, "but I don't think it suits him. William is
much more dignified."
"Make it William, then," and Farnsworth smiled at the saucy-faced girl.
"Captain Farnsworth is the best," said Elise. "The title becomes you,
Bill, and I know the uniform will."
"I'm going to have a uniform too," said Van Reypen, "won't it become
me?"
"Me, too," chimed in Channing. "I'm expecting to be ordered to France
any minute."
"Why, Chickering Channing! I didn't know that," cried Patty. "What are
you?"
"I'm an _Officier de liaison_."
"What in the world is that?"
"It's really nothing but an interpreter. But the French term is so much
more impressive."
"Indeed it is. What do you interpret?"
"Words otherwise unintelligible."
"But I don't understand--"
"Then I'll be pleased to interpret for you. You see, if a French soldier
wants to confide a state secret to an English-speaking comrade, and if
he doesn't know a word of English, nor the other chap any
French,--what's to be did?"
"Oh, I see!" cried Helen, "they call you in!"
"Exactly, Miss Barlow. And being conversant with and fluent in all known
tongues,--I'm just a walking Tower of Babel."
"A walking dictionary, you mean," laughed Helen. "I think that's a
pretty fine position you hold. I never heard of it before. What's your
rank?"
"Lieutenant,--very much at your service, Mademoiselle. Shortly, I shall
don my khaki, and then I hope, at last, I'll be respected by my fellow
men."
"That's so, Chick," said Patty, mercilessly, "you've always been such a
cutup--well, of course, you were respected,--but nobody really stood in
awe of you. But a Lieutenant,--oh, I'm proud of my friends!"
"Isn't it glorious!" cried Helen, and she flew to the piano and began
playing patriotic airs. They all joined and a brave chorus of young
voices rang out the avowal that the Yanks were coming over there!
So enthusiastically did Helen pound the keys that her hair shook loose
from its pins and came tumbling round her shoulders.
"Now, now, Bumble," remonstrated Patty, "don't do so,--it isn't done!
Here, I'll fix it for you."
But Helen only laughed, and nimbly twisted up her tousled locks, and
thrust hairpins in to hold them in a hard and unbecoming knot at the
back of her head.
"It doesn't look a bit nice," Elise warned her. "Better let Patty
rearrange it."
"Nope, I don't care," and the wilful girl kept on playing and laughed as
she shook her head. The shaking sent her hair down again, and this time
Patty determinedly went to her and dressed it for her.
"Sit still, you naughty!" she said, herself shaking with laughter. "Oh,
Bumble, you haven't grown up a bit!"
Patty did up her cousin's hair prettily and skewered it firmly into
place with many hairpins, and it didn't come down again.
"And are you going down to Washington, too, Chick?" Daisy Dow asked.
"Sooner or later, yes. That's the road to all war glory."
"And you don't know when?"
"You nor I nor nobody knows. You see, Daisy, in war affairs nobody knows
anything and if they do they're not allowed to tell it."
"But just among us,--we wouldn't tell anybody."
"The walls have ears," said Chick, mock-dramatically.
"And Rumour has a thousand tongues," added Farnsworth, "it's a dangerous
combination."
A week later the two went to Washington. Sent for nearly at the same
time, Farnsworth and Channing were to go to Washington, though their
work there was widely different.
The night before their departure, there was a gathering of the clan at
Patty's home.
Farnsworth begged her not to have others there on their last evening
together, but Patty's wise little head thought it better to have a
party.
"You see," she said to Nan, "if I spend the evening alone with my Billee
Boy, he'll be so sad and blue, and I'll be so weepy and red,--we'll have
an awful time! It's a whole lot better to have the crowd here and let
him go off in a blaze of glory! Patriotism is good for homesickness."
And, too, Patty was trying to entertain Helen pleasantly, and so she
made many little parties for her.
The plan of entertaining the other soldiers was postponed until they
could do no more for their own friends, and the little party to speed
their parting, though small, was gay and festive.
"A dance," Patty decided. "I don't want just a sit-around, woeful,
sighful time. A good, lively dance, and a nice supper, and then----"
Patty choked, and Nan seeing the springing tears, quickly began to
discuss details of the supper.
The evening came, and Patty dressed in white, went to Helen's room to
make sure she was in proper order.
"Why, Helen Barlow!" she exclaimed; "if you're not an apple-pie pink of
perfection! Not a bow coming off, and your hair positively looks as if
it would stay put!"
"Don't tease me, Patty. Truly, I'm trying to do better,----"
"You dear old thing! I was a wretch to seem to tease you. Wait till this
ball is over and you get off that very bewitching frock, and I'll give
you a kiss of forgiveness!"
Helen looked very pretty in her evening dress of soft, thin pink, with
touches of silver lace, and silver slippers.
"You're a fairy," said Patty. "How that frock becomes you. Now, be gay
and festive, won't you, Helen, honey, for I feel as if I should burst
into a flood of tears every minute!"
"Go on down, Patty," said Helen, drawing back, "I hear Billee's voice,
and he'll want you alone."
"No; I can't. If I do, I'll cry. Come along."
So both girls ran down stairs, and shrieked with delight at the sight of
Farnsworth in uniform.
"I knew you'd be stunning," said Helen, "but I didn't know you'd look
like a Herculean statue!"
"He doesn't," cried Patty, "he looks like a--a General! He ought to
be--oh, what do you call it when you have your statue taken?"
"Sculped," said Helen.
"Yes, that's it! He ought to be sculped in marble or bronze or whatever
is most used for statues this year!"
"There, now, kiddies, run away and play," said Farnsworth, towering to
his full height and looking every inch a soldier.
"No sir," declared Patty, "we want to look at you. Turn around."
Then Channing came, and he, too, was resplendent in his new khaki, and
the girls praised his appearance.
"Drink it in, Bill," Chick said. "It'll be a long time before we get any
more of this sort of thing! Somepin tells me the people we're going
amongst won't pay any special attention to our uniforms."
"How can they help it?" cried Helen; "why, I don't believe any of the
United States Army will look half as well as you two! You're--you're
superb!"
A bit embarrassed, Channing tried to turn the subject, but Farnsworth
laughed good-humouredly.
"Let 'em rave, Channing. They enjoy it, and I guess we can stand it----"
"Pooh," Patty said, "you're tickled to death to be so admired! Here
comes Elise, now you'll get more flattery."
And then the other guests came and the party soon was in full swing.
Patty was among the gayest there. Her eyes shone and her smile was merry
and sweet. But a flush showed on each pink cheek, and Farnsworth kept
watch of her as she danced or engaged in light banter with the young
people.
Helen Barlow was frankly delighted with the party. She was a belle,
indeed, for she was a charming dancer and her never-failing fund of fun
and laughter kept her partners enchanted.
"I like to dance with you," she said to Farnsworth, "'cause you're so
big. It's like dancing with one of the statues in the park."
"Why do you girls look on me as a statue?" he returned, laughing.
"There's nothing statuesque about me."
"No; not that, it's your heroic size----"
"I hope that's not _all_ my heroism!"
"I hope so, too. But are you going to need heroism? Bravery, I mean, and
courage and all that. I thought you were only going to teach the young
engineers how to shoot."
"That's part of my duty, but there may be other work cut out for me."
"That's what Patty thinks. She thinks,--because you can't tell her all
about it,--that you're going to be called to some fearful danger----"
"Oh, come now, Helen, she doesn't think that, does she?"
"Yes she does. She didn't exactly tell me so, but she can't hide it from
me. I can read that girl pretty well."
"So can I."
"Yes, but you don't see her off her guard."
"I know what you mean. Just now, she is trying her best to be gay;
trying so hard, indeed, that she's overdoing it."
"Yes, that's what I mean. You can tell by the way she laughs. A little
hysterical giggle,--that's not like Patty's own hearty chuckle!"
"You're right, Helen; and you're a good friend to Patty. I'm so glad
you're here with her. Can you stay some time?"
"Yes, as long as she wants me."
"Then look out for her, won't you? She's a frail little thing, and her
heart and her energies are too big for her physique."
"That's so, Bill. But I'll look after her,--all she'll let me. She has a
strong will, I can tell you."
"You two are talking about me, I can sense it!" cried Patty herself,
coming up to them.
"We are," said Bill, "and I'm going to talk to you, instead. Helen, I
see your next partner coming hot haste to claim you, so I'm going to
take Pattibelle aside and treat her to a small lecture."
Willingly Patty went with him, and he led her to the little room which
was her father's den.
There chanced to be no one there, so Farnsworth closed the door after
them, and then gently took her in his arms.
"Dearest," he said, "you must be careful of my own little Patty girl
while I am away."
"But I don't want you to go," she whispered, her lip trembling.
"I know it, dear, and I don't want to leave you. But we're always going
to obey the call of duty, aren't we, Patty mine?"
"Y-yes,----"
"Then listen, sweetheart. You mustn't exaggerate our parting. I'm only
going to Washington----"
"I know--but--you may be sent to France----"
"Don't cross that bridge until you come to it. Now, my own,--my blessed
little girl, I'm going now."
"Now?"
"Yes, if I stay here you'll go all to pieces pretty soon. So I'm going
now, and I'm going to say good-bye, cheerfully, even calmly,--because
it's better so. Then you go back to the party and be as gay as you like,
and forget our case entirely. Trust me, dear little girl,--it's better
so."
Patty realised the truth of Farnsworth's words. She was under great
nervous strain, and after his departure, she knew she could regain her
poise and better conceal and control her feelings.
"You're right, you dear old Billee. I'm a little fool, but I can't help
it. I oughtn't to have planned this affair the way I did, but I didn't
realise,----"
"Of course you didn't, and you overestimated your own power of will.
Now, my love, my little sweetheart, kiss me once, for soldier's luck,
and then I'll go,--and you must bid me good-bye with a smile,--a smile
that I'll carry with me always."
Silently, solemnly, Patty raised her face to his, and bending down,
Farnsworth kissed the sweet lips that quivered beneath his touch.
It almost unnerved him, but, determinedly, he smiled at her, and said,
cheerily, "I'll write often and so must you, and,--why, my goodness,
Patty,--I'll be back soon on leave, and we'll laugh at this tragic
parting."
"No; we won't laugh at it my Little Billee,--no, not that,--but,--we'll
try to smile."
"And succeed! Show me how, _now_."
Patty smiled with real cheer, and clasping her quickly, Farnsworth gave
her one big, farewell kiss, and rushed out of the door, closing it
behind him.
CHAPTER IV
THE BOYS IN KHAKI
"Oh, it was the best plan, but I did hate to have him run off like
that."
"Of course you did, Pattykins, but you would have flown into forty
conniption fits if he had stayed longer. I saw you, and you were getting
all nervous and 'stericky!'"
"I was not! You exaggerate so, Bumble, and I won't stand it! I was
upset, of course, at the thought of his going, but I had absolute
control of my nerves. It was all my own fault,--having the party, I
mean."
"You had the party for me, my child. Don't think you can fool your
grandmother! But it's all right, and I promised that Sweet William of
yours that I'd chirk you up, and keep you so interested and amused that
you'd forget his very existence,--let alone forgetting his absence.
Besides, there's a strong belief current in the best circles that
absence makes the heart grow fonder."
"It can't ours,--we're all the fond there is, now!"
"Turtle-doves! Well, give me a bit more chocolate, and we'll call it
square."
The two girls, in boudoir gowns and caps, were having their morning
chocolate in Patty's room, and had eagerly been rehearsing and
discussing the party of the night before.
Helen's pretty hair was tousled and her cap askew, as, perched
cross-legged on a couch, she nibbled toast and sipped chocolate
contentedly.
Patty, fresh and tidy as a rose, sat near by and did the honours of the
breakfast tray.
"You see," she said, absent-mindedly piling sugar into Helen's cup,
"I've decided to be sensible about this thing. I'm not going to----"
"You're going to get a Food Controller after you if you are so lavish
with that sugar! For Heaven's sake, Patty, stop! That's the third
spoonful!"
"Is it? I wasn't looking. As I say, I'm going to be sensible about
Little Billee's going away. He's got to go, and so I may as well make up
my mind to it."
"Sensible, indeed! Yet it doesn't seem to me such a marvellous triumph
of intellect or such a phenomenal force of will that brings about that
resolve!"
"In one more minute I shall throw a pillow at you, Bumble! I guess if
you were engaged to the biggest man in the world, you wouldn't let him
walk off to war----"
"He's going with the whole
Of his patriotic soul,
At the call of his country's flag!"
sang Helen, trilling the refrain of a song they had all sung the night
before.
"Yes, that's it. And what am _I_ to stand out against Uncle Samuel?"
"That's right, be patriotic and you will be happy,--you are a nice
child, Patty."
"_You_ would be, if you weren't so silly!"
"Me silly! Ah, well, better judges are better pleased!"
Helen rolled her eyes skyward, in mock resignation, and then began to
finger over Patty's engagement book.
"Tonight, Elise's party," she read; "will that be fun?"
"Oh, yes, she has lovely parties. And, write it in there for me, Bumble,
we've decided on next Monday night for a party for the boys in khaki."
"All right, I'll put it down. Who did the deciding?"
"Phil and I, last night. He says he'll make application to the Y. M. C.
A. committee or something and have them send us the pick of the lot."
"How funny! The best-looking ones? Do they have to pass an exam for it?"
"Don't be idiotic! Let me tell you, the most desirable ones are merely
the ones who most need a little pleasure or entertainment."
"How can they tell?"
"Oh, I don't know. Perhaps the ones who are farthest from home and
mother,--or, who have been ill,----"
"Or parted from their best girls?"
"Yes, those are the saddest cases, of course!"
"Well, go ahead, I'll be best girl to 'em."
"You see, Philip knows the--the----"
"Chaplain?"
"Well, the somebody, who will pick out the boys,--soldiers and sailors
both, and I've agreed to entertain a few every Monday night, for the
present, anyway."
"You're a good girl, Patty; you're all right!"
"Oh, _thank_ you, dear, for your generous praise!"
"Yes; I foresee these parties will so interest and entertain you, that
I'll not have to work so hard to keep my agreement with your big man to
divert your saddened and aching heart."
"My heart's outside your jurisdiction,--and beside, I'm doing this party
to entertain you. You know, one can't have a guest without making
strenuous efforts to keep said guest merry and bright, please!"
"True, yes, true! But, give me half a chance, and I'll entertain myself.
Give me a pleasant home to visit, a lovely hostess, like----"
"Oh, _thank_ you!"
"Like Nan, and a few young men, and I'll ask nothing further."
"I seem to be left out of your scheme of things!"
"No, no! my angel child, not so, but far otherwise!"
The vivacious visitor flung aside her pillows and jumped up to embrace
Patty in a whirlwind flash of affection. Greatly given to chaffing,
Helen was truly fond of Patty, and the two were congenial and
affectionate.
"Now, one more tiny pour of chocolate, and one more popover, and my
matutinal meal is finished," Helen said, resuming her seat.
"Oh, Bumble! You know you are welcome to all you want, and more too,
but--but I thought you _did_ want to--to----"
"To help this too, too solid flesh to melt? Well, so I do,--but Patsy,
poppet, your talented cook does make such delectable dainties that I
can't resist. Just a teenty-weenty drop of choclum, there's a dear,
sweet cousin-girl!"
Patty laughed and gave Helen another cup full of the delicious cocoa,
and turned her glance aside, as a popover was lavishly buttered.
The morning mail came then, and as Jane brought the girls their letters,
Helen took hers, and suddenly gave a deep and hollow groan.
"What's the matter?" asked Patty, but half-heartedly, as her mail
contained a letter from Little Billee, which she was eagerly devouring.
"Matter enough!" wailed Bumble, "that botheration, that pest of my
existence, that everlasting nuisance, Chester Wilde, is coming here!"
"Here? When?"
"I dunno. Soon, he says. Today, most likely. I think I'll telephone him
not to come."
"Why? Why don't you let him?"
"Oh, he's such a persistent--er, wooer."
"Don't you care for him, Helen?"
"Not enough to marry him, as he insists I must do."
"Oh, well, let him come. I'll talk to him, if you don't want to. When
may he be expected?"
"Today, I suppose. Oh, of course, he'll only come to call,--and I forbid
you, Patty, to ask him to stay to dinner--or to come again."
"Wowly-wow-wow! What a cruel fair she is! All right, Bumble, dear, just
as you say. And now, scoot back to your own room,--unless you want more
chocolate?"
"N-no," and Bumble looked longingly at the tray. "No,--_no!_ of _course_
not!"
Patty laughed, and gently pushed her visitor out of the room, lest
temptation again overcome her.
The Monday evenings planned for the enjoyment of the boys in uniform
began to take shape and rapidly acquired considerable proportions.
Philip Van Reypen was a fine organiser and Helen Barlow ably seconded
his efforts, while Patty agreed and helped in matters of detail.
Elise was interested and there were half a dozen more of their own crowd
ready to help in any way available. Chester Wilde had put in an
appearance and Patty liked him from the first. A quick-witted,
pleasant-mannered young man, himself engaged in some clerical war work,
he declared his willingness to come over from his home in Philadelphia
and help with the Monday night parties.
Helen Barlow's pretended dislike of him was merely coquetry, Patty
surmised, and then as the elder Fairfields approved of young Wilde, he
soon became a frequent and welcome visitor.
Patty adhered to her plan of giving the enlisted men evenings of real
pleasure, and entertainment that was enjoyable to educated and cultured
minds. For the first evening, they planned a series of Living Pictures,
for, said the sagacious Patty, "give 'em something to look at that's
pretty and they're bound to like it!"
Elise Farrington and Daisy Dow were enthusiastic workers, and Mona and
Roger Farrington promised any help asked for.
As Farnsworth and Chick Channing were both gone away, the circle of
Patty's friends was depleted as to men, but Chester Wilde was a good
help and two or three other men were invited to assist.
