Patty—Bride

  Produced by Mardi Desjardins, Stephen Hutcheson, and theonline Distributed Proofreaders Canada team athttps://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 someday 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 soeasily. You don’t _know_ how I care for you. You’ve no idea what adetermined chap I can be,——”

  “Now, stop, Phil. You know you promised that we should be friends andnothing more. You promised not to ask for more than my friendship—didn’tyou, now?”

  “I did but that was only so you’d stay friendly with me, and Ithought,—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 Ididn’t love him more than anybody in all the world? Of course Iwouldn’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 ofconversation, I’ll have to ask you to go away. I should think you’dscorn 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 makeno effort to win you back! I’m not asking anything wrong, Patty, onlydon’t send me away; let me try once again for you,——”

  “It’s too late, Phil,” and Patty looked a little frightened at hisvehemence.

  “It’s never too late, until you’re actually married to him. When willthat 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 cameright 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 sorryyou’ve been disappointed, but—there are others——”

  “Hush!” and Van Reypen fairly glared at her, “never imply that there’sany one else in the world for me! Oh, Patty, my little Patty, I can’tbear it.”

  His great, dark eyes were full of despair, his face was drawn withsorrow, and Patty forgave him, even while she resented his attitude.

  “You mustn’t, Philip,” she said, gently; “it isn’t right for you to talkto me like that. I feel disloyal, even to listen to it.”

  “I don’t care!” Van Reypen burst out. “You’re mine! You promised AuntyVan you’d marry me! You _promised_!”

  Philip grasped her hand in both his own, and gazed at her so wildly thatPatty was tempted to run out of the room. But she realised the mattermust be settled once for all, and she spoke with dignity.

  “Philip,” she said, “I don’t think you’re quite fair to me,—or toBillee. Is it manly to talk like this to the girl who is promised toyour friend?”

  “No, it isn’t. You’re right, Patty.” Van Reypen dropped her hand andfolding his arms, stood and looked at her. “But listen to me, girl. Ishall not give up until you’re married to Farnsworth. If I can win youback 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 yourlife,—will you?”

  Now one of Patty’s strongest traits of character was her dislike ofgiving pain to another. Philip could have put forth no more powerfulargument than an avowal of his disappointment. Against her betterjudgment, 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 talkto me like this,——”

  “I won’t, Patty. Just let me see you once in a while, let me keep onloving 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 tellyou, I won’t be breathing! Why, Patty, I can’t any more help tellingyou, than I can help loving you. But I promise not to make your life aburden,—or myself a nuisance. Trust me, dear. I don’t mean to steal youaway from Bill,—unless you _want_ to be stolen.”

  “I don’t!” and Patty’s smile and blush showed plainly where her hearthad been given.

  Phil winced, but he said, blithely, “Very good, my lady. There’s no usebeing too down-hearted about it all. Give me my chance,—that’s all Iask.”

  “But, Phil, the time for your ‘chance’ as you call it, is past. I’mengaged to Little Billee;—to me that’s as sacred, as unbreakable apromise, 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 breakmy engagement to Bill Farnsworth, I’ll do it, but you’ve about as muchchance as—as nothing at all!”

  “I’ll _make_ a chance! Oh, Patty, don’t forget you said that! Don’tforget 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’tquite know your own mind, and you’re a little bit dazzled by Bill’s bigmasterfulness and you don’t realise that perhaps there are other thingsworth while.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I’ll stick to my word. AndI’ll add that I know you _never_ can cut Bill out, because I love himtoo much. So, there now!”

  “Maybe I can’t, maybe you’re right, but I’ll have a go at it, all thesame.”

  “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 theBlaney 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 ofan afternoon in late January, and the two were in the library of theFairfield home. Patty had become engaged to Farnsworth while on a visitto Adele Kenerley, and had but lately returned from there.

  This was her first interview with Philip since her engagement, and shehad dreaded it, for she knew Phil’s stubborn and persistent nature wouldnot tamely submit to an end of his hopes. Patty had firmly resolved thatif Philip insisted on telling her of his love for her, she would refuseto see him at all; but her gentle heart could not let her summarilydismiss him. She temporised, not because she cared for him, or had theleast thought of disloyalty to Farnsworth, but because she couldn’t bearto hurt him by forbidding him to come to her home.

  She tried to change the subject. She was sitting in the corner of a hugedavenport, and her little house dress of pink Georgette was verybecoming. She rather hoped that Farnsworth would come in while Phil wasthere, but it was uncertain whether he could arrive before dinner or notuntil 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 runoff 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, goahead and be it. But I don’t want to hear any more absurd talk aboutpeople’s breaking their engagements.”

  “Righto! What shall we talk about?”

  “About Bill.”

