BRIDESMAID PATTY
Early in February Christine was to be married, and the Fairfields had
persuaded her to accept the use of their house for the occasion.
Christine had demurred, for she wanted a simple ceremony with no
reception at all. But the Fairfields finally made her see that Mr.
Hepworth's position as an artist of high repute made it desirable that
his many friends should be invited to his wedding.
So Christine agreed to the plan, and Patty was delighted at the
thought of the festivities in her home.
The elder Fairfields had returned from their Southern trip, but Mrs.
Allen was still with them, and there were other house guests from
Christine's Southern home.
The day of the wedding, Patty, assisted by Elise and Mona, was
superintending the decorations. Christine had insisted that these
should be simple, and as Mr. Hepworth, too, was opposed to the
conventional work of a florist, the girls had directed it all
themselves.
"It does look perfectly sweet," said Patty, as she surveyed the
drawing-room. "Personally, I should prefer all those dinky white
telegraph poles stretched with ribbon and bunched up with flowers to
make an aisle for the happy couple to walk through. But as it isn't my
wedding, I suppose we must let the bride have her own way."
"I'm tired of those tied up poles," said Elise, decidedly. "I think
this is a lot prettier, and all this Southern jasmine is beautiful,
and just like Christine."
"She is the sweetest thing!" said Patty. "Every new present that comes
in, she sits and looks at it helplessly, as if it were the very last
straw!"
"Well, of course, most of the presents are from Mr. Hepworth's
friends," said Mona, "and they are stunning! I don't wonder Christine
is overcome."
"She has lots of friends of her own, too," said Patty. "All the girls
gave her beautiful things, and you two quite outdid yourselves. That
lamp of yours, Mona, is a perfect dream; and, Elise, I never saw such
gems as your silver candlesticks. Christine's path through life will
be well lighted! Well, everything's finished, and I think it's about
time we went to dress. The ceremony's at four, and as I'm going to be
a bridesmaid for the first time in my mad career, I don't want to be
late at the party."
"How beautiful the drawing-room looks," said Mrs. Allen, coming along
just then. "Patty dear, doesn't this all remind you of the day Nan was
married?"
"Yes, Mrs. Allen; only the weddings are quite different. But Christine
would keep this as simple as possible, so of course I let her have her
own way."
"Yes, Patty, that's the privilege of a bride. But some day you can
have your own way in the direction of your own wedding, and I rather
fancy it will be an elaborate affair. I hope I'll be here to see."
"I hope you will, Mrs. Allen," laughed Patty; "but don't look for it
very soon. My suitors are so bashful, you know; I have to urge them
on."
"Nonsense!" cried Elise. "Patty's greatest trouble is to keep her
suitors off! She tries to hold them at arm's length, but they are so
insistent that it is difficult."
"I think you girls are all too young to have suitors," commented Mrs.
Allen, smiling at the pretty trio.
"Oh, Mrs. Allen," said Patty; "suitors doesn't mean men who want to
marry you. I suppose it's sort of slang, but nowadays, girls call all
their young men suitors, even the merest casual acquaintances."
"Oh, I see," said Mrs. Allen. "I suppose as in my younger days we used
to call them beaux."
"Yes, just that," said Patty. "Why, Mr. Hepworth used to be one of our
favourite suitors, until he persuaded Christine to marry him; but we
have lots of them left."
"Is that big one coming to the wedding?" asked Mrs. Allen.
"She means Bill Farnsworth," said Patty to the others. "She always
calls him 'that big one.' I don't know whether he's coming or not. He
said if he possibly could get here, he would."
"He'll come," said Elise, wagging her head, sagely. "He'll manage it
somehow. Why, Mrs. Allen, he worships the ground Patty walks on!"
"So do all my suitors," said Patty, complacently. "They're awful
ground worshippers, the whole lot of them! But so long as they don't
worship me, they may adore the ground as much as they like. Now, you
people must excuse me, for I'm going to get into that flummery
bridesmaid's frock,--and I can tell you, though it looks so simple,
it's fearfully and wonderfully made."
Patty ran away to her own room, but paused on the way to speak to
Christine, who was already being dressed in her bridal robes.
"You _sweet_ thing!" cried Patty, flinging her arms round her friend's
neck. "Christine dear, you know I'm not much good at sentimental
expressions, but I _do_ want to wish you such a heap of joy that
you'll just almost break down under it!"
Christine smiled back into Patty's honest eyes, and realised the
loving friendship that prompted the words.
"Patty," she said, "I can't begin to thank you for all you've done for
me this past year, but I thank you most,"--here she blushed, and
whispered shyly,--"because you didn't want him, yourself!"