Philip Van Reypen was still in the city, and his great efficiency and
good taste and judgment made him a valuable ally for the cause.
He and Patty planned the pictures, for Helen Barlow knew nothing of such
matters and Chester Wilde was better at carrying out orders than
originating plans.
"What do you think of this scheme," Van Reypen asked of Patty as they
began on the actual selection of subjects. "Say, three
pictures,--tableaux, you know, and have each of them introduce a bit of
entertainment of itself."
"Sounds fine," she agreed, "if only I had the least idea of what you're
driving at."
"You will have. Here's the gist of it. Say, an Oriental scene. Ladies in
rich Persian draperies and fallals posed about; men in the gorgeous
Eastern robes affected by our heathen contemporaries; all the properties
and effects in harmony,--you know I've oodles of that junk--and the
whole scene glittering and radiant."
"Beautiful! Great! But is that all?"
"Not so but far otherwise. Now, after the eager audience have feasted
their eyes on the sight, and you know, it isn't to be a motionless
picture,----"
"Then it must be a motion picture!"
"It is, in this sense. The ladies and the men walk about, or languidly
wave their peacock feather fans, or sink gracefully on divans, but of
course, no words are spoken."
"Pantomime, then."
"Yes; rather like a pantomime. Well, then, in comes an Oriental juggler,
who does tricks,----"
"I see! Oh, Phil, that's splendid! Just what I wanted! And he does real
tricks,--good tricks,--and they interest the audience of themselves, and
at the same time there's the beautiful scenic effect going on!"
"Yes,--a poor scheme,--but mine own."
"A fine scheme! Oh, I see enormous possibilities in it!"
"Then perhaps on another occasion, a Sylvan scene,--a woodland
effect,--and in it give a bit of 'As You Like It,' or something of that
sort. Another time, a Venetian scene, and you can sing with the
gondoliers."
"Yes, yes, I see it all!"
"Oh, you do! Then you've no further need of my services."
"Don't be a silly! Of course I want you. I couldn't do any of it alone.
How long before you go to Wilmington, or wherever you're going?"
"Dunno! but it won't matter. I can run up here often. An aviator's life
is not a busy one."
"Really? Why isn't it?"
"Oh, it is, of course, in a sense. But there's not the same strenuous
rush there is in other fields. You see we're not fly-by-nights, for one
thing."
"Oh, yes, outside daylight hours you're free to play by yourself?"
"Perhaps not all of that, but, don't you worry, my lady, I'll play
hookey, if need be, to get up here to look after your interests."
"All right. Now we can't put a whole lot of time and trouble on
rehearsals and all that, you know."
"No; my idea was to have these things almost impromptu. Let us plan it
all out pretty well beforehand, and then let the performers each time
come early, and get posted as to their parts, and the star performer
will do the rest."
"Star performer?"
"Yes; I mean, each time have an entertainer, like the juggler----"
"A professional?"
"Not necessarily. I know a chap who does wonderful legerdemain, who'd be
glad to come to entertain Our Boys."
"Oh, yes, I see. And I'll sing."
"Yes, you can sing, as special character in some tableau, don't you see?
You could be a mermaid or a Lorelei, sitting on a rock."
"With a lute?"
"Yes, and your hair down, and a gold comb and a mirror, while you comb
your shining goldilocks."
"Nixy! Not my hair down. All the rest, but now I'm engaged, I've put
away childish things."
"Pshaw, don't be a silly! But never mind those details. And, too, if you
don't fancy the mermaid rôle, have a bit of a scene about 'tenting
tonight on the old camp ground,' and you can come on as a Red Cross
nurse, and sing----"
"Oh, yes, and the boys in khaki can help make up the picture!"
"'Course they can. And another time, we'll get up a ship scene, I don't
know just how yet, but I'll plan it----"
"We could have the mermaid come to the side of the ship."
"Ah, coming around to the mermaid rôle, are you? Well, those schemes are
all right. Now, what shall we choose for the first one?"
"Not soldiers or sailors. Let them see some stunning show first."
"Oriental?"
"Yes, I guess so. Your idea of the juggler is splendid. He can come on
the stage like those Hindoo fakirs, you know,----"
"Yes, that's what I meant."
"You know, there's not so very much room----"
"Want to go over to Elise's, and have it all in her casino?"
"N-no,--not at first, anyway. You see, Phil, I suppose it is nothing but
pride and vain glory,--but _I_ thought up this plan,--and I want to have
it in my own home."
"So you shall! I don't blame you. If Elise wants to, let her get up
something herself."
"Probably she will. But I want mine here."
"That's all right, Patty-girl. Why, there's plenty of room. We needn't
ask so very many guests,--say a dozen or so the first time, and see how
it works out."
"Oh, we could accommodate twenty or twenty-four, I think. You see we'd
use these connecting rooms, and this room would hold about thirty
chairs."
"All right. Now, say we plan the scene. I've all that big chest full of
Oriental costumes, you know, and we don't want very much in the way of
actual scenery. A couple of divans heaped with pillows, and some of
those hookah pipes standing round--then, the people in costume,--there's
your setting,--see? Then, in comes your juggler, also in appropriate
costume, and he does his tricks, and the people on the stage admire and
applaud, and the people in the audience do likewise."
"Fine! And afterward, we have a little feast, and a little dance, and
maybe sing a song or two for a good-night chorus."
"That's the ticket! Now, for the list of those who take part, and a few
details of that sort, and our preliminary work is done!"
CHAPTER V
A FIRE-EATER
The Monday night party was in full swing. A stage had been erected and
the spectacle that was seen as the curtain rose was of "more than
Oriental splendour."
Heavy draperies, potted palms, strange braziers and lanterns, pillowed
divans,--all formed a brilliant and interesting picture of an Eastern
interior.
Richly garbed ladies sat at ease while slaves waved peacock feather fans
above their bejeweled heads. Stalwart men stood about, picturesque in
their embroidered tunics and voluminous mantles.
The movement of the scene increased. Slaves entered with baskets of
fruits, musicians came and made weird music, and dancing girls appeared
and gave graceful exhibitions of their art.
Patty was one of these. In a charming costume of thin, fluttering silks
and gauzy veils, she went through the slow swaying steps of a
characteristic dance, and enthralled the appreciative audience.
She had indeed achieved her desire to give her guests something
different from the average evening entertainment. The young men in khaki
and in blue, who sat watching, were breathlessly attentive and applauded
loudly and often.
The whole assemblage was gay and merry. The elder Fairfields were
excellent hosts, and chatted with the uniformed guests until even the
shy ones felt at ease. Roger and Mona Farrington, too, assisted in this
work of getting acquainted, and the result was a pleasant, chatty
atmosphere and not merely a silent audience.
"Good work!" said Roger, approvingly, to a khakied youth, as Patty
executed a difficult pirouette.
"You bet!" was the earnest reply. "I've seen some dancing, but never
anything to beat that! Is she on the regular stage?"
"Oh, no. She's the daughter of the house. But she's a born dancer and
has always loved the art."
"Don't wonder! She puts it all over anybody I ever saw! And the whole
colouring,--the scene, you know,--well, it'll be something to remember
when I'm back in camp. A thing like that stays in your mind, you know,
and I'll shut my eyes and see those furling pink veils as plain, 'most,
as I do now. What a beautiful girl she is."
His tone was almost reverential, and Roger instinctively liked the
simple straightforwardness of his comment.
"Yes, and as lovely as she is beautiful. She's engaged to a Captain, and
it's hard luck that he has to be away from her."
"It's all of that! Hullo, look who's here!"
Among the people on the stage there appeared a strange figure. It was a
man of swarthy countenance, garbed in pure white draperies, so full and
flowing, that he resembled the pictures of the prophets. He walked
slowly to the centre of the stage, and made deep salaams to the
characters there assembled, then turned and bowed low to the audience.
His snow-white, coiled turban almost swept the floor as he gracefully
bent in greeting. Then he rose, and began to chant a strange weird
incantation.
An assistant brought a small tripod filled with various paraphernalia,
and the juggler began his tricks.
They consisted of the most mystifying legerdemain and magical illusions,
for the performer, as Philip had assured Patty, was an expert, though
not a professional.
The soldier boys and sailor boys were delighted, and watched closely in
their desire to see how the tricks were done.
And this paved the way to their still greater satisfaction, for the
accommodating magician acceded to several urgent requests and explained
his tricks.
To be sure, it detracted from the mystery, but it added to the interest.
One of his startling deeds was this.
An attendant brought to the magician a small iron dish filled with
kerosene oil. With an eager smile, as of delighted anticipation, the
juggler, who spoke no word, made motions for his aid to light the oil.
This was done, and the flames proved it to be real oil and really
burning.
Then, taking an iron spoon, the magician dipped out a spoonful of the
blazing oil and putting it in his mouth swallowed it with great apparent
relish and enjoyment.
He nodded his head and smacked his lips in praise of this strange food,
and made a gesture of wanting more. Obligingly, the attendant offered
him the iron bowl again, and again a spoonful of blazing kerosene was
gobbled up by the hungry feeder.
"My stars!" cried one of the audience, "I've heard of fire-eaters, but I
never expected to see one! Have another dip, old chap!"
Smiling acquiescence, the juggler repeated his startling partaking of
the oil, and seemed to like it quite as much as ever.
"Well, I'll give up!" cried the interested observer, who had spoken
before. "Do tell us how you do that! I'd rather know that than eat a
square meal myself!"
Dropping for the moment his rôle of pantomimist, the juggler said, "I
will tell you, for it is an interesting trick. For years,--ages, even,
the Hindus mystified and deceived people by pretending to be
fire-eaters. The ignorant on-lookers, of course, believed that the
fakirs really ate fire,--hot coals, blazing oil, or burning tow.
"But as a matter of fact, it was all trickery, and deception of the
simplest kind. You must know the ignorant people of the Far East are
much more gullible and easily deceived than our own alert, up-to-date
modern and civilised citizens. And, yet, even among ourselves, it is not
easy to understand the fire-eating illusion. This is real kerosene, it
is really lighted, you have seen my apparent relish of it. Now can any
one explain how it is that I take spoonful after spoonful, yet my mouth
is not burnt?"
Nobody could guess, and one after another said so. The young men were
losing their shyness and self-consciousness in their interest.
"Spill it, boss," urged one, "give us the right dope!"
"Yes, I'd be glad to be informed as to the _modus operandi_," said
another, who was of a different mental type. Indeed, it was all sorts
and conditions of brains that were striving to see through this
absorbing problem.
Patty, still in her place on the stage, looked keenly into the upturned
faces.
"Dear, brave boys!" she thought to herself; "sooner or later, going
'over there' to fight for us and our cause! I am glad to give them a
little cheer and fun as occasion offers."
The elder Fairfields felt the same way, and all who were helping Patty
in her plan were conscious of a thrill of gratification at the success
of it, so far.
"I've seen it on the vaudeville stage in Paris," one different looking
youth spoke up. "It was slightly different in effect, but I suppose the
same principle obtained."
"Doubtless," agreed the juggler, whose name was Mr. Peckham. "Now, I'll
show you. The whole secret is that when I apparently take up a spoonful
of oil, in reality, I only dip the spoon in and out again. It comes out
blazing, to be sure, but really empty. It is merely the slight film of
oil adhering to the spoon that blazes. However, this is quite enough to
give the effect of a full spoon of kerosene on fire. Then, as I throw
back my head, as if to swallow this flaming fluid, I really blow out the
flame and I am careful not even to allow the hot spoon to touch my lips.
But the audience, if the trick is quickly done, see what they expect to
see. They are imbued with the idea that I am swallowing a spoonful of
burning kerosene, and they therefore think I do so. It is over in a
second,--I am swallowing, and smacking my lips, and it is taken for
granted that I have done the impossible."
"Huh!" said the youth who had "wanted to know."
"Yes," returned Mr. Peckham, laughing, "it's 'Huh!' after the secret is
told! No trick is as wonderful after it is explained as it is before."
"It is to me," said a more thoughtful man; "it's interesting to see how
a mere optical illusion is believed to be real by thinking and attentive
minds."
"Not only that," added Mr. Peckham, "but it's strange to realise how our
eyes see, or we think they see, what we expect to see. You anticipated
my fire-eating, you looked forward to seeing it, therefore, you thought
you did see it."
"That's it, sir! After all, it's a sort of camouflage."
"Exactly! I give you something that looks like fire-eating, and you
think it _is_ fire-eating! Exactly."
Then he performed many other tricks; tricks with cards or with other
paraphernalia; tricks with balls, swords, hats, all the usual branches
of "magic" and the enthralled audience were so entertained and
spellbound, that the time slipped by unheeded.
"Good gracious!" cried Patty suddenly, from her place on the stage,
"isn't it getting late?"
"It's half-past eleven," Roger informed her, from the audience.
"Then we must stop this magicking! I'm sorry, for I could watch it all
night, but there's more programme yet!"
"Cut it out!" cried a youthful chap in sailor blue; "give us more
hocus-pocus!"
"Not tonight," laughed Patty, and leaving her place, the whole tableau
began to break up and the gorgeously attired Orientals came down among
the audience and mingled as one group.
"I can't thank you enough," Patty said, pausing to speak to Mr. Peckham;
"it's so kind of you, and I've been so interested!"
"Oh, it's nothing," asserted the kind and genial man, "glad to do it for
Van Reypen's sake, for Our Boys' sake, and, most of all, Miss Fairfield,
for your sake!"
Patty rewarded him with her best smile and ran away to look after the
rest of her entertainment.
There was to have been music and some other matters, but it was now so
late that it was time for the supper.
This was a simple but very satisfying repast and the men in uniform
showed their appreciation of Patty's thoughtful kindness in this, as
well as in the mental entertainment.
"I say, Miss Fairfield," a stalwart young man observed, "if you knew
what all this means to us poor chaps, when we're miles removed from
chicken salad and ice cream, you'd feel gratified, I'm sure."
"I do, Mr. Herron; I am truly glad I can please you but more grateful to
you for your appreciation than you can possibly be for my invitation."
"Well, that's going some!" and the man laughed. "You see, Miss
Fairfield, it's like a glimpse of another world to a lot of us. It is to
me. Why, I come from out West, and I've never been in a home like this
of yours. Oh, I don't mean to say we don't have 'em out West,--lots of
our plutes roll in gold and all that. But _I_ didn't. I'm of the
every-day people, and my folks are good and honest, but plain. Not that
I'm ashamed of 'em,--Lord, no! But I own up I'm pleased as Punch at this
chance to be a guest in a fine house for once!"
"I hope not only for once, Mr. Herron," said Patty, who liked the frank
young fellow. "I'd like to have you come again."
"You oughtn't to invite me,--you ought to take a different lot every
time,--but, by jingo, if you _do_ ask me, I'm coming! You just bet I
am!"
Patty laughed and passed on talking gaily to this one and that, asking
questions about things they were interested in and conversant with, and
in all, being a charming and sympathetic little hostess.
Entertaining was Patty's forte, and she loved it. Moreover, she could
adapt herself with equal ease to the most aristocratic and high-bred
society or to the plainer and more commonplace people.
As for these boys, she loved them, partly because of her patriot spirit,
partly from her love of humanity, and largely because now that her own
Billee was in the war, all war people were dear to her.
After supper there was still time for a dance or two, and the guests
entered into this diversion with zest. Naturally, Patty had many
would-be partners, and she divided her dances in an effort to please
many.
Helen, too, was a general favourite. The young men liked the jolly girl
and pretty Bumble laughed and joked with them, promising to write
letters to them and knit comforts for them and to do numberless possible
and impossible things when they were back in their camps, or wherever
their duty led them.
Chester Wilde was present. He was an urgent suitor of Helen's, but
tonight he tried with all his energies to help Patty in the plan she had
undertaken.
At last, when most of the uniformed guests had departed, Wilde noticing
the tired expression in Patty's eyes, led her to a cosy sofa and advised
her to rest a little.
"I'll bring you some hot bouillon," he said, "and it will do you good.
Let the rest of the girls speed the few parting guests, and you sit here
and talk to me."
Patty agreed and soon they were affably chatting. As often, their talk
was of Helen.
"Doesn't she look pretty tonight?" young Wilde asked, his eyes straying
to the laughing face across the room.
"Yes, indeed, she always does," agreed Patty. "She's a darling thing,
too, Mr. Wilde, and you mustn't be down-hearted because she flouts you
sometimes. I know my little old Bumble pretty well and she's a great
little scamp for teasing the people she likes best."
"It would have been all right, I'm sure," said the young man, moodily,
"if she had stayed in Philadelphia. But here, there are so many men
about,--oh, I don't mean the uniformed men,--but a lot of others who are
here at your house now and then, that I can't help feeling Helen will
forget me."
"Nonsense! I won't let her. You trust your Aunt Patty! Why my middle
name is Tact!"
"I know it, Miss Fairfield, I know all that, and you're awfully good to
me, but,--oh, well, I s'pose I'm jealous."
"I s'pose you are," Patty laughed at him. "You wouldn't be any good if
you weren't! But you know, faint heart and all that. Don't be
faint-hearted, that's not the thing for a soldier, at all!"
"All right, I'll cheer up. You're a good friend, Miss Fairfield----"
"Oh, call me Patty, I'd rather you would."
"All right and thank you. First names for us, after this. Now don't
think me silly, but,--won't you do all you can to--to----"
"To turn our Helen's heart in your direction? Indeed I will, Chester,
and gladly. But, take my word for it, she likes you better than anybody
else, right now."
"Oh, Patty, do you think so?"
"I know so. Bumble,--Helen, I mean, is a dear, but she isn't quite sure
of her own mind. Oh, don't you worry, Chester, my friend, all will yet
be well."
"But look at her now. She's terribly taken with that chap named Herron.
See her look at him!"
"The green-eyed monster has you in his grip, for sure! Come on, let's go
and see what they're talking about."
