Patty's Suitors

  CHAPTER XVIII

  MOONLIGHT

  The May party was over, but a few of the guests, besides those stayingin the house, remained for dinner.

  "Shall I change my frock, Adele, or keep on this toggery for dinner?"said Patty.

  "Oh, keep that on. You may as well be Queen of May as long as you can."

  So Patty kept on her pretty, picturesque costume, and when dinner timecame she made up her mind to ask Adele to seat her next to Farnsworth.But as the company paired off to go to dinner Big Bill was nowherevisible.

  "Where's Mr. Farnsworth?" asked Patty, casually, of Jim Kenerley.

  "Oh, he's gone. We expected him to stay the week-end, but he said hewas due at another country house party, farther on somewhere, and hecouldn't even stay for dinner."

  Patty was sorry she had acted so rude to Bill, and sorry that he hadgone. "But," she said to herself, by way of extenuation, "I didn't wantto dance with anybody who asked me to because his hostess commandedhim! He never even said he wanted to dance with me himself, but onlythat Adele said he must. But I do think he was mean to go away withoutsaying good-bye to me!"

  However, it was not Patty's nature to let her mind dwell on adisappointment, and she promptly proceeded to forget all about Mr.Farnsworth, and to turn her mind to her present partner. This happenedto be Kit Cameron, and as he was in his gayest mood she responded andtheir conversation was of the merriest sort.

  After dinner, Kit persuaded Patty to walk on the veranda for a bit ofexercise. There was a large swing-seat, upholstered in red, which hedeclared was just the place for a tete-a-tete.

  "But it's too cold," objected Patty.

  "I'll get you a wrap," and Kit flew into the house and procured a longcloak, in which he enveloped Patty, and they sat in the swing together.

  "What became of the Colossal Cowboy?" said Kit; "I thought he was herefor the weekend."

  "I thought so, too," returned Patty, "but it seems he had anotherengagement."

  "I'm glad of it. You're altogether too fond of him."

  "Fond of him! What do you mean? I'm nothing of the sort. Why, Iscarcely spoke to him."

  "I know it. That's what gave you away."

  "Don't be a silly! I haven't the slightest interest in Mr. WilliamFarnsworth, or his comings and goings."

  "You'd rather have me here, wouldn't you?"

  "Oh, EVER so much rather!" And Patty spoke with such intense enthusiasmthat she was very evidently joking.

  "But really, Patty, let's be in earnest just for a minute. Wouldn't yourather have me around than anybody?"

  "Why, I don't know; I never thought about it."

  "Think about it now, then. Honest, I mean it."

  "Oh, don't mean things. It's too heavenly a night to talk seriously."

  "Isn't it a wonderful night? Do you know a house party like this andmoonlight on a veranda, like this, always goes to my head. I thinkweek-ending is apt to go to one's head, anyway. But let it go. Let itgo to your head, too."

  "I don't think I'd better," and Patty spoke hesitatingly; "I might saysomething foolish."

  "Oh, do, Patty! DO say something foolish! If you don't, I shall."

  "Well, go on, then."

  "May I, Patty? May I tell you that I've simply lost my heart toyou,--you beautiful little May Queen!"

  "And is that what you call foolish?" Patty pouted, adorably.

  "Yes, it's foolish, because I know there's no hope for me. I know youdon't care one least scrap of a speck for me! Now, do you?"

  "If you're so positive yourself, why ask me?"

  "Oh, I MIGHT be mistaken, you know. Oh, if I only MIGHT! Patty, DEARlittle Patty, couldn't you be my princess? My own Princess Poppycheek."

  "I've been your Belle," and Patty laughed merrily at the recollection.

  "There you go, laughing at me! I knew you would. That shows you don'tcare anything for me. If you did, you wouldn't laugh at me!"

  "Oh, yes, I would! the more I care for people the more I laugh atthem,--always."

  "You must be simply crazy over me then! If you don't stop laughing Iwon't swing you any more."

  "Oh, yes, do, it's lovely to swing back and forth in the moonlight likethis. The May party was pretty, wasn't it?"

