Patty's Suitors

by Carolyn Wells

  CHAPTER II

  ON THE TELEPHONE

  When the young people returned to the ballroom, it presented adecidedly changed appearance. Instead of an interior scene, it was awinter landscape.

  The floor was covered with snow-white canvas, not laid on smoothly, butrumpled over bumps and hillocks, like a real snow field. The numerouspalms and evergreens that had decorated the room, were powdered withflour and strewn with tufts of cotton, like snow. Also diamond dust hadbeen lightly sprinkled on them, and glittering crystal icicles hungfrom the branches.

  At each end of the room, on the wall, hung a beautiful bear-skin rug.

  These rugs were for prizes, one for the girls and one for the boys. Andthis was the game.

  The girls were gathered at one end of the room and the boys at theother, and one end was called the North Pole, and the other the SouthPole. Each player was given a small flag which they were to plant onreaching the Pole.

  This would have been an easy matter, but each traveller was obliged towear snowshoes. These were not the real thing, but smaller affairs madeof pasteboard. But when they were tied on, the wearer felt clumsyindeed, and many of the girls declared they could not walk in them atall. And in addition each one was blindfolded.

  However, everybody made an attempt, and at a given signal the youngpeople started from their opposite ends of the room and endeavoured tomake progress toward the goal as they blindly stumbled along.

  Patty concluded to move very slowly, thinking this the surest way tomake a successful trip. So she scuffled along among the other laughinggirls, now and then stumbling over a hillock, which was really ahassock or a sofa cushion under the white floor covering. It was greatfun, and the girls cheered each other on as they pursued their blindedway. And then about midway of the room they met the boys coming towardthem. Then there was scrambling, indeed, as the explorers tried to getout of each other's way and follow their own routes.

  It was a very long room, and Patty hadn't gone much more than halfway,when she concluded to give up the race as being too tiresome. She madeher way to the side of the room, and reaching the wall she took off herblinding handkerchief and kicked off the snowshoes. To her greatsurprise she found that many of the other girls and some of the boyshad done the same thing, and not half of the original contestants werestill in the race. And, indeed, it proved to be much greater fun towatch those who were still blindly groping along, than to stay in thegame.

  At last the game was concluded, as Roger Farrington proudly planted hisflag at the very spot that designated the North Pole, and not longafter, Clementine Morse succeeded in safely reaching the South Pole. Sothe beautiful rugs were given to these two as prizes, and every oneagreed that they had earned them.

  Then, amid much laughter, everybody was unblindfolded, and they all sataround on the snow mounds waiting for the next game.

  A big snow man was brought in and set in the centre of the room. Ofcourse it was not real snow, but made of white plaster, gleaming allover with diamond dust. But it was the traditional type of snow man,with a top hat on, and grotesque features.

  In the mouth of the figure was a cigarette, and each guest waspresented with a few snowballs, made of cotton wool. The game was toknock the cigarette from the snow man's mouth with one of the snowballs.

  Of course the cigarette was so arranged that the lightest touch of aball would dislodge it, and as one cigarette was displaced, Mr. Homersupplied another.

  The guests had been divided into two parties, and each side strove tocollect the greater number of cigarettes.

  Some balls flew very wide of the mark, while others with unerring aimwould hit a cigarette squarely.

  The game caused great hilarity, and everybody was anxious to throwballs. They threw in turn, each having three balls at a time.

  Patty was especially deft at this, and with true aim succeeded severaltimes.

  Then when they tired of this play, a few more dances followed before itwas time to go home.

  Some attendants came in and whisked away the snow hillocks and floorcovering, leaving the ballroom once again in order for dancing.

  "Makes me feel young again, to play those kiddy games," said Kenneth,as he was dancing with Patty.

  "I like them," returned Patty; "I hate to think that my childhood isover, and I love games of any kind."

  "Your childhood will never be over," returned Kenneth; "I think you arethe incarnation of youth, and always will be."

  "I'm not so much younger than you."

  "Five years,--that's a long time at our age. By the way, when are theHepworths coming home?"

  "Next week; and we're planning the loveliest reception for them. Youknow their apartment is all ready, and we're going to have just a fewpeople to supper there, the night they return."

  "Shall I be one of the few?"

  "Well, rather! The best man at the wedding must surely be at thehome-coming. Doesn't it seem funny to think of Christine as mistress ofher own home? She'll be perfectly lovely, I know. My goodness gracious!Ken, what time is it? I'm afraid I'm staying too late. I promised NanI'd leave at half-past twelve."

  "It's not much more than that. Can't you stay for another dance?"

  "No, I can't possibly. I must run right away, or my motor car will turninto a pumpkin, and Louise into a white mouse. Take me to Mrs. Homer,please, and I will say good-night to her."

  But as they crossed the room, they met Van Reypen coming toward them.

  "Our dance, I think," he said, coolly, as he took Patty's hand.

  The music had just started, and its beautiful rhythm was too temptingfor Patty to resist.

  "I'm just on my way home," she said, "but we'll go around the roomonce, and then I must go."

  "Once indeed!" said Philip, gaily; "we won't stop until the music does."

