CHAPTER XVI
STORMBOUND
The two old ladies were not of the quaint type, nor was their homepicturesque. The place and the people were merely old-fashioned, andthey were almost primitive in their ways. They were kind-hearted andhospitable, but they were of the rugged New England class that haslost the charm of its Colonial ancestry.
The dinner was wholesome and plentiful, but with no variety, andserved in the plainest fashion. The chicken pie was delicious, but ithad no accompaniments except home-made hot biscuit and coffee withthick, rich, country cream.
"I always say," said Miss Winthrop, as she settled herself at thetable, "that chicken pie is a whole meal in itself, without anybothersome side-dishes. I say it's meat and drink both; but sistersays she just can't enjoy it 'thout she has a cup of coffee alongsideof it. Well, I've no objections to the coffee, I'm sure, but I'm freeto admit it does seem superfluous. Still, with company so, it ain't somuch out of place."
"I'm sorry if we've made you any extra trouble," said Patty, givingMiss Winthrop one of her best smiles; "but _I'm_ free to confess thatthis is the most wonderful coffee that I've ever tasted, and I thinkit goes specially well with the pie. And as for these light biscuit,they're just puffs of lusciousness! Aren't they, Philip?"
"They are, indeed! All you say is true, but both coffee and biscuitpale beside the glory of this chicken pie! There never _was_ suchanother!"
Mrs. Fay beamed with delight at these generous compliments, and said,complacently, "Yes, they ain't many can make chicken pie like mine, ifI do say it. My, ain't it lucky you young people happened along,to-day of all days! And land knows, I don't want you to go away rightoff. I'd like you to set a spell after dinner. But I feel it mybounden duty to tell you that 'Kiah says there's a storm a-brewin'.But I don't think you need start off before, say, three o'clock,anyway."
"Three o'clock will do nicely," returned Philip, gaily. "That willgive us time to stop at Hatton's Corners and get home before dark.Personally, I'm not in a bit of a hurry."
"No?" And Mrs. Fay looked quizzically at her guests. "I just reckon,young man, that you ain't one mite sorry that you lost your way andhad this little outing with your young lady?"
"Indeed I'm not sorry, Mrs. Fay; and beside our little outing, we'rehaving a pleasant visit with you, and we're enjoying every minute ofit."
"Indeed we are," said Patty, glancing out of the window as she spoke."But it's beginning to snow already, and I don't think we'd betterwait until three o'clock."
"Land's sake!" and Miss Winthrop turned to look out of the windowbehind her. "So it is snowing! And when it begins that way, with fineflakes, slanting crossways, it means business! I dunno as you canhardly dare venture on a twelve-mile ride in the face of this. 'Pearsto me it's going to be a blizzard."
"Nonsense, Mina; you do always look on the dark side," expostulatedher sister. "Now _I_ think 'tain't nothing but a flurry, and by thendinner is over, it'll be bright sunshine again. Now, have your platesfilled up, friends, and try and make out a meal."
Mrs. Fay fairly beamed with hospitality as she urged more viands uponher guests. The table appointments were of the plainest, being thickwhite china and coarse table napery, with plated silverware. Patty hadexpected thin little old teaspoons of hall-marked silver, and old blueor perhaps copper-lustre teacups, but this household was not of thatsort. Everything seemed to date from the early seventies, and Pattywondered why there were no old Winthrop heirlooms in the family.
She brought the conversation round to antiques, and Mrs. Fay remarked,decidedly: "I just can't bear old-fashioned things. I come into quitea lot of old mahogany furniture and pewter and dishes and things whenmy grandfather died. But when I got married, I had an auction and soldeverything. Then I took the money and bought a whole new outfit. Ibelieve in going right along with the times. 'Course those old thingswere all right for grandfather, but when I married, I'm free toconfess, I wanted things that were in style then. So I bought a realtasty outfit, and I've kept it careful, and it's pretty near as goodas new now."
She looked around with pride at her dining-room furnishings, whichseemed to Patty about the worst she had ever seen.
But she smiled at her hostess, and said, cordially: "I _do_ think it'snice to have just what you want; and I think we do get attached to ourown things. Have you lived here long?"
"Land, yes! Nearly all my life. Mr. Fay, he's been dead twenty-fiveyears; so sister and me we live here together, as contented as youplease. We have a telephone and a rural delivery, so you see it's justthe same as if we were right in town. Now, if you really won't eat anymore pie, let's go into the sittin'-room a spell."
From the sitting-room windows the view of the storm seemed moreserious. The sky was black, the wind was blowing a gale, and thesnow-flurry had grown thicker. In fact, it was a hard snowstorm, andMiss Winthrop's fear of a blizzard did not seem entirely unfounded.