Patty rose and Chester followed her to where Helen and Philip Van Reypen
were eagerly talking to Mr. Herron.
"Yes," Herron was saying, "to train a thousand aviators usually means
the smashing of more than a thousand machines. Why, every learner breaks
up one or two airplanes before he's a flyer."
"Really!" said Helen, her eyes big with interest. "And how much do these
airplanes cost?"
"Oh, about seven thousand dollars apiece."
"They do! What a fearful expense for the government!"
"The government does have fearful expenses, Miss Barlow,--or so I've
heard."
"But that's something awful, old man," put in Van Reypen. "I'm going to
be a flyer, and I'll begin training soon. That's why I'm so keen on
questioning you. Do I go up in the air at once?"
"No, sir. You begin on a machine that stays on _terra firma_."
"Then it isn't a flying machine at all," observed Patty, as she and
Chester joined the others.
"Well, it is, except that it doesn't fly! But one learns all the motions
on it, and the controls and the handling of winds,--and, oh, quite a few
things about it. Then later on, one goes up----"
"What a sensation it must be!" cried Patty; "I'm just crazy to try it.
May I go up with you, Phil, as soon as you've learned?"
"Not until I _have_ learned. You'll take no chances with a novice, I can
tell you."
"But I don't see," said Helen, "how a machine on the ground is anything
like one in the air."
"It's difficult to explain," returned Herron. "But, you see, jets of air
are blown through tubes, that simulate the currents of real air that
affect the man higher up."
"Too many for me!" declared Helen, "my little two-cent brain refuses to
grasp it!"
"We'll go down to see Philip perform as soon as he knows enough to show
off," declared Patty. "Won't that be fun, Helen?"
"Yes; may we, Philip?"
"After I'm ready to show off, yes."
"Oh, you vainy!" cried Helen. "Never mind, we don't want to see you when
you're just flying on the floor!"
"I really must fly from here," laughed Mr. Herron. "Such a gorgeous
time, Miss Fairfield. May I come again?"
"Oh, I wish you would! Don't wait for a special invitation,--come at any
time."
"He will," Van Reypen said, "I'll bring him. He and I will be
associated, I find, in the Aviation Training Camp, and we'll often run
up together,--mayn't we, Patty?"
"Yes, indeed; as often as you can manage to!"
CHAPTER VI
A SLEIGHRIDE
"Ready, Bumble?" asked Patty, looking in at her cousin's room.
"Yes, in a minute."
"Oh, I know your minutes! They're half an hour long each! Here,--let me
help you."
Patty straightened Helen's collar, fastened two hooks, found her gloves,
tied her veil, and performed a few more odd services for her, and then
held her fur coat for her to slip into.
"It looks like more snow, but Phil telephoned that we'd go anyway,"
Patty said: "Mona and Roger will meet us up there, and Mr. Herron will
be there too."
"Perfectly fine! I love a sleighride, though goodness knows we get few
enough of them nowadays."
"You won't love it, if we get snowed under, or snowbound at the Club."
"I shan't mind. We'll have Mona and Roger for chaperons and we can stay
till the storm is over. Philip says the house is lovely."
"Yes, the Timothy Grass Golf Club is a splendid place, and the winter
casino,--The Playbox, they call it,--is most attractive. Oh, we'll have
a good time whatever happens."
By way of entertaining Helen, Van Reypen had proposed a day at the
Country Club, and his invitation was eagerly accepted. There was snow
enough on the ground to make good sleighing, and the air was crisp, cold
and clear. Warmly garbed for their trip, the two girls ran downstairs to
find Philip awaiting them.
"Hooray for two plucky ones!" he cried; "I thought maybe you'd back out
on account of the storm."
"Where's the storm?" asked Helen. "I don't see any."
"You wear rose-coloured glasses. There's snow in the air, some flying,
and more waiting above, ready to come down. But not enough to hurt two
such well-befurred Esquimoses! Come along, then."
The novelty of a real old-fashioned sleighride was a great pleasure and
as the fast horses flew along, the girls exclaimed at the new delight of
such transportation.
"Are Roger and Mona going in a sleigh, too?" asked Patty.
"Yes, I think so. They'll come later, as Mona just had a telegram that
her father is coming to see her today."
"But she'll come to us, won't she?" Patty asked, quickly. "She's our
chaperon, you know. It wouldn't do at all for Helen and me to go to the
Club without her."
"Oh, yes, she said she'd come, as soon as her father arrives and she
gets him comfortably welcomed. She's very fond of him, you know."
"Yes, and he's an awfully nice man. What time will we get back, Phil?"
"'Long about five o'clock or so. We won't reach the Club before noon.
Then we'll have time for a game of indoor tennis or whatever you like,
of that sort. Then luncheon, and in the afternoon there's time for a
game of Bridge if you choose."
"Probably we won't do anything but sit around and chatter," opined
Helen, who was not fond of games. "Mr. Herron is coming, isn't he?"
"Yes, my lady. But you mustn't flirt with him, or you'll turn his head
completely."
"She has done that already," laughed Patty; "Mr. Herron just sits and
gazes at my fair cousin, whenever occasion offers."
"Nor can any one blame him for that. Look at the ice jam in the river!
What a winter we're having, to be sure."
"A lovely winter, I think," Helen said, "I adore cold weather, and I
don't mind snow. I like to feel it on my face."
"All the same," Patty put in, "I could do with less of it just now."
The white feathers were flying briskly through the air, and Patty
cuddled her face deep into her high fur collar. She was not quite so
fond of the elements as Helen, and felt the cold more.
"The snow is falling all around,
It's falling here and there;
It's falling through the atmosphere
And also through the air."
Helen chanted the lines to an accompaniment of dashing the flakes from
her veiled face.
"The snow is falling all around,
And wonder fills my cup,
Whether, when it is all snowed down
We won't be all snowed up!"
Patty sang her parody, in a high, clear voice, and then returned to her
depths of collar.
Then Philip took up the game:
"The snow is falling all around,
But you girls needn't fret;
We'll soon arrive where we are bound,
And you'll get warm,--you bet!"
"Lovely, Phil!" murmured Patty, "you do sing like a cherub!"
"Oh, well, I suppose my coloratura is a little off, but every time I
open my mouth the snow snows in!"
"Ought to make liquid notes," said Patty.
"Oh, come now! If you're going to talk like that!"
"I can only sing of Greenland's Icy Mountains," Helen declared, and just
then they came in sight of the Club house.
A huge structure it was, in a large park, and surrounded by trees and
gardens. In summer it was a beautiful spot, but in winter some thought
it even more so. The Golf Links showed great stretches of white and the
bare black limbs of the tall trees made a picturesque foreground. The
house itself, with glassed-in veranda and storm doors, looked like a
haven of refuge.
The girls ran inside, and were greeted by the sound of crackling flames
in a great fireplace.
"I do think a Club is the nicest place!" exclaimed Helen, as she sat
down on a fireside settle. "And this one has such a cheery, hospitable
atmosphere."
"Yes," agreed Patty, "but I don't see many people around. Aren't there
very few, Phil?"
"Rather so. But it's an uncertain quantity, you know. Some days the
place is crowded, and again nearly empty. It's always so in a Club."
"Where's Mona?"
"She'll come soon. I told you she'd be late. Don't fuss, Patty."
"No; I won't," and Patty smiled at him.
But she was anxious, for Patty was conservative by nature, and a close
observer of the conventions. She was unacquainted at this Club, and if
Mona shouldn't come, she felt a grave uncertainty as to what she could
do. She and Helen couldn't stay the day there without Mona, and the
storm was gaining in force.
"I wish you'd telephone," she said to Van Reypen, "and see if they've
started."
"All right, my liege lady, I will. Just wait a minute, till I get this
numbness from my digits."
"Do let him get warm, Patty," Helen remonstrated; "the poor man is
almost frozen, and you send him to telephone about nothing!"
"'Deed it isn't nothing! If for any reason Mona doesn't come, we must go
right home, Helen."
"But don't cross the bridge before you come to it. At least, let me have
a look around. I want to see that sun-parlour and that other palmy nook,
over there! Oh, I think this the most fascinating place I ever saw!"
"It _is_ charming. And I'm glad to be here, but I want things right."
"Patty, you're not unlike Friend Hamlet. You're always setting the world
right."
"I know, Phil, but you don't stop to think. You know we two girls can't
stay here without Mona or some married woman as a chaperon. It doesn't
matter what you think; that's society's law and must be obeyed."
Patty's pink cheeks took on an added flush and her blue eyes grew
violet, as they did when she was very much in earnest.
"I know, Patty; I know, dear. Why, I'm as well acquainted with the
conventions as you are. Do you suppose I want you to do anything not
absolutely correct? But the Farringtons will come directly. They started
later than we did, and the increasing depth of snow may make them longer
on the road. But they're sure to come."
Phil's air of conviction reassured Patty, and she turned to the great
blazing fire again, with a sigh of contentment. There were two or three
Club members about, but save for those and the liveried footmen here and
there, the place was deserted.
Helen, thoroughly warm, jumped from her seat and went about looking at
the various attractive rooms.
"A wonderful library!" she said, returning from her tour of
investigation; "I could be happy there all day, just looking at the
picture papers and books."
"So could I," said Patty, "if we had somebody with us. Why didn't we
bring Nan? That would have made everything all right!"
"Mona's sure to come soon," comforted Helen. "Let up, Patty, you make me
tired with your fussing."
Good-naturedly, Patty "let up" and said no more for the moment.
"Hello, people!" called a cheery voice, and a big figure in uniform came
swinging in.
"Mr. Herron!" cried Helen, running forward to greet him. "I'm so glad
you came! Did you come in your airship?"
"I wish I could have done so, for the going on the ground is something
awful. This is sure one fierce storm!"
Patty went over and lifted a curtain to look out of the window.
"Oh-ee!" she cried out, "it's coming down thicker'n ever! How can Mona
get here? They'll be snowbound, half way here! Phil, please go and
telephone; I _must_ know if they've started."
"Better go quick," laughed Herron, "before the telephone wires are down.
It's that wet, heavy snow that weighs the wires down fearfully."
"All right," and Phil started for the telephone booth.
"They'll get here," opined Bumble; "you worry over nothing, Patty Pink."
"They can't get here unless they started some time ago," Herron said;
"the roads are getting worse every minute."
"Roger will manage somehow," Helen went on. "I know him of old,--and he
isn't to be baulked by a few flakes of snow."
But Phil returned looking serious.
"They're not coming," he announced, briefly, meeting Patty's startled
eyes squarely, but apologetically. "Not on account of the storm, but
because Mona's father arrived, and he isn't well and Mona won't leave
him. She says to tell you she's awfully sorry, but it seems her father
is really pretty ill, and she can't get away."
"Then we must go right home," said Patty, very decidedly. "You know
yourself, Phil, we two girls can't stay here without Mona--or somebody."
"Of course, I know it, Patty. Give me a minute to think. I hate to go
home and give up our nice day here. Maybe we can fix it. I'll go and see
the housekeeper."
"Oh, that would be all right, Phil," and Patty's lovely face broke into
a smile. "If she's a nice motherly or auntly old lady, she'd do
admirably! Go and see about it, do!"
"Let me go," said Herron, "maybe I can fix it up."
He was gone a long time, but he came back smiling.
"The housekeeper isn't here," he announced, "she's gone off for a few
days' holiday. Her present substitute is her daughter, a girl younger
than you girls are. Also there's nobody who can play chaperon to a pair
of lone, lorn damsels but one elderly specimen, who is by way of being a
pastry-cook or something like that. However,----"
"Oh, all right!" cried Helen; "I don't care if she's a pastry-cook or a
laundress if she only satisfies Patty's insane desire for a chaperon!
Will she come? Will she stay by us till we go home?"
"She'll come to luncheon with us," said Herron, "and after that I think
we'd better start for home. The snow is getting deeper, and though it
looks as if the sun might break through the clouds any minute,--yet it
may not, and the drifts are high, and----"
"You're a calamity howler!" cried Helen. "We're here, and we're safe and
warm, and the pie lady will do quite well for a chaperon, and anybody
who grumbles now, is a wet blanket and a pessimist and a catamaran! So,
there, now!"
"All right," Patty laughed; "let me see the elderly dame, and if she
passes muster, I'll stop growling like a bear and be so nice and amiable
you won't know me!"
"I don't know you when you're anything but amiable!" declared Philip;
"where's your friend, Herron? Trot her in."
"She's dressing," Herron returned. "She said she must doll up to meet
the young ladies----"
"Did she use that expression?" asked Patty, severely.
"Oh, no! That's mine. She said she'd put on her other gown,--or
something like that."
"I can't decide till I see her," Patty said; "if she's really all right,
we'll stay. If not, you must take us right home, Phil."
"Your word is my law. When Patty says go, we all goeth! Whew! how it
snows!"
"Never mind the snow," urged Herron; "no matter what the weather when we
four get together! Now, what can we do in the way of high jinks? Anybody
want to try the swimming pool?"
"No, thank you!" and Bumble shivered at the thought. "Can we dance
anywhere?"
"Not till after lunch," said Patty. "Dancing in the morning has gone
out. Besides, it's nearly lunch time now. Let's knit for a while,--and
not go jumping about."
"You're a dormouse, Patty. You'd rather nod over your knitting
needles----"
"I don't nod over them! I knit faster than you do! Come on, start at the
beginning of your needle, and I'll race you for five rows."
The girls settled themselves comfortably by the big fire, and opened
their knitting bags.
"Now, I call this fine!" declared Herron; "what's nicer than to have you
girls sit and knit and we men sit and look at you!"
"There's nothing nicer to look at," said Helen complacently, "on that
we're all agreed. Now, make yourselves entertaining, and we'll call it
square."
Pretty Helen's gay face bent over her khaki-coloured wool, and her
needles clicked bravely in an effort to knit faster than Patty. And she
did, but it was only a spurt. She dropped a stitch, and exclaimed, "Hold
on, Patty, no fair your knitting when I'm picking up this stitch! You
wait now!"
"Not so; a dropped stitch in time loses nine! Come on, hare, catch up
with this old tortoise!"
Calmly, Patty proceeded with her steadily-moving needles, and again
Helen made an hysterical burst of speed and caught up as to distance.
But her wool snarled somehow, and Herron, trying to help her, made it
worse, and the four hands that tried to untangle it only drew it into
tighter knots.
Helen burst out laughing, and awarded Patty the palm.
"It's always so," she acknowledged. "I fly at a thing and tumble all
over myself, and accomplish just about nothing. Patty goes about it
leisurely, and comes in at the last, easily winner, and with a big lot
of work to her credit."
"You flatter me, angel child," Patty smiled. "I knit because I love to
knit, and I get a lot done, because I don't try to beat everybody else.
There, how's that for a helmet? I rather guess some one of Our Boys will
be glad to wear it!"
"I shouldn't mind myself," suggested Herron, timidly, and Patty replied
at once, "Then you shall have it! I'll fit it to your head now."
"You want mine, Philip?" asked Helen, as she industriously "picked back"
a few stitches.
"Yes, if I may be allowed to wear out two or three others while yours is
in process of construction."
"Wot rudeness! To think I should live to hear such! Well, just for that
I'll put all the knots inside!"
"They'll make me think of you!"
"And I'll put a note in it,--that's often done."
"A note of thanks. If the girls did that, it would save many a poor
soldier a lot of trouble! He could just sign it and send it off."
"How unsentimental and ungrateful you are! Why, the boys just love to
get notes in their socks and sweaters and then they love to answer them.
It's no hardship, I can tell you! I've had the notes!"
"You can't have had very many,--you're too young."
Helen gave him a laughing scowl at this fresh fling at her slow progress
and then she threw down her knitting.
"Can't do any more, now. I've come to the place to cast on, and I forget
how many, and I left my paper of directions at home, and----"
"All right, come with me, and let's go and hurry up our chaperon lady,"
said Herron, rising.
"Yes, do," urged Patty, who was in nervous anxiety about that matter.
"Patty's in a pucker!" sang Helen, "like little Tommy Tucker!
What shall she eat? War bread and butter!
How shall she eat it, without a chaperon?
Put her in a padded cell and let her eat alone!"
Helen's foolishness never annoyed Patty, and so she bade the two
ambassadors proceed with their errand and Helen and Mr. Herron went off.
"Trust me, Patty," said Philip, after the others had left the room, "it
will be all right. The snow is lighter now; and we'll go home directly
after luncheon. I don't want you to be disturbed, and I do
understand,--you know I do!"
"Yes, I know it," Patty replied.
CHAPTER VII
A QUEER CHAPERON
When Mrs. Doremus was introduced, Patty's thoughts ran somewhat like
this:
"Nice old lady; apple-cheeked, white-haired and quiet-mannered. A little
shy, but well-bred and kindly. Old-fashioned dress,--or, rather it looks
so, because it's so long. Why, it almost touches the floor. But, she's
all right, and her big, tortoise-rimmed glasses give her quite an air of
distinction."
Helen, on the other hand, paid little attention to the chaperon, save to
greet her pleasantly and thank her for her presence.
The five went to the Club dining-room for luncheon. There were a few
others at various tables, but no one with whom the girls were
acquainted.
"I'm fairly brimming with happiness," Helen announced; "I've always
longed to be at a big country club in winter, and I've never achieved it
before."
"It's winter, all right," said Herron, looking out at the steady
snowfall. "But the palms and flowers make this seem like an oasis of
summer, screened in."
"Awful pretty room," and Helen looked round contentedly, as she finished
her grape fruit. "And of a just-right temperature. I'd like to stay here
a week."
"You _may_ get your wish," and Mrs. Doremus smiled at her, "if this snow
keeps on, I don't see how you _can_ go back to the city today."
"Oh, my goodness!" cried Patty, "don't say such a thing! Remember, Phil,
when we were snowbound at that queer old house in the country?"
"Do I remember! Why, we had the time of our sweet young life up there! I
never ate such chicken pie!"
