AUNT MADGE IS MARRIED
Aunt Madge had always been a firm believer in simplicity and she made
that the predominating tone of the ceremony. She had a fair share of
worldly riches and yet she had not, as our readers who have grown to
know her must readily realize, ever made use of her wealth for garish
display. There was a fine dignity and charm about the ceremony of the
marriage that came through the gifted touch of true womanhood.
It was at an old church, beautiful, stately and with that atmosphere
that brings of itself devoutness, religious fervor and conviction. A
wonderful organ played, as down the aisle came Ruth and Edith,
followed by Letty and Mary Lee. The four girls were as fair as the
flowers they carried and made a charming picture that brought forth a
murmur of admiration. About them, too, as if to fit in with the
entire impressiveness, was a sense of quiet and repose that to those
who knew them measured the significance and importance of the event
for them.
Mrs. Cameron as matron of honor followed, and Dr. Payson escorted the
bride. The bridegroom? He had been waiting with Dr. Payson, his best
man, at the altar throughout the entire ordeal. But we shall speak of
him a little later, for our eyes are upon the bride as she goes,
slowly and yet in perfect time of music, down the broad aisle to the
altar.
All brides are beautiful. And yet, Margaret Cameron made a picture
that was to stay in the minds of those present for many a day. One
stores away memories and impressions of that kind.
We are so built that everything must be symbolized. For as one thinks
of green woods, there is sure to come the picture of one certain spot,
one certain nook to symbolize it; so, for many of those present, there
would, in the same way, come a picture of Margaret Cameron as she
appeared that day, whenever thereafter weddings and brides were spoken
about. The fineness of her! She carried a shower bouquet of white
roses and lilies of the valley. Her head-dress was very becoming--a
bridal veil prettily arranged--and her gown was a simple creation of
white satin draped gracefully, trimmed with some rare old lace which
belonged to her mother, and which had adorned her bridal gown.
We wish we could defy the conventional and the expected and say for
the groom that he was fully at ease, self-contained, in full command
of the situation. Poor man, we wish we could say it and remain
truthful. We could not do both. Never was any man more in need of
help. Dr. Payson had a busy time of it. His whispered instructions
fell on deaf ears, the owner of which was too scared to even hear. At
the proper time, too, he was almost dragged to the proper place.
He did, however, manage to answer, "I will" distinctly. And as if that
had been the goal, once he did that, some of his composure came back
to him.
Dr. Payson always insisted thereafter that his friend had primed
himself for the "I will" and was unequal to anything else.
"Why, I actually felt sorry for him," he said. "His knees were
trembling and knocking against each other. I couldn't make out the
thing he was mumbling but I feel certain he was only rehearsing to
himself 'I will, I will, I will.'"
There was the usual rush of friends after the Reverend Dr. Arthur had
tied the knot, and the shower of congratulations. It was the plan of
the married couple to leave at once. To the new benedict, it seemed,
however, that the number of their friends was unlimited and the time
they took to offer their good wishes hours and hours. But all things
have an end and so the Andersons were off at last. Mrs. Anderson had
found the opportunity for an affectionate leave-taking from her girls
and also from Bob Cameron. She had promised to write to them, too.
Some of the tenseness of the last few days seemed to go with the
couple. Mrs. Cameron sighed with relief--relief over the fact that
there had been no hitch and that the event had gone through so
smoothly. Belief, too, that the worry and bustle were over.
For the girls there came a moment of reaction. Just what would take
the place of the excitement and planning of the last few weeks? School
seemed tame in comparison. Even the fact that Mary Lee had procured a
position for some of her spare time had not created the furore that it
would have under ordinary circumstances.
"It certainly seems strange to think of Aunt Madge as Mrs. Anderson,
doesn't it?" asked Ruth as the party started for the door.
"And I suppose that's what we'll have to call her, too, instead of
Aunt Madge," added Letty ruefully.
"And precious little we shall see of her from now on, I suppose," was
Edith's contribution.
"I declare when I grow up I just won't marry and desert my friends, I
just won't." The sense of injury was growing stronger and it was so
voiced by Letty.
The rest of the girls laughed at her.
"You'll be the very first one, Letty dear," Mary Lee answered her, as
she gave the impetuous Letty an affectionate hug. "Come, girls, let's
plan for school," she added.
Dr. Payson was just entering his car as they came to the street.
"Don't forget, Mary Lee," he called to her. "Be sure to report on
time."
"I certainly will," answered Mary Lee.