The young people took it lightly, however. "There's no use worrying,"said Patty. "We ought to be thankful, Philip, that we're undershelter, and with such kind friends. You'll keep us till the storm isover, won't you, Mrs. Fay?"
"Yes, and glad to. You just can't think of starting now, so you mightas well settle down and make the best of it. Want to telephone to yourpeople again?"
"We will after a while; but there's no use calling them up now. Let'swait and see whether the storm grows worse or better. Why, if it's ablizzard, we may have to stay here all night!"
"Don't let that worry you none," and Mrs. Fay swung back and forthcomplacently in her plush patent-rocker. "We got two spare bedrooms,and I'll just be tickled to death to put you up over night. You'rejust like a streak of sunshine in the house, Miss Fairfield, and I'mglad to have you as long as you'll stay."
"I wish you'd call me a streak of sunshine," said Philip. "I'd love tobe called that."
"Well, you're bright enough," and Mrs. Fay looked at him, serenely."But you're a different kind of a streak."
"A streak of lightning, I guess, if need be," said Miss Winthrop,nodding her head at Philip, as if she appreciated his capabilities.
"I'm quick at some things," said Philip, modestly. "But, jiminycrickets! I don't believe we're going to be very quick getting awayfrom here! Just look at the storm, _now_!"
The fury of the elements had increased. The wind was a raging northernblast, and the snow was already piled in drifts. It was, in fact, ablizzard in a small way, and was rapidly growing.
"But never mind the weather, so long as we're together," sang Pattywith a little trill, as she danced about the room. Then she seatedherself at the old, square piano, and began to sing snatches of gaysongs.
"My land! How pretty you do sing," said Miss Winthrop, who was leaningon the end of the piano, listening delightedly. "Oh, sing more, won'tyou? I don't know when I've had such a treat."
So Patty sang several of her prettiest songs, and the two old ladieswere enchanted. Moreover, Eliza, the maid-of-all-work, and 'Kiah, thehired man, appeared in the doorway of the sitting-room and listenedtoo.
"Come on, Philip; let's give them a duet," and Patty broke into somerollicking college songs, in which Philip joined.
Glad to be able to please their kind entertainers, they kept onsinging for an hour or more.
"Well, that was great!" exclaimed Mrs. Fay, as Patty rose at last fromthe piano stool. "I used to sing some, and he used to sing bass. My,but we had nice times singing together there at that same piano. Youtwo just made me think of it all over again. I think it's awful nicefor two to sing together."
"Yes, we're awfully fond of singing together," said Philip, with aglance at Patty, half mischievous, half tender, whereat Patty blushed.
"You needn't tell me," said Mrs. Fay, nodding her head. "I see justhow it is with you two. You can't hide it, you know, so you needn't totry."
"Oh, I don't want to hide anything, I'm sure," said Philip. But Pattysaid, "Don't be foolish, Philip; there's nothing to hide! You'remistaken, Mrs. Fay, if you think we're anything more tha
n friends."
"Oh, land, child, I know what that means! Maybe you ain't ready to sayyes yet, but you will soon. Well, it ain't none of my business, butI'm free to confess you are as proper-lookin' a young couple as I'dwant to meet; and mighty well suited to each other."
"That's what I think," began Philip, but Patty turned the subject andwent back to the weather, which was always a safe ground forconversation, if not safe to go out into.
"Well," she said, going to the window for the fourteenth time; "it'sperfectly hopeless to think of starting. And it's after four now, andit's blowing great guns and snowing like all possessed! Mrs. Fay,we'll simply have to accept your hospitality for the night. Now Ithink I'll telephone Adele that we're stormbound."
But though Patty called and called, she could get no answer from thetelephone Central.
"Guess the wires must be down," said Miss Winthrop. "They broke downlast winter with a snow that came sudden, just like this, and 'twas aweek before we got it fixed."
"Let me try," and Philip took the receiver from Patty's hand. But itmade no difference who tried, they could get no answer of any kind.
"Oh, well," said Philip, as he hung up the receiver again, "it doesn'tmatter much. They know we're safe, and they know where we are, andthey know we couldn't start out in a storm like this."
"Maybe they'll come for us with a motor," suggested Patty.
"They might if we were nearer. But a motor would get stalled before itcould get over here and back again in these drifts. It's an awfulstorm, Patty, and the sooner you make up your mind that we can't gohome to-night, the better for all concerned."
"My mind's made up, then," and Patty danced about the room. "I don'tmind a bit! I think it's a lark. Do you have feather beds, Mrs.Fay?--I mean the kind you climb up to with step-ladders."
