Patty"s b.u.t.terfly Days.
by Carolyn Wells.
CHAPTER I
DIFFERENT OPINIONS
"Different men are of different opinions; some like apples, some like inions," sang Patty, as she swayed herself idly back and forth in the veranda swing; "but, truly-ooly, Nan," she went on, "I don"t care a snipjack. I"m quite ready and willing to go to the White Mountains,--or the Blue or Pink or even Lavender Mountains, if you like."
"You"re willing, Patty, only because you"re so good-natured and unselfish; but, really, you don"t want to go one bit."
"Now, Nan, I"m no poor, pale martyr, with a halo roundy-bout me n.o.ble brow. When we came down here to Spring Beach, it was understood that we were to stay here part of the summer, and then go to the mountains. And now it"s the first of August and I"ve had my innings, so it"s only fair you should have your outing."
Though Patty"s air was gay and careless, and Patty"s tones were sincere, she was in reality making an heroic self-sacrifice, and Nan knew it. Patty loved the seash.o.r.e; she had been there three months, and loved it better every day.
But Nan cared more for the mountains, and longed to get away from the sunny glare of the sea, and enjoy the shaded walks and drives of higher alt.i.tudes. However, these two were of unselfish nature, and each wanted to please the other. But as Patty had had her wish for three months, it was certainly fair that Nan should be humoured for the rest of the summer.
The season had done wonders for Patty, physically. Because of her outdoor life, she had grown plumper and browner, her muscles had strengthened, and her rosy cheeks betokened a perfect state of health.
She was still slender, and her willowy figure had gained soft curves without losing its dainty gracefulness.
And Patty was still enthusiastically devoted to her motor-car. Indeed, it was the realisation that she must leave that behind that made her so opposed to a trip to the mountains.
Mr. Fairfield and Nan had both dilated on the charms and beauties of mountain scenery, on the joys and delights of the gay mountain hotels, but though Patty listened amiably, she failed to look upon the matter as they did. At first, she had declared her unwillingness to go, and had tried to devise a way by which she might remain at Spring Beach, while her parents went to the mountains. But no plan of chaperons or visiting relatives seemed to satisfy Mr. Fairfield of its availability.
"I can"t see it, Patty," he would say; "there is no chaperon for you that we know of, and I wouldn"t leave you here with some stranger obtained by advertis.e.m.e.nt. Nor have we any relatives who could come to look after you. If Nan"s mother could come, that would do beautifully.
But Mrs. Allen is in Europe and none of your aunts could leave her own family. No, girlie, I can"t see any way to separate our family."
So Patty, with her unfailing good nature, had agreed to go to the White Mountains with the others. She admitted, herself, that she"d probably have a good time, as she always did everywhere, but still her heart clung to "The Pebbles," as they called their seash.o.r.e home, and she silently rebelled when she thought of "Camilla," her swift little electric runabout.
Patty drove her own car, and she never tired of spinning along the sh.o.r.e roads, or inland through the pine groves and laurel jungles. She had become acquainted with many young people, both cottagers and hotel guests, and the outlook for a pleasant summer and fall at Spring Beach was all that could be desired from her point of view. But before they left the city in the spring, Patty had known that Nan preferred mountain localities and had agreed to the seash.o.r.e house for her sake; so, now, it was Patty"s turn to give up her preference for Nan"s.
And she was going to do it,--oh, yes,--she was going to do it cheerfully and even gaily. But, though she tried to pretend she didn"t care, Nan knew she did care, and she had tried hard to think of some way that Patty might be left behind. Nan would willingly have given up her own desires, and stayed at Spring Beach all summer, but her husband wouldn"t hear of it. Mr. Fairfield said that justice demanded a fair division of the season, and already three months had been spent at the seash.o.r.e, so August and September must be spent in the mountains.
His word was law, and, too, Patty realised the fairness of the plan, and gracefully submitted to Fate. So, as the first of August was in the very near future, Patty and Nan were discussing details of the trip.
"It almost seems as if you might take your motor-car, Patty," said Nan, reflectively.
"I thought so, too, at first; but father says not. You see, not all mountain roads are modern and well-kept, and, of course, we"ll be moving on, now and then, and Camilla IS a nuisance as luggage. Now, Nan, no more suggestions, or regrets, or backward glances. I"m going to the mountains, NOT like the quarry-slave at night, but like a conquering hero; and I shall have all the mountaineers at my feet, overwhelming me with their devoted attentions."