  This might have proved a dangerous subject, but clever Philip would notallow it to be. He was honest and earnest in his love for Patty. Hereally believed that she had said yes to Farnsworth on the spur of themoment, and that further thought would make her willing to reconsiderher decision. Moreover, he was quite willing his rival should know ofhis 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 manwin. He did not attach quite so much importance to the fact of theengagement as most people do, and he truly hoped yet to win Patty’saffection and make her both willing and anxious to dismiss Bill in hisfavour.

  Patty had not given him any encouragement for these hopes. In fact, shewas so truly in love with Farnsworth, that it never occurred to her thatshe could ever care less for him, or have any room in her heart for anyother man. But she couldn’t seem to say this bluntly to Philip. Shefound it easier to let matters drift, and now, as he began to speak inpraise of Farnsworth, she listened eagerly and assented and agreed toall Philip said.

  “Yes, he is splendid,” she acquiesced. “I didn’t know there was such anoble nature in the world. You see, I’ve learned a lot about him sincewe’ve been engaged.”

  “Oh, of course. Yes, old Bill is a corker for bigness in every way. I’mbanking 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 comesNan; _now_ will you behave yourself?”

  Mrs. Fairfield came in from out-of-doors, and drew near the blazing logfire.

  “Well, children, what are you discussing so seriously?” she began;“Philip, my friend, if you please, will you push that bell and let ushave lights and some tea. I’ve been to three committee meetings and I’mjust about exhausted. Where’s Billee-boy, Patty?”

  “I’m afraid he won’t be here until after dinner. He said it was unlikelyhe 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 ather guest.

  “Of course I am,” declared Van Reypen. “I can beguile the birds off thetrees,—but _not_ Miss Patricia Fairfield, when she is waiting for herbig Little Billee. Howsumever, I’ll do my best. Do I gather that I’masked 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, butmatters are delayed by a screw loose in some of the red tape, and it maybe 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’mafraid. Wilmington is not so very far off, and the course is neitherlong 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’tdone as much as formerly, I believe.”

  “Why are you two sparring so?” asked Nan, laughingly. “Aren’t you goodfriends, at the moment?”

  “As good as anybody can be, when the lady he admires has been and wentand gone and engaged herself to somebody else,” and Philip frowneddarkly.

  “Oho, so that’s it! Well, our young friend here is certainly engaged toher big Western suitor. Now, shall I look out for a sweet little girlfor you?”

  “No, thank you, Ma’am, it’s a case of Patty or nobody, where I’mconcerned. But the game’s never out till it’s played out. Patty andFarnsworth may one or both of them yet change their minds.”

  “You wouldn’t think so, if you saw them together,” laughed Nan. “They’rejust 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, tohide it successfully.”

  “And why should they?” asked Phil. “There’s no law against that sort ofthing, is there?”

  “Tell me more about your aviating,” said Patty, by way of changing thesubject. “What do you do to learn?”

  “Dunno myself, yet. They say the only way to learn to swim is to bethrown into the water. So I daresay the way to learn to fly, is to getin an aeroplane and start.”

  �
€œNonsense! You have to be taught.”

  “Then I will be taught. But I’m going to be a good aviator. I’m sureI’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 itthan you do, Patty! When you’re not down in that old office doingclerical work, you’re knitting like a house afire. And you are on two orthree committees and you write slogans for the Food people and for theLiberty Loan Bonds, and oh, I don’t know what all you do!”

  “All of a sudden, isn’t it?” asked Philip, interestedly. “Have you beendoing these things long?”

  “Some of them,” said Patty. “But I have done more of late. I feel souseless unless I do.”

  “Yes,” said Nan, “and then you work beyond your strength, and overtaxyourself, 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 upin war work, that Patty must needs to do a lot also. And she’s such anextremist, she’s not satisfied with doing a _bit_, it must be a wholelot of bits.”

  “Don’t believe her, Phil,” said Patty, gaily. “I do what I can, and nomore. Also, I’m going to put a stop to this idea that I’m a delicateplant,—for I’m not. I’m as healthy as—as a backwoodsman.”

  “Fine comparison. Your sturdiness is exactly that of a backwoodsman! Youcould 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 wholelot 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? Anysort 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 helpyou. What’s your newest plan?”

  “Well, for one thing, I’m going to help entertain the boys in khaki. Acommittee has asked me to, and if Nan agrees, I mean to devote oneevening a week to it. Say we ask a few to dinner, and some more to comein the evening, and have some music and games and make it pleasant forthem.”

  “Count me in. I’ll gladly help out with such a program. Even after I goto 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 forthe boys we invite. I’d like to give them some real pleasure, not onlysome 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 hoursof pleasant company, without much reference in the chat to warconditions.”

  “Do you think so?”

  “I’m sure of it. If you ask half a dozen soldiers and have your fatherand 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 hadthe 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,—willyou?”

  “I sure will, and that with much quickness. Shall we say a week fromtonight?”

  “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 therest.”

  “All right,” agreed Patty.