PREPARATIONS FOR THE WEDDING
At last September came. Mary Lee reached the city ready for school and
her duties as bridesmaid. She had left the Quinn home with mixed
feeling; sadness at parting from such good friends and joy at the
thought of entering new experiences; it was exhilarating to come to a
turning point in life.
For the Quinns, however, Mary Lee's departure had brought only sorrow.
They tried hard to be unselfish, to be glad for her sake. But they
felt intuitively that she had gone for good, that she would never
return, and their attempt to appear glad, if the truth must be told,
was a sorry failure.
Mrs. Cameron had taken it for granted that when Mary Lee came to the
city, she would make her home with them, and Ruth had hopes of having
her stay at her house. Letty, however, had insistently claimed that
Mary Lee should stay with her. In fact, Mary Lee had been Letty's
guest the very first night. Considerable debate came up the second day
over this question, when Mary Lee and Letty had called for Ruth and
the three had made a call on Mrs. Cameron. Dr. Anderson had been a
luncheon guest and was still there when the girls arrived as, of
course, was Aunt Madge.
The argument as to where Mary Lee should stay became quite heated
although it was carried on with good nature. Each one was insistent
about carrying her point. The prospective guest, and Aunt Madge as
well as the doctor had found the discussion amusing and the latter, in
particular, man like, poked fun at all of them.
"Well, Mary Lee," he remarked, "no one would class you as an
undesirable. Nor could you be considered in the light of a poor
relation."
"From the way you folks talk," added Aunt Madge, "one would never
infer that the victim had any rights in the matter nor that there
might be a possibility that she would have a preference as to where
she would like to stay."
Nothing could have flustered Mary Lee more than this. She showed such
distress and embarrassment at any likelihood of having to decide the
argument, that Aunt Madge took instant pity upon her. She regretted
her interference and came quickly to the relief of the girl.
"No," she interposed. "On second thought, we shouldn't let her decide.
I'm certain that it would be pleasant for Mary Lee at any of your
homes."
"Yes," said Dr. Anderson, "we must keep her out of this important
discussion, slave that she is," he added with mock ferocity.
Everyone laughed but Letty. She was so anxious to have the question
decided in her favor that she did not even hear what Dr. Anderson had
just said. She had listened with some dismay and misgiving to the
first suggestion that Mary Lee be allowed to choose her own home. The
new Letty dared not hope that she would be chosen in preference to
Ruth and Mrs. Cameron.
"I know what we will do," Dr. Anderson said. "We two, I mean," and he
nodded his head toward Aunt Madge to avoid calling her name. One of
the delightful things about him was that he could not overcome the
habit, try as he would, of blushing when mentioning his fiancee by
name. Worst of all, their friends were acquainted with this
characteristic. He was annoyed with himself for not being able to
overcome it, and, wisely so he thought he had decided to avoid the
amused watchfulness of these friends by failing to mention her by
name. This time, he was fairly caught.
"Which two do you mean?" Mary Lee asked innocently even as Aunt Madge,
Mrs. Cameron and the girls watched him with laughing eyes. "Which
two?" the girl repeated.
Dr. Anderson scowled.
"Why, Madge and myself," he replied and then could feel himself
turning brick red even though he made every effort to appear
unconcerned. And while they all laughed, he continued as if he did not
hear them:
"Madge and I will be the judges as to where Mary Lee is to stay. You
are all to prove prior rights as they do in all claims upon valuable
property."
Neither Mrs. Cameron nor Ruth, however, could bring forth any such
proof except that the former had never considered that there could be
any question about it. As for Ruth, she had just hoped that Mary Lee
would naturally want to stay with her.
"Well, then," triumphantly declared Letty, "Mary Lee was invited by me
long, long ago, when she first moved out to the farm. Weren't you,
Mary Lee?" she asked as she pointed an excited finger straight at the
girl. She was so much in earnest that it raised another laugh.
"I was," answered Mary Lee, and in her heart there was a great warmth
and affection for all these dear friends who were so earnest in their
desire to have her stay with them and in particular for this
warm-hearted, impetuous Letty.
"The jury will now retire," said Dr. Anderson.
Aunt Madge and he went into a far corner and were in earnest
discussion for several minutes. Finally they returned.
"We, the jury, decided that Mary Lee is to stay with Letty. But--" and
the doctor paused impressively--"she is to make long visits to the
other claimants at reasonable times, and in view of the valuable
services of the jury she is to make equally long visits to the jury
after a certain very happy event takes place."
There was more laughter and general satisfaction on the part of all.
Before the girls left Mrs. Cameron called Mary Lee aside for a moment.
"My dear," she said, "I have ordered a party gown for you to wear at
the wedding. Can't you stay here until tomorrow and try it on?"
Mary Lee was greatly distressed. "Oh, I'm so sorry, Mrs. Cameron, but
I can't accept your wonderful gift. You are so kind and it is so very
tempting." She paused.
"You see," she continued, "I have my pretty white organdie dress which
is almost new. I do not wish to become further indebted to any of you;
you have all been so kind and I already owe you so much. I just hoped
that my simple dress would do. Dear Mrs. Cameron, I hope so to earn
enough to pay my way while in the city in order that I can be
self-reliant."
Mrs. Cameron thought for a moment. It was a little hard to overcome
her disappointment. She had set her heart upon this gift.
"You know," continued Mary Lee, and there were tears in her eyes at
the disappointment she was causing, "I appreciate your kindness so
much. But I do hope you can see my side of it," she concluded.
"You shall have your way, my dear," answered Mrs. Cameron bravely and
wholeheartedly, as she took the girl in her arms and gave her a good,
motherly hug.