"Oh, Christine!" said Patty, "I _do_ want him, something dreadful! I
shall just _pine_ away the rest of my sad life because I can't have
him! But you wrested him from me, and I give him to you with my
blessing!" And then Patty went away, and Christine smiled, knowing
that Patty's words were merely jesting, and knowing too, with a heart
full of content, that Gilbert Hepworth really wanted _her_, and not
the radiant, mischievous Patty.
* * * * *
Promptly at four o'clock, the old, well-known music sounded forth, and
Patty came slowly downstairs. Her gown was of white chiffon, over pink
chiffon, and fell in soft, shimmering draperies, that looked like
classic simplicity, but were in reality rather complicated. Christine
had designed both their gowns, and they were marvels of beauty. On
Patty's head was perched a coquettish little cap of the style most
approved for bridesmaids, and she carried a clustered spray of pink
roses. As she entered the drawing-room, intent on walking correctly in
time to the music, she chanced to glance up, and saw Bill Farnsworth's
blue eyes fixed upon her. Unthinkingly, she gave him a radiant smile,
and then, with the pink in her cheeks deepened a little, she went on
her way toward the group of palms, where the wedding party would
stand.
Not even the bride herself looked prettier than Patty; though
Christine was very sweet, in her soft white chiffon, her misty veil,
and her shower bouquet of white flowers, which she had expressly
requested should be without ribbons.
Only the more intimate friends had been invited to the ceremony, but
immediately after, the house was filled with the reception guests.
Patty was in gay spirits, which was not at all unusual for that young
woman. She fluttered about everywhere, like a big pink butterfly, but
ever and again hovering back to Christine, to caress her, and, as she
expressed it, "To keep up her drooping spirits." Christine had never
entirely overcome her natural shyness, and being the centre of
attraction on this occasion greatly embarrassed her, and she was glad
of Patty's gay nonsense to distract attention from herself.
Kenneth Harper was best man, and, as he told Patty, the responsibility
of the whole affair rested on himself and her. "We're really of far
greater importance than the bride and groom," he said; "and they
depend on us for everything. Have you the confetti all ready, Patty?"
"Yes, of course; do you have to go to the train with them, Ken?"
"No; my duties are ended when I once get them packed into a motor at
the door. But Christine looks as if she couldn't survive much longer,
and as for old Gilbert, he's as absent-minded as the conventional
bridegroom."
"Christine's all right," said Patty. "I'm going to take her off, now,
to get into her travelling clothes. Oh, Ken, she has the loveliest
suit! Sort of a taupe colour, you know, and the dearest hat----"
"Patty! Do you suppose I care what she's going to wear away? But _do_
see to it that she's ready on time! You girls will all get to
weeping,--that's the way they always do,--and you'll spin out your
farewells so that they'll lose their train! Run along with Christine,
now; Hepworth is fidgeting like the dickens."
So the pretty bridesmaid took the pretty bride away, and Patty begged
Christine to make haste with her dressing, lest she might lose the
train.
"And Mr. Hepworth will go away without you," Patty threatened. "Now,
you do always dawdle, Christine; but this time you've got to
hustle,--so be spry,--Mrs. Hepworth."
Christine smiled at Patty's use of the new name, and she tried to make
the haste Patty demanded. But she was slow by nature, and Patty danced
around her in terror, lest she should really be late.
"Here's your coat, Christine,--put your arms in, do! Now the other
one. Now sit down, and I'll put your hat on for you. Oh, Mrs.
Hepworth, _do_ hold your head still! Here, stick this pin in yourself,
or I may jab it through your brain,--though I must confess you act as
if you hadn't any! or if you have, it's addled. And Ken says that
husband of yours is acting just the same way. My! it's lucky you two
infants had a capable and clever bridesmaid and best man to get you
off! There! take your gloves,--no, don't hold them like that! put them
on. Wake up, Christine; remember, the show isn't over yet. You've got
to go downstairs, and be showered with confetti, and, oh, Christine,
_don't_ forget to throw your bouquet!"
"I won't do it!" and Christine Hepworth woke up suddenly from her
dreaming, and clasped her bridal bouquet to her heart.
"Nonsense! of course you will! You've simply _got_ to! I'm not going
to run this whole wedding, and then have the prima donna balk in the
last act. Now, listen, Christine, you throw it over the banister just
as you start downstairs! Will you?"
"Yes," was the meek response; "I will."
"And wait a minute; don't you throw it till I get down there myself,
for I might catch it."
"Do catch it, Patty, and then you can give it back to me. I want to
keep it all my life."
"Well, you can't, Christine; it isn't done! You'll have to direct your
sentimentality in some other direction. Or, here, I'll give you a
flower out of it, and that's plenty for you to keep for a souvenir of
this happy occasion."
"Why do I have to throw it, anyway?" persisted Christine, as she
tucked the flower away for safe keeping.
"First and foremost, because I tell you to! and, incidentally, because
it's the custom. You know, whoever catches it will be married inside
of a year. Now, I'm going on down, and then you come along with Nan,
and I expect you'll find Mr. Hepworth down there somewhere,--if Ken
hasn't lost him."