"Nor I. And those two quaint old ladies were a whole show themselves."
"Oh, this storm isn't going to be so very bad," Herron said; "I think
it's lessening now. We'll go down this afternoon, all right, all right.
I think, Miss Fairfield, you're anxious to get a letter from somebody!"
Patty blushed prettily. "Well, perhaps I am. I came away before
mailtime, you know."
"But you had one yesterday," Helen told, "a big, fat one! That ought to
last you for a while!"
"But that was yesterday! I want today's bulletin."
"Aha! A letter every day?"
"Yes, Mr. Herron, that's the way engaged people keep alive, when
separated by this cruel war!"
"Never mind letters now," begged Van Reypen, "let's forget everybody who
isn't here."
"And are you engaged to a soldier, my child?" Mrs. Doremus asked of
Patty. The old lady had a low, gentle voice, and though she said little,
she had a delightful manner and a smile that betokened a keen sense of
humour.
"Yes, to Captain Farnsworth; but he isn't exactly a soldier. I mean, he
doesn't expect to fight. He is an expert mining engineer, and his
country seems to find a lot of work for him, without sending him to the
front."
"Bill Farnsworth, the Westerner!"
"Yes; do you know him?"
"No; not at all. But I saw something about him in the paper,----"
"You did! Oh, what was it? I'm interested, of course, in anything
pertaining to him or his work."
"I can't seem to remember; I can't exactly place it; but I recollect
seeing his name. And are you, too, engaged to an enlisted man, Miss
Barlow?"
"No," said Helen, "but I hope to be."
"Quite right! Next to serving one's country, is being the helpmeet of
one who does. Have you,--ah,--selected----"
"No, my selective draft hasn't yet been made," and Bumble's jolly little
face smiled broadly; "you see, there are so many fascinating men in the
service,--indeed, 'most any man is fascinating in uniform."
"I wear uniform," said Herron.
"I know, but lots of others do, too, and every time I meet a new one I
lose my heart to him."
"I fear me you're a sad coquette, Miss Barlow," and the chaperon beamed
on her.
"I am a coquette," Helen admitted, calmly, "but not at all a sad one!
Indeed, I'm as merry as a grig. Why, I get letters from lots of the boys
in camp. Miss Fairfield is content with only one correspondent, while I
have a dozen! I just adore to get their letters, and to send them
things, and to write to them. The war is terrible, but it does give one
_some_ new and pleasant experiences. And I don't feel it my duty to
lament all the time. My mission is cheering people up and cheering
soldiers on."
"I make no doubt you're a grand success at it, too. And some day you'll
decide to send all your letters to the same address, as Miss Fairfield
does. Where is Mr. Farnsworth now, may I ask?"
"In Washington," Patty replied.
"And is he coming to New York soon?"
"I don't know, I'm sure." Patty spoke a little coldly, for Bill had
cautioned her over and over again, never on any account to tell any one
of his plans or to repeat anything he might write, which concerned
military matters or might give war information of any sort.
"How you must long to know! I don't mean definitely, of course, but
can't you hope to see him soon?"
An insistent tone in Mrs. Doremus' voice caused Patty to look up
quickly, and she saw the keen eyes regarding her intently through the
big glasses.
But though the old lady's interest might have been a bit strong for such
short acquaintance, Patty was too polite to resent that, and she laughed
and said, "It's impossible to tell, with a soldier boy. One can only
hope,--one may not expect."
"That's a philosophical attitude, my dear, and does you credit. Is
Captain Farnsworth in the Engineers' Camp?"
"Yes," said Patty, this time with decided shortness; "how very nice this
sweetbread is! I've always been so fond of them. But one oughtn't to
serve them on a sweetless day, ought one?"
"Oh, Patty, what a silly joke!" chided Helen. "You mean a meatless day!"
"Both ought to be barred," smiled Patty; "also they ought not to be
served on a breadless day!"
"It looks as if they wouldn't be served at all any more," said Herron;
"let's gather these sweetbreads while we may!"
"And perhaps the war will soon be over, and then we can eat what we
like," Helen suggested. "It will be over soon, you know, because of the
eagles."
"What do you mean?"
"Yes, it's a true omen. You know down at Beverly, New Jersey, long
ago,--oh, during the Revolution,----"
"Is this a real honest-to-goodness, once-upon-a-time story?" asked Van
Reypen.
"Yes, it is."
"Then I move we move to the sun-parlour, and have our coffee there.
We'll take our coffee,--sugarless, if Patty says so,--and then we can
hear the story, and then we must see about going home."
"Fine," Patty agreed. "Will you join us in this desperate scheme, Mrs.
Doremus?"
"Don't think you must, if you're busy," interposed Herron. "I'm sure the
ladies will excuse you if you have duties to attend to."
"I haven't," returned the chaperon, calmly. "I'll be glad to have the
coffee and the story, if I am permitted."
"Surely," said Helen, jumping up, "come along, Mrs. Doremus; you and I
will pick out the sunniest spot. Philip, bring Patty; and Mr. Herron,
will you order the coffee served there?"
Helen slipped her arm through that of the grey-haired lady, and they
walked away together.
Philip detained Patty as she was about to follow.
"Queer old party," he said, very low.
"Who? Mrs. Doremus? I rather like her."
"Well, I don't! Be careful what you say before her, and we must get away
as soon as we can."
"Why, Phil, what do you mean?"
"Nothing particular. Only, don't let Helen persuade you to stay all the
afternoon. It's nearly three now, and we must get away by four, at
latest."
"All right, Phil, but I never knew you to look so scared. Why?"
"Don't fuss, Patty; go ahead and join the crowd; but remember not to
answer personal questions."
Patty wondered what had come over Philip's mind, but she thought no more
about it, rather glad than otherwise, that he was determined to go home
so early.
They crossed the big foyer, and across a chair there, was a fur stole of
Patty's which she had left there in case of need while in the house. She
picked it up, exclaiming: "Why, here's my fur! I might have forgotten
it!"
"Lend it to me, won't you, if you're not wearing it?" asked Mrs.
Doremus. "I feel a bit chilly,--but, perhaps you do too?"
"Oh, no; I'm warm as toast. Use it, by all means. Let me put it round
you."
Patty draped the long stole round the shivering shoulders, and Mrs.
Doremus said, apologetically, "I'm not really cold, but I take
precaution for fear of rheumatism."
"Certainly," Patty acquiesced, and then the coffee tray was brought and
Patty did the honours.
"Sugar?" she asked of the chaperon.
"One, please; and may I be excused for a few moments? I've just thought
of an order I meant to give, and the gaiety of our little party made me
forget it. I don't mind if my coffee gets a little cool,--I like it
better so."
Mrs. Doremus went off toward the housekeeping quarters, and the others
made merry over their coffee cups.
"I don't see why you want to start right off, Philip," Helen demurred.
"I think it's going to stop snowing just about now."
"Do you, my child?" said Van Reypen, serenely; "be that as it may, we
stand not on the order of our going, but go at
once,--instanter,--immejit,--all-in-a-hurry,--so soon as your coffee is
despatched."
"But why?" and Helen pouted.
"Yours not to put that direct question. Yours not to make remarks. Yours
but to get into your befurments and hie away to town."
"I'm not at all sure we can make it," said Herron, pouring himself
another cup of the rich brown beverage.
"Oh, yes, you can," and the cheery voice of Mrs. Doremus sounded in the
doorway. "This my cup? Fine! I like it a lot better not so blooming
hot!"
Patty looked up suddenly, for the lapse into slang made her think that
the pastry cook had been on her guard at lunch time, and had now fallen
back to what must be her usual diction.
The old lady was smiling, and as she took her cup and sat down near the
girls, Patty felt a sudden aversion.
But she reproached herself for such a feeling toward one who had not
only been kind and polite but had helped them out of a real predicament.
By way of salving her conscience, she assumed a kinder manner, and
gently readjusted the fur stole.
"What a dear girl you are!" said Mrs. Doremus, in a burst of admiration.
"I don't wonder Little Billee loves you."
Patty stared at her in astonishment.
"You do know Captain Farnsworth, then!" she exclaimed, "or how would you
know he is called that by his intimate friends?"
The chaperon looked confused.
"I think I have heard you call him that since you've been here."
"Indeed you haven't! I never speak of him that way to strangers!"
"Come, come, Patty, don't get wrathy!" said Philip, smiling at the
lifted chin and tossed head.
"No, I won't," and Patty realised her own foolishness. "Forgive me, Mrs.
Doremus, I suppose I'm a silly young thing. But you see, I've never been
engaged before and I'm a little fussy about it!"
"Oh, that's all right, young folks ought to be like that. My, when I was
engaged, I flew off my head if anybody so much as looked at my young
man!"
"It couldn't have been so very long ago," smiled Patty, who had suddenly
come to the conclusion that Mrs. Doremus was not so very old, and was,
doubtless, prematurely grey-haired.
"Oh yes, many and many a year. But memory is still green, and the sight
of young lovers makes my mind turn back, as to a well-remembered page."
Again, Patty caught the strange inflection, as if Mrs. Doremus' words
were not quite sincere.
"Come, girls," said Philip, "as you've finished your coffee, let's be
thinking about starting."
"I don't want to go!" protested Helen; "it's perfectly lovely here, and
we can just as well stay an hour longer as not. Can't we, Mr. Herron?"
"So far as I am concerned, yes. But, unless you start soon, you may find
the roads impassable, and be obliged to remain here over night."
"Oh, I've the idea!" Helen cried, "you men go back to town, and leave us
girls here to stay the night with Mrs. Doremus! I do think that would be
fine! You'd take care of us, wouldn't you?"
She turned her bright, coaxing face to the apple-cheeked old lady, with
mute appeal.
To her surprise, Mrs. Doremus was suddenly afflicted with a hard
coughing spell. She choked and nearly strangled, growing red in the
face, and gasping for breath.
Herron jumped up and quickly led her from the room, with some hasty
words about fresh air.
Van Reypen looked angry and a bit puzzled, but Patty was deeply
concerned for the old lady's comfort.
"Let me go, too," she exclaimed, rising, "she needs me,--not Mr.
Herron."
"Sit down, Patty," Philip ordered, somewhat gruffly. "Stay where you
are. There are plenty of women servants to look after her."
"But she's so nice, Phil! Too nice to have only servants' care."
"Sit down, I tell you. You can't go to her. Remember, Patty, you're not
a member of this Club."
"Oh, that's so," and Patty sat down.
"All right," said Herron, returning; "she just choked a little, that's
all. And she has chronic throat trouble, so it rather strangled her. She
sends you her adieux, and begs to be excused from further appearance."
"Why, of course," said Patty, "she mustn't think of returning. And we're
going now, anyhow. Stop your nonsense, Helen, and come, let's get our
coats."
"Don't wanna!"
"I know you don't, you old goose, but you must." Patty took her cousin's
arm and led her off to the cloak-room.
"Be goody-girl," Herron called after her, "and we'll stop at any place
you like for afternoon tea."
"Oh, will you?" and Helen brightened up suddenly. "At the Sunset
Tea-room?"
"Yes, wherever you say."
The sleigh came to the door,--horses prancing, bells jingling, and the
driver cracking his whip, in true old-time style.
"Oh, wait a minute," Patty cried, as they were about to get in, "where's
my stole? Mrs. Doremus still has it! I'm so glad I remembered."
"I'll get it," volunteered Herron. "You others wait here."
He was gone so long that Philip suggested Mrs. Doremus had decamped with
the fur.
"Was it valuable, Patty?"
"Yes; that is, it's a perfectly good piece of kolinski."
"Better make up your mind to order another. Something tells me you'll
never see that particular animal again."
"How silly, Phil, of course I will. They don't have kleptomaniacs in a
Club like this."
"People of acquisitive tendencies are to be found everywhere. However,
here comes Herron with the pelt, but he looks as if he'd had to fight
for it!"
Sure enough, Herron appeared, greatly ruffled. His face was red, his
eyes glowering, and his whole aspect that of a man who has been through
a war of words.
"All right," he said, with a very evident effort to seem at ease,
"here's your fur cape,--or whatever you call it."
"Stole," corrected Philip.
"No it wasn't!" cried Herron. "Mrs. Doremus had mislaid it, in her
excitement, and couldn't remember for the moment where it was. But she
found it at once."
He put the fur round Patty's neck, and assisted her into the sleigh in
silence.
"Something's up!" that astute young woman remarked to herself. "I must
find out about it,--that is, if it concerns me, and I pretty much think
it does."
But she was far too canny to ask questions of Herron then. She chatted
gaily and smiled brightly, telling herself the while, that there could
be nothing really wrong.
The snow had almost ceased falling, and before they had gone more than a
mile, the sun came straggling through the clouds, as it sometimes does
when anxious to finish off a snowstorm quickly.
And Helen was delighted, for she knew that meant they would stop at her
favourite tea-room, and she could have the chocolate and sweet cakes
which were her beloved though "forbidden fruit."
CHAPTER VIII
IN THE TEA-ROOM
The Sunset Tea-room did not belie its name. The draperies and
decorations were of true sunset tints,--gold and amber, with glints of
red, and all most harmonious and effective.
The quartette found a pleasant table, where the shaded lights cast a
soft glow over the pretty appointments, and Helen picked up the menu
card with pleased anticipation.
"You're just incorrigible, Bumble!" laughed Patty; "you promised me
you'd cut out sweet things for afternoon tea, yet I see you voraciously
devouring the cake list!"
"I know it, Patsy Poppet, but today is an exception,----"
"What day isn't? All right, girlie, but like Lady Jane in the play
'there will be too much of you in the coming by-and-by!'"
"There can't be too much of a good thing!" said Herron, gaily, "so go
ahead, Miss Barlow, choose all the puff paste and whipped cream you
want."
"If I did that, I'd order the whole card," Helen returned, "and that
wouldn't do at all."
"Like the story of the little pickaninny," put in Van Reypen; "they said
he was ill from eating too much watermelon. And a neighbour said, 'Law
sakes! Dey ain't no such t'ing as too much watermillion!' and the reply
was, 'Den dere wasn't enough boy!'"
"That's it exactly," and Helen smiled; "there aren't too many kinds of
cakes here,--but there isn't quite enough me!"
But after some careful consideration, she selected the most irresistible
dainties, and the others also made their choice.
"You never told us the 'Eagle' story," Herron reminded, as they waited
for their order to be served.
"That's so," said Patty, "what was it, Helen? Didn't you say it had to
do with the end of the war?"
"That's as you look at it. Here's the tale. You see, down at Beverly,
just before the close of the Revolution, there appeared a few
eagles----"
"Bald?" inquired Phil.
"Dunno if they were bald or long-haired or blonde,--but they were
eagles,--real, live American eagles. And they had never been seen in
that locality before. Well, their appearance heralded the end of the
Revolution,--and immediately it ended."
"Great!" cried Philip, a little ironically; "it reminds me of the slave
who called out, 'Oh, King live forever!' and _immediately_ the King
lived forever!"
"I shouldn't wonder if that's a better story than mine," laughed Helen,
"but I'll proceed with mine, as, if I don't, I may not get it done
before my cakies come. Well, the Revolution ended, and no eagles were
seen any more at all, in or near Beverly. Until,--near the close of the
Civil War, those same eagles appeared in Beverly again!"
"Sure they were the same ones? Pretty old birds!"
"Oh, eagles live thousands of years! That's _nothing_ for an eagle!
Anyway, the eagles came, and the Civil War soon came to its close."
"Now then for the point of this tale," said Herron. "Has friend eagle
showed up of late?"
"He has!" cried Helen triumphantly; "several eagles were seen there last
week! Now, _I_ believe this war will soon end!"
"The American eagle is a war-ender, all right!" declared Phil, "and I
hope to goodness, Helen, your pet scheme works out. Just how long after
the eagles' arrival is peace declared? Usually, I mean."
"That I can't say. Nor do I swear to the truth of the story. But I tell
the tale as 'twas told to me, and you can take it or leave it."
"I'll take it," said Patty, promptly. "I'm a wee bit superstitious, and
I like to think of the eagles appearing as a harbinger of hope of
peace,--like the Ark dove."
"It can't do any harm to believe it," and Philip smiled at her; "and it
may do good. If you believed in a thing I'm sure it would make me do so,
too, and if a lot of us believe, it might help to make it come true."
"Then we'll all believe," said Helen, "and I'm sure glad to be the
means,--in a small way,--of helping my country toward peace!"
"One can scarcely call it _more_ than a small way," Herron said,
mock-judicially, "and yet it's as much as many of us do. Even if we're
willing, we can't perform. I'm ready to fly to the ends of the earth for
my old Uncle Sam, but I have to await orders."
"And I can't help feeling glad that you do," interposed Helen. "What
would us girls do without you boys to play with? To be sure, we'll give
you up
"When it's 'Ready! Fire!' and you fire away,
And fight 'em to a finish for the U. S. A."
"For us, it's 'Ready! Fly!' and we fly away," and Philip looked eager at
the thought. "I hate to leave my ain fireside, and that of friends and
fellow citizens, but there is an urge----"
"You sound like Sam Blaney!" and Patty laughed. "He was always talking
about the Cosmic Urge."
"That isn't in it with the Urge of the Flag. Oh, you girls don't know
the _thrill_ of feeling that you can be of real help,--however small or
insignificant help it is!"
Patty gave Phil an admiring glance. She liked this sort of talk and
though she knew of his patriotism, she had rarely heard him express it
so strongly.
"Here's your cakaroons!" cried Herron, as the tray appeared, and the tea
and chocolate were served to them.
"Now, no war talk, for the moment," begged Helen. "It does interfere
with my enjoyment of my frugal fare, to get stirred up, even by
patriotism."
"Let's talk about our visit at the Club," said Patty, suddenly. "Did it
strike any of you that Mrs. Doremus was a very strange person?"
"Did it!" said Philip, with emphasis. "Well, _rather_!"
