Patty—Bride

“Dear Big Little Billee! For such a strong person you are very gentle.”

“To you how could I be otherwise? Now, Pattibelle, what about it? Can you make our wedding-day an earlier date, and go along with me?”

“You said I couldn’t go!”

“You can, if you’ll marry me in time. But I just ’most know you won’t.”

“Oh, I couldn’t, dear. Why, you may go any day, now.”

“Yes, but – can’t, – won’t you go, too?”

The wistfulness in the earnest face touched Patty’s heart, but she couldn’t quite say yes to this question.

“How long do you expect to be over there?”

“I’ve no idea. It may be for years and it may be forever – ”

“What?”

“Oh, I don’t mean that literally – ”

“You won’t be at the front?”

“Oh, no; unless some emergency calls for it.”

“Well,” and Patty sighed, “I see I’ll have to be sensible for us both. In the first place, dear, you’d be hampered with a bride – ”

“Hampered! Oh, Patty!”

“You wouldn’t, – but your work would. I see it more clearly than you do. All you think of is to get me to go with you. But you don’t realise how it would bother you to have me along. Why, I doubt if you’d be allowed to take me, anyway.”

“Maybe I wouldn’t,” and Farnsworth frowned. “But, then, how can I leave you? Oh, my little Posy Face, you don’t know yet what you mean to me! And, – after I’m gone, – you’d – Patty! you’d flirt, – you know you would!”

“Oh, no! no!” and the big blue eyes were full of mock horror. “Oh, no, I’d take the veil and do nothing but weep until you came back.”

“You little rascal, – how you do love to tease me!”

And as a matter of fact, Patty did. Whole-hearted, single-hearted, her love was all Farnsworth’s – once and forever, but her gay nature made her love to play on his big, honest sensitive heart as on a lute.

“I do,” she said, calmly, as she twined her little pink fingers into his big, strong ones, “because you take teasing so beautifully!”

“Scallywag! I think I’ll just grab you up and carry you off, – willy-nilly!”

“I never did know what willy-nilly means, and I’d love to find out.”

“You’ll find out when you’re my wife! I expect you to obey my lightest word! I shall be a regular caveman!”

“You’re big enough, but you’ve got about as much of the ‘caveman’ temperament as a kitten!”

Farnsworth laughed, well knowing that the soft, gentle personality of the girl he loved would never be cowed or coerced by his will. He knew he could persuade her through love, where harsher means would be useless.

Big Bill Farnsworth perfectly understood Patty’s nature, and her little inconsistencies and whimsicalities bothered him not a whit.

He was most desirous to take her to France with him, but he knew too, that her commonsense view of that matter was the right one. He knew that, even were he allowed to take a wife with him, there would be many rude experiences, even dangers, which Patty must face, and yet he shrank from the thought of leaving her for an indefinite, perhaps for a very long time.

Farnsworth went on to Springfield with the question still unsettled.

At least, to his satisfaction, Patty declared that it was settled. She bravely accepted the fact of his necessary absence because it was his duty to his country, and Patty was patriotic first, last and all the time.

“Don’t you care?” asked Helen, curiously; “what are you made of, Patty, that you can let him go?”

Patty’s eyes filled with tears.

“I suppose it does look strange to you, Bumble,” she said; “but you don’t understand, dear. I know Billee would do better work and get along with less care and anxiety without me than with me. I know I should be a hindrance and I daren’t go. I mustn’t put a straw in the way of his splendid career, – I mustn’t be the least mite of a millstone about his neck. It is because my love for him is so complete, so all-enveloping, – that I know I must sacrifice myself to it – and to him.”

“But, Patty, he’ll think you don’t want to go.”

“I know that, Helen. And that I have to bear, too. If he knew how I want to go, – how I long to go, – how it seems as if I must go, – he never would go off without me! I have to bid him good-bye, smilingly, – even though my heart breaks after he is gone.”

“Forgive me, Patty, I did misjudge you. You are bigger than I am. I should be too selfish to look at it as you do.”

“Perfect love casts out selfishness, Helen, even as it casts out fear. I know I am right. I’ve thought it all out for myself. It is my duty to stay at home, and to send my Billee away, with only words of cheer and Godspeed. It is my duty not to let him know my real feelings, – I mean the depth of sorrow and grief that I feel at his going. It is my duty to make it as easy for him to go as I possibly can, – and that can only be done by a light, even seemingly careless attitude on my part. I know what I’m talking about, dear, and I know that if he knew what is really in my heart for him, – he would take me with him – or, – stay at home! Oh, I don’t dare, Bumble, I don’t dare let him know!”