"Land no, child! We ain't old-fashioned folks, you know. We havesprings and mattresses just like you do at home. Well, I'm sorry ifyour folks are worried, but I'm glad to have you young people stay thenight. Maybe this evening, you'll sing for us some more."
"We will," said Philip. "We'll sing everything we know, and then makeup some."
Once having made up her mind to the inevitable, Patty ceased botheringabout it, and proceeded to enjoy herself and to entertain everybodyelse. She chatted pleasantly with the old lady, she coquetted withPhilip, and finally wandered out into the kitchen to make friends withEliza.
"Let me help you get supper," she said, for, to tell the truth, thenovelty of the situation had passed, and Patty began to feel a littlebored.
"Supper ain't nothin' to get, miss," returned Eliza, a rawboned,countrified girl who was shy in the presence of this city lady.
"Well, let me help you, anyway. Mayn't I set the table?"
"I'm afraid you wouldn't know where the things was. Here, take thisdish and go down cellar for the butter, if so be's you have to dosomethin'. It's in a kag, underneath the swing-shelf."
"Swing-shelf?" said Patty, interested--"what is a swing-shelf?"
"Why, a shelf hanging from the ceiling, to keep things on."
"But why does it hang from the ceiling? I never heard of such athing."
"Why, so the rats or mice can't get at the things."
"Rats or mice!" and Patty gave a wild scream. "Here, take your plate,Eliza. I wouldn't go down there for a million billion dollars!"
Patty ran back to the sitting-room. "Oh, Philip," she cried, "theyhave rats and mice! Can't we go home? I don't mind the storm!"
"There, there, Patty," said Philip, meeting her half-way across theroom, and taking her hand in his. "Don't be silly!"
"I'm _not_ silly! But I _can't_ stay where they keep rats and mice!Why, Philip, they _expect_ them. They build high shelves on purposefor them."
"You must excuse this little girl, Mrs. Fay," said Philip. "She'sreally sensible in most ways, but she's an absolute idiot about mice,and she can't help it. Why, the other night----"
Patty drew her hand away from Philip's clasp, and put it over hismouth. "Stop!" she said, blushing furiously. "Don't you say anotherword! I'm _not_ afraid of mice, Mrs. Fay."
"There, there, child; I know you are, and I don't blame you a mite. Iam, too, or leastways, I used to be. I've kinder got over it of lateyears. But I know just how you feel. Now, let me tell you; _honest_,never a mouse dares show the tip of his nose outside the cellar! Ifyou don't go down there, you're as safe as you would be up in aballoon. And I don't count none the less on you for acting skittishabout 'em."
"I don't mind it, either," said Philip, who was still holding Patty'shand by way of reassurance. "I shouldn't mind if you acted skittisheryet."
But Patty drew her hand away, declaring that Mrs. Fay had quieted herfears entirely, and that if Eliza would promise to keep the cellardoor shut, she wouldn't give another thought to the dreaded animals.
After supper, the four played a game of old-fashioned whist, whichdelighted the two old ladies, though it seemed strange to Patty andPhilip, who were both good bridge players. Then there was more music,and at ten o'clock Miss Winthrop informed them that it was bedtime.
With considerable pride she took Patty up to the best spare room.
"Now, I hope you'll be comfortable," she said, "and I'm sure you willbe. Here's my best night-gown for you, and a dressing-gown andslippers. I don't need 'em,--I can get along. And here's a brush andcomb. And now, that's everything you want, isn't it?"
Patty was touched at the kindliness of the old lady, and thoughinwardly amused at the meagerness of her night appointments, she said,gratefully, "You're so kind to me, Miss Winthrop. Truly, I doappreciate it."
"You sweet little thing," returned the old lady. "Now let me unhookyou,--I should admire to do so."
So Miss Winthrop assisted Patty to undress, and finally, after minutedirections about the turning down and blowing out of the kerosenelamp, she went away.
When Patty surveyed herself in the mirror, she almost laughed aloud.The night-dress was of thick, unbleached muslin, made with tight bandsto button around the neck and wrists. These bands were edged with arow of narrow tatting; and it was this trimming, Patty felt sure, thatdifferentiated Miss Winthrop's best night-gown from her others. ThenPatty tried on the dressing-gown, which was of dark grey flannel.This, too, was severely plain, though voluminous in shape; and theslippers were of black felt, and quite large enough for Patty to putboth feet in one. She arrayed herself in these things and gave way tosilent laughter as she pirouetted across the room. But her amusementat the unattractive garments in no way lessened her real appreciationof the gentle kindliness and hospitality that had been accorded toher.