"As how?" asked Herron.
"To begin with, she was no lady," Van Reypen asserted.
"Just what do you mean?" pursued Herron.
"That's a little harsh," Patty demurred, "but she certainly acted
queer."
"What do you care?" Herron demanded, "she served the purpose of
chaperon, when no one else was there to do so."
"Yes, I know. The principal thing I noticed that seemed strange was that
she didn't knit!"
"My goodness gracious! I never thought of that!" exclaimed Herron.
"Perhaps she couldn't," laughed Patty.
"At least, she could have made a stab at it, which is what most women
do. Oh, you needn't laugh! I've observed them! They spend more time
holding their work off and looking at it, or counting stitches, or
picking back--whatever that is!--or correcting mistakes, or, just
patting and pinching the thing!"
"You're right, Mr. Herron," and Patty laughed at his graphic
description, which was greatly aided by his dramatic imitation of a
nervous knitter. "But Mrs. Doremus didn't even do that. Nor did she say
anything about it,--which was queer, I think."
"Yes, it was queer," agreed Helen, "though I hadn't thought of it
before. Oh, Patty! This cream cake is a _dream_!"
"A dream cake?" suggested Philip, "a cream cake dream cake,--well, what
I noticed especially about our friend and benefactor, was her shoes."
Herron looked up quickly.
"No lady would wear shoes like those!" Van Reypen asserted.
"I didn't see them," said Patty, "her dress was so long. Queer, to have
such very long skirts, nowadays."
"No lady would wear such a long skirt," Van Reypen went on.
"Oh, Phil, don't be so critical," and Patty shook her head at him. "Mrs.
Doremus wasn't fashionable, I know, nor even very well posted as to a
chaperon's duties, but she was kind, and she filled what I think is
known as a long-felt want."
"She told me something you haven't told me, Patty," and Helen looked
reproachfully at her cousin.
"What?"
"She says your Big Bill is coming to New York in February."
"She did! A lot she knows about it! She's a meddlesome Matty,--I think!
And, besides, he isn't,--'cause why? 'cause if he had been he would have
told his little Patty person!"
"How'd she know?" asked Philip.
"Dunno. She may have heard some rumours or had inside information from
somebody. I thought you'd be glad to hear it, Patty."
"I am, if it's true. But, I never believe good news, till I'm pretty
positive. It saves disappointment, lots of times."
"Little philosopher!" and Van Reypen gave her a sympathetic glance. "But
I shouldn't be surprised if that news were true, for I saw something in
the paper this morning that looked like it."
"When I get home, I'll have a letter," and Patty blushed a little, "and
I rather guess I'll be told, if there's anything to tell."
"Of course you will," said Herron. "Also, I'd not be surprised if Miss
Fairfield knows more herself than she tells! These letters from
Washington to personal friends are not to be read aloud in the
market-place,--for more reasons than one."
Patty looked conscious, but said nothing. Indeed, it was true that
Farnsworth often wrote bits of comment on subjects that Patty knew must
not be talked over nor his information divulged. And so, she preserved a
scrupulous secrecy regarding any war news her letters might hold.
Also, once in a while, Farnsworth sent Patty a little letter, sealed and
enclosed in another. This he sometimes asked her not to open until a
certain time, or he asked her to mail it in New York, for secret
reasons.
All of these matters Patty attended to with punctilious care and she
loved to think that she was helping her Little Billee and also her
country.
"One doesn't read one's love letters aloud,--naturally!" and Patty
looked down and blushed.
"Of course not!" cried Helen; "I should say _not_! And especially yours!
Oh, I know! You've read bits to me now and then, and if what you _omit_
is any more--ahem--well, turtle-dovish than what you _do_ read, and I've
no doubt it _is_----"
"It is," Patty returned, with unmoved equanimity. "What's the use of
being engaged if one may not be what you call turtle-dovey! I'm not a
bit embarrassed about it. But for my part, I think Mrs. Doremus was
decidedly over-curious and forward about me and my affairs."
"Unladylike," put in Van Reypen.
"How you harp on that word!" exclaimed Patty. "I don't think it was so
much that, as a lack of good breeding----"
"Oh, come now, Patty, didn't you catch on?"
"Catch on to what?"
"Why, that Mrs. Doremus was no lady,--because,--she was a man."
"What!"
"She sure was! And I'd like an explanation, Herron. I thought I'd let
the matter pass until I could see you alone, but I think it's better to
have it out here and now. You brought that person to us, you fixed up
the matter, now tell us about it."
George Herron burst into laughter.
"I own up!" he confessed, "I did it! Alone I did it! Oh, it _was_ a
joke!"
Patty looked puzzled. "A man?" she said; "masquerading?"
"Just that, dear lady," and Herron laughed afresh. "I couldn't help it!
There was no woman on the premises save the housekeeper's daughter, who
was only a girl of fifteen or so. There was no way to keep you girls
there for luncheon except by providing a chaperon. So,--I did my best.
Don't look so shocked. It was only a harmless jest. Surely, the quondam
chaperon was in no way objectionable; and, as Miss Fairfield admits,
she--or he--filled a long-felt want!"
"But who was she--or he?"
"One of the Club attendants. He's on the house force, sort of manager of
the heating and electricity departments. Well, I was put to it, as you
know, and I was asking him what to do, and he suggested,--or to be
accurate, he fell in with my suggestion,--that he slip into one of the
housekeeper's gowns and play 'Charley's Aunt.' So he did."
"What do you mean, 'Charley's Aunt'?" asked Helen.
"That's an old play, all college chaps know, where a young man played
chaperon just as Munson did today. Not going to be mad about it, are
you, Miss Fairfield?"
"Of course she isn't!" cried Helen; "I think it's a great joke! And, as
you say, we couldn't have stayed there, otherwise! Oh, Patty, don't get
on your Puritanic high horse! It was only a regard for a convention,
anyway, and the convention was regarded!"
Helen went off in peals of laughter at the reminiscence of the so-called
chaperon. "No wonder he wore a long skirt! To cover up his feet,--of
course! And his white wig! Oh, it was perfect! Where did he get a wig so
handy?"
"It was in a little room where a lot of things are, left, I believe,
from some theatrical jinks. Anyway, he said he could make up
perfectly,--and he did."
"Oh, he did! I think he was fine!"
"He was fine, Helen, as a masquerader," said Patty, slowly, "but I don't
think it was a fine performance,--by any means!" She looked gravely at
Herron, who reddened a little, but stood his ground.
"Oh, come, now, Miss Fairfield, I didn't mean any harm. Honest, I never
dreamed of offending you, or annoying you,--I thought only of how to
manage to keep you there for our little party. Moreover I thought you'd
think it a great joke,--honest, I did."
Herron's clear brown eyes were so earnest and his expression so
troubled, that Patty's heart was touched.
"I don't doubt it, Mr. Herron," and she smiled kindly at him, "but it
wasn't just the thing to do,--was it, Phil?"
"Oh, well, forget it, Pattibelle, and if you can't forget it--forgive
it, anyway. Herron meant no harm and I knew at once, that Dame
Doremus,--as I told you,--was no lady! But I saw through Herron's motive
as well as his joke, and there's no great harm done that I can see."
"I agree with Phil," and Helen nodded her head positively; "I'm jolly
glad you did it, for otherwise, I'd have had to come home without any
luncheon!"
"Than which there could be no worse hardship!" Herron sympathised. "Am I
forgiven, Miss Fairfield?"
"I'm not sure," Patty gave him a half smile, "I'll think it over. Didn't
you know this man?"
"Not from Adam! But, you know, you can size up a chap a lot from
appearances, and he was a good sort, and amenable to--well, to
argument."
"Golden argument," laughed Philip. "You put it over, all right, Herron,
old chap, and I'm sure Miss Fairfield will overlook her chaperon's
extra-sized feet! Had it not been that I noticed those, I might have
been fooled myself. For the boy,--isn't he a boy?"
"About twenty-five or so,--I should judge."
"Well, his face was boyish, and his general effect young, yet he donned
age with his wig and gown, and on the whole I call it a remarkable bit
of disguise."
"No wonder he didn't knit!" exclaimed Helen. "And no wonder he choked
when I proposed that we girls stay there longer!"
"He acted queerly all the time;" Patty looked thoughtful. "I'm thinking
he knew too much about me and my affairs."
"What are you getting at now, Patty?" Helen asked. "Think he'll reappear
in his proper person, and presume on our acquaintance?"
"No," said Patty, "I'm afraid he _won't_!"
Van Reypen looked at her.
"Of course, the chap's all right, eh, Herron? Credentials, and that?"
"Must be or they wouldn't have him in the Club."
"There are spies everywhere," said Patty, in a whisper.
"Oh, Pitty-Pat!" cried Helen, "is _that_ what's troubling you? Well,
well! Those letters you get from Washington do sure go to your head! I
see it, now, people! Bill tells Patty to look out for spies, and
so,--she sees them everywhere!"
"Spies in the brooks, spies in the pastry-cooks!" exclaimed Herron, and
Helen giggled.
"Yes, and I shouldn't wonder if Patty suspects every one of us!"
"You needn't laugh," and Patty shook her curly head. "There _is_ danger,
isn't there, Phil?"
"Of course, child. But even if this bad Mrs. Doremus was a spy,--she
learned nothing from us, today."
"She--he asked a heap of questions."
"But nothing of any importance. It seems to me that,--Munson, is that
his name?--only showed such curiosity as would become an elderly lady
talking with two charming girls. You practically told her--him,--of your
engagement, Patty, so you mustn't wonder that he showed some interest."
"I s'pose so. Well, we won't say anything more about it. I'm foolish, I
suppose,--but I don't like that sort of thing."
"Then I apologise," said Herron, heartily; "I'm truly sorry I did it,
but I ask you to believe that I would not have done it, had it occurred
to me for a moment that you would feel about it as you do."
"I do believe that," and Patty's blue eyes shone with forgiveness and
understanding. "I know, Mr. Herron, that you really did it out of the
kindest motives, and I exonerate you----"
"Wow! what a big word!" cried Helen. "If you're exonerated, Mr. Herron,
surely you can't ask for more! Why, I thought to be ex--what do you call
it? was what the Pope does!"
"No, my child, that's to be excommunicated, and Mr. Herron shan't be
that!" And Patty beamed full forgiveness on the culprit.
CHAPTER IX
LETTERS
Captain William Farnsworth sat in his room, opening his morning mail. Or
rather, his morning mail was waiting to be opened, while he eagerly
perused a letter from Miss Patricia Fairfield.
"For the love of pickled peppers!" he exclaimed, in a self-addressed
murmur, "she _didn't_! she _couldn't_!"
For the letter said,--in part:
"I am _so_ glad you're thinking of coming to New York in February!
That's soon here! Which day? What hour? Oh, my Little Billee, how can I
_wait_ to see you! I want to look in those dear, big, loving blue eyes,
and have them answer the questions I want to ask. You know what the
questions are! Oh, well, suppose I do know the answers,--I guess a
little Patty Blossom can ask over again if her big Sir Galahad loves
her,--and why,--and how much,--and a few such things,--that are
important, if true! And there is nothing in this whole round world truer
than our love,--is there, dear? I just _live_ in it,--when I am alone, I
thing of nothing but US, and, I'm afraid I am absent-minded, even when
other people are about. Do come home soon,--come to your own Patty Posy.
Tell me quick _when_ to look for you! Why didn't you tell me sooner
there was hope of seeing you soon? My own dear big man, my own, my
owner, my ownest, I'm now and forever
"Your
"Patty Blossom."
Farnsworth frowned,--he looked puzzled, amazed, hurt.
Again he resorted to expletives. "Great jumping kangaroos!" he said to
himself, "I can't see it! Patty never did such a thing! never! But if
not, how did she know? I believe the very walls have not only ears but
tongues and pens in their hands, and a whole wireless outfit beside! I
_can't_ suspect Patty,--and yet,--all women are curious,--and, of
course, this doesn't matter so much,--but if I can't trust her in
everything how can I trust her at all?"
With a sigh, he laid the letter aside, and turned to his business
correspondence.
Farnsworth's position was a responsible one, and it contained and
involved many secrets that must be carefully guarded. Among these was
the fact and date of his next trip to New York. It was on a matter of
moment, and it was not desirable that his absence from Washington should
be known. He had written Patty about it, but he had enclosed the message
in a sealed envelope, with directions not to open it until he wired her
to do so. Thus, he planned, she would know it in time, but the
information could not leak out. And now it had leaked out. Patty knew
and made no secret of the knowledge that he was expected in New York.
Had she told others? And,--worst of all,--had she opened the sealed
letter before he told her to? This was incredible,--yet, what other
solution or theory was possible? And there was to be considered a
grouchy old Colonel, who would make all sorts of trouble for Captain
Farnsworth if it became known that he was careless with his personal
correspondence.
Because of his well-trained mind, and his power of concentration,
Farnsworth forced himself to attend to matters in hand, but ever and
again flashed across his preoccupied brain the fact that Patty had
disregarded his instructions.
He lived with a pleasant family in the Capital, and his quarters were
the whole of the second floor of the small house. This gave him a
good-sized sitting room, which was his private office, and here he
transacted all business that didn't require his presence at the more
public buildings.
He kept doggedly at work, determined not to let the disturbing episode
interfere with his efficiency. And he succeeded, but only by dint of
perseverance in his resolve not to think of Patty at all.
This was difficult, for every glance of his eye fell on something
remindful of her. A photograph on his desk; other little snapshots
lurking among his papers; a paper-cutter she had given him; indeed, the
pen he wrote with was her parting gift; and all spoke eloquently of the
girl he had so reluctantly left behind him.
"Busy, Captain?" called a gay voice, and a merry face peeped in at the
door.
"Always busy," he returned, cheerily, "but never too busy to say good
morning."
"Oh, I know what that means! That I must say good morning, and nothing
more! But I do want just half a dozen more words."
The piquant face smiled coaxingly, as Lena Richards danced in. She was
the daughter of the house, a dark-haired, olive-skinned little gipsy,
who, being quite spoiled by her doting parents, assumed the right to
have her own way with every one else.
Farnsworth liked her as no one could help doing, but he was often
obliged to speak more curtly than he liked to, or she would intrude too
often on his time.
She wore a smock of pink linen and her curly hair was bundled into a
little Dutch cap. She came in, with the venturesome air of a mischievous
child, and perched saucily on the corner of the big desk.
"You see," she began, "I'm in an awful scrape--well, that is, _I'm_ not,
but somebody else is----"
"Who isn't?" said Farnsworth, smiling at the roguish little face that
wore such a troubled frown.
"Yes, I s'pose everybody is, more or less, from the President down. And
when you think of that, my little brother does seem small, but--you see,
to me----"
"It's a national calamity?"
"Personal rather than national,--yet it may be said to be
international."
"Many of our troubles are. Your story interests me strangely,--my
che-ild,--but truly, Lena, I can't take time now to hear the yarn. I
suppose your fudge was lumpy, or your new ribbons don't match your
frock,--is that it?"
"You always talk as if I were a child!" and the scarlet lips pouted
petulantly.
"Of course! I always think of you as a kiddy in a middy."
"This isn't a middy, it's a smock, and a very grown up one at that."
"Do smocks grow up? Thought they only grew old. Well, anyway, whatever
your age, I've no time to waste on you this morning. My country needs
me!"
"You're always so unkind to me,----" and two crystal drops formed in the
big, brown eyes.
Now, William Farnsworth was the sort of man who can't stand seeing a
woman in distress. And though he knew that this sixteen-year-old chit
could have no real or deep trouble, he yet could not bring himself to
speak sternly to her, and tell her to leave the room.
Against his will, he obeyed the dictates of his kind heart, and taking
out his watch, said:
"I'll give you ten minutes. Spill your story in Papa's ear!"
The dark little face lighted with gladness, and Lena murmured, "How good
you are! Listen, then! You know my friend, Gracie Hadley?"
"Haven't the pleasure. Who's she in America?"
"Well, she's just Gracie, that's all. And--sh!"--Lena looked cautiously
about, "don't breathe it, but she's in love with an English chap who's
over here. And her mother doesn't approve----"
"Why? Who's the Britisher?"
"I don't want to tell you, 'cause it's Gracie's secret----"
"All right; I don't want to know anyway. But where do I come in? I hate
to hurry you, but I'm assuming I play a part in this tragedy, and I want
my cue, for honest to goodness, Lena, I've troubles of my own!"
"Yes, I know, Captain, and I won't be but a minute explaining. Well,
Gracie has been corresponding with this man,----"
"Oh, naughty! naughty!"
"Hush! It's all right; only of course, she doesn't want her mother to
know. Well, she tears up his letters, but--_what_ do you think!"
"Censor?"
"No! but the man has given her her letters to him----"
"Returned them!"
"No; I mean yes,--but for this reason--you fluster me so,--with your
snapping up!"
"Well, well, go and tell it in your own way. But, for Heaven's sake,
hurry up!"
"All right. You see he gave her these letters to save for him just while
he's away somewhere, and he wants them when he comes back."
"Can't she write some more?"
"Oh! You're so unfeeling! So--why, you're _stupid_!"
"Pardon,--sorry! Fire away."
"Never mind details,--Gracie can't keep them at home, for fear her
mother will find them--she snoops awfully! And--_I_ can't keep them
here,----"
"For a similar reason?"
"Yes; exactly! So,--Captain Farnsworth,--nice, dear Captain Farnsworth,
won't you let me hid them in here,--among your things?"
"Goodness! Little One, is that all you want? Sure! Hide them wherever
you like in my domain. Your eagle-eyed mother won't find them in here!
But, hold on! Nothing that wouldn't get by the Censor, is there?"
"Oh, goodness, no! Nothing like that!"
"Guess I'll have to have a glimpse of 'em, though. Not to pry into the
lovers' confidences, of course, but because I can't harbour papers
unless I'm satisfied of their contents."
