Patty's Suitors

  CHAPTER III

  THE HEPWORTHS AT HOME

  It was the day of Christine's home-coming, and Patty was busy as a beepreparing for the great event. The pretty apartment where the Hepworthswere to live was all furnished and equipped, but Patty was lookingafter the dainty appointments of a party.

  Not a large party, only about a dozen of their own set. Nan was there,too, and Elise Farrington, and they were arranging flowers in bowls andjars and vases, till the rooms were a bower of blossoms.

  "What time will they arrive?" said Elise.

  "We expected them about six o'clock," returned Patty; "but I had atelegram, and their train is delayed, so they can't get here untilnine. So I want the party all assembled when they come. It's five now,and everything's about done, so we can scoot home and get some dinnerand get dressed, and be back here before they arrive. I'll be here byhalf-past eight, for the caterers are coming then, and I want to seeabout the table."

  So they all went home to dress, and before half-past eight Patty wasback again.

  There were two maids already installed, but Patty found plenty to do insuperintending matters, and she hadn't much more than completed thedecorations of the table, when the guests began to come.

  "Isn't the apartment lovely?" exclaimed Mona Galbraith, as she wentthrough the rooms. "This music-room, or living-room, or whatever youcall it, is just dear! Who selected the furnishings?"

  "Oh, Mr. Hepworth and Christine," said Patty; "two artists, you know;of course the rooms ought to be beautiful. It is a lovely place, andjust the right setting for that darling of a Christine."

  The whole merry crowd were assembled in the living-room, when the brideand groom arrived. A shout of welcome went up from the young people,and Christine was smothered in girlish embraces, while the menvigorously shook Mr. Hepworth's hand, or clapped him on the shoulder,in their masculine way of congratulation.

  Christine looked very sweet and smiling, in a pretty travelling gown,but Patty carried her off at once and insisted that she get into ahouse gown.

  "The idea," said Patty, "of a hostess in a high-collared frock and allher guests in evening dress!"

  So Christine quickly changed to a little chiffon gown of pale green andPatty tucked a pink rose in her hair and some more in her belt.

  "Now you look like a bride," said Patty, nodding approval at her, andleading her to a mirror; "look at that vision of beauty! Aren't youglad I made you change?"

  "Yes, ma'am," said Christine, in mock humility; "it's much better so."

  The evening was a merry one. They danced and they sang and they chattedand finally they had the delightful supper that Patty had ordered.

  Christine, blushing prettily, took the head of the table, while GilbertHepworth, with a proud air of proprietorship, sat at the other end.

  Patty, as guest of honour, sat at the right hand of her host.

  "It has always been my aspiration," she said, with a beaming smile atChristine, "to have a married friend to visit. I warn you, Christine, Ishall spend most of my time here. There's one little nook of a bedroomI claim as my own and I expect to occupy it very frequently. And,besides, I have to give you lessons in housekeeping. You're a greatartist, I know, but you must learn to do lots of other things besidepaint."

  "I wish you would, Patty," and the little bride looked very much inearnest; "I truly want to keep house, but being an artist and aSouthern girl both, I don't believe I'm very capable."

  "You're a blessed dear, that's what YOU are"; and Patty turned toHepworth, saying, "Isn't she?"

  "Yes, indeed," he returned; "I've only just begun to realise thebeautiful qualities in her nature. And it is to you, Patty, that I owemy happiness. I shall never forget what you did in order that Christinemight come to New York."

  "And now we are surprised at the result," said Patty, who never couldbe serious for long at a time. "Come on, people, you've had enoughsupper, let's have one more dance and then we must go home and leavethese turtledoves to their own nest."

  But the one dance proved to mean several, until at last Patty said,"This will never do! Christine is all tired out, and as thesuperintendent of this party I order you all to go home at once."

  The others laughingly agreed, except Philip Van Reypen, who came nearPatty and murmured, "You haven't danced with me once to-night, andyou've been awful cruel to me lately, anyway. Now let us have one moredance in honour of the bride's home-coming."

  "No," said Patty, firmly, "not another dance to-night."

