CHAPTER III CAPTAIN BILL
“It’s this,” said Farnsworth, looking serious. “I have to go toWashington.”
“Good gracious!” exclaimed Patty, “one would think you were booked forKamschatka or Siberia, the way you say it!”
“But I mean, I have to go there to stay.”
“How long?”
“Indefinitely. I’ve no idea how long; also—I may have to go furtheryet.”
“Over there?”
“Yes. But that’s not likely at present. However, it’s bad enough to goto Washington. How can I leave _you_?”
“I’ll go, too.”
“No, dear, that won’t be practicable. I shall be in the University Camp,drilling engineers, I suppose, but I want to do more and bigger thingsthan that. I can’t tell you all about it, Posy Face, but as soon as Iget further orders I’ll know better where I’m at.”
“Are you bothered and troubled, my Billee Boy?”
“I am, Patty. I don’t want to worry you with it, dearest, and youcouldn’t understand it all, anyway, but there is a lot of backbiting andundermining and wire-pulling in Washington, and it even mixes into Armyand Navy matters.”
“Then you’ll have to be an undermining engineer, won’t you?”
“Patty! You little rogue! You’d make a joke out of anything, I believe.”
“’Course I would! Now, Billee, you mustn’t look so down-hearted. You’vegot me for a joy and a comfort,—not for a burden and a—a millstone aboutyour neck!”
“I like to have you about my neck, all right,—but you’re afeatherweight, not a millstone.”
“Where will you be? What’s this camp?”
“The Engineering Corps, you mean? Oh, well, there are a lot ofunits,—Camouflage, Foresters, Gas and Flame, Wireless, Telephone,——”
“There, there, that’ll do! I’m bewildered. Which are you to be in?”
“That’s the trouble. It looks to me as if I’d be in the Searchlightgang——”
“What do you know about searchlights!”
“Nothing. To be sure I’ve invented one—”
“Oh, Billee, have you? And you never told me!”
“Hadn’t time. There’s only time enough, when I’m with you, to tell youwhat I think of you.”
“What do you think of me?”
The lovely face was wistful and sweet, the blue eyes shone withaffection and the scarlet mouth drew down a little at the corners, forPatty saw by Farnsworth’s pained expression, that he was reallydisturbed at their coming separation and the uncertainties of hisfuture.
“I think,” the big man spoke, slowly, “I think you’re the loveliestthing God ever made. A thousand times too good for a big brute of a manlike me——”
“You don’t treat me like a brute,” observed Patty.
“No; I treat you as I think of you,—a lovely rose petal of a girl,—whoought not to hear of wars or rumours of wars——”
“Nothing of the sort, William Farnsworth! If I were that, I’d deserve tobe put under a glass bell, and left there to die of asphyxiation! I’m_not_ a silly roseleaf,—I’m a willing, working patriot! Why, I’m asenergetic as—as Molly Pitcher or Barbara Frietchie—or Joan of Arc!”
“That’s right, dear, that’s the right spirit! But you know, Pattibelle,you’re not physically fitted to go on the rampage, as your flashing eyesindicate. You’re the sort who must ‘stay, stay at home my heart andrest; homekeeping hearts are happiest.’”
“Little Billee, you do quote the beautifullest poetry! Where _do_ youpick it all up?”
“Oh, I’ve a store of it somewhere in the top of my head. And I mean nodisparagement of your enthusiasm, Patty, but you can’t do hard work, andso——”
“And so I must knit and knit and knit, I s’pose! Billee, dear, when yougo to Washington why can’t I go too, and work in the CanteenDepartment?”
Farnsworth smiled at her. “Do you know what the Canteen Department is?”
“Not exactly; but Louise Dempster has gone to it,——”
“Oh, it’s the Commissariat Department, but it’s no place for you——”
“Why?”
“There, there, don’t snap my head off! Only because you’re not robustenough for the work. If you’re going in for real help, there’s alwaysthe hospital or ambulance work.”
“I—I couldn’t, Billee! I—I’d faint, I know! Oh, dear, I’m no good, andnever was and never will be!”
“Not so very much good to your Uncle Samuel I admit,” and Farnsworthgrinned at her, “but a whole heap of good to one of his humblecitizens.”
