Carolyn Wells

Patty-Bride Carolyn Wells

Hello! Patty Popinjay! Where are you?"As a matter of fact, Patty was curled up in a big armchair near the library fire, waiting forthat very voice."Here I am!" she cried in return and jumped up to be grabbed in the arms of a handsome, jolly-looking girl who came flying into the room. "Oh, Bumble, I'm so glad to see you!"The newcomer laughed."Bumble!" she exclaimed; "I haven't heard that name for years. Let me look at you, Patty. My! you're prettier than ever! Well, I just had to come. I couldn't resist, when I heard ofyour engagement. Where's the man? Show him to me at once!""Oh, he isn't here, for the moment. But you'll see him soon. I'm only afraid you'll cut me out. Why, Bumble, -Helen, I mean, you're utterly changed from the little girl I remember.""Of course I am-in appearance, -but no other way.""Are you still the happy-go-lucky, hit-or-miss little rascal you used to be?""Of course I am. Oh, Patty, doesn't it seem long ago that you spent that summer with us?And to think I've scarcely seen you since! Not since Nan's wedding, anyway.""No; and you only in Philadelphia! It's ridiculous. But, I've tried to get you over here timeand again.""I know it. But I went out West to Stanford, and I was there so long, I almost lost track of allmy Eastern people. Your Best Beloved is Western, isn't he? Oh, Patty, tell me all, -everything about him.""All in good time, Helen, honey. For now, I'll just say that he's the dearest and best man inthe whole world, and that you'll agree to that when you see him. Now, come up to yourroom, and fix yourself up. You look as if you'd been through a whirlwi