At last she tucked herself into bed, and rolling over on the nubblymattress and creaky springs, she almost wished that it had been afeather bed. But she was soon asleep, and thought no more aboutanything until morning.
Breakfast was at half-past seven, and after that, the long morningdragged. The fun and novelty had worn off, and Patty was anxious toget back to Fern Falls. She was bright and entertaining as ever, butthe spontaneous enthusiasm of the day before had vanished.
But it was impossible to start that morning, Philip said. The roadswere piled high with drifts, and almost impassable.
"But why can't we break the roads?" asked Patty. "Somebody has to doit, and I'm sure Jim's horses are as good as anybody's."
"Little girls mustn't advise on matters which they know nothingabout," said Philip, unable to resist the temptation to tease her.
Patty pouted a little, and then, with a sudden resolution, was her ownsunny self again. "All right, Philip," she said, smiling at him. "Iknow you'll start as soon as it's possible. When will that be?"
"Perhaps we can go this afternoon, dear; right after dinner, maybe.The man thinks the roads will be broken by that time."
The storm had ceased, and it was cloudy most of the morning, but aboutnoon the sun came out, and by two o'clock they prepared to start.
The two kind old ladies were sorry to see them go, and begged them tocome again
some time to visit them.
Patty said good-bye with expressions of real and honestly meantgratitude, for surely Mrs. Fay and her sister had been kindness itselfto their young guests.
"But goodness, gracious, Philip," Patty exclaimed, as they went flyingdown the road, "if I had had to stay there another night, I shouldhave died!"
"Why, Patty, it wasn't so bad. Of course, they are primitive andold-fashioned people; but they are true ladies, even if not veryhighly educated. And their hospitality was simply unlimited."
"Yes, I know all that," said Patty, impatiently; "but I was bored todeath."
"Well, you didn't show it; you were sweet as a peach to those twopeople, and they'll always love you for it."
"Oh, of course I wouldn't be impolite; but I'm glad we're started forhome."
"Well, I'm not. Patty, I just enjoyed every minute,--because I wasthere with you. Dear, you don't _know_ what it meant to me."
"Now, Philip," and Patty turned to flash a twinkling smile at him, "wehave a twelve-mile drive ahead of us, besides gathering the eggs. Now,if you're going to say things like that to me all that twelve miles,I'm going to jump right out into this snowbank and stay there tillsomebody comes along and picks me up."
"But, Patty, I _must_ say these things to you."
"Then, I _must_ jump."
"But wait a minute, dear; before you jump, won't you just tell me thatI may have a little hope that some day you'll promise to be my ownlittle Patty forever?"
"Philip, I _can't_ say anything like that, and I _wish_ you wouldn'ttease me. If those snowbanks didn't look so dreadfully cold----"
"But they _are_ cold. If you don't believe it, I will wait while youtry one. But, Patty, anyway, tell me this. If I stop teasing you now,will you give me an answer when I come back at New Year's? You know, Imust take that five-thirty train this afternoon, and I shan't see youagain till next week. Will you give me an answer then?"
"'Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer, do!'" sang Patty, with a saucysmile at him.
"No, I don't want Daisy's answer, I want yours. Now, you think it overthrough the week, and when I come up next Tuesday, you be ready tosay, 'Yes, Philip, you may hope, and some day I'll make your hope cometrue.'"
"That's an awful long speech to learn by heart," said Patty, musingly.
"But you needn't learn it word for word; just say something from yourown heart that means the same."
"Well," said Patty, "next Tuesday I'll look into my heart and seewhat's there; and if there's anything for you, I'll tell you."
Philip was forced to be content with this, for Patty suddenly changedthe subject, and began to chatter merry nonsense that afforded noopportunity for romance. The roads were only a little broken, and thegoing was hard, because of occasional big drifts, but along somewind-swept stretches they made fairly good time.
"But I say," said Philip; "we'll have to cut out the butter and eggchapter! I simply _must_ get that five-thirty, and I can't do it if wego around by Hatton's Corners."
"All right," returned Patty. "I'll put it up to Adele that we justcouldn't do it; and I'll tell you what, Philip, we'll go right to thestation, and you take the train there without going to the Kenerleys'at all. They'll send your things down to-morrow."
"That would be the safer way. But how will you get home from thestation?"
"Oh, I'll telephone from the station office, and they'll send Martin,or somebody, after me."
"But you have to wait so long. Here's a better plan. Let's stop at theBarclay Inn, and telephone from there. Then when we reach the station,Martin or somebody will be there for you."
Patty agreed, and when they reached the Barclay Inn, a few miles fromFern Falls, they went in to telephone.