"All right,--that goes! I'll get them now;" and running from the room,
Lena returned with a small packet of letters tied with blue ribbon.
Farnsworth examined the envelopes, and glanced here and there at the
written pages.
"All right," he said, re-tying the packet, "internal evidence proves
conclusively to _my_ mind that these documents are just what you
describe them to be. Say we put them in the top drawer of my chiffonier;
how's that?"
"Fine! Mother would never dream of looking in your room!"
"I should hope not! And now may I, without undue haste, bid you a very
good morning?"
"S'pose I've _got_ to go, if you put it like that. I did want to tell
you more about Gracie; and there's something I want to ask you."
"Not now, not now, my child. I am busy--see? B-U-S-Y! My Flag comes
before my friends! Thus, you see my friends follow the Flag!"
"You are so witty! And so kind. Thank you lots, Captain, and when you're
not so busy, may I talk to you again?"
"If that time ever comes! But it never will unless you clear out! Scoot
now!" Farnsworth held the door persuadingly open, and Lena didn't scoot,
but she went slowly and reluctantly out.
"The pretty little nuisance!" muttered the Captain, as he closed and
locked his door.
Without further interruption, Bill put in the morning on his war work,
and at last was free to consider the case against Patty Fairfield.
"She's true blue," he thought, "far too true to do anything she deemed
wrong or even indiscreet. But I suppose she didn't realise how
definite,--how imperative my instructions were,--maybe I didn't tell her
distinctly enough,--maybe she forgot,--or was really overcome with a
desire to know what was in that sealed note. Oh, well, I must warn her
further. I hate to hurt her,--I can't let her think I distrust her,--and
Lord knows I _don't_! How I wish I had more time! But I've that
appointment at two--and--whew! I'll have to scribble to Patty pretty
fast, whatever I say!"
The result, after one or two torn-up attempts, was this:
"My Own Patty Blossom,--my Posy Face,--my Best Beloved: I've only a
minute to write this time, and so I must come to the point at once. Dear
Heart,--_did_ you open the sealed note before I told you to? Oh,
well,--I know you did so never mind about that,--but, my precious little
girl, don't, _please_ don't ever do it again. You see, I send you notes
thus, so that you can open them in haste when I wire you that you may.
Now, if you open them sooner, I never know where we stand. In this
matter, darling, please consider my wishes--and, especially because I
meant to send a really valuable paper to you, in order that you might
hand it to me when I do come to New York, and I won't have to carry it
with me or trust it to the general mail. I can't explain all these
matters, as you know, dear, but I do want to feel that in the government
work that is entrusted to _me_, I can as implicitly trust _you_ to be my
aid and helper. Can't I, Sweetheart? Of course, I know I can, and I know
your eager haste to learn my plans led you to open that letter before
time. So, don't do it again, and all will be well. Now, I've not another
minute, but I _must_ take time to say once again that I love you, and
you're all the world to me, my dear, _dear_ little Posy Patty.
"And I'm your faithful and devoted
"Little Billee."
When Patty received this letter she read it and sat aghast. What could
he mean? She had never opened a letter until he told her to! Many times
she had received permission by mail or by wire, and then she had opened
the sealed notes so frequently enclosed in Bill's letters to her. But
never before she got the word! Never,--never!
Again she read the pages from Washington. Had Farnsworth imagined it or
what had made him dream that she had done such a thing?
She? Not to be trusted! When every thought she had, every deed she did
was with the one trust and hope that she might help her Captain,--even
in the smallest way!
She went to her writing desk and from a locked drawer she took Bill's
sealed note, that had come with a recent letter.
It was still sealed. Why would he think she had opened it? Oh, well, she
thought, something has made him think so. I must write him at once that
I didn't. He'll believe me, of course. I know his faith and trust, and
they are not misplaced, that's certain!
So, a letter was quickly written and despatched telling the Captain that
his aid and helper in New York had not been false to her trust in the
minutest particular.
But Patty was still puzzled and gave much thought to the matter.
When Van Reypen came to say good-bye on the eve of his departure for
camp, he found a quiet and worried little girl, who received him with
but a slight smile.
"Well, my Lady Fair, you look as if you'd lost your last friend,--or,
perhaps, as if you were about to lose him! May I take this general air
of gloom as a tribute to my regrettable absence? Is it just 'cause
you're going to lose your little old friend that you look so
disconsolate?"
"No, sir! it isn't! In the first place, I don't look sad, and in the
second place, if I do, it isn't because I'm doing any 'Leah, the
forsaken,' act! I shall miss you, of course, but in these days we must
learn to miss people!"
"That's true, Patty, and have you any idea,--any faint glimmering of a
notion, how I shall miss you?"
"Phil, I know all grades of missing! I'm no novice at it. Since this war
called them, I've missed acquaintances, casual friends, old friends,
relatives, and, of course, most of all, my own Little Billee. Now, I
shall miss you,--and I know you'll miss me,--but, you'll soon get so
interested in your work--in the great game,--that you'll--oh, not forget
me, I'm sure,--but my memory will become, let us say, a little blurred."
"Indeed it won't! But, hold on here, if it isn't my departure, what is
it that has made your countenance sicklied o'er with a pale cast
of--something or other?"
"Rice powder, probably! Does it really make me look sickly? Good
gracious!" Patty scrubbed at her cheeks with her handkerchief, until
they were rosy indeed.
"Nope; you can't rub it off! It's ingrained. Come now, what's up?"
"Well, I am bothered. Philip, how do war secrets leak out?"
"How do they keep from it, you mean! Why, Patty, the end and aim of a
majority of our citizens seems to be to chatter and make trouble
thereby. What's exploded now?"
"Nothing that I can tell you,--only,--well,--never mind."
"You transparent little goose! Have you been and went and told something
Farnsworth told you not to?"
"No, I haven't! But he thought I did, so it's just as bad!"
"No; not _just_ as bad,--but, bad. What was it?"
"Never mind, but he thought I opened a sealed envelope and it's still
sealed."
"Has it been out of your possession?"
"Not for a minute!"
"Good! and locked away when you are asleep?"
"Always; locked in a secret drawer."
"Good, again. Then, you're all right. But let me warn you, Patty, to be
most exceedingly cautious. Farnsworth's work is of the highest
importance, and his plans must not be known in advance. I know this even
better than you do, and I beg of you to be even over-careful of any
orders he may give you."
"Oh, I am! I do! But you see, this matter must have leaked out some
other way, and he thought it was because of my knowledge of it."
"Patty!" Philip spoke suddenly; "did you have that letter with you that
day at the Timothy Grass Club?"
"Yes; I had just received it that morning."
"Where did you carry it?"
"In my fur stole; there's a buttoned pocket in the end of it, and it's a
safe place."
"And that Munson,--that masquerader,--wore your stole!"
"So he did!" and Patty looked frightened. "But, no! that's all right,
Phil. The enclosed note was still sealed when I reached home, and it is
sealed yet!"
"Very well; but don't take any chances. Leave your letters at home and
carefully locked up, if they contain anything outside your entirely
personal affairs. I speak whereof I know, Patty, and you _must_ be
careful!"
"I will, Philip, oh, truly I will," and Patty gave the promise in all
sincerity.
CHAPTER X
A VALENTINE
"Well," said Helen Barlow, dashing into Patty's room one morning, "I am
certainly having the time of my sweet young life! They may say what they
like about the horrors of war, and there are plenty of them, and nobody
knows that better than I do, and nobody does more to help our side than
you do, but all the same, my fairy-fair cousin, I do get a lot of
pleasant parties and happy hours out of it all."
"Why, Bumble-Bee, what's up now?"
"Look at all these letters in my morning's mail! And nearly every one an
invitation to a gathering of some sort, connected with Our Boys. Dinners
and evening parties and little dances, all for the Khaki and the Blue!
Red Cross Benefits, private charities and any number of War Relief
meetings! Don't think I'm a heartless wretch, Patsy, but I do love the
everlasting gadding about, and meeting people and being in the
excitement of it all!"
"Good for you, Bumble," said Nan, coming in, "having heard your views,
I'll invite you to help me with a small and early bazaar I'm arranging
for a Valentine fête."
"Of course I'll do all I can, Nan. Tell me more. When is it to be?"
"On the twelfth; we want to sell valentines to send to the soldiers in
camp, and incidentally, have a good time, and, moreover, make a little
money for my committee."
"Where you going to have it?" asked Patty, looking up from her desk,
where she was writing letters.
"Why, here," said Nan. "You needn't do much, Pattikins, you've so many
irons in the fire; Bumble and I will run this show."
"Good for you! I have about all I can manage on a paltry twenty-four
hours a day. But I'll buy a valentine of you to send to my own
particular Soldier Boy. Oh, Nan, isn't he the dearest thing! Just look
at this new picture of him! Did anybody _ever_ look so well in a
uniform?"
"He is sure great!" exclaimed Bumble, taking the picture; "I don't
wonder you rave over him, Patty."
"Nor I," Nan agreed. "He's so big, yet so well-proportioned that he
doesn't look _too_ big."
"Oh, _thank_ you, Nan! I dunno what I'd do if he were _too_ big!" Patty
showed mock alarm at the thought. "You see, the bigger he is the smaller
I seem, but I'm trying to emulate Bumble, and get a little more weighty.
It's hard, though, with the food conservation to be looked after, and
the sweetless days here and there----"
"_You_ don't have any sweetless days, if you read those long letters you
get," put in Helen.
"And pray, how do _you_ know as to their sweetness?"
"Oh, I'm a mind reader, and when I see you peruse a letter, and fairly
lap it up, like a cat, and then sit looking like the cat who ate the
canary, I don't have to be a detective to deduce that the letter was a
sweet one!"
"Good for you, Bumble! You guessed right the very first time! My
Captain's letters _are_ sweet, and so is he!"
"Sounds like a valentine! And he's in love and so is she!"
"We are," said Patty, complacently. "And that's no secret. As to
valentines, pick me out the prettiest and the wittiest and the one that
reads best, and save it for me, when you two busy bees have this
festa,--or whatever you call it."
"That's so! What shall we call it?" and Helen turned to Nan. "Ought to
begin with a V. Valentine Valley? Valentine Villa?"
"Not very good," Nan considered. "How's Valentine Verses?"
"All valentines have verses. Help us out, Patty. Do that much for the
cause. Give us a name for our Sale."
"Valentine Vendue," said Patty, without looking up from her writing.
Though apparently absorbed in her own affairs she had heard all they
said.
"A vendue is an auction," objected Nan.
"Oh, well, it means a sale," Patty defended, "and too, of course, you'll
auction off the left-overs, they always do at a sale."
"We might have it all an auction,----" began Nan.
"All right, do," returned Patty, "but run away, kiddies, and make your
plans somewhere else, won't you? Miss Fairfield is busy."
"Come on, Bumble, we'll go off and flock by ourselves. And we'll plan
such a bee-yutiful party that we'll sell enough valentines for the whole
National Army."
"Do they want valentines?" asked Helen as she went off with Nan.
"That doesn't matter, my dear. The thing is for us to sell the
valentines, and get the money for the committee; and then, if the sweet
missives are never sent, it won't matter. But, yes, I think the boys in
camp would be jolly glad to get nice loving valentine verses. They
needn't know who sends them, of course."
"I shall put my name on all _I_ send. I'd like to get a letter back."
"Your mail is full of such letters already! You're a camp belle,
Bumble,--you certainly are!"
"I might make a joke about the camp belles are coming!" laughed Helen,
"but I'd scorn to do it!"
"Then don't. Come on, now, and let's make lists and all that."
The night of February twelfth found the Fairfield house bedecked for the
Valentine Vendue. Palms and flowers and hearts and darts and ribbon
streamers and true-love knots were everywhere. Patty had helped both
with advice and with actual work and the result was bewilderingly
beautiful. Not only the regulation valentines of lace paper and rhymed
lines were for sale, but also small and appropriate gifts, in decorated
boxes, fancy bonbonnieres, pots and baskets of flowers and flowering
plants, and even jewelled trinkets and curios. For these things had been
donated for the cause, and the venders hoped the men would buy them for
their sweethearts.
Also there were valentines for the soldiers, and boxes of tobacco and
cigarettes, containing sentimental missives.
Nan's committee was a large one, and all had worked diligently until the
result was even more gratifying than they had hoped.
Patty and Helen wore effective and appropriate costumes for they loved
to "dress up," and this was too good a chance to be lost.
Their short frocks were of white tarlatan, edged with lace, and much
befrilled. Garlands of tiny rosebuds decked the skirts, and the bodices
were trimmed with blue ribbons and gilt paper hearts. Toy Cupids perched
on their shoulders, and love-knots of blue decked their hair.
"Do you expect Lieutenant Herron?" Helen asked, as they awaited the
guests.
"Rather!" returned Patty, "considering he's always about wherever you
are."
"Me! It's _you_ he hovers over! Don't be coy,--you don't fool your
little Bumble-bee!"
"Don't you be a silly!" laughed Patty; "I've no use for the Herron
person. If he's here tonight, I'll take it as a favour if you'll charm
him away from my haunts."
"Can't do it," and Helen shrugged her shoulders. "He won't be charmed.
Moreover, I've a lot of my own particular friends coming, and I'll have
my hands full to entertain them."
"Nan was right when she called you a camp belle. You're looking sweet
tonight, Bumble, and I s'pect some man will buy you for a valentine. Is
Chester coming?"
"I s'pose so. Wish he wasn't! He's such a burr."
"Yes, he does stick to you. I'll take him for a while, and give you some
rest. I like Mr. Wilde a whole lot."
The guests began to arrive, and soon the rooms were really crowded. The
valentines sold quickly, for those who did not want them bought "for the
good of the cause."
Lieutenant Herron came early, and as Bumble had predicted, he attached
himself to Patty's train of followers.
"Such a clutter of men about you!" he exclaimed, as he sought her side,
edging his way through a group of valentine buyers. "I say, Miss
Fairfield, let some one else sell these people for a while, and you come
and have an ice with me, won't you?"
"I'm not selling the people!" cried Patty, smiling, "I'm selling
valentines."
"All the same. But you need a rest. Come along, and take it, and come
back to your work refreshed."
Patty was tired, and so she asked some one else to take her place for a
while, and sauntered off with Herron.
They found a pleasant table in the supper room, and sat down together.
"I saw your friend Van Reypen yesterday," said Herron, after he had
given their order.
"Oh, you did? How is he?"
"Fit as a fiddle, and learning to fly, like a young robin!"
"I thought he'd be an apt pupil. Phil is clever at 'most anything."
"Yes, he is. And he takes to aviation like a duck to water. What do you
hear from your other friend?"
"My other friend! Have I then but one more?"
Patty well knew Lieutenant Herron meant Little Billee, but she was
always chary of talking about Farnsworth to anybody.
"Only one that you care for; isn't that so?"
"Oh, no! I care for lots of people, and I care for all our soldiers! How
can you think otherwise?"
"Yes, in a sense. But only one you care for especially."
"Naturally. If you mean Captain Farnsworth, and I suppose you do,--most
girls care especially for the men they are engaged to."
"Are you really engaged to him?"
"Of course I am! Why do you ask?"
"Oh, nothing."
"Your tone belies your words; what do you mean, Lieutenant?"
Patty's eyes gave an ominous flash that her friends all knew indicated
serious indignation, but Herron answered lightly, "Oh, nothing, really.
I only happened to hear from a friend, of Farnsworth's infatuation for a
little dark-eyed beauty down in Washington."
Patty looked at him, amusedly.
"If you're teasing me, your jest is in poor taste, Lieutenant Herron. If
you're in earnest, I refuse to listen to you."
"There, there, don't get huffy! I didn't mean to stir you up! I only
heard rumours,--doubtless there's nothing in them."
"Doubtless there isn't,--and, also, doubtless it doesn't concern you, if
there is!"
Patty was thoroughly angry at the man's impertinence, but she did not
want to do anything so conspicuous as to get up and leave the
dining-room, where many small tables were occupied by a merry crowd of
guests.
"Not at all! not at all! yet, I can't regret my words, since they have
given me an opportunity of seeing you when you are ruffled! Prettier
than ever! How blue eyes can flash!"
Suddenly Patty felt a fear of this man. He did not seem to ring true.
But her quick-wittedness made her realise that to continue angry, was to
make him more amused and interested, so she changed her tactics.
"Any girl's eyes would flash at your insinuations," she said, with a
sudden bright smile.
"But now I know you are chaffing, I don't mind."
"And how do you know I'm chaffing?"
"Because your own eyes twinkle so."
As a matter of fact, Herron's eyes were snapping maliciously, but Patty
ignored this, and deftly turned the subject.
"When do you go back to the Aviation Field?" she inquired.
"Tomorrow, alas! I had hoped for longer leave, but a new class is to be
trained, and I must be on the job."
"I can't help marvelling at the courage and bravery of an aviator. It
seems to me that you take your life in your hands ever more desperately
and dangerously than those actually at the front."
"In a sense, we do," agreed Herron, a little gravely. "As the darky
said, 'If yuh gets killed on the ground, yuh knows where yuh is; but if
yuh gets killed up in de air,--where is yuh?'"
"And so many do get killed."
"Yes, but the proportion continually grows smaller, of course, as we
learn more of the art."
"Do you call aviation an art?"
"Yes, an Art with a big A! It's a science as well, to be sure; it's also
a mechanical process and--it's largely sheer luck!"
"I'm glad Mr. Van Reypen is doing well. He has a cool head, you know."
"Yes, and that's a great thing. A steady nerve, and mental poise come
first in the requirements for a successful flyer. When are you to be
married, Miss Fairfield?"
"Good gracious! You take my breath away with your sudden questions.
Incidentally, they are a bit rude. Do you ask about such personal
matters in your home town?"
Herron had the grace to blush. But he said, slowly, "I suppose I would,
if I cared as much to know as I do in this case."