  "Yes, we will; I must go now," but somehow or other they circled theroom several times. Patty loved dancing, and Philip was one of the bestof partners.

  But at last she laughingly protested that she really must go home, andthey went together to say good-night to their hostess. And then Pattysaid good-night to Philip, and ran away to the dressing-room, whereLouise was patiently waiting for her.

  And soon, muffled up in her furs, they were rapidly spinning alongtoward home.

  "I didn't keep you waiting very long, did I, Louise?" said Patty,kindly.

  "No, Miss Patty, you're right on time. I expect you would have liked tostay longer."

  "Yes, I should, but I promised Mrs. Fairfield not to."

  When at last Patty reached her own little boudoir, she declared she wasmore tired than she had realised. So Louise took off her pretty frock,and Patty sat in her blue silk dressing gown while the maid brushed herhair. Then she brought her a cup of hot milk, and left her for thenight.

  Patty wasn't sleepy, and she dawdled around her room, now and thensipping the milk, and then looking over her engagements for the nextday.

  "Oh," she thought, suddenly, "I've left my fan at the party. I'm sorry,for it's my pet fan. Of course it will be safe there, but I think I'lltelephone Marie to look it up and put it away."

  Knowing that the Homers would not yet have retired, Patty picked up hertelephone and called the number.

  A masculine voice gave back a cheery "Hello!"

  "Is this Mr. Homer?" said Patty.

  "No, indeed. I'm Kit Cameron. Who are you, please?"

  "Isn't this The Wimbledon apartment house?"

  "It sure is."

  "Isn't this 6483?"

  "No, it's 6843. Please tell me who you are?"

  A spirit of mischief entered into Patty. She knew this must be MarieHomer's cousin, who lived on the floor above the Homers, and who, Mrs.Homer had said, detested girls.

  "But I have the wrong number," she said. "I didn't mean to call you."

  "But since you did call me, you must tell me who you are."

  "I'm a captive princess," said Patty, in rather a melancholy tone. "I'mimprisoned in the dungeon of a castle."
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br />   "How awful! May I get a squad of soldiers and come to your rescue, oh,fair lady?"

  "Nay, nay, Sir Knight; and anyway you do not know that I am a fairlady."

  "Your voice tells me that. Surely such musical tones could belong onlyto the most beautiful princess in the world."

  "Oh, yes, I am THAT," and Patty laughed, roguishly; "but a well-behavedprincess would not be talking to a strange man. So I must say good-bye."

  "Oh, no, no! wait a minute; you haven't told me your name yet."

  "And I don't intend to. You detest girls, anyway."

  "Yes, I always have, but you see I never met a princess before."

  "You haven't met me yet."

  "But I shall! Don't make any mistake about that."

  "How can you? I'm going to ring off now, and you have no way of tracingme."

  "I can find out from Central."

  "No, you can't."

  "Why can't I?"

  "Because I forbid you to do so."

  "All right; then I can't find out that way, but I'll find out someother way. I'll go on a quest."

  "Goodness, what is a quest?"

  "Oh, it just means that I henceforth devote my whole life to findingyou."

  "But you can't find me, when you don't know my name."

  "I'll make up a name for you. I'll call you Princess Poppycheek."

  "How could you guess I'm a brunette?"

  "I can tell it from your voice. You have snapping black eyes and darkcurly hair, and the reddest of red cheeks."

  "Exactly right!" exclaimed Patty, giggling to think how far thisdescription was from her blonde pink-and-white type.

  "I knew it was right!" exclaimed the voice, exultantly; "and I shallfind you very soon."

  "Then I shall await your coming with interest. You prefer brunettes, doyou?"

  "Well, as a matter of fact, I have always admired blondes more, but I'mquite willing to change my tastes for you. Do you sing?"

  For answer, Patty sang softly into the telephone, the little song of"Beware, take care, she is fooling thee."

  Although she did little more than hum it, Mr. Cameron was greatlyimpressed with her voice.

  "By jove!" he exclaimed. "You CAN sing! Now, I can find you easily.There are not many voices like that in this wicked world."

  "Do you sing yourself? But I don't want to know, I haven't the leastinterest in a stranger, and besides, I'm going to ring off now."

  "Oh, wait a minute! I don't sing, but I do something better. Don't ringoff, just listen a minute."

  Patty listened, and in a moment she heard a violin played softly. Itwas played by a master hand, and she heard an exquisite rendition ofthe "Spring Song."

  "Beautiful!" she exclaimed, as the last notes died away, and thensuddenly realising that she herself was acting in a most unconventionalmanner, she said abruptly, "Thank you; good-bye," and quickly hung upher receiver.

  For some time she sat thinking about it. Curled up in a big easy chair,her blue silk boudoir gown trailing around her, she sat giggling overher escapade.

  "It's all right," she assured herself, "for of course I know who he is,though he doesn't know me. He is Mrs. Homer's nephew, so it's just thesame as if I had met him properly. And, anyhow, he hasn't an idea who Iam, and he never can find out from the description he has of me!"

  Still giggling over the episode, Patty went to bed and to sleep.