Patty’s earnestness carried conviction, and Helen saw at last that Patty’s sacrifice was because of the greatness of her love, not the lack of it.

“But this is between you and me, Helen. You are to tell no one, not even Nan, that I feel more deeply than I show. If Billee learns of my – oh, Helen, – ” Patty burst into agonised tears, “if he should know, – and should coax me to go, – I couldn’t refuse him! I’d give in, – and I mustn’t, Bumble, I mustn’t!”

The little hands clenched and the white teeth fairly gritted in the desperation of Patty’s resolve.

And Helen at last understood that there is a love that is above consideration of self, and sacrifices personal happiness for the welfare of the loved one.

The date of Farnsworth’s trip to France was imminent, yet uncertain, and when Patty received an unexpected invitation from a school friend to make a little visit in Washington, she accepted gladly. It would give her a chance to be near Little Billee, and her friend, Rose Barrett, would, she knew, be most kind and sympathetic.

Helen was to go with Patty as far as Wilmington, where she, too, was to visit a friend.

“I shall take you to your friend’s very house!” Patty declared, “or else you’ll bring up in some alien household again!”

“Nonsense,” returned Bumble, “I can find the place by myself.”

But Patty insisted, and when the two girls reached Wilmington, they went together to the house where Helen was to stay.

Philip Van Reypen was there to greet them, for he was a friend of Bumble’s hostess, and knew of the girls’ coming.

And then, nothing would do, but that Patty must stay there over night and go to the Aviation Field next morning to see the stunts there.

Quite willing, Patty agreed, and telephoned to Rose Barrett not to expect her till the following day.

The trip to the Aviation Field was full of novelty and pleasure. Fascinated, Patty watched the great machines as they swept and swerved and was interested in all the details and wonders of the whole place.

A gay young Lieutenant by the name of Breen was introduced and Patty found him a most pleasant and intelligent guide. With him she went about, seeing things, while Van Reypen escorted Helen.

“Wouldn’t you like to go for a little fly, Miss Fairfield?” asked Breen, presently.

“I’d love to,” said Patty, her eyes sparkling at the thought, “I’m just crazy to, but I can’t, thank you.”

“Why not?”

“I promised not to, – promised somebody to whom I always keep my promises.”

“Ah, a man?”

“Yes, a man, though I usually keep my promises to women, too.”

“A bad promise is better broken than kept,” Breen said, laughingly; “come on in, – the air’s fine!”

“Fie, fie, Lieutenant, to tempt me to break my promises! I’m ashamed of you!”

“But you’d like to go?”

“If I hadn’t promised – yes.”

“Oh, all right, I won’t tempt you. I know just how you feel. We all have to keep promises sometimes that we wish we didn’t.”

The jolly young man continued to keep her interested in the sights and at last he said, “Suppose you just get in here, and see how it seems, I don’t mean to fly, you know, but just have the experience of getting in and out again.”

Patty consented to this, and took her seat as directed.

Just how it all came about, she never quite knew, but soon she found herself gently rising from the ground.

“We’re going!” she exclaimed. “Oh, let me out!”

“Steady!” said Breen, his eyes on his machinery; “don’t speak to me. Yes, we’re going for a tiny spin, and you can have it out with me afterward.”

Patty was aghast, but she realised with her quick common-sense that she must not speak to Breen, or distract his attention in any way.

But she said quietly, “Please put me out as soon as you can.”

A light laugh was his reply, and they soared higher.

Finding herself utterly unable to prevent the trip, and knowing not at all how long it would last or where it would terminate, Patty, with her usual adjustment to circumstances, allowed herself to enjoy it. The day was perfect, the air cold and clear, and the sensation of the strange motion wonderfully exhilarating.

After a short time her tense muscles relaxed a bit, and she breathed more freely. She didn’t feel afraid, but felt a strong nervous tension, and an intense desire to get down again. She tried to speak to Breen, in spite of his warning, but the noise of the motor drowned her voice.

She looked about, or tried to, when suddenly she became aware that a strand of her hair had loosened and was caught in something.

Terribly frightened, and feeling sure that to move her head would precipitate some awful disaster, Patty put her wits to work.