  "Just a part of one, then," begged Philip; but Patty was inexorable.

  And so the merry crowd dispersed, Patty lingering a moment to giveChristine a good-night kiss and wish her every blessing and happinessin her new home.

  "And I have you to thank for it all, Patty dear," said Christine, herblue eyes looking lovingly into Patty's own.

  "Nonsense, thank your own sweet self. You well deserve the happinessthat has come to you. And now good-night, dear; I'll be over some timeto-morrow."

  The laughing group went away, and as it had been planned, Mona tookPatty home in her car.

  "I wish you'd go on home with me, Patsy," said Mona, as they rolledalong toward Patty's house.

  "Can't possibly do it. I've a thousand and one things to look afterto-morrow morning."

  "But it isn't late; really it's awfully early. And I'll send you homeearly to-morrow morning."

  "No, I mustn't, really, Mona. I have to look after some things for theHappy Saturday Club, which it won't do to neglect. And I want to runover to Christine's to-morrow morning, too. I have some things to taketo her."

  "Do you know, Patty, I think they're an awfully humdrum couple."

  "Who? The Hepworths? Oh, I don't think humdrum is the rightword,--they're just serious-minded."

  "But Mr. Hepworth is so old and prosy, and Christine seems to me just alittle nonentity."

  "Now, Mona, that isn't fair. Just because you are a frivolous-headedbutterfly of fashion, you oughtn't to disdain people who happen to haveone or two ideas in their heads."

  "Well, the only ideas they have are about pictures."

  "Pictures are good ideas."

  "Yes, good enough, of course. But there's no fun in them."

  "That's the whole trouble with the Hepworths. They haven't any fun inthem. Neither of them has a sense of humour. But that's good, too; forif one had and the other hadn't, they'd be miserable for life. But asit is they don't know what they miss."

  "No, they don't. Patty, don't ever marry a man without a sense ofhumour."

  "Trust your Aunt Patty for that. But I don't propose to marry anybody."

  "Of course not; he'd propose to you."

  "Funny Mona! Don't let your sense of humour run away with you. Well,this facetious 'he' that you conjured up in your imagination maypropose all he likes; I sha'n't accept him,--at least not for manyyears. I mean to have a lot of fun before I get engaged. Can youimagine me settled down in a little apartment like Christine's,devoting myself to domestic duties?"

  "No; but I can fancy you married to a millionaire with two or threecountry houses and yachts and all sorts of things."

  "Good gracious, Mona. I don't aspire to all that! Just because YOU're amillionairess, yourself, you needn't think everybody else longs foruntold wealth. After I get pretty well along in years,--I think I shallmarry a college professor, or a great scientist. I do love brainy men."

  "Well, there are no brainy men in our set."

  "Oh, Mona, what a libel! Our boys,--somehow I never can think of themas men,--are quite brainy enough for their age. And at the present day,I'd rather have fun with Ken or Roger, just talking foolishness, thanto discourse with this wise professor I'm talking about. But of course,I wouldn't marry Ken or Roger even if they wanted me to, which theydon't."

  "Oh, yes, they do, Patty; everybody wants to marry you."

  "Don't be a goose, Mona; you know perfectly well that Roger is overhead and ears in love with you. Of course, I'm mortally jealous, for hewas my friend
first, and you stole him away from me. But I'll forgiveyou if you'll let up on this foolish subject and talk about somethinginteresting."

  "I will, Patty, if you'll tell me one thing. Don't you like Mr. VanReypen very much?"

  "Phil Van Reypen? Of course I do! I adore him,--I worship the ground hewalks on! I think he's the dearest, sweetest chap I ever knew!"

  "Would you marry him?"

  "Not on your life! Excuse my French, Mona, but you do make me tired!NOW will you be good? We're nearly home and I had a lot of things Iwanted to ask you, and here you've been and went and gone and wastedall our time! Foolish girl! Here we are at my house, and I thank you,kind lady, for bringing me safely home. If you'll let your statuesquefootman see me in at my own door, I'll promise to dream of you allnight."