“Which one?”
“This one!” and Bill grabbed her in his arms.
“Drop me,” Patty murmured, half smothered in his shoulder, “somebody’scoming!”
“Let ’em!” But he set her down and began to speak seriously. “You do allyou can for the Red Cross, dear, and that will be your share. Now, don’tworry over it, or think you ought to get into the game in any other way.You can’t do it, but you can and do accomplish a whole lot,—besides yourknitting. Blossom Girl, remember _I’m_ in this world, as well as therest of the U. S. A. and you’ll give _me_ of your love and fealtyand——,”
“Do you think I will, Sweet William?”
Patty’s very soul looked out of her earnest eyes, and Farnsworth kissedher reverently, “I know you will, darling. Now, you’ve helped me a lotalready by your cheery and pleasant attitude about my going away——”
“But I don’t know all about it yet.”
“I don’t know much myself. I’ll have further instructions soon——”
“And a uniform?”
“Of course. I’ll rank as a Captain, and——”
“Oh, Captain Bill! How I will love you then! Come in the other room, Imust tell of it! Nan, Billee’s going to have a uniform!”
“Heavenly!” cried Helen Barlow. “Oh, I adore uniforms! And Mr.Farnsworth will be stunning in one!”
“You may call him Bill, if you like,” said Patty, in the generosity ofher enthusiasm.
“All right,” said Helen, “but I don’t think it suits him. William ismuch more dignified.”
“Make it William, then,” and Farnsworth smiled at the saucy-faced girl.
“Captain Farnsworth is the best,” said Elise. “The title becomes you,Bill, and I know the uniform will.”
“I’m going to have a uniform too,” said Van Reypen, “won’t it becomeme?”
“Me, too,” chimed in Channing. “I’m expecting to be ordered to Franceany minute.”
“Why, Chickering Channing! I didn’t know that,” cried Patty. “What areyou?”
“I’m an _Officier de liaison_.”
“What in the world is that?”
“It’s really nothing but an interpreter. But the French term is so muchmore impressive.”
“Indeed it is. What do you interpret?”
“Words otherwise unintelligible.”
“But I don’t understand—”
“Then I’ll be pleased to interpret for you. You see, if a French soldierwants to confide a state secret to an English-speaking comrade, and ifhe doesn’t know a word of English, nor the other chap any French,—what’sto be did?”
“Oh, I see!” cried Helen, “they call you in!”
“Exactly, Miss Barlow. And being conversant with and fluent in all knowntongues,—I’m just a walking Tower of Babel.”
“A walking dictionary, you mean,” laughed Helen. “I think that’s apretty fine position you hold. I never heard of it before. What’s yourrank?”
“Lieutenant,—very much at your service, Mademoiselle. Shortly, I shalldon my khaki, and then I hope, at last, I’ll be respected by my fellowmen.”
“That’s so, Chick,” said Patty, mercilessly, “you’ve always been such acutup—well, of course, you were respected,—but nobody really stood inawe of you. But a Lieutenant,—oh, I’m proud of my friends!”
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“Isn’t it glorious!” cried Helen, and she flew to the piano and beganplaying patriotic airs. They all joined and a brave chorus of youngvoices rang out the avowal that the Yanks were coming over there!
So enthusiastically did Helen pound the keys that her hair shook loosefrom its pins and came tumbling round her shoulders.
“Now, now, Bumble,” remonstrated Patty, “don’t do so,—it isn’t done!Here, I’ll fix it for you.”
But Helen only laughed, and nimbly twisted up her tousled locks, andthrust hairpins in to hold them in a hard and unbecoming knot at theback of her head.
“It doesn’t look a bit nice,” Elise warned her. “Better let Pattyrearrange it.”
“Nope, I don’t care,” and the wilful girl kept on playing and laughed asshe shook her head. The shaking sent her hair down again, and this timePatty determinedly went to her and dressed it for her.
“Sit still, you naughty!” she said, herself shaking with laughter. “Oh,Bumble, you haven’t grown up a bit!”
Patty did up her cousin’s hair prettily and skewered it firmly intoplace with many hairpins, and it didn’t come down again.