  "You're just trying to change the subject. But I won't have it changed.Let's go back to it. Patty, couldn't you stop laughing at me longenough to learn to care for me a little?"

  "How can I tell? I don't know how long it would take to learn to carefor you a little. And, anyway, I do care for you a little,--but only avery, very little."

  "Yes, I know that. You don't fool me any. You wouldn't care if youNEVER saw me again."

  "Why, Kit Cameron, I would SO! If I though I'd never see youagain--I'd--I'd--I'd drown myself!"

  "YES you WOULD! You little witch, how can you trifle with me like that,when my heart is just breaking for you?"

  "Oh, come now, Kit, it isn't as bad as that! And let me tell yousomething. Do you know I think you are one of the very nicest friends Iever had, and I'm not going to have our friendship spoiled by anyfoolishness! So you might as well stop right where you are now. Thatis, if you're in earnest. If you're just talking foolishness on accountof the moonlight--and all,--I don't mind. But I won't have you seriousabout it."

  "All right, Poppycheek. I'm pretty serious, or I would be if you'd letme, but if you don't want it you shan't have it."

  "Well, I don't. I don't want seriousness from anybody. And, anyway,Kit, I'd be afraid of seriousness from you."

  "Why, Patty?"

  "'Cause it would probably turn out to be a practical joke."

  "Joke nothing! The regard I have for you, Miss Poppycheek Fairfield, istoo everlasting real to have any joke about it!"

  "And the friendship I have for you, Mr. Kit Cameron, is so nice andreal, that I'm going to keep it up."

  Patty knew from the undertones of Kit's voice that he was very much inearnest, and as she felt no interest in him beyond that of a goodfriend, she shrank from wounding his feelings by letting him go onfurther. And so she determinedly led the conversation further andfurther away from personal matters, and soon she gaily declared that itwas getting too late for moonlight chat and she was going in the house.

  Kit followed her in, and though he showed in no way the appearance of arejected suitor, he was quieter than usual and less inclined tomerriment. "He'll get over it," said Patty to herself, after shereached her room that night. "I s'pose all girls have to go throughwith these scenes, sooner or later. But I didn't mind Kit so much,because he was nice and sensible about it."

  Then Daisy came in for a kimono confab, and perched herself on the edgeof Patty's bed.

  "What's the matter between you and Bill Farnsworth, Patty?" she askedwithout prelude of any sort.

  "Nothing," said Patty, as she took the hairpins from a long shiningstrand of hair.

  "There is, too. He asked me why you were so cool to him."

  "He did! Well, I'm sure I don't know what he meant, for I wasn't coolto him,--or anything else. I treated him politely, as I would anycasual friend."

  "Politely! I saw you refuse to dance with him, myself. If you call THATpolite!"

  "If you want to know, Daisy, that was because he didn't want to dancewith me. He said he only asked me because Adele insisted upon it."

  "Patty, it's none of my business, but I do think you might be nicer toBill, for I know he thinks an awful lot of you."

  "Why, Daisy Dow! why should he think a lot of me when he's as good asengaged to another girl?"

  "Engaged! Bill Farnsworth engaged! nothing of the sort. I know better."

  "But he is. Adele told me so. Or, if he isn't engaged, he's very muchin love with a girl named Kitty. Do you know her?"

  "Kitty who? Where is she?"

  "I don't know, I'm sure. But he told Adele his whole heart and lifewere bound up in this Kitty Somebody. So I'm sure I don't see anyreason why I should be running after him."

  "I can't imagine you running after anybo
dy, Patty. You don't need to,for the boys all run after you. But it's very queer I never heard ofthis Kitty. I've known Bill for years. Let me see; there was KateMorton,--but I never thought Bill cared especially for her. And anyway,I can't imagine calling HER Kitty! She's as tall and straight as anIndian!"

  "Well, Bill calls her Kitty; Adele said so."

  "Oh, is it Kate Morton, then? Did Adele say that?"