Her hair was caught in a piston at the side of the machine, and any gentle movement failed to loosen it. A stronger jerk would tear her hair out by the roots, and Patty wondered if this were not what she ought to do to avert worse disaster.

She bethought herself of a tiny pair of scissors in her little handbag and wondered if she could get them. It was a difficult process, but she managed it at last, only by getting them with one hand and being obliged to drop the bag overboard in the process. It contained money and some small valuables, but all Patty thought of now, was to release her head from that ever increasing pull.

Cautiously she raised her hand, calculating the direction with difficulty.

But she managed to accomplish her aim, and with several short steady clips she severed the strand of hair and liberated her strained head.

Quite unconsciously she clung to the scissors, and though she realised the great danger was over, she felt faint with the reaction.

After what seemed an interminable time, they reached the ground again, having really made a very short flight.

“There, Miss Fairfield,” said Lieutenant Breen, gaily, “you’ve had a fly, and yet you’ve kept your promise! For you certainly did not go of your own volition! Why, – what’s the matter?”

Patty looked at him with such reproach and scorn that the boy, – for he was little more, – was overcome with dismay.

“How could you?” she stormed, “have you any idea how offended I am?”

“No, ma’am, I haven’t!” he said, dumfoundedly; “I – I thought you’d like it.”

Suddenly Patty realised that he thought she was a giddy girl who would love the lark as he planned it, and who was only kept from giving consent by a foolish promise. He had no idea her promise was to her a sacred rite, and to break it was her horror. Moreover, he knew nothing of the danger she had been through. When she showed him her clipped lock of hair, he was even more distressed than she.

“Oh, I am so sorry! Can you ever forgive me! What pluck! Miss Fairfield, you are a heroine!”

And indeed Patty was. She was praised and exploited and complimented on her bravery and cleverness until she was positively embarrassed.

And the Lieutenant told her that if Captain Farnsworth had any punishment in store for him, he would submit to it without a murmur.

“But,” he grinned, “it’s something to tell of all my life! Cut off her hair on the fly! Gee whiz!”

CHAPTER XVIII

PATTY’S WEDDING

“And I went up in an aeroplane,” Patty said, looking squarely into Bill’s blue eyes.

They stood in the pretty little drawing-room at Rose Barrett’s. Farnsworth had just come, hastening to see Patty, on her arrival in Washington.

He held Patty’s two hands in his own, and after a deep gaze into the troubled eyes lifted to his, he said:

“Who tricked you into it?”

“Oh, Little Billee, how did you know that was the way it happened?”

“Why, it couldn’t happen any other way. You promised me you wouldn’t, and so you must have been coerced or tricked into it.”

“Just what I was!” and Patty described the whole performance.

Farnsworth shuddered as she told of her hair getting caught in the piston, and drew her closely to him.

“Oh, my darling, – my blessed little girl, how can I go off and leave you? In these times nobody is safe from dangers! But you’ll never even run such a chance again, will you?”

“Of course not. I’ve had my lesson!”

“And a severe one. Why, the shock might have made you ill.”

“It did, nearly. But I had to stay on deck till I could see you, and tell you about it. And then, I didn’t have to tell you! You knew yourself! How did you understand so perfectly and so quickly?”

“Patty, you and I are – well, I can’t think of the perfect English word. The French would say en rapport, the Italians would say simpatica. But we are – at one, is perhaps the best phrase. We shall always be so. It’s utter trust, you know, and absolute faith in each other. Isn’t it, my girl?”

“Yes, dear,” and Patty laid her hand caressingly on the khaki-clad shoulder of the big man, as she gave him a smile of perfect confidence. “Oh, my Little Billee, I don’t want you to go away from me. I’ve just begun to realise what losing you will mean to me.”

“Perhaps it won’t be for long, dearest. Things look a little as if I may make only a short trip, and return soon with my reports.”

“Ahem!” said a voice loudly and repeatedly outside the half-closed door. “May I come in?”

“Come along, Rose,” laughed Patty. “I’ll share my last interview with you!”

“Oh, Captain Farnsworth isn’t going right off, is he?”

“No, not today,” returned Bill. “But of course, there’s no telling how soon it may be.”

“I want you tonight for a little party,” Rose went on. “I find I can get Lieutenant Van Reypen and Helen Barlow over and I’m asking a few more. I think in these days of unrest we must have a bit of relaxation when we can.”

“I’m with you,” said Farnsworth, heartily; “I can come, I’m sure, unless something sudden and unexpected turns up. Count on me, Mrs. Barrett. But I must run away now, for I’ve an immediate appointment.”

