CHAPTER XIV
AN EXCHANGE OF HEARTS
"Look who's here," and kindred expressions, with frank comments on heridea and costume, greeted Betty at the beginning.
"There are some other 'valentines,' but none quite like yours," said onegypsy, who wore an arrow caught through her belt, a silver one in herhair, and large red hearts sewed on her flowing sleeves.
Almost every one had on some emblem that recognized the day. Some of theboys had made themselves into clever representations of comicvalentines, but Betty thought that Kathryn must have changed her mindabout being one, as she could not find among them all any of Kathryn'sheight. As to features, Betty had been sure that she could tell; butamong so many shifting figures it was confusing. In general, there wasthe usual conglomeration of different characters.
Once Betty caught her breath at the appearance of a pirate, for all theworld like the "Pirate of Penzance." But while the costume seemedidentical, so far as Betty remembered, after all, Marcella might havelent the costume. And when the young man drew near, whoever it might be,it certainly was not Larry. Well, of course. It had been silly to halfexpect--and hope--to see him.
There were compensations, however. She did not lack attention and shethought that she had been able to "fool" Chet, whom she had recognizedby his laugh first. Her own voice she kept low and had practiced on adifferent laugh, though when amused she could not keep it up andsmothered her natural laugh with her handkerchief. Even that was gaywith hearts. She had seen it in a show window a week before and rushedin to buy it.
Guessing who people were was great fun and Marcella had somethingplanned for every moment, it seemed. A tall clown announced the games,or what came next in the way of program. He wore a placard on his backthat declared "I am Your Valentine." That, certainly, could not beLarry. His fun would be more--um--elusive!
And now some musicians arrived. Betty happened to glance out of thewindow and saw them stamping snow from their feet and shaking the flakesfrom their hats. Their taxi must have delivered them outside, instead ofbringing them around the drive inside the grounds, a natural mistake,perhaps, since the distance to the street was not great. And how it wassnowing! Betty liked it, the beautiful dark and white rays from thelights, near or distant.
Inside, some one relieved them of coats and hats at once, and the bulkyinstruments in their cases were disposed about the hall, until theydisappeared while a last game was going on, only to take their places ina palm-decorated corner near the piano, tune their instruments and startto play. Instantly feet began to tap in time to the measures, and someof the boys and girls began to dance in couples.
Betty's feet fit snugly in the high-heeled shoes of her mother's thatmatched the costume. They were none too comfortable and Betty thankfullysank into a big over-stuffed chair recently vacated, refusing aninvitation prettily and deciding to rest first. But one could standanything if it were fun, and when in a short time colonial square danceswere announced, lo and behold, who should walk up to Betty, with anengaging, somehow familiar smile and an exaggerated, old time bow, butthe duplicate of the picture upon her valentine!
Dancing eyes through their opening in the mask enjoyed her amazement.Velvet knee breeches, silk hose, shoes, powdered wig tied by a ribbon,even to coloring, the likeness was complete.
This was no accident. He did not look like the others. Could it be?"Oh!" she said in surprise, blushing under the bit of rouge and the tinysquare of courtplaster supposed to be characteristic of that time goneby.
"Fair damsel," said the stranger, "will you tread the mazes of the dancewith me?"
"With great pleasure, sir," coquettishly replied Betty, recovering fromher astonishment and bethinking herself of her part.
She raised her fan, only to have it gently taken from her hand. "Permitme," said the colonial gentleman with great courtesy. He tucked her armin his own and walked with her to the space being cleared for them andthe others.
"I haven't happened to see you before," said Betty, to makeconversation.
"I have been about, but I did not come to the circle about MissValentine till now." Then the formality was dropped and the voice becamenatural. "I came a long distance to dance this with you, Betty, though Iknew nothing of the Colonial dances. And I didn't dream that you wouldbe wearing this costume--even to the lacy border in your hair, the rose,and the heart that proclaims you my valentine!"
Betty said, "Oh," again. "Then you are--and you sent----"
"Yes, I am, and I sent, and I'm going to keep those kids away from youthe rest of the evening, that clown with the hearts all over him inparticular."
Betty laughed. She was recovering, and oh, how happy! "Why that's onlyChet Dorrance. Why the dislike to him? Wasn't he in all our fun lastsummer?"
"Yes." Larry Waite bent attentively toward Betty, fanning her in thecharacter of the old time gallant. Much could be said in the few momentsbefore the music should begin. Precious little attention did either ofthem pay to the directions being given.
"But Marcella, at my _urgent request_, has fixed it up that I am to beyour partner at supper. I suddenly decided to come for this, though Ifind that Father needs me on another matter and I must make the most ofthis opportunity. I hope that you do not mind _very_ much, Betty!
"I am--surprised--and _pleased_, Larry. I had a shock when I saw thecostume of the Pirate of Penzance."
The erstwhile Pirate of Penzance laughed. "I like you in this costume,even better than I did when you were Titania. Tell me, Betty. Did youthink that perhaps I sent the valentine and could it have influenced youto wear this?"
"Is this the game of 'Truth,' Larry?"
"Heaven knows I hope so!"
