Patty—Bride

“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.