  "No, Adele said she couldn't remember the girl's last name. And I don'tcare if it's Kate Morton or Kathleen Mavourneen! It's nothing to mewhat kind of a girl Bill Farnsworth likes."

  "Of course it isn't. I know you never liked Bill."

  "I did SO! I DO like him, but just the same as I like all the otherboys."

  "Then what makes you turn pink every time Bill's name is mentioned, andnever when you speak of anybody else?"

  "I don't! And if I did, it wouldn't mean anything. I'm not speciallyinterested in anybody, Daisy, but if I were, I wouldn't sit up andblush about it. You like Bill an awful lot, yourself."

  "I do like him," said Daisy, frankly; "and I always have. He's asplendid man, Patty, one of the biggest, best natures I know. Why, atschool we used to call him Giant Greatheart,--he was so thoroughlynoble and kind to everybody."

  "Well, I'm sick of hearing his praises sung, so you'll please changethe subject."

  Daisy was quite willing to do this, for she had no wish to annoy Patty,and the girls chatted of other matters until Adele came along and sentthem both to bed.

  The next day was Sunday, and Patty didn't come downstairs until timefor the midday dinner.

  "I think you might have come down earlier," said Van Reypen,reproachfully, as Patty came smilingly down the staircase. "I wantedyou to go for a walk this morning; it's simply great out in thesunshine."

  "I'll go after dinner," said Patty; "isn't it funny why people havedinner at one o'clock, just because it's Sunday?"

  "I'm glad of it. It'll give us the whole afternoon for our walk."

  "Good gracious! if I walk the whole afternoon you'll have to bring mehome in a wheelbarrow!"

  "We won't walk far enough for that. If you get tired, we'll sit on amossy mound in a bosky dell, or some such romantic spot."

  After dinner, Philip held Patty to her promise of going for a walk. Shedidn't care about it especially, really preferring to stay with the gaygroup gathered on the veranda, but Philip urged it, and Patty allowedherself to be persuaded.

  The country all around Fern Falls was beautiful, and a favourite walkwas down to the Falls themselves, which were a series of small cascadestumbling down a rocky ravine.

  Philip turned their steps this way, and they sauntered along thewinding footpath that followed down the side of the falls.

  "It is lovely here," said Patty, as she sat down on a rock for a shortrest. "But I wouldn't want to live in the country all the year around,would you, Philip?"

  "Not if you didn't like it, dear. Suppose we have two homes, one in thecity and one in the country?"

  "Homes for lunatics, do you mean?" and Patty favoured the young manwith a wide-eyed gaze of inquiry.

  "You know very well what I mean," and Philip returned her gaze with oneof calm regard. "You know why I brought you out here this afternoon,and you know exactly what I'm going to say to you. Don't you?"

  "Not EXACTLY," and Patty drew a roguish frown; "they all word itdifferently, you know."

  "It is a matter of utter indifference to me how the others word it,"and Philip leaned up comfortably against a rock as he looked at Patty."The only thing that engrosses my mind, is whether I myself can word itpersuasively enough to make you say yes. Do you think I can?"

  "You never can tell till you try," said Patty, in a flippant tone.

  "Then I'll try. But, Patty, dearest, you know it all; you know how Ilove you, you know how long I have loved you. Aren't you ever going togive me the least little encouragement?"

  "How can I, Phil, when I don't feel encouraging a bit?"

  "But you will, dear, won't you? You remember last winter when we wenton that sleighride after the butter and eggs? Why, Patty, you ALMOSTsaid yes, then."

  "Why, Philip Van Reypen! I didn't do anything of the sort! I had noidea of saying yes, then,--I haven't now,--and I'm not sure that I evershall have!"

  "I'll wait, Patty," and Van Reypen spoke cheerfully. "I'll wait, LittleGirl, because I think a love like mine is bound to win at last. And Iknow you're too young yet to make up your mind. But, Patty, there isn'tanybody else, is there?"

  "Anybody else what?"

  "Anybody else who likes you as much as I do. Is there?"