"You probably will, Patty; you"re easily the most popular girl at Spring Beach, and if the "mountaineers" have any taste in such matters--"
"There, there, Nan, don"t make me blush. I"m "popular," as you call it, because I have such a delightful home, and such an attractive stepmother to make it pleasant for my callers! And, by the same token, here are a few of them coming now."
Two laughing girls, and a good-looking young man came in at the gate, and strolled along the drive to the veranda, where Patty and Nan sat.
Lora and Beatrice Sayre were of the "b.u.t.terfly" type, and their pale-coloured muslin gowns, broad hats, and fluttering scarfs made the description appropriate. Jack Pennington was just what he looked like, a college youth on his vacation; and his earnest face seemed to betoken a determination to have the most fun possible before he went back to grind at his books.
"h.e.l.lo," cried Patty, who was not given to dignified forms of salutation.
The trio responded gaily, and coming up on the veranda, selected seats on the wicker chairs, or couches, or the porch railing, as suited their fancy.
"I say," began young Pennington, conversationally, "we can"t let you go away, Patty. Why, week after next we"re going to have the Pageant, and there are forty-"leven other pleasant doings before that comes off."
"Yes," chimed in Lora Sayre, "we can"t get along without our Pitty-Pat.
DO don"t go away, Sunshine!"
"But suppose I want to go," said Patty, bravely trying to treat the subject lightly; "suppose I"m just crazy to go to that stunning big hotel up in the White Mountains, and have the time of my life!"
"Suppose the moon is made of green pumpkins!" scoffed Jack. "You don"t want to go at all, and you know it! And then, think of the girls,--and boys,--you leave behind you! Your departure is a national calamity. We mourn our loss!"
"We do so!" agreed Beatrice. "Why, Patty, I"m going to have a house party next week, and we"ll have lots of fun going on. Can"t you wait over for that?"
"No, I can"t," and Patty spoke a little shortly, for these gay plans made her long more than ever to stay at Spring Beach. "So don"t let"s talk any more about me. Tell me about the Pageant,--will it be fine?"
"Oh, yes," said Jack, "the biggest thing ever. Sort of like a Durbar, you know, with elephants and--"
"No, it isn"t going to be like that," said Lora. "They"ve given up that plan. It"s going to be ever so much nicer than that! They"re going to have--"
"Don"t tell me!" cried Patty, laughing, as she clapped her hands over her ears. "I"d rather not hear about it! I suppose you"ll be queen of it, whatever it is, Lora?"
"I"ll have a chance at it, if you"re not here! That"s the only comfort about your going away. Somebody else can be the Belle of Spring Beach for a time."
The good-natured laughter in Lora"s eyes took all sting from her words, and, indeed, it was an acknowledged fact that Pretty Patty was the belle of the little seash.o.r.e colony.
"I"m awfully sorry about it," began Nan, but Patty stopped her at once.
"There"s nothing to be sorry about, Madame Nan," she cried, gaily; "these provincial young people don"t appreciate the advantages of travel. They"d rather stay here in one place than jog about the country, seeing all sorts of grand scenery and sights! Once I"m away from this place I shall forget all about its petty frolics and its foolish parties."
"Yes, you WILL!" exclaimed Jack, not at all impressed by Patty"s statements, for he knew how untrue they were.
"And the Country Club summer dance!" said Beatrice, regretfully.
"Patty, how can you be reconciled to missing that? It"s the event of the season! A fancy dance, you know. A sort of Kirmess. Oh, DON"T go away!"
"Don"t go away!" echoed Lora, and Jack broke into one of the improvised songs for which he was famous:
"Don"t go away from us, Patty, Patty, We can"t part with the likes of you!
Stay, and be Queen of the Pageant, Patty, Patty, Patty, tender and true.
Though you are not very pretty, Patty, Though you are liked by a very few; We will put up with you, Patty, Patty,-- Patty, Patty, stay with us, do!"
The rollicking voice and twinkling eyes, which were Jack"s chief charms, made Patty laugh outright at his song. But, not to be outdone in fun, and also, to keep herself from growing serious, she sang back at him:
"I don"t want to stay at this place, I don"t like it any more!
I am going to the mountains, Where I"ve never been before.
I shall tramp the mountain pathways, I shall climb the mountain"s peak; I don"t want to stay in this place, So I"ll go away next week!"
"All right for you!" declared Jack. "Go on, and joy go with you! But don"t you send me any picture postcards of yourself lost in a perilous mountain fastness,--"cause I won"t come and rescue you. So there!"