  The girls exchanged affectionate good-nights, and Patty ran up thesteps and Louise let her in.

  "Nobody home?" asked Patty, noting the dim lights in the rooms.

  "No, Miss Patty," answered Louise, "Mr. and Mrs. Fairfield are not inyet."

  "Well, I'm not a bit sleepy, Louise, and I'm not going to bed now. Ishall stay in the library for awhile,--perhaps until they come home."

  Louise took Patty's wraps and went away, and Patty wandered around thelibrary selecting a book to read. The girl was a light sleeper, and sheoften liked to read a while before retiring.

  But after she had selected a book and arranged a cosy corner in a bigeasy-chair by a reading light, she still sat idle, with her bookunopened.

  "I don't feel a bit like reading," she thought to herself; "I do hateto come home from a party so early. Of course I could write someletters, but I don't feel like that, either. I feel like doingsomething frisky."

  She jumped up and turned on more lights. Then, chancing to see herselfin the long mirror, she bowed profoundly to the pretty reflectedfigure, saying: "Good-evening, Miss Fairfield, how well you're lookingthis evening. Won't you sing a little for us?"

  Then she danced into the music-room, and sitting down at the piano,sang a gay little song.

  Then she sang another, and then looking over some old music she cameacross the little song, "Beware," that she had sung over the telephoneto Kit Cameron. Naturally her thoughts turned to that young man, whomshe had almost forgotten, and she wondered if he had met Elise yet.

  "That was quite a jolly little escapade," she said to herself; "thatyoung man certainly thought I was a little black-eyed beauty, and whenhe does see Elise, of course he'll think she's the one. I believe I'llcall him up and mystify him a little more. It's all right, because I'vereally been introduced to him, and if he doesn't remember me, _I_ can'thelp it! Probably he'll be out anyway; but I'll have a try at it."

  Returning to the library, Patty sat down at the telephone and called upMr. Cameron's number.

  His own gay, cheery self answered "Hello," and Patty said in a shylittle voice, "Is this you, Mr. Cameron?"

  "Bless my soul! if it isn't my fair Unknown, again!"

  "Why do you call me, fair, when you know I'm dark?"

  "Oh, fair in this case means bewitching and lovely. It doesn't standfor tow hair and light blue eyes! and neither do I!"

  "But you said you liked blondes."

  "I used to, before I knew you."

  "But you don't know me."

  "Oh, but I do! I know you a whole heap better than lots of people whohave seen you. There's something in a telephone conversation thatdiscloses the real inner nature. It was dear of you to call me upto-night. You don't know how it pleases me!"

  "Oh, I didn't do it to please you. But I'm all alone in my dungeontower--"

  "Wait a minute; what IS a dungeon tower?"

  "Oh, don't quibble. Anyway, I'm all alone, and I simply had to havesome one to speak to."

  "How did you know I'd be here?"

  "Be there! Why, I assumed that you sat at your telephone every evening,waiting to see if I would call you!"

  "You little rascal! That's exactly what I have done, but I don't seehow you knew it. Are you still a captive princess?"

  "Yes; they keep me on bread and water, and not very much of that."

  "Couldn't I come and try to liberate you?"

  "No, Sir Knight. Alas, you would but be captured yourself."

  "But to be captured in such a cause, would be a glorious fate!"

  "Oh, aren't you romantic! I really wish it were the Fifteenth Century,and you could come on a dashing charger, and rescue me with a ropeladder! I'm simply dying for an escapade!"

  "All right; I'll be there in a few minutes!"

  "No, no! it's just five centuries too late. Now, one can only meetpeople in humdrum drawing-rooms."

  "And do you think there's no romance left in the world?"

  "_I_ can't find any." Naughty Patty put a most pathetic inflection inher voice, which touched Mr. Cameron's heart.

  "Look here, my lady," he said, "there IS romance left in this oldworld, and we're IT! Now, this telephoning is all very well, but I'mdetermined to meet you face to face. And that before long, too."

  "Oh, you've been making inquiries about me. You know I forbade that."