Patty cast a final critical glance at Christine, and seeing that she
was all right in every respect, she gave her one last kiss, and
hurried downstairs. She found a group of laughing young people
standing in the hall, all provided with confetti, and the girls all
looking upward to watch for the descending bouquet.
"Here's a good place for you, Patty Pink and White," and Farnsworth
guided her to a place directly under the banister.
At that moment Christine appeared at the head of the stairs. She stood
a moment, her bouquet held at arm's length, and looked at it as if she
couldn't quite bring herself to part with it.
"There, _now_ she's going to toss it! _Quick_, Patty, catch it!" Big
Bill whispered in her ear, and Patty looked upward. Then, seeing the
direction in which the flowers fell,--for Christine really tossed them
straight at her,--Patty whirled round and sprang aside, so that the
bouquet was picked up by a girl who stood next to her.
"Oh, Patty! you muffed it!" cried Farnsworth; "and what's more, you
did it on purpose!"
"'Course I did!" declared Patty. "I don't want to be married this
year, thank you. But it was all I could do to dodge it!"
And then the confetti was showered on the departing couple, Kenneth
tucked them into the motor car, Patty jumped in too, for a last
rapturous hug of Christine, and Kenneth almost had to pull her out.
"Come, come, Patty," he cried. "Let them make their getaway! I think
they've missed the train as it is. There, now, they're off! My, a best
man's lot is not a happy one! But our trials are over now, Patty girl,
and we can take a little rest! Let's go back and receive the
congratulations of the audience on our good work."
They went back to the house, laughing, and Patty succeeded in
obtaining a few more blossoms from the bridal bouquet to save for
Christine until she came back.
"Why didn't you catch it, Patty?" said Kenneth. "Do you want to be an
old maid?"
"'Nobody asked me, sir, she said,'" and Patty dropped her eyes,
demurely.
"You mean there's nobody that hasn't asked you!" returned Kenneth.
"I'm going to ask you, myself, some day; but not to-night. I've had
enough to do with matrimonial alliances for one day!"
"So have I," laughed Patty. "Let's put it off for a year, Ken."
"All right," was the laughing response, and then they rejoined the
other young people.
After the reception was over, a few of Patty's more intimate friends
were invited to remain to dinner with the Fairfields.
"Can you stay, Little Billee?" asked Patty, dancing up to him, as he
seemed about to leave.
"I have to take a midnight train," he said, "and I have some business
matters that I must attend to first. So if I may, I'll run away now,
and come back this evening for a dance with you."
"All right; be sure to come," and Patty flashed him a smiling glance,
and danced away again.
It was after eleven before Farnsworth returned, and Patty had begun to
fear he would not come at all.
"What are you looking at?" asked Philip Van Reypen, as Patty continued
to glance over her shoulder toward the hall, while they were dancing.
"Nothing," was the non-committal answer.
"Well, then, you may as well look at me. At least, I'm better than
nothing."
"_Much_ better!" said Patty, with exaggerated emphasis; "_ever_ so
much better! Oh, say, Philip, take me over to the hall, will you?"
"What for? This dance has just begun."
"Never mind!" said Patty, impatiently. "Lead me over that way!"
Patty turned her own dancing steps in that direction, and when they
reached the hall, there was Big Bill Farnsworth, smiling at her.
"This is what I was looking for!" said Patty, gaily. "Run away now,
Philip. Little Billee can only stay a minute, and we'll finish our
dance afterward."
Van Reypen was decidedly annoyed, but he didn't show it, for he knew
Patty's caprices must be obeyed. So he bowed politely, and walked
away.
"He's mad as hops," said Patty, calmly; "but I had to see you for a
few minutes, if you're really going on that midnight train. Are you,
Little Billee?"
"Yes, Apple Blossom, I am. I've time for just one turn round the room.
Will you dance?"
For answer, Patty put her hand in his, and they waltzed slowly round
the room.
"You are the busiest business man I ever saw," Patty said, pouting a
little.
"Yes, I _am_ very busy just now. Indeed, matters are rapidly coming to
a crisis. It was only because I suddenly found that I must be in
Boston to-morrow, that I could stop here to-day. And if matters turn
out to-morrow as I hope they will, I must start back immediately to
Arizona. But some day I hope to be less hurried, and then----"
"And then?" asked Patty.
"Then I hope to live in New York, and learn good manners and correct
customs, and make myself fit to be a friend of yours."
"Oh, Little Billee, you _are_ a friend of mine."
"Well, something more than a friend, then. Patty,--I _must_ ask
you,--are you engaged to Van Reypen?"
"Goodness, no!" and Patty flashed a glance of surprise.
"Then, Patty, mayn't _I_ hope?"