"Why?"
"Why? You know why! You must know! Because I'm over head and ears in
love with you, myself! Because, though it would add to my misery to know
you're to be married soon, yet it would be a blessed relief to know it
would _not_ be soon!"
"I cannot see, Lieutenant Herron, that these matters concern you at
all," said Patty, icily, and then the look of pained reproach he gave
her smote her heart. For Patty was a gentle soul, and rarely hurt the
feelings of anybody.
"I think I must ask you to drop this subject and never refer to it
again." But she spoke softly, and shook off her air of offended dignity.
"Forgive me," he murmured, "truly I didn't mean to! But I couldn't help
it. You're right, it's none of my business, and I apologise. Come, I see
you're ready to leave here, let us go and buy a valentine, which you
shall send to your betrothed, and then you'll forgive me."
His tone was gay again, and glad that the tension of the situation was
relieved, Patty went with him to the valentine tables.
"Here's a dandy!" remarked the pretty girl who was selling them. "New
idea, too. Funny and yet clever! Want one?"
Herron took the one offered, and smiled as he read its lines.
"You wouldn't dare send _that_ to your fiance!" he said, laughingly.
Carelessly, Patty glanced at it. It was a well-done little sketch of a
lover and his lass, leaning over a rustic stile, in true valentine
fashion. Cupids and turtle-doves hovered above, and hearts and darts
formed a conventional margin.
The lines read:
"Our love is high as Heaven
And wide as rolling sea;
The vows cannot be riven
That bind my love and me.
But should our pledge be broken,
Or should your love be dead,
Send back this tender token
And let us never wed."
"Good gracious!" laughed Patty, "what a woe-begone outlook for such a
happy-looking pair! And I'm sure such a dismal foreboding could never
come true for these rustic swains! They're a real Strephon and Chloe
couple!"
"All the same, I see you don't take my dare."
"What dare?"
"I dare you to send that valentine to Captain Farnsworth."
"What! You think I hesitate, lest he return it to me!" The absurdity of
this struck Patty as very funny, and she laughed outright.
"Yes, I think so," and Herron laughed, too.
"How ridiculous you are! Why, I'd just as lief send that as not!"
"Go ahead, and do it, then. Prove your words."
"Will you buy it for me, at a goodly price?"
"Whatever the saleslady asks."
"All right. What's the price, Maisie?" Greatly amused, the gay little
sales-girl said, "Ten dollars, sir."
A little daunted, but true to his word, Herron paid the price, and took
Patty to the library, where there was a desk made ready for any who
desired to address and despatch their missives then and there.
Patty wrote Farnsworth's Washington address, and Herron held out his
hand for the envelope.
"I'll mail it as I go home," he said, and Patty gave it to him.
The whole incident made little impression on her, for though she didn't
particularly admire the valentine, nor did she care for the so-called
"poetry" on it, yet, at the same time, it meant an extra ten dollar bill
in the coffers of the committee, and that was well worth while.
Not much later, the Lieutenant said good night, for, as he stated, he
had to leave for his duties early next morning.
"And I'm sorry if I offended you, Miss Fairfield, and I hope you'll
forgive me," he begged. "But,--well, my only excuse is, the temptation
was too great, and the opportunity was mine, so I said more than I
intended, and more than I ought."
"All right, Lieutenant, if you didn't mean it, I forgive you."
"I don't say I didn't mean it,--for that wouldn't be true; but I didn't
mean to tell you of it."
"Then," and Patty spoke gravely, now, "never let any circumstance or
opportunity tempt you to do it again."
"Then I mustn't see you," Herron said, in a low voice.
"Very well, then don't see me. It will be far better for both. Where is
your sense of honour? of fairness? Another man's fiancée is not to be
thought of, save with respect and courtesy."
"I know it," and the man looked miserably sad; "and I do mean to treat
you with all respect and courtesy,--but, oh, Miss Fairfield, Patty,--let
me call you that just once,--if you knew how broken up I am over it
all!"
"Then," said Patty, firmly, though she was touched at the sight of his
evident suffering, "then the only thing is for us not to meet again, at
all. I'm sorry, Lieutenant Herron, for I like you, but these matters are
often outside our own will, and so, I can see no way but for us to keep
apart."
"May I not come to see you next time I'm in town?"
"I think not," said Patty, gently, and then she bade him a courteous but
definite and final good night.
CHAPTER XI
PATTY IN TEARS
Patty's bedroom was a pretty, cheery and charming place. The sunlight
came in through delicate, lacy curtains, the furniture and appointments
were all that a fastidious taste could desire, and the pictures and
trinkets scattered about were beautiful and attractive. There were
always fresh flowers in the vases and the whole effect was conducive to
happiness and contentment.
Yet across the lace-covered bed was the outstretched form of somebody
who had flung herself there in a very abandonment of woe. Somebody with
golden curly hair, from which the boudoir cap had fallen unheeded;
somebody who was digging a little wet mop of a handkerchief into eyes
that flowed with tears like a very freshet of rain. Somebody who was
shaking and quivering with great racking sobs that were all the more
agonising because they were silent.
Patty was crying. And with her ever-active efficiency, she was making a
thorough and complete success of it. Now and then, she would pause, sit
up and vigorously wipe her eyes, then she would fling herself back into
the nest of damp pillows and start all over again. Her pretty negligée
of light blue silk was crumpled into a shocking state; one little
slipper had fallen off, and though her face was buried in the pillows
her heaving shoulders and tumbled curls still bore witness to the woe
that was torturing her soul.
Suddenly, she became angry, and sat up straight, fists clenched, eyes
blazing,--fairly gritting her teeth in a wave of indignation.
Then again, grief, deep, hopeless grief overcame her, and back she fell,
fresh tears welling up and spilling over.
"Patty," cried Bumble, bouncing into the room, "I've a splendid plan!
Let's get a whole lot of top balloons, and--for the love of
Michaelovitch Paderewski! what _is_ the matter?"
Curiously Bumble looked at the shaking figure on the bed. With a
frightened face, she came cautiously toward Patty, unable to believe her
eyes at the sight of her cousin's attitude.
"Get out! go 'way!" wailed Patty, in such hollow tones that they scarce
seemed her own at all.
"Patty! dear! my own little darling cousin, what _is_ it? Tell Bumble!
Tell me, dear."
"N-nothing! Go away, I tell you."
"I won't go away! How can I, when I don't know what's the matter with
you! Are you ill?"
"No--no--oh, Bumble, don't pester me!"
"But what ails you, Patty? You don't even speak like yourself. I'm going
to call Nan."
"No, don't! Yes, do! Oh, I don't care what you do!" and a brand-new
deluge poured forth, as Patty sat up and stared at Helen with eyes full
of utter woe as well as gushing tears.
Thoroughly frightened, Helen did call Nan, who came at once.
"Why, you poor little thing," she said, sitting down beside Patty, and
caressing her, as she offered a fresh handkerchief in place of the
squeezed up mop in Patty's hand.
"Never mind, dear, don't try to talk,--just be quiet. And cry all you
like,--but, gracious! I didn't know one person _could_ hold so many
tears! Now, hush, dear, don't talk. Keep right on crying, it'll do you
good."
Nan's comforting voice and her tender whimsicality, helped Patty, and
she sobbed in Nan's arms, for a time, then, by degrees, her tears began
to be somewhat checked, and she stopped shaking.
Nan only patted her gently, and crooned comforting little sounds, that
soothed the tortured nerves by their loving tone.
At last, Patty stopped crying for the simple reason, apparently, that
her tears had at last become exhausted.
Helen had brought a fresh relay of handkerchiefs, and as Patty
half-unconsciously accepted one after another, the bed was strewn with
the moistened squares of linen.
"Hold on," warned Bumble, "if you're going to begin again, go easy on
this; it's the last one of mine."
"I've plenty," assured Nan, "cry away, Patty, if you like."
Nan's intuition told her that Patty must have her cry out, before any
explanation could be forthcoming. And it was so. Every time the tears
ceased and Patty undertook to talk, just so often the floods burst forth
again. Helen grew a bit impatient, and wanted to know what it was all
about, but Nan gave her a warning glance, that curbed her curiosity.
For Nan knew Patty's temperament, and knew, too, that only some really
great matter lay at the bottom of this outbreak.
At last, a point was reached, where it seemed that the tears were really
exhausted, and, weak and white, Patty looked with loving gratitude into
Nan's comforting eyes.
"Bless you, dear," Nan said, kissing the flushed cheek,--"here's a dry
pillow, now, rest. I'm going to get you a glass of milk and a biscuit."
When Nan returned, Patty was quiet, and very sad-looking. Helen was
trying to cheer her up by talking nonsense, but Patty paid little heed
to her chatter.
Mechanically she took the milk that Nan brought, and nibbled at a
biscuit.
"It's this, people," she said, at length, "you might as well know, first
as last. Billee has thrown me over."
Helen stared, aghast, but Nan laughed.
"Oh, Patty!" she cried, "all that fuss for a simple little lovers'
quarrel! Well I suppose you are a simple little lover, and I daresay
Bill has no notion of it all. _What's_ your fancied grievance? And, I
must admit I'm relieved! I feared it was something serious."
"And it is!" flashed Patty; "I guess you'll think so when you know. I
sent him a val--valentine----"
"And that upset the apple-cart? Why, why; was it a 'comic'?"
"Don't tease, Nan, it's fearful. You saw the valentine, didn't you,
Bumble?"
"Yes, but I don't remember anything about it. What was it?"
"Here it is!" and Patty drew from beneath a pillow a moist, bedraggled
paper, that had once been a gay, crisp sheet.
Nan took it and smoothed it out. She saw a blurred picture of two rustic
lovers and with some difficulty she read the absurd lines beneath.
"Our love is high as Heaven
And wide as rolling sea----"
she read aloud, "that's all right, seems to me,--Little Billee can't
have thrown you over for _that_ sentiment! Now, I'll read further:
The vows cannot be riven
That bind my love and me.
Orthodox, I'm sure. Not a perfect rhyme, perhaps, but that's not enough
to quarrel over! Let's see what comes next:
But should our pledge be broken
Or should your love be dead,
Send back this tender token
And let us never wed.
Why, Patty Fairfield, do you mean to say you sent this ridiculous thing
to your Little Billee! I don't wonder he sent it back! It's silly beyond
words! Why did you send such a horror?"
"I dunno," said Patty, a little shame-facedly, "mostly because
Lieutenant Herron dared me to, and I never will be dared. But, oh, Nan,
I don't care if it is a foolish valentine, he _did_ send it back,--and,
don't you see, it says, 'Send back this tender token, and let us never
wed,'--and he _did_ send it back!"
Patty's eyes were large and scared-looking, and, though she didn't cry
now, she looked as if she were about ready to.
"But----" Nan looked bewildered,--"I don't understand----"
"I do!" cried Helen, "and it's awful! I don't wonder you're upset,
Patty! But, hold on, maybe somebody else got it and sent it back."
"No," and Patty forlornly showed the envelope. "See, it's his writing,
mailed in Washington, yesterday--oh,--how could he? Why should he?"
"Patty Fairfield, behave yourself!" Nan gave her a little shake; "do you
mean to tell me Bill Farnsworth means he returns your valentine--your
love-token!"
"There it is! That's the one I sent him, and it _says_ to return it if
his love is dead--and, he's returned it! And that horrid Herron told me
about a--a b-black-eyed b-beauty----"
"Nonsense, Patty! be sensible! It can't be----"
"Very well, how _do_ you explain it? Why should I send that thing to him
a few days ago, and get it back today? Why would he return it--there's
no mistaking his writing, look at it--unless he meant me to take it as
it's printed there! He has been bewitched by that b-black-eyed----"
"Hush, Patty! Don't talk such absolute rubbish! I know Bill Farnsworth,
and I know----"
"You don't know the girl----"
"Jealous! Fie, Patty, for shame!"
"But, Nan," interposed Bumble, "as Patty says, what does it mean? I
wouldn't doubt Little Billee's faith and loyalty either, only, in the
face of this thing, what can we think?"
"I'll never believe Bill meant that! He's teasing you----"
"A pretty way to tease!" Patty was angry now. "And you know he isn't a
tease. He never plays jokes like Kit Cameron, or Chick Channing might.
No, Nan, he has been bowled over by a Washington girl and he wants to
get rid of me!"
"Patty," and Nan spoke very seriously, "it isn't right for you so to
doubt the man you've promised to marry. I can't, I won't believe that he
means this as you take it!"
"How else can he mean it? If you'll give me a rational explanation of
what he _does_ mean, I'll be only too glad. I've thought and thought,
and I can't imagine any meaning but the actual fact that the printed
words say to send the valentine back if his love is dead,--and he did
send it back! Now, for your explanation!"
"I don't know, Patty. I confess I don't. It isn't like him to do it to
tease you."
"Of course, it isn't! He'd never do such a cruel, heartless thing as
that,--if he still loved me. So, he _has_ done the cruel thing,--and
it's because he _doesn't_ love me!"
"What are you going to do?" asked Helen, breaking a long silence.
"There's nothing to do," replied Patty, hopelessly, "I can't write and
beg him to take me back. I have some pride! Nor can I ask what I've done
to forfeit his regard. For I know I haven't done anything."
"You've flirted with Phil Van Reypen," said Helen, accusingly.
"I haven't!" flared Patty. "On the contrary, I've been very careful not
to! He's flirted with me, if you like, but I've not encouraged him. You
know I haven't, Nan."
"Not intentionally, dear, but you have been with him a great deal of
late,--and Little Billee is of a jealous nature."
"No, it isn't that," and Patty sighed, forlornly; "I only wish it were!
Then I could ask his pardon and make up and all that. No, my Billee has
found somebody he likes better'n me. I'm Leah, the Forsaken,--after
all!"
"Leah, nothing!" exclaimed Helen. "Patty, if you can't cut out a little
black-eyed beauty, you're no good! Don't submit so tamely! Go to
Washington,--hunt up the horrid little thing, and see what she's like!
Then, I'll back your beauty against her, any day!"
"Oh, hush up, Bumble! Do you suppose I'd stoop to get back a man who has
thrown me over! You must be crazy! I love Bill Farnsworth,--I adore him,
and I can never love anybody else; but I'll never raise a finger to
whistle him back! I'm not that sort of a girl! I shall never write him
again, or refer to this miserable business in any way. I'm glad Mr.
Herron gave me the hint, or I might have made a fool of myself; now, I
won't!"
Nan was re-reading the unlucky missive.
"It's very strange," was her comment. "I can't understand it. There is
no mistaking his handwriting; there's no mistaking the words of that
silly verse! But I don't like it, Patty. I'm surprised at Bill. If he
had ceased to love you, why not tell you so, like a gentleman? You know,
I always said----"
"Stop, Nan!" and Patty's voice was tense, while red spots burned on her
cheeks, "don't you dare cast any reflection on him! My Billee is all
right! He _is_ a gentleman! I laid myself open to this treatment and I
deserved all I've got. It was bad taste to say the least, for me to send
that thing! I never should have done it, but to get more money for the
committee. I was thoughtless, careless, and foolishly unwilling to let
Mr. Herron think I didn't dare send it. He said 'you don't dare take the
chance!' meaning that I might get back--just what I did get back! But I
was so _sure_ of Bill's love, so confident of his faith and loyalty,
that I never dreamed there was a chance of Mr. Herron's being right!"
"He isn't right!" cried Helen. "I believe there's a mistake somewhere!"
"Just where?" asked Patty, listlessly. "If you can invent or imagine
something that would explain his returning that horrid old thing, tell
me! I'll be glad to know it!"
But Helen couldn't think of any plausible or even possible explanation
or excuse for the return of the valentine.
For Farnsworth was _not_ a practical joker, and indeed, few lovers could
have been capable of such a jest as that!
The case seemed to be at a deadlock. It was incredible that Little
Billee should have sent back the valentine, yet, there it was! And
indubitably from him. There was no possibility that any one else had
written Patty's address on the big envelope. Bill's large, well-formed
chirography was characteristic and unmistakable.
"There's another thing," confessed Patty, "Bill thinks I opened a letter
that he sent me, sealed. And I didn't. Maybe that made him stop loving
me."
The flower-face was so pathetic in its tragic grief, that Nan waxed
wroth again.
"Patty," she said, "if Bill Farnsworth has really tossed you off like a
discarded glove, I think Fred Fairfield will reckon with him! It's
outrageous,--that's what it is!"
"Oh, no, Nan; don't let Father do anything sensational! I don't want a
man who doesn't want me! I assure you I don't! I'm no meek Griselda----"
"She was the patient one," put in Helen.
"Well, I'm not patient, either! I'm--oh, I'm just miserable! I wish you
would both clear out, and let me alone!"
"Well, we won't," said Nan, determinedly. "But, I'll tell you what we
are going to do. You dress yourself all up and we'll all go down town
and lunch at the gayest and giddiest place we can find, and then we'll
go to a foolish matinée,--the most hilarious one there is on the
boards,--and then, we'll get a new start, and when we come home we can
talk this over with your father, and see what's what in the Fairfield
household!"
Patty demurred, saying she didn't want to go, but Nan was inexorable,
and at last Patty yielded. But only on the condition that they would
give her half an hour alone first, to think things out.
This was granted, and Patty was left alone and undisturbed for the
stipulated time.
When Nan came again to the room, she found Patty not yet dressing, but
looking far more cheerful.
"I've thinked it out," she greeted Nan; "and here's the result. I'm
going to keep faith in my Little Billee, until he tells me with his own
lips that he's tired of me, and loves another girl. I can't see any way
to hope this isn't so, but I'm going to keep my faith, till I know
more,--anyway. Because, Nan," her voice fell to a whisper, "if I don't,
I'll go crazy! When I remember all he has said to me,--all his faith in
me, all his protestations of undying, unfailing love, I can't _believe_
it's all swept away by some new face! Think how long Bill has cared for
me----"
"That's right, Patty, look at it like that. It's a whole lot better."