  The next morning, as she thought it over, she realised that she hadn'tsucceeded in securing her fan, and she determined to go around and seeMarie that afternoon, and get it.

  So that afternoon she went to make her call.

  "It was a beautiful party," she said to Marie, as the two girls chattedtogether. "I love games for a change from dancing, and the games youhad were so novel."

  "I'm glad to hear you say that," said Marie, "for I was afraid theywould seem too childish."

  "No, indeed," returned Patty; "and now put on your hat and come outwith me for a little while. I'm going to a picture exhibition, and I'dlove to have you go too. But first, did I leave my fan here lastevening?"

  "There was a beautiful fan left here,--an Empire fan. Is this yours?"

  Marie produced the fan and Patty recognised it as her own.

  "But I can't go this afternoon," said Marie, "because Cousin Kit iscoming down to practise some new music. Won't you stay and hear himplay? He is really a very good violinist."

  Patty considered. She rather wanted to meet this young man, but she wasafraid he would think her forward. So after a little further chat, sherose, saying she must go. And it was just as she was going out that Mr.Cameron came in, with his violin under his arm.

  Patty was obliged to pause a moment, as Marie presented her cousin, butthe young man, though courteous, showed no interest whatever in MissFairfield. Patty's pretty face was almost invisible through her motorveil, and as Mr. Cameron had no idea that she was the girl who hadtalked to him the night before, and as he really had no interest ingirls in general, he merely made a very polite bow and went directlytoward the piano.

  "I wish you'd stay and hear some music," said Marie, but Patty onlymurmured a refusal, not wanting Mr. Cameron to hear her voice, lest herecognise it.

  He was an attractive looking man of fine physique and handsome face,but he looked extremely dignified and not very good-natured.

  "All musicians are cross," Patty thought to herself as she went down inthe elevator, "and I wasn't going to have that man think that I wentaround to Marie's to see him!"

  She decided to call for Elise to go to the art gallery with her, andshe found that young woman ready and glad to go.

  "I hadn't a thing to do this afternoon," said Elise, as they startedoff, "and I love to go anywhere with you, Patty. Shall we have a cup oftea afterwards?"

  And so it was after they had seen the pictures, and as they weresitting in a cosy little tea-room, that Elise said suddenly:

  "Do you know Mr. Cameron? He's a cousin of Marie Homer's."

  "I don't know him," said Patty, smiling, "but I've been introduced tohim. Just as I was leaving Marie's to-day, he came in. But he was veryabstracted in his manner. He merely bowed, and without a word he wentstraight on to the piano and began fussing with his music."

  "You were just leaving, anyway?"

  "Yes; but I would have remained a few moments, if he had been moresociable. But, of course, I couldn't insist on his talking to me, if hedidn't want to."

  "He doesn't like girls," said Elise, but as she spoke she smiled in aself-conscious way.

  "So I've heard," said Patty, smiling herself. "He seems young to bewhat they call a woman-hater. I thought only old bachelors were that.Well, he has no interest for me. There are plenty of boys in our ownset."

  "Don't you tell, if I tell you something," and now Elise lookeddecidedly important.

  "What is it? I won't tell."

  "Well, it's the funniest thing! That Mr. Cameron wants to meet me,though he never has seen me."

  "What!" exclaimed Patty, in astonishment. "Why does he want to meetyou?"

  "I don't know, I'm sure. But he was at Marie's this morning, and askedher if she knew any girl who was gay and merry and had a sweet voice,and had dark hair and eyes and rosy cheeks. And Marie says she knows hemeans me, and I think he does too! Isn't it exciting?"

  "Yes," said Patty, drily. "But you don't sing much, Elise."

  "Oh, of course I don't sing like you do, but I have a fairly decentvoice."

  "But how mysterious it is. What does he know about you?"

  "I don't know. It IS mysterious. He wouldn't tell Marie anything exceptthat he wanted to know the name of the girl he described; and he saidshe must be friendly enough with Marie to call her up on the telephonein the middle of the night."

  "But did you do that?" asked Patty, who was really shaking withlaughter.

  "Yes; I called her up last night after I got home from the party,because I'd left my spangled scarf there, and I wanted her to put itaway safely for me."

 
"I always leave things at a party, too," said Patty, looking innocent."I left my fan at Marie's last night. So I went there to-day and gotit."

  "Well, I thought I'd better telephone, for so many girls leave thingsand they get scattered or lost."

  "Well, what did your telephoning have to do with Mr. Cameron?"

  "I don't know; that's the queer part of it. Perhaps the wires werecrossed and he heard me talking."

  "H'm," said Patty, "perhaps he did. When are you going to meet him,Elise?"

  "I don't know; but Marie says she'll have a few friends to tea some daysoon, and she'll ask him. She says it'll have to be a very small tea,because he hates to meet people."

  "Why doesn't she have just you two? I think it would be more romantic."

  "Oh, nonsense. This isn't romance. I think Mr. Cameron is a freak,anyway. But it's all amusing, and I hope you'll be at the tea,yourself, Patty."

  "I will if I'm asked," said Patty.