"That's a question I _never_ know how to answer," said Patty,
demurely; "if you mean that I'm to consider myself bound by any sort
of a promise, I most certainly won't!"
"No, I don't mean that, dear, but,----well, Patty, won't you wait?"
"Of course I'll wait. That's exactly what I mean to do for years and
years."
"You mean to,--but you're so capricious."
"Oh, no! not _that_, of all things! And, anyway, what does capricious
mean?"
"Well, it means like a butterfly, hovering from one flower to
another----"
"Oh, you think you're like unto a flower?"
"I'll be any kind of a flower you wish, if you'll hover around me like
a butterfly."
"Well, be a timid little forget-me-not,--that will be lovely."
"I'll forget-you-not, all right; but I can't be timid, it isn't my
nature." And now they had stopped dancing, and stood in the hall, near
the door, for it was almost time for Farnsworth to go.
"It isn't because I'm timid," and the six feet three of humanity
towered above her, "that I don't grab you up and run away with you,
but because----"
"Well, because what?" said Patty, daringly.
"Because, Apple Blossom," and Bill spoke slowly, "when I see you here
in your rightful setting, and surrounded by your own sort of people, I
realise that I'm only a great, big----"
"Bear," interrupted Patty. "You _are_ like a big bear, Bill! But such
a nice, gruff, kind, woolly bear,--and the best friend a girl ever
had. But I wish you'd be more of a chum, Little Billee. I like to be
good chums with every one of my suitors! It's all very well for
Christine to marry; she doesn't care for society, she just only loves
Mr. Hepworth."
"Some day you'll forget your love for society, because you'll get to
love just only one man."
"'And it might as well be you,'" hummed Patty, to an old tune.
"Patty!" cried Farnsworth, his blue eyes lighting up with sudden joy;
"do you mean that?"
"No, _I_ never mean anything! Of _course_, I don't mean it,--but if I
_did_, I'd say I didn't."
"Patty Pink and White! you little scamp! if you tease me like this,
how do you suppose I'm ever going to tear myself away to catch that
midnight train to Boston?"
"Why, you can't get that, Little Billee! it's too late, now!"
"No, it isn't; and beside, I _must_ make it." He looked at his watch.
"I've just exactly two minutes longer to stay with you."
"Two minutes is a long time," said Patty, flippantly.
"Yes, it is! it's just long enough for two things I have to do."
"What have you to do?" asked Patty, wonderingly, looking up at him, as
they stood alone in the hall.
Farnsworth's strong face wore a determined look, but his blue eyes
were full of a tender light, as he answered:
"Two very important things,--Apple Blossom,--this,--and this!"
He kissed her swiftly on one pink cheek and then on the other, and
then, like a flash, he was gone.
"Oh!" said Patty, softly, to herself, "Oh!"
* * * * * *
THE CAROLYN WELLS BOOKS FOR GIRLS
Fresh, spirited stories that the modern small girl will take to her
heart, these well known books by a famous author have won an important
place in the field of juvenile fiction.
Patty, with her beauty and frank good nature, and Marjorie full of
vitality and good spirits, are two lovable characters well worth
knowing, and their adventures will stir the eager imaginations of
young readers.
THE FAMOUS "PATTY" BOOKS
Patty Fairfield Patty's Motor Car
Patty at Home Patty's Butterfly Days
Patty in the City Patty's Social Season
Patty's Summer Days Patty's Suitors
Patty in Paris Patty's Romance
Patty's Friend Patty's Fortune
Patty's Pleasure Trip Patty Blossom
Patty's Success Patty--Bride
THE MARJORIE BOOKS
Marjorie's Vacation Marjorie in Command
Marjorie's Busy Days Marjorie's Maytime
Marjorie's New Friend Marjorie at Seacote
GROSSET & DUNLAP _Publishers_ NEW YORK
* * * * * *
There is the high, happy spirit of youth in these famous
BOOKS FOR GIRLS
by JANE D. ABBOTT
APRILLY
The charming story of a young girl, child of the circus, and the
adventures which led to her goal of happiness.
HIGHACRES
A school story of Jerry Travis and her chum Gyp Westley. A thread of
romance and mystery in Jerry's life runs through the tale.
KEINETH
How Keineth Randolph kept a secret--a war secret--for a whole year
makes one of the best stories ever written for girls.
RED ROBIN
In attempting to bring happiness into the lives of mill workers, Robin
Forsythe, heir to a fortune, has many strange adventures.
HEYDAY
Twenty-three! The heyday of life. Jay, a small town girl, finds
happiness in New York.
LARKSPUR
Especially interesting to any Girl Scout because it is the story of a
Girl Scout who is poor and has to help her mother.
HAPPY HOUSE
How an old family quarrel is healed through a misunderstanding and an
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GROSSET & DUNLAP _Publishers_ NEW YORK