  "Now, Phil, how could I tell that? When people say they love you heapsand heaps, you never know quite how much to believe, or quite how muchis just the influence of the moonlight."

  "Well, there's no moonlight here now. So when I tell you how much Ilove you, it's all true. You believe that, don't you, Little Girl?"

  "Yes, I believe it. But, Philip, I wish you wouldn't talk about itto-day. I'm tired of--"

  "Of having men tell you how much they love you? Poor little Patty! I'mafraid you'll have to put up with that all your life."

  "Oh, horrible!" and Patty made a wry face. "I suppose some girls likeit, but I don't."

  "I'll tell you a way to avoid it, Patty. Be engaged to me, now,--evenif you won't marry me right away, and then, you see, other men can'tpropose to you."

  "Do you mean be engaged to you, Phil, without intending EVER to marryyou!"

  "Well, don't consider the second question at present. Just be engagedto me, and then we'll see about it."

  "No, I don't think that would be fair. You make it seem as if beingengaged to a man doesn't mean anything."

  "Patty! dearest! DON'T talk like that! It would mean all the world tome. And I'm sure I could make you love me enough to want to marry me,after awhile. If you knew how much I loved you, I'm sure you'd agreethat you couldn't resist that love for long."

  Van Reypen looked very handsome and very earnest as he gazed intoPatty's eyes. And Patty looked very sweet and dear as she gazed back athim with a troubled expression on her lovely face.

  Then with a sudden, impulsive gesture she put out both her hands andPhilip took them in his own.

  "Don't make me decide now, Phil," she said, and she looked at him witha pathetic smile. "I don't know what I want. I know I DON'T want tomarry you,--or anybody else,--for a long time. And I don't think I wantto be engaged to anybody just yet, either."

  "Of course you don't, you dear little girl," and Van Reypen's tone washearty and genuinely helpful. "You've only just begun to have yourlittle fling, and enjoy yourself in your own sweet, butterfly way. AndI'm not going to tease you or cause you one moment's worry. But, oh,Patty, darling, if ever you have a moment when you want to think aboutthese things, think about me, won't you, dear? and remember that mywhole heart is yours and my whole life is devoted to you. You don'tunderstand now, what the whole love of a man means, but some day youwill, and then, if your heart can turn to me, let it do so, won'tyou,--little sweetheart?"

  Patty was thrilled, not only by Philip's words, but by the deep andsincere love shining in his eyes, and which she could not mistake.

  "You are very dear to me, Philip," she said, with absolute sincerity;"and I do want you to know how much I appreciate what you havesaid,--and how grateful I am--"

  "Hush, Patty," and Philip smiled gently at her; "I don't want that. Idon't want your appreciation nor your gratitude for what I feel foryou. When you are ready to give me your love, in return for the love Ioffer you, I want it more than I can tell you. But until then, I wantyour friendship, the same good comradeship we have always had, but notany gratitude, or foolishness of that sort. Do you understand?"

  "I do understand, Phil, and I think you're splendid! I want to keep onbeing your friend,--but I don't want you to think---"

  "No, dear; I promise not to think that you are giving me undueencouragement,--for that is what you're trying to say. And you mustn'tlet my hopes or
desires trouble you. Always treat me just exactly asyou feel toward me, with gay comradeship, with true friendliness, orwhatever is in your heart. But always remember that I am still lovingyou and waiting and hoping."

  Philip gave Patty one long look deep into her eyes, and then, with anentire change of manner, he said lightly, "Now, my lady fair, if youare rested, suppose we walk back to the house?"

  "I am rested," and Patty jumped up, "so you won't have to do what Ifeared,--take me home in a wheelbarrow."

  Van Reypen looked at her quizzically.

  "Do you remember," he said, "the classic poem from which that quotationis taken?"

  "It's from Mother Goose, isn't it?"

  "Yes; but if you recollect, it was a bachelor gentleman who went toLondon. And when he returned he brought a WIFE home in a wheelbarrow.I'm not having quite THAT experience."

  "No," said Patty, demurely, "but you haven't any wheelbarrow."