“Isn’t he a darling!” Rose exclaimed, as she and Patty watched the military figure stride down the street.

“Oh, he is! Sometimes I fear I’m not grateful enough for the love and devotion of such a wonderful man!”

“Naughty girl! ‘Down on your knees, and thank Heaven, fasting, for a good man’s love,’ as Friend Shakespeare puts it. Now, run away and get a beauty-nap, so you’ll be chipper tonight. I’m going to have quite a party, I can tell you!”

Rose Barrett’s husband was in a position to be informed regarding certain matters, and Rose knew, though Patty didn’t, that in all probability Farnsworth would sail the next day for France.

And by way of farewell and also, by way of introducing Patty to some friends, Rose planned rather an elaborate reception.

Helen Barlow came before dinner.

“Oh, Patsy!” she cried, in ecstasy, “I am having the grandest time! War is awful, of course, but somehow everybody who isn’t fighting, is so kind, and we’ve had wonderful experiences. I’ve been flying twice and I didn’t have to cut off my raving tresses, either! What did Bill say to scold you for going up?”

“Well, he didn’t break off our engagement,” Patty returned, smiling. “How’s Phil? Is he coming over, tonight?”

“Of course he is, – he goes wherever – ” Helen stopped, blushing crimson.

“Goes wherever you do? Of course he does! How you do lead him on!”

“I don’t either! He has eyes only for you, Patty Fairfield!”

“Used to have, you mean. But that was before my enchanting cousin came on the scene.”

“Rubbish! Philip’s crazy about you, still. Your being engaged to Little Billee doesn’t prevent that.”

“It means nothing to me,” declared Patty; “my sweetheart hath my heart and I have his, so, Phil may come and Phil may go, but we go on forever!”

“You’re poetic today! I hear Bill sails soon.”

“Dunno. That’s as may be. Oh, Bumble, don’t let’s think of it!”

Patty’s eyes filled with tears, and Helen regretted her chance allusion.

“Never mind, Pattikins, you must remember what it means to be a soldier’s sweetheart, and bid him good-bye, with

‘Colours flying for Victory,

For the Flag and the Girl back home!’

That’s the way to look at it!”

“Yes, that’s all very well for you, – you’re not the Girl.”

“And then, he’ll return with colours still flying, to the Girl back home, and then it will be June and the wedding bells will ring, and the birds will sing and the orange bloomers bloom and the khaki on the groom and the veil on Patty-Pat, and I’ll wear a posy hat – ”

“Oh, Helen, hush!” cried Patty laughing at the foolish chatter as Bumble danced about the room, waving her arms as she sang.

“But, truly, Patsy, you won’t have more’n time to get your gewgaws fixed up and your monogramming done, before Bill will be back again, and it will be June. Oh, soon! It will be June! and to this tune, – Tum, tum, te-tum!”

Helen sang the first strains of the wedding march, and Patty ran out of the room laughing, as Rose called her to the telephone.

It was Farnsworth speaking.

“Angel child,” he said, “can you leave whatever you’re doing and do a little errand for your own true Loved One?”

“Can I!” returned Patty. “Your word is my law!”

“Goody girl! Well, then, go with all possible secrecy, – with bated breath and muffled tread, and all that, to my rooms at Mrs. Richards’ – ”

“What!”

“Even so. Don’t faint, but remember you’re a soldier’s bride, – or will be some day, – and defying conventions go to said rooms on an errand for me. Will you, Patty?”

Bill’s tone changed to a serious note, and Patty knew at once it was one of those important matters with which she was sometimes entrusted.

“Of course I will. Tell me exactly what to do.”

“Go there, as soon as you can, and tell Mrs. Richards who you are. She will take you to my rooms, and from the top drawer of my chiffonier get a large white envelope, – not the blue one, – that’s tucked half under a pile of handkerchiefs. Take it back to Rose’s with you, and I’ll send there for it. See?”

“Yes, my liege lord, and I fly to obey. Oh, I just love to do such things for you, Billy-Boy!”

“Cut along, then, and don’t let the grass grow under your tiny buckled slippers. Bye-bye.”

So Patty “cut along,” Mrs. Barrett being more than willing to lend her car, and soon the house was reached.

Mrs. Richards heard Patty’s request and at once took her up to Farnsworth’s rooms.