"I did think that you had sent the valentine and I thought it adorable.But the idea of this costume was Mother's, because, you see, she had hadit made for her own party, and I never dreamed of asking for it. Thenfixing it up this way like the valentines as much as I could, was mydoings."
"Sweet doings, Betty." Was Larry's voice shaking a little?
"I have a million things to say to you, but they are going to strike upthe music now. Yes, we're coming to line up!"
This last was in answer to a summons. Betty, demure and self-possessed,took her place and the pretty mazes of the dance took her attention. Butshe had learned it in "gym" and she saw that Larry was at home in it.She was still somewhat thunderstruck. Was this the self-contained Larryof last summer? Of course there had been times when she had had a lookfrom him, or--but _what_ could he be going to say to her?
There was no opportunity for private conversation now, though Larry witha twinkle whispered as they performed an evolution of the dancetogether, "How I wasted last summer!" He seemed to know her verythoughts! Betty's hands were cold and she was rather highly keyed allthrough the dances.
But afterward Larry conducted her to where some one was beckoning themand told her on the way that he would have to mingle with the guests alittle after all. "That's Marcella beckoning. I know what she's going totell me; but I shall have you at supper at least, and may I take youhome?"
Rather bewildered, yet decidedly radiant, Betty beamed upon Marcella,who said, "Excuse me, but I have a message for your partner."
"The dance is over and you may have him," laughed Betty, next smiling upat the clown with "hearts all over him," who had taken pains to be athand. Betty saw that Larry observed the clown; but there was nothing tobe done except to be the same friendly girl to Chet that she had alwaysbeen. They had the remembrance of many a good time together betweenthem.
"I know you, Betty," said Chet, "and I suppose you know me. Who is thatguy that was with you!"
"I may have my ideas, Chet, but it wouldn't be fair to tell. _Is_ thatgypsy Kathryn? I thought she wouldn't take such an obvious character."
"Probably, since she is called Gypsy, that is the very reason she isone, because she would not be expected to do the obvious."
"I think that you have grown
very wise, Chet, since you have been goingto the university. Tell me who some of these university girls are.Marcella was going to invite some sophomores, I know, like your brotherTed, and she is in that new sorority and would be likely to invite themall, wouldn't she?"
"I suppose so. But you said it wasn't fair, Betty, to tell." Chet waslooking humorously at her now.
"Now you have me! True enough. I'll have to wait till the unmasking. Butguessing is all right."
"Suppose _I_ do some guessing," meaningly said Chet.
"Why not?" countered Betty; but fortunately for Betty's not having torespond to Chet's surmises, one of the girls, a pretty shepherdess, cameup to look more closely at Betty's costume.
"If I had only thought of it, I might have been a real valentine, too,"regretfully said the shepherdess.
But events, the mingling, the talking, the varied entertainment arrangedby Marcella Waite and her assisting sorority, moved rapidly. Betty wassoon found by the colonial gentleman of her valentine, and formallyescorted to the dining-room, spacious, and accommodating, tablesarranged into one continuous and festal board, "like double T's," Bettysaid. "Oh, _isn't it pretty_!" she exclaimed softly to Larry.
From the hanging lights above ran ribbons, gay in color and abounding,like everything else about the house, in appropriate decorations. Theplace cards were especially pretty. Betty's represented Cupid carrying acluster of hearts as well as his bow and quiver full of arrows. Belowhim was the outline of a single heart and within this an individualfour-line "poem" ready for Betty's reading:
"Sweet and pretty and dear and fine, She's a peach of a girl--Miss Valentine! Let Eros whisper, as flies his dart, 'Your lover is waiting and waits your heart.'"
Betty dimpled as she read, "I wonder if Marcella copied that or made itup. It doesn't sound like her."
"It wouldn't," said Larry, who had been reading his own lines. "Shedidn't write them; but she did pretty well with mine in the hurry shewas tonight. See? It's a prophecy, I hope. I'm not sure that Marcellaknows that Eros is the same as Cupid."
"Larry Waite! Of course she does. But you haven't _read_ mine yet, howdo you----"
Betty stopped, for Larry turned a mischievous look upon her, thensobered. "I wasn't in fun when I scribbled those lines, Betty," said he.But it was no place in which to embarrass Betty and he quickly placedhis own card before her. "Read what Marcella tells me," and Betty read:
"If Cupid only has success, You're on your way to happiness."
"Now I hope that is so," said Larry lightly. "I'm quite content rightnow."
Others were doing the same thing, exchanging cards and reading funny orclever or sugary verses, collected or composed by Marcella and her goodfriends. Larry had insisted that Betty's card match his own and in theshort time he gave to Marcella's change of arrangements he had writtenthe verses.
Betty was past being surprised now and had entered into an exhilaratedstage of feeling in which the fun, the light and inconsequentialconversation, the lights, the decorations, the costumes, masks andgeneral gayety all played a part. And now, from the middle of the longpart of the table and almost opposite Betty, Marcella rose to announcethat they would unmask before the serving began.