"We're on our way home," said Patty, after she had succeeded ingetting a connection.
"Well, I should think it was time!" exclaimed Adele. "You don't knowwhat you've missed! Where are you?"
"At Barclay Inn; and we're in an awful hurry. Philip is going to takethe five-thirty from the station, and you send somebody there to meetme and drive the horses home, will you! And what did I miss? And_you'll_ miss the butter and eggs, because we didn't get them."
"But where have you been? We tried all yesterday to get you on thetelephone, and all this morning, too."
"Yes, I know; the wires broke down. But everything's all right. Westayed at Mrs. Fay's. I'll tell you all about it when I see you. Besure to have me met at the station. Good-bye."
Patty hung up the receiver and hurried back to Philip. "We'll have tohustle to catch that train," he said, as he tucked her in the sleigh."Did you get Adele?"
"Yes; she'll send some one to meet me. She says I missed something. Doyou suppose they had a party last night in all that blizzard?"
"Well, it's just as well for you to miss a party once in a while; youhave plenty of them. And I like the party I was at better than any Iever went to."
The roads were much better where they were travelling now, and theyreached the station in time for Philip's train. But it was a closeconnection, for the train was already in the station, and as Philipswung aboard, he saw Martin and Hal Ferris coming in another sleigh.
"There they are!" he called to Patty. "It's all right, good-bye."
"Good-bye," she called back, and then the train pulled out.
"Well, you _did_ cut up a pretty trick!" exclaimed Hal Ferris, as hecame up to her. "Now, you jump in here with me, and I'll drive youhome, and let Martin look after your horses. They must be pretty welldone up. I would have brought a motor, but the sleighing's fine, andthe motoring isn't. Hop in."
Patty hopped in, and in a moment they were flying along toward home.
"What did I miss?" she asked. "Did you have a party last night?"
"Party! in that storm! Rather not."
"Well, what _did_ I miss?"
"What makes you think you missed anything?"
"Adele told me so, over the telephone."
"Well, then, let Adele tell you what it was. How could I possiblyknow?"
"But what did you do last night?"
"Nothing much; sat around, sang a little, and talked,--and I guessthat's all."
"Who was there? Didn't Roger go home?"
"Yes; Roger went down on the morning train, just after you started onyour wild career."
"Well, who _was_ there? Chub, I know you're keeping something from me.Now, tell me what it is!"
"Do you really want to know, Patty? Well, Bill Farnsworth was there."
"What!" and Patty nearly fell out of the sleigh in astonishment. "BillFarnsworth?"
"Yes; he came unexpectedly yesterday afternoon. Could only staytwenty-four hours, and went back to-day on the two o'clock train."
Patty wondered to herself why she felt as if something awful hadhappened. She couldn't realise that Bill had been there, and had goneaway, and she hadn't seen him! What a cruel coincidence that it shouldhave been just at the time when she was away. But her pride came toher rescue. She had no intention of letting Hal Ferris or anybody elseknow that she cared.
So she said, lightly: "Well, of all things! Didn't anybody expecthim?"
"No; he thought he'd surprise us. He was awfully cut up that youweren't there."
"Oh, he was! Well, why didn't you send for me?"
"Send for you! And you miles away, and a blizzard blizzing like fury!But we spent hours hanging over the telephone, trying to get word toyou."
"The wires were down," said Patty, thinking of the uninterestingevening she had spent, when she might have been talking to LittleBillee.
"They sure were! We tried and tried, but we couldn't get a peep out ofyou. Daisy said it was because you were so wrapped up in Philip thatyou wouldn't answer the old telephone."
Patty's pretty face hardened a little as she thought how Daisy woulddelight in making such a speech as that before Farnsworth.
"I say, Patty, are you cut up about this? Did you want to see BigBill, specially?"
"Oh, no, no," said Patty, smiling a
gain. "I only thought it seemedfunny that he happened to come when I happened to be away."
"Yes, I know; but of course nobody could help it. He came East on aflying business trip. Tried to get here for Christmas, but couldn'tmake it. He waited over a day, just to skip up here and back; said hewanted to see us all. But he had to take the two o'clock back to NewYork to-day, and I believe he starts to-night for Arizona. He's agreat fellow, Bill is. You like him, don't you, Patty?"
"Yes, I like him," said Patty, simply.
"I've known him for years, you know. Giant Greatheart, we used to callhim. So big and good, you know. Always doing something for somebody,and generous as he can be. Well, he's making good out in the mines. Idon't know exactly what he's doing, but he's in a fair way to be arich man. He's connected with some big company, and he's working withall his might. And when you say that about Big Bill Farnsworth, itmeans a good deal."