As a matter of fact, Nan, too, had thought it over very seriously, and
she could see no explanation but Bill Farnsworth's deep perfidy. She
could conceive of no theory that would fit the facts, save the hint that
Herron had dropped, that Bill had been enslaved by a sparkling little
brunette, full of the Southern charm and fascination.
It was not like Farnsworth, but Nan realised that men are not always
masters of their fates.
She carried out her plan, and took the two girls to luncheon and then to
the theatre, and she was glad to see that Patty's poise had returned to
her, and though not exactly cheerful, she was at least, calm and
composed.
Whether this was due to the gay entertainment, or to her avowed faith in
her recreant lover, Nan didn't know. But she was glad that Patty was
outwardly pleasant and placid, whatever might be the turmoil in her
heart.
They returned home about six o'clock, and as they entered, Jane, the
housemaid, told Patty there had been a long-distance telephone call for
her, during the afternoon.
"And whoever it was," Jane said, "promised to call you again later,--at
half-past six."
"All right," said Patty, her heart bounding with hope that the call
might be from Washington. But it was improbable, for owing to the
difficulties and delays in getting a good connection, Bill rarely could
take time for this method of communication.
Still outwardly serene, she went to her room and took off her wraps, and
then returned to the library to await the expected call.
"Of course, it will be Bill," said Helen, comfortingly.
"Of course it won't," Patty returned, drearily, and then she waited.
CHAPTER XII
LENA AND BILL
To get the right view of certain matters, let us go back a few days, and
transport ourselves to Washington.
On the thirteenth of February, Captain Farnsworth was busily engaged at
his desk work, when Lena Richards came flying in at his doorway.
"Don't scold!" she cried, by way of forestalling his objections to her
presence; "I _must_ talk to somebody, and it might as well be _you_!"
"It might as well be the President of the United States, and all his
Cabinet, as far as I'm concerned," and Farnsworth scowled at her, "but
I'd rather you'd choose anybody than my unworthy self! What shall I do
with you, Lena? You're a little nuisance! Must I lock and bar the door
to keep you out?"
"Now, now, don't be cross to a poor little lonesome girlie, what hasn't
got anybody to consult. Lemme ask you a few questions, do!"
Lena was a wheedlesome creature, and quite in the habit of having her
own way. She laughed at Bill's frown and as she plumped herself down in
an armchair, she spread out on Farnsworth's desk a number of gay
valentines.
"This," she began, "is for Dick Selden. Isn't it a dandy! And this one
is for my own Daddy. Won't he be surprised to get one?"
Lena chuckled happily, and looked up into Bill's face for a show of
approval.
She seemed only a child; her sixteen years sat lightly on her slim
little shoulders, and her dark, winsome face was lighted with such a
glow of happy anticipation, that good-natured Farnsworth couldn't bear
to speak shortly to her.
"All right, Baby," he said, good-humouredly, "show me your valentines,
and get it over with. Which one is for me?"
"Oh, that I haven't here! Of course I wouldn't show you that one!" A
merry laugh rippled from the rosy lips. "And you'll send me one, won't
you, Captain?"
"Why, I hadn't thought of doing so. In fact, I hadn't thought of sending
any."
"What! Not to your sweetheart? Not to that lovely angel-faced girl whose
pictures are all about here? I'm ashamed of you! What _will_ she think?"
Farnsworth suddenly realised his defection. "But," he said, "she'll
forgive me. Patty will understand. She knows I'm terribly busy--more
than busy,--I'm all in a moil, and working night and day to straighten
it out----"
"But, Captain! That isn't enough to excuse not sending a valentine to
the girl of your heart! Whee! If I were engaged to a man, and if he
didn't send me a valentine! I'd break that engagement so quick he
wouldn't know what hit him! Fie, fie, Captain! You're a peach of a
lover, you are!"
Lena had risen and was dancing about the room. A restless elf, she
rarely sat still long, and loved to fly about, looking at things here
and there, poking and prying curiously into books or papers, and really
bothering the life out of Farnsworth. Many times he had concluded to
move to other quarters, where he might be free from her interruptions,
but this house suited him so well otherwise, and, too, he was so busy,
he disliked to take the necessary time to make the change.
But Lena's accusation gave his big, true heart a thrill. Was he really
negligent of Patty? His own Posy-face Patty,--whom he loved with all his
great soul! He knew he was not a society man, not much of an observer of
the lighter conventions, and he wondered if Patty would expect a
valentine from him, and be disappointed at not receiving it.
"I'll send her some flowers," he exclaimed; "I can telegraph a florist
in New York and have them delivered tomorrow,--that's the day, isn't it,
Lena?"
"Yes; but flowers are so--so impersonal, and careless. You ought to send
her a real valentine. Here, you can have one of these."
"Can I? Really! Oh, you dear little girl! That would help a lot,--for I
haven't time to go out to the shops. Let me take your prettiest one, and
I'll pay you what it cost, and you can buy another."
"All right," and Lena nodded her pretty head. "That goes! Now, I've only
one here that I want to spare. This one."
Lena held up a pretty looking affair. It had a picture of an
affectionate pair, leaning over a rustic stile, and surrounded by hearts
and darts and Cupids and rose garlands.
The lines printed inside the leaf, were:
"Our love is high as Heaven
And wide as rolling sea:
The vows cannot be riven
That bind my love and me.
But should our pledge be broken
Or should your love be dead,
Send back this tender token
And let us never wed."
Farnsworth looked at it carelessly. "All right," he said, "if that's the
only one available, I'll have to take that one. It's all right, isn't
it?"
"Yes, it's a beauty! It cost a dollar,--but it's good work."
"Cheap at the price!" laughed Farnsworth, taking out his pocketbook. "I
don't care such a lot for the sentiment, however. The first part is all
right, but that second stanza is ridiculous!"
"How, ridiculous? I think it's lovely! You don't think she'll send it
back, do you?"
"I do not! Our vows cannot be riven,--as your poet hath it. But I could
have made up a better jingle myself! That's what I ought to have done!
Made a real valentine for my sweetheart! Oh, I wish I weren't so
over-worked! Well, some day I'll make up to her for this enforced
neglect. Now, be off, Lena, if you don't, I'll pitch you out,--neck and
crop!"
"Oh, all right, Captain; but I was going to say if you'd address your
valentine, I'd post it along with mine. There's none too much time, you
know."
"Thank you, Lena, you're a good little thing. And I'm a bear,--a cross
one, sometimes, I fear. Will you forgive me, and take my valentine with
yours?"
"'Course I will. Write the directions."
So Farnsworth dashed off Patty's name and address on the big envelope,
and Lena ran away with it.
So, you see!
Of course, the valentine Bill sent Patty was the counterpart of the one
she sent him, and when you know all, you'll find out that this wasn't
such a strange coincidence as it might seem.
And of course, the valentine that Patty received, and that caused her
such paroxysms of woe, was the one Lena mailed and _not_ the return of
the one she had sent to Farnsworth.
It was a fine mixup, and Cupid, the little god of Love, must have flown
madly about in his dismay and despair of ever getting it straightened
out.
Now, as is well known, the extra mail occasioned by the observance of
the festival of St. Valentine, often causes delays in transmission.
Which explains why both these important missives we're interested in,
reached their respective destinations a couple of days after they were
normally due.
And Patty, as we have seen, was pretty well broken up over the receipt
of hers! Naturally, she supposed it to be the one she sent, returned to
her by Farnsworth, and no one could wonder that she did think this.
And so, when Captain Farnsworth found in his mail a big square envelope
addressed in Patty's well-known, well-loved handwriting, he knew it for
a valentine before he opened it.
"Bless her heart!" he said to himself. "Dear little girl to send me a
valentine! And I'm jolly glad I sent her one! I must thank that
bothersome little Lena for that!"
He opened the envelope, and to his astonishment, he drew out what seemed
to be the very valentine he had sent Patty.
"What!" he cried aloud, a puzzled frown coming over his face.
He looked at it carefully; being exactly the same, he naturally thought
Patty had returned his missive.
Bewildered, he read the lines, which he had scarcely sensed as he
hastily glanced them over before sending.
"Send back this tender token
And let us never wed."
Patty had sent it! Had returned his "tender token!"
"Should your love be dead"--was he, then, to infer that Patty's love was
dead? His Patty! Never, in a million years! If ever a girl was true
blue, that girl was Patty Fairfield,--his own Patty Blossom! There could
be no two opinions about that!
With a sudden jerk, he picked up the telephone and called for New York.
It took a long time to get the connection, and Captain Farnsworth grew
more and more impatient. He did not storm at the operator, that was not
his way. He patiently waited "just a minute," till scores of minutes
flew by, and at last he heard Jane's voice.
No, Miss Patty was not at home; she would be home about six. He would
call up again? Very well. Good-bye.
Farnsworth strode up and down his room. It was only half-past three, he
would call her about half-past six. Meantime--he must work. But the big
man couldn't settle himself to work. The thing was so inexplicable, so
disturbing. Had Patty meant it for a joke? Had she meant to tease him?
If so it was a bit of bad taste,--and Patty was never guilty of bad
taste. He couldn't understand it at all.
He tried to make out his reports, and of course, he succeeded in doing
so, but it was a process greatly interrupted by long periods of
distracted thought.
Suppose Patty really meant it! Bosh! Meant it! His Patty? Never! He
would believe anything but that! Could it have been a mistake? Did she
slip his valentine in an envelope which she had addressed to him for the
purpose of sending another one,--and then she had mixed them up?
No; Patty was never careless, and least of all, where he was concerned.
She was efficient, always, and he had had too much correspondence with
her not to know how careful she was. And then, came to his mind dark
thoughts of Philip Van Reypen.
Suppose,--just _suppose_, Patty had found that she preferred Phil to
himself,--could she have chosen a better or more definite way to tell
him so?
"Should your love be dead!"
The big man writhed at the thought. He put it out of his mind as
unworthy of him and unworthy of his love. And yet, that would explain
it,--and what else would? What else could? But that explanation he
refused to accept. Patty, his own gentle dear little Patty, he wouldn't
be cruel,--but--if she had such a thing to tell him, she would choose
some way that seemed to her the least cruel--he knew that!
Was she using his means--as he had unwittingly given her the
chance,--oh, why _had_ he sent that foolish thing? It was silly,--it was
absurd,--it was bad taste on his part!
But Lena had brought it, and it had seemed to him silly, but harmless.
He worried and fretted, fumed and scowled, but he could come to no
satisfactory conclusion or explanation.
He looked at his watch until he almost wore it out, only to find each
time that but a moment or two had elapsed.
At last he gave up trying to work and went out for a walk.
The clear cold air freshened his brain but his heart still had a dull,
queer ache in it. He did a few errands, forcing himself to concentrate
his mind in their accomplishment, and at last the slow-going clock-hands
crawled around to half-past six.
Back in his own rooms, Bill called New York again, and asked for Patty's
number.
The connection was a good one, and he finally heard the well-beloved
voice say, "Hello,--Little Billee!"
"Oh, Patty!" he cried, explosively, "oh, Patty Blossom! When will you
marry me? What day? Tell me, quick!"
"Why--why--you sent back----"
"No, I didn't! I didn't send back anything! Never mind that fool
valentine business! Answer my question, quick! Sometimes they snap off
the connection, and if they did _that_ I'd go wild! _When_, Patty?"
"Why--oh--any time! Bill, dear,--any time!"
"Bless you, darling! But what day? what date? Tell me."
"Oh,--I can't----"
"Yes, you can! Now,--and make it soon!"
"Well, say in October----"
"October your grandmother! Say April."
"Oh, nonsense, Bill, I can't! And this is no thing to decide over a
telephone! You come up here----"
"I can't,--not for a few days, and I've got to know this thing
now,--see? NOW!"
"Well, say June, then."
"No! you may say May, but not a day later. Say your birthday, that's in
May."
"May's an unlucky month----"
"Not for us,--it won't be! On your birthday, then----"
"Wait a minute, Bill, what made you return my valentine?"
"What made you return mine?"
"I didn't!"
"_I_ didn't! Oh, Patty, I see it,--it has just dawned on me! We sent
duplicates! Where'd you get yours?"
"At a bazaar thing----"
"Yes, I see; and I got mine from--well,--I got it."
"Where?"
"No matter now. I bought it and paid for it; and they chanced to be just
alike! Puzzle it out at your leisure. Now, Posy-face, I'm coming to New
York just as soon as I can manage it, but it may be a week or so,--I
hope not, I hope to get there in a couple of days, but all I can say is,
I'll do the best I can, and you begin to get ready for that May affair."
"Not May, Bill--June!"
"Oh, why? _why_ not May? Well, wait till I see you, and perhaps I can
persuade you to say May."
"Well, we'll see, but I refuse to decide it over a telephone! Nobody
_ever_ did!"
"As if that mattered! Well, you get busy with your preparations, and
we'll see----"
"Now, you must say good-bye, dear. You know this is long distance and
not a local call!"
"I don't care if it is! Tell me something,--Patty!"
"Oh, I can't tell you _that_ at long distance!"
"No; and if I hear your voice without seeing you, much longer, I'll go
off my head! Good-bye, then, you darling, Patty Blossom,----"
"Oh, Little Billee! Don't! Somebody'll hear you!"
"Let 'em! Good-bye, dearest,--my Best Beloved!"
"Good-bye!"
Patty hung up the receiver, and sat very still, her eyes shining like
two big blue stars.
She hadn't quite straightened out the valentine mixup in her mind yet,
but she didn't care! It was all right! Little Billee loved her just the
same as ever,--if not more! And she had promised to marry him in June!
It was a sudden step. She had realised she was engaged to him,--and
would marry him some day; but she never had, even in her own mind, set
any definite date.
"Well," said Helen, coming in, "I discreetly stayed out, while you were
telephoning, now I think I might be told if the call _was_ from
Washington."
"It was!" answered Patty; "it most certainly was!"
"And you're not crying as torrentially as you were?"
"I am not!" and Patty smiled like a Chessy cat. "In fact, I think I may
assure you I shall never cry again; at least, not if I continue to feel
as happy as I do at this present speaking."
"Good for you, my fairy cousin! Now,--tell old Bumble all about it!"
So Patty told her.
"Well, of all things! Do you mean that he, just by chance, sent you a
valentine exactly like the one you sent him?"
"Yes; and I suppose they're all over. You know every year there's some
funny or clever one that has a vogue everywhere."
"Queer, for him to select that for you!"
"It was, but I don't care! He did, and I did, so we can't blame each
other. But I was the baddy one, because I distrusted him! He hadn't a
doubt of me! When he,--as he supposed,--got back the one he sent me, he
called up and asked me to set our wedding-day!"
"Did he, really? Oh, Patty, that's the sort of a man to marry! I always
did like him, now I think he's just perfectly stunning!"
"I do, too, and I'm ashamed of my doubts and fears."
"Oh, that's all right, he'll never know."
"Yes, he will, I shall tell him. And maybe he'll be so disappointed in
me, and so hurt, that----"
"That he'll break off the engagement! Oh, yes! Oh, certainly! Patty, you
are a goose, and always will be! Never let him know what a goose you
are, or he sure will throw you over!"
"Oh, I guess not!" Patty smiled happily.
"Well, when is the day? What did he say?"
"I wouldn't say positively,--but, oh, Bumble, he's so impatient!"
"Of course he is! Any real lover would be, and especially any one who is
expecting to marry Patty Fairfield!"
CHAPTER XIII
AN IMPORTANT DOCUMENT
Patty was walking up and down the library, waiting for Little Billee. He
had written and he had telegraphed and he had telephoned, and every
message changed or contradicted the previous one, and Patty was nervous.
She flew from one chair to another, she flung herself on the davenport,
and back to the window-seat; she pulled aside the curtains and stared
down the street, in fact, she flew around, Bumble declared, like a hen
with her head off.
"Fly, if you like, Patty," Nan said, kindly; "it may help some."
It was three o'clock, and she had expected Bill momentarily since one.
And at last she saw him! The big man came swinging round a corner and
looking up, saw Patty's face at the window.
He paused at the sight, and the two stood, beaming at each other.
"Oh, there he is!" Nan cried. "Come, Bumble, let's leave them to
themselves for a few minutes."
"A few hours!" Patty called out, as the two slipped from the room, and
then Farnsworth came in.
He found a Patty smiling with joy, not nervous now, but a lovely
shining-eyed girl, with welcoming arms outstretched and a soft flush
tinting her cheeks.
"Blossom Girl!" he cried, and then he clasped her in a big whole-souled
embrace, that nearly swept her off her feet.
Close he held her, in a happy silence, then he gently lifted the
flower-face and kissed the quivering lips.
"Oh, my dearest, my Best Beloved, I thought I'd never get here! The
trains crawled, the waits were interminable! But I'm here, and I have
you in my arms and nothing else matters!"
"You dear thing!" Patty said, timidly reaching up to caress his strong,
firm chin with her little fingers, "I'd forgotten you're so--so
enormous!"
Farnsworth's laugh rang out.
"There _is_ a lot of me, isn't there? But I'm all yours, so you must get
used to seeing me round. Would you rather I were less enormous, Patty?"
"No, indeed! I wouldn't have you changed in any respect! You're just
right! But you make me feel small!"
"And you are. My little Patty _Petite_. I'm glad, too, 'cause I like you
much better this way. You see, I can pick you up and put you wherever I
please."
Farnsworth picked Patty up like a child, and placed her on the big
davenport, then sat down beside her.
"Now, I'm happy! Can we sit here forever,--or do we have to be ordinary
citizens and chum with the family?"
"They'll let us alone a little while, and then I s'pect Nan and Bumble
will come in."
"Oh, pshaw! I hoped I'd have you all to myself. Can'
Showing first 200,000 characters. Full text: gutenberg.org/ebooks/49173