“There you are, Miss Fairfield,” she said, “there’s the chiffonier. Help yourself. My, but there’s a lot of secret errand work going on. I don’t know how Captain Farnsworth gets into a day’s work all he has to do! I should think he’d be worn out, and I rather think he is.”

While the lady rattled on, Patty opened the designated drawer and quickly found the envelope in question. About to close the drawer again, her eye was caught by a packet of letters tied with blue ribbon. Struck by the sight of such unofficial-looking documents in Bill’s possession, she glanced curiously at the outside one. It had no envelope and in a feminine handwriting she saw the words, “Oh, you dear, splendid big hero, how I do love you!”

Hastily realising what she was doing, she pushed the drawer shut and declared herself ready to go.

“Got what you want?” asked Mrs. Richards, pleasantly. “Sorry Lena isn’t home. My daughter, you know. She’d so love to see you, she’s just crazy to meet Captain Farnsworth’s lady-love. Lena’s a bit jealous of you, too! She thinks the Captain’s about the most wonderful man on earth! Mind the steps. This hall’s a bit dark.”

Soon Patty was rolling off toward the Barrett house. Her heart was in a turmoil. What did that packet of blue-tied letters mean? They were no government documents, of that she was sure. They might be cipher letters or code affairs, and really be of military matters after all.

She tried to think this, but circumstantial evidence was too strong. The girlish writing, the words addressed to the big hero, the blue ribbon, – all seemed to say that Bill had had letters from somebody, – and poor Patty fell a victim to the green-eyed monster, and jealousy gnawed at her heartstrings.

The messenger came and Patty gave him the important envelope, feeling a pride in her ability to help, yet still downcast about the blue ribboned packet.

When Farnsworth arrived at the party that night, Patty determined to ask him to explain. She had had half a dozen minds about the matter, first decided to make no mention of it, then concluding she could never be happy again until she had heard his confession or defence. Perhaps some infatuated little goose had written to him, – and, perhaps he had never even answered her. But then, why keep them so carefully and so sentimentally?

In a dainty fluffy white frock, Patty awaited Farnsworth’s coming. The party was a large one, but in the Barrett house were many alcoves and nooks where one could hold a tête-à-tête.

And so, it was in one of these that Bill finally found his disconsolate little love.

“Hello, Sweetness,” and the familiar voice reached her ears just before Farnsworth strode into view. With a quick glance around, he took her in his arms for a swift, silent kiss.

“Oh, be careful!” breathed Patty. “Some one will see us!”

“Not so; I reconnoitred first. And how is my Posy Blossom?”

“All right, – that is, ’most all right, – ” and Patty looked doubtfully at the loving face bending above her own.

“Out with it, – what’s the trouble?”

“N-nothing.”

“Which, being interpreted, means something pretty awful! Don’t try to fool me, Pattibelle! Have you been flying again?”

“No;” and then Patty gave a long, steady look into Farnsworth’s blue eyes. What she saw there was so reassuring, so absolutely all-powerful to clear away her troubles, that she laughed outright and said:

“Oh, you dear, splendid old thing, you! I’m not worthy of you!”

“That, my child, is the one thing I won’t allow you to say, and unless you retract it, there’ll be grave trouble with tumultuous consequences. Do you take it back?”

“I can’t – ”

“You’d better,” and Patty saw from Bill’s smile that unless she did he would indeed bring about some “tumultuous consequences.”

“All right, – I do,” she said, hastily, as he prepared to swoop her into his arms.

“That’s not enough. Say, ‘I am far too good for you.’”

“Oh! I can’t!”

“Say it!”

The commanding officer conquered, and unable to avoid the issue, Patty said, in a meek little voice, “I’m far too good for you.”

“Of course, you are! Now, what’s this other matter, and then we can go out to the party proper. I’m afraid they’ll come after us if we don’t.”

“It’s nothing,” and Patty faced him squarely, and beamed into his wondering face. “Yes, I mean that. But I’ll tell you. I saw a packet of love letters in your chiffonier, and I just want to tell you that I know it’s all right, and I’m —n-not jealous! I am not!”

“Oh, you Blossom-faced little goose! Oh, Patty Precious, thank you for dem kind woids! Those letters, as you so sapiently assume, are not of a nature to rouse your jealousy.”

And he told her what they were and of Lena’s request to leave them there for a time.

“And I forgot all about them,” he concluded his tale, “nor would I have expected you to doubt my faithfulness and loyalty if you did see them.”