“And are you going down to Washington, too, Chick?” Daisy Dow asked.
“Sooner or later, yes. That’s the road to all war glory.”
“And you don’t know when?”
“You nor I nor nobody knows. You see, Daisy, in war affairs nobody knowsanything and if they do they’re not allowed to tell it.”
“But just among us,—we wouldn’t tell anybody.”
“The walls have ears,” said Chick, mock-dramatically.
“And Rumour has a thousand tongues,” added Farnsworth, “it’s a dangerouscombination.”
A week later the two went to Washington. Sent for nearly at the sametime, Farnsworth and Channing were to go to Washington, though theirwork there was widely different.
The night before their departure, there was a gathering of the clan atPatty’s home.
Farnsworth begged her not to have others there on their last eveningtogether, but Patty’s wise little head thought it better to have aparty.
“You see,” she said to Nan, “if I spend the evening alone with my BilleeBoy, he’ll be so sad and blue, and I’ll be so weepy and red,—we’ll havean awful time! It’s a whole lot better to have the crowd here and lethim go off in a blaze of glory! Patriotism is good for homesickness.”
And, too, Patty was trying to entertain Helen pleasantly, and so shemade many little parties for her.
The plan of entertaining the other soldiers was postponed until theycould do no more for their own friends, and the little party to speedtheir parting, though small, was gay and festive.
“A dance,” Patty decided. “I don’t want just a sit-around, woeful,sighful time. A good, lively dance, and a nice supper, and then——”
Patty choked, and Nan seeing the springing tears, quickly began todiscuss details of the supper.
The evening came, and Patty dressed in white, went to Helen’s room tomake sure she was in proper order.
“Why, Helen Barlow!” she exclaimed; “if you’re not an apple-pie pink ofperfection! Not a bow coming off, and your hair positively looks as ifit would stay put!”
“Don’t tease me, Patty. Truly, I’m trying to do better,——”
“You dear old thing! I was a wretch to seem to tease you. Wait till thisball is over and you get off that very bewitching frock, and I’ll giveyou a kiss of forgiveness!”
Helen looked very pretty in her evening dress of soft, thin pink, withtouches of silver lace, and silver slippers.
“You’re a fairy,” said Patty. “How that frock becomes you. Now, be gayand festive, won’t you, Helen, honey, for I feel as if I should burstinto a flood of tears every minute!”
“Go on down, Patty,” said Helen, drawing back, “I hear Billee’s voice,and he’ll want you alone.”
“No; I can’t. If I do, I’ll cry. Come along.”
So both girls ran down stairs, and shrieked with delight at the sight ofFarnsworth in uniform.
“I knew you’d be stunning,” said Helen, “but I didn’t know you’d looklike a Herculean statue!”
“He doesn’t,” cried Patty, “he looks like a—a General! He ought tobe—oh, what do you call it when you have your statue taken?”
“Sculped,” said Helen.
“Yes, that’s it! He ought to be sculped in marble or bronze or whateveris most used for statues this year!”
“There, now, kiddies, run away and play,” said Farnsworth, towering tohis full height and looking every inch a soldier.
“No sir,” declared Patty, “we want to look at you. Turn around.”
Then Channing came, and he, too, was resplendent in his new khaki, andthe girls praised his appearance.
“Drink it in, Bill,” Chick said. “It’ll be a long time before we get anymore of this sort of thing! Somepin tells me the people we’re goingamongst won’t pay any special attention to our uniforms.”
“How can they help it?” cried Helen; “why, I don’t believe any of theUnited States Army will look half as well as you two! You’re—you’resuperb!”
A bit embarrassed, Channing tried to turn the subject, but Farnsworthlaughed good-humouredly.
“Let ’em rave, Channing. They enjoy it, and I guess we can stand it——”
“Pooh,” Patty said, “you’re tickled to death to be so admired! Herecomes Elise, now you’ll get more flattery.”
And then the other guests came and the party soon was in full swing.
Patty was among the gayest there. Her eyes shone and her smile was merryand sweet. But a flush showed on each pink cheek, and Farnsworth keptwatch of her as she danced or engaged in light banter with the youngpeople.