  "No, you didn't; you only said I mustn't ask Central who telephoned.There was surely no harm in asking my cousin who called her up theother night. And very naturally she told me. So she's going to be theFairy Godmother who will bring us together by the touch of her magicwand."

  "Oh, if you know who I am, the fun is all gone out of our escapade!"

  "Not at all; the fun is only about to begin."

  "Then Marie did tell you all about me?" And Patty's tones betokeneddisappointment.

  "She didn't need to tell me much about you. She told me your name, andthe rest I want to know about you, I either know already or I shalllearn for myself."

  "If you know my name, why don't you call me by it?" And Patty had greatdifficulty to stifle her laughter.

  "May I call you by your first name?"

  "Not as a regular thing, of course. But if you know it, you may use itjust once. But you can only use it to say good-night. For this sessionis over now."

  "But I don't WANT to say good-night. I want to talk to you a long timeyet."

  "Alas, that may not be. It is even now time for my jailers to visit mydungeon, and if they catch me at this foolish trick, they will probablyreduce my allowance of bread and water. And so, if you're going to callme by name, you must do it quickly, for I'm going to hang up thisreceiver, as soon as I say good-night!"

  Patty's positive tones apparently carried conviction that she would dojust as she said, for Mr. Cameron sighed deeply and responded, "It issuch a beautiful name it seems a pity to use it only once. But I knowyou mean what you say, so as your liege knight, fair lady, I obey.Good-night--Elise--"

  The name came slowly, as if the speaker wished to make the most of it,and Patty fairly thrust the receiver back on its hook as she burst intolaughter. It surely was a joke on the young man! He had asked Marie whowas her pretty brunette friend, and Marie had honestly thought he mustmean Elise Farrington.

  Patty was still giggling when her parents came in from a concert theyhad been attending.

  "What IS the matter, Patty?" asked Nan. "Why do you sit up here alone,grinning like a Chessy cat, and giggling like a school-girl? Were theHepworths so funny that you can't get over it?"

  And then Patty told Nan and her father the whole story of Kit Cameronand the telephone.

  Nan laughed in sympathy, but Mr. Fairfield looked a little dubious.

  "And I thought you a well-brought up young woman," he said,--half inearnest and half in jest. "Do you think it's correct to telephone tostrange young men? I'm shocked! that's what I am,--SHOCKED."

  "Fiddlesticks, Fred," said Nan; "it's perfectly all right. In the firstplace, the man HAS been introduced to Patty. She met him at MissHomer's."

  "But she telephoned BEFORE she met him," stormed Mr. Fairfield, forPatty had told the whole story.

  "But she didn't do it purposely," said Nan, impatiently. "She got himon t
he wire by mistake. She couldn't help THAT. And, anyway, when hesaid he was Miss Homer's cousin, that made it all right. I think it's agay little joke, and I'd like to see that young man's face when hemeets Patty!"

  "I shan't meet him," said Patty, pretending to look doleful; "he hatestow-headed girls."

  "Well, you're certainly that," said her father, looking at her withpretended disapproval. "I have to tell you the truth once in awhile,because everybody else flatters you until you're a spoiled baby."

  "Tow-headed, am I?" and Patty ran to her father, and rubbed her goldencurls against his own blond head. "And, if you please, where did Iinherit my tow? If I hadn't had a tow-headed father I might have beenthe poppy-cheeked brunette that everybody admires. It isn't fair forYOU to comment on MY tow-head!"

  "That's so, Pattikins; and I take it all back," for Mr. Fairfield couldnever resist his pretty daughter's cajolery. "You are a pretty littledoll-faced thing, and I expect I'll have to forgive your veryreprehensible behaviour."

  "I'm NOT a doll-face," said Patty, pouting; "I shan't let you go untilyou take THAT back."

  As Patty had her arms tightly round her father's neck, he considered itthe better part of valour to take back his words. "All right," he said,"rather than be garroted,--I retract! You're a beautiful and dignifiedlady, and your notions of convention and etiquette are above reproach."

  "They're above YOUR reproaches, anyhow," returned Patty, saucily, andthen she ran away to her own room.