"Come out when we have our play," said Patty; "it's going to be
beautiful."
"What play is that?"
"We don't know yet, we haven't decided on it."
"I know an awfully good play. One of the fellows up at college wrote it,
and so it isn't hackneyed yet."
"Oh, tell me about it," said Patty. "Papa, can't we take the next later
train home?"
"Yes, chick, I don't mind if you don't; or, better still, if Mr. Harper
can go with us, I'll take both of you children out to dinner in some
great, glittering, noisy hotel."
"Oh, gorgeous!" cried Patty. "Can you go, Mr. Harper?"
"Indeed I can, and I shall be only too glad. College boys are not
overcrowded with invitations, and I am glad to say I have no other for
to-night."
"You'll have to telephone to Emancipation Proclamation, papa,"
said Patty, "or she'll get out all the bell-ringers, and drag the
river for us."
"So she will," said Mr. Fairfield. "I'll set her mind at rest the
first thing."
"That's our cook," explained Patty.
"It's a lovely name," observed Kenneth, "but just a bit lengthy for
every-day use."
"Oh, it's only for Sundays and holidays," said Patty; "other days we
contract it to Mancy."
Seated at table in a bright and beautiful restaurant, Patty and her new
friend began to chatter like magpies while Mr. Fairfield ordered dinner.
"Now tell me all about your friend's play," said Patty, "for I feel sure
it's going to be just what we want"
"Well, the scene," said Kenneth, "is on Mount Olympus, and the characters
are all the gods and goddesses, you know, but they're brought up to date.
In fact, that's the name of the play, 'Mount Olympus Up to Date.' Aurora,
you know, has an automobile instead of her old-fashioned car."
"But you don't have the automobile on the stage?"
"Oh, no! Aurora just comes in in her automobile rig and talks about her
'bubble.' Mercury has a bicycle; he's a trick rider, and does all sorts
of stunts. And Venus is a summer girl, dressed up in a stunning gown and
a Paris hat. And Hercules has a punching-bag--to make himself stronger,
you know. And Niobe has quantities of handkerchiefs, dozens and dozens of
them; she's an awfully funny character."
"Oh, I think it would be lovely!" said Patty. "Where can we get
the book?"
"I'll send you one to-morrow, and you can see if you like it; and then if
you do, you can get more."
"Oh, I'm sure the girls will all like it; and will you come out to see
it?"
"Yes, I'd be glad to. I was in it last winter. I was Mercury."
"Oh, can you do trick work on bicycles?"
"Yes, a little," said Kenneth modestly.
"I wish you'd come out and be Mercury in our play."
"Aren't you going ahead rather fast, Patty, child?" said her father.
"Your club hasn't decided to use this play yet."
"I know it, papa, and of course I mean if we _do_ use it; but anyway, I'm
president of the club, and somehow, if I want a thing, the rest of the
girls generally seem to want it too."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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