Helen Barlow was frankly delighted with the party. She was a belle,indeed, for she was a charming dancer and her never-failing fund of funand laughter kept her partners enchanted.
“I like to dance with you,” she said to Farnsworth, “’cause you’re sobig. It’s like dancing with one of the statues in the park.”
“Why do you girls look on me as a statue?” he returned, laughing.“There’s nothing statuesque about me.”
“No; not that, it’s your heroic size——”
“I hope that’s not _all_ my heroism!”
“I hope so, too. But are you going to need heroism? Bravery, I mean, andcourage and all that. I thought you were only going to teach the youngengineers how to shoot.”
“That’s part of my duty, but there may be other work cut out for me.”
“That’s what Patty thinks. She thinks,—because you can’t tell her allabout it,—that you’re going to be called to some fearful danger——”
“Oh, come now, Helen, she doesn’t think that, does she?”
“Yes she does. She didn’t exactly tell me so, but she can’t hide it fromme. I can read that girl pretty well.”
“So can I.”
“Yes, but you don’t see her off her guard.”
“I know what you mean. Just now, she is trying her best to be gay;trying so hard, indeed, that she’s overdoing it.”
“Yes, that’s what I mean. You can tell by the way she laughs. A littlehysterical giggle,—that’s not like Patty’s own hearty chuckle!”
“You’re right, Helen; and you’re a good friend to Patty. I’m so gladyou’re here with her. Can you stay some time?”
“Yes, as long as she wants me.”
“Then look out for her, won’t you? She’s a frail little thing, and herheart and her energies are too big for her physique.”
“That’s so, Bill. But I’ll look after her,—all she’ll let me. She has astrong will, I can tell you.”
“You two are talking about me, I can sense it!” cried Patty herself,coming up to them.
“We are,” said Bill, “and I’m going to talk to you, instead. Helen, Isee your next partner coming hot haste to claim you, so I’m going totake Pattibelle aside and treat her to
a small lecture.”
Willingly Patty went with him, and he led her to the little room whichwas her father’s den.
There chanced to be no one there, so Farnsworth closed the door afterthem, and then gently took her in his arms.
“Dearest,” he said, “you must be careful of my own little Patty girlwhile I am away.”
“But I don’t want you to go,” she whispered, her lip trembling.
“I know it, dear, and I don’t want to leave you. But we’re always goingto obey the call of duty, aren’t we, Patty mine?”
“Y-yes,——”
“Then listen, sweetheart. You mustn’t exaggerate our parting. I’m onlygoing to Washington——”
“I know—but—you may be sent to France——”
“Don’t cross that bridge until you come to it. Now, my own,—my blessedlittle girl, I’m going now.”
“Now?”
“Yes, if I stay here you’ll go all to pieces pretty soon. So I’m goingnow, and I’m going to say good-bye, cheerfully, even calmly,—becauseit’s better so. Then you go back to the party and be as gay as you like,and forget our case entirely. Trust me, dear little girl,—it’s betterso.”
Patty realised the truth of Farnsworth’s words. She was under greatnervous strain, and after his departure, she knew she could regain herpoise and better conceal and control her feelings.
“You’re right, you dear old Billee. I’m a little fool, but I can’t helpit. I oughtn’t to have planned this affair the way I did, but I didn’trealise,——”
“Of course you didn’t, and you overestimated your own power of will.Now, my love, my little sweetheart, kiss me once, for soldier’s luck,and then I’ll go,—and you must bid me good-bye with a smile,—a smilethat I’ll carry with me always.”
Silently, solemnly, Patty raised her face to his, and bending down,Farnsworth kissed the sweet lips that quivered beneath his touch.
It almost unnerved him, but, determinedly, he smiled at her, and said,cheerily, “I’ll write often and so must you, and,—why, my goodness,Patty,—I’ll be back soon on leave, and we’ll laugh at this tragicparting.”
“No; we won’t laugh at it my Little Billee,—no, not that,—but,—we’ll tryto smile.”
“And succeed! Show me how, _now_.”
Patty smiled with real cheer, and clasping her quickly, Farnsworth gaveher one big, farewell kiss, and rushed out of the door, closing itbehind him.