Then came hilarity indeed, though properly restrained, for this was noschool picnic in the woods! Surprises and congratulations were the orderof the moment. The gypsy, with a clown in Lyon High colors, sat justbeyond Betty. "Why, Kathryn, I couldn't tell you at all!" she exclaimed."Chet thought it was you, but I had my doubts."
The clown with Kathryn was Brad Warren. Chet Dorrance, Betty saw, wasfarther down on the opposite side of the table and she sighed withrelief, for Betty never wanted Chet's feelings hurt. Marcella had placedhim with a senior at the university, one of her sorority sisters, andChet was evidently much interested and pleased. It was rather natteringto be selected for a senior, and indeed, Marcella had known that ChetDorrance must not be placed with some one whom he would not like, nomatter what Larry wanted to do.
Mathilde's diamond flashed directly opposite and with Jack Huxley ingala mood, she, too, was happy and beamed on Betty with all the rest.Mathilde was bright and entertaining, too, when she was out with herfriends. And Jack--well, he would be served with nothing here that wouldmake him unfit to see any one safely home. The ring seemed moreappropriate here than at school.
It was a great surprise to most that Larry Waite was there. He wasgreeted with enthusiasm and played his part of host with cordiality, thelife of the party, Betty thought. More "grown-up" than so many, his funhad some point to it, she thought, and Larry would have felt glad toknow her flattering opinion, which she was not to have much opportunityto tell him, even supposing that she wanted to do so.
The idea of the day was carried out in the supper. Larry said that he"didn't know but it was cannibalistic" to eat so many hearts.Heart-shaped sandwiches, salad in hearts--it was amazing how much inthat line could be done. The ice-cream servings, in fanciful molds, eachlooked like a vari-colored and heart-shaped valentine, and little cakes,in hearts, with "heavenly" frosting, were toothsome indeed.
Larry seemed to have an idea just as the ice-cream was arriving and saidsomething across the table to Marcella, who hopped up at once andlightly clapped her hands together for attention.
"Larry says that the celebration will not be complete unless we exchangehearts. So that is the next thing on the program. Who wants my heart?"
There was laughter and quick compliance. But Larry was already detachinga heart from the little array which Betty wore and whispered, "That wasby way of an excuse to get one of these, Betty. Do you mind?"
"You may have them all, Larry," laughed Betty, stirred, nevertheless.Oh, this couldn't be just his "line," as she had once thought! He_liked_ her. She knew he did.
"And where is the one I am supposed to have?" she asked, as Larry tuckedthe little pink heart in his inner pocket.
"It's beating not far away," said Larry in her ear. But he detached asmall heart that had dangled from his lapel all evening and handed it toher.
"No," said she, "badge me with it."
It all had to be with the air of badinage and fun, in the presence of somany, but Larry, under cover of fastening his heart in the place of theone he had detached, and under the louder buzz of conversation and thelaughter, spoke once more into her ear.
"You darling! I hope this means half as much to you as it does to me!" Ahand crept over hers in her lap and held it tightly for a long moment,while Betty returned a slight pressure.
Then things were as they were before. Larry gave some attention, as hehad done before, to the university girl who sat on his other side. Bettytalked to Kathryn and Bradford, but she "felt like somebody else," asshe confided to her diary the next day. An entirely new probability washers, and a new faith in Larry Waite.
But Larry did not take her home. After the supper he told her that assoon as "they" began to go, he would be waiting for her and would takeher home in "the roadster." But he had scarcely finished telling herwhen Marcella came up and soberly said that a telegram had come fortheir father and that he wanted to see Larry right away. With a brief"Excuse me," Larry hurried off, while Betty wondered why anybody wouldsend a telegram so late, unless it was a case of life or death! Theolder Waites had disappeared not long after the guests had all beenreceived. Could they still be up?
The girls began to go up for their wraps and Betty went with them,coming down to wait in the library, as he had told her. No one wasthere, but she had only a few minutes to wait till he came in and closedthe door. "Betty! My plans to see you are all upset. Father has had abusiness telegram, delayed, by good luck for me, and something has comeup which must be attended to. He can not go and I shall have to go forhim. A train leaves in half an hour. Marcella will arrange for yourgetting home with the rest.
"I--I had something to tell you, Betty. You can guess what it is, ofcourse, though I was not going to ask you
for a pledge so soon. But Ionly wanted to make sure that no one else would--have your pledge,before we had a chance to--become better acquainted."
That was rather a lame close. Larry was trying not to say too mucheither for his own sake or Betty's, and Betty looked up archly at thisand smiled. "Yes," said she, gravely, "and let us hope that ourfriendship will improve on acquaintance."
"Don't tease me, please, Betty," said Larry, but he relaxed into asmile, too. "I'll write you as soon as I can. Remember that you are myvalentine, Betty--and now I think you'll let me say goodbye as I wantto!"
Before Betty knew it, she was caught in the embrace of a big softovercoat, hugged and kissed all in a moment, held a second while Larrywhispered a soft statement in her ear again; and then he turned andrapidly left the room as he heard Marcella call "Larry" from without.
Oh, what a wonderful Valentine's Day! Larry _loved_ her. He _said_ so._Larry!_