THE STRANGE WEDDING-GUESTS
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Bright and fair dawned the wedding-day of Prince Florimel and Queen
Titania.
Though all the days vied in beauty with each other, this one seemed to
be more radiant with grace and loveliness than usual, for every living
thing loved the happy little lovers and all Nature rejoiced with them.
The skies put on their tenderest blue, the sun scattered even more of
its golden treasure, the winds grew more balmy and caressing, while the
flowers were prodigal with perfume, and the birds were tireless with
their joyous serenades.
Though the ceremony was not to be performed till eve, still the fairies
were busy with their preparations at sun-up, and the palace fairly
hummed with their activities.
Long banquet-tables had been arranged in the throne-room, and on
snowy napery were dishes, cups, and saucers fashioned with quaint
exquisiteness from flowers, and there were lily chalices of sparkling
dew with which to pledge the health of the happy bride and groom.
In the kitchen a host of willing workers were being directed by little
Dame Drusilda, and their conscientious efforts showed in ice cream with
fruits of all flavors, charlotte russe, mince pies, plum puddings, all
kinds of berry tarts, old-fashioned strawberry short-cake, peach
cobblers, and apple dumplings. For the menu of the fairies was composed
almost entirely of the most delicious desserts imaginable, and they ate
what they wished, and as much as they liked, without ever getting the
indigestion.
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So the day wore on toward dusk, and, though to all the others, each hour
seemed a minute, and each minute a second, Florimel and Titania in their
impatience thought that it would never end, the very sun seemed to
stand still, as upon Gibeon.
He had left the Brownies to their own devices to be with her, and while
they talked of their union now so close at hand both were arrayed in
their fine wedding-garb.
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"Are you happy, Florimel?" she asked him, for the thousandth time.
"Happier than words can say," was his fervent response.
"And you're sure you'll never regret it?"
"Yes, positive, Titania. I wonder what's keeping King Stanislaus and the
band. They ought to be here by this time."
"Oh, Florimel, my happiness would be complete were it not for the
thought of Dragonfel." At the mention of the wicked enchanter's name he
gave an involuntary start.
"We mustn't borrow trouble on his account," he said, trying to speak
lightly. "He's across the sea where he can't hurt us. Let us think
instead of our approaching happiness."
Then fairies came skipping and running from the palace, clapping their
hands in sheer delight, cheering, and waving tiny handkerchiefs at a
great rate. And windows gay with flags and bunting filled with flushed,
eager, excited faces all looking out, while the Cupids were lifted up in
arms so they could better see.
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"The Brownies must be coming!" cried Florimel to Titania. "Let us go up
on the palace-steps where we can get a view of them."
He gallantly offered her his arm, and escorted her to a position with
the rest, from which they could obtain a glimpse of the road as it wound
curving away, with the blue, dimpling sea beyond.
Down the road came the joyous band, with hearts attuned to merry-making,
and never was a jollier procession.
Beasts and birds alike had freely offered their services toward making
this grand entree as triumphantly imposing as possible, and in the
long frisking, frolicking, cavorting line of march were lions, tigers,
elephants, camels, zebras, ostriches, emus, cassowaries, and many other
creatures of field, forest, and jungle, four-footed and two, whose backs
bore willingly the burden of the gay, laughing sprites.
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But Florimel could not see King Stanislaus among them,
and was much puzzled thereat. When later they were gathered together,
within the garden-walls, and the beasts and birds had gone away, after
eating all the charlotte russe they could, he inquired the cause of His
Majesty's absence.
"He'll be here later," the Student explained. "He had some pressing
engagement with the Policeman, and they went away together."
Suddenly there came a banging on the portcullis so loud that it seemed
to be made with big wooden mallets. Brownies and fairies looked at each
other in consternation and surprise, while many a tiny heart began a
vigorous thumping.
"What's that?" cried Queen Titania.
"There are strangers outside the portcullis, Your Majesty," said the
fairy guard, as she squinted with one eye through the peek-hole.
The banging continued with greater insistence, and, advancing close to
the portcullis, Prince Florimel shouted:
"Who are you, and what do you want?"
"We are friends who have come to the wedding," said a mild, gentle voice
from outside, "who have come to the wedding."
"Well, I like that!" exclaimed the Dude, in great disgust. "Whoever gave
them an invitation?"
"We have brought you some fine presents," the voice hastened to add.
Florimel seemed undecided.
"Shall we admit them?" he asked the rest.
"Avast, messmate!" growled the Sailor. "You'd better have a look at the
presents first!"
"There's nothing to fear," said Titania sweetly. "Bid the strangers
welcome."
The portcullis was straightway raised, and in trooped a queer, motley
crowd. They were attended by four grinning imps in red who varied their
walk with somersaulting antics, and the arms of all but the leader were
full of presents.
These evidently had been selected with much care and thought for the
wedding, and the same taste and judgment were shown that can be found in
nearly all weddings.
One of them had a gigantic pair of scissors which would have taken as
many as a half-dozen Brownies or fairies to cut with. Another held a
cradle big enough to hold the offspring of a giant.
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A third in a cage carried a hen which was alleged to lay three strictly
guaranteed fresh eggs a day. From each hand of a fourth dangled an
immense round clock, and the faces of them were lettered: FALSE ALARM.
MADE IN DEMONLAND. A fifth had a pair of abnormal candle-snuffers.
Others had gifts equally absurd and useless.
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At the instigation of the leader all grouped themselves in a semi-circle
humbly before the bride and groom to-be, and Florimel, who was still
somewhat suspicious, asked:
"What do you want?"
"We are friends," said the leader, in his gentle voice, "most anxious to
pay homage to you."
"If you are friends," said Florimel, "we shall be glad to have you join
in our festivities. Do you dance?"
All shook their heads in unison.
"Don't you tango or do the fox-trot?"
Again they shook their heads.
"Or sing?"
They still shook their heads.
"But just you wait till you see them at the supper-table!" said the Dude
decidedly.
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"Nevertheless," said Florimel kindly, "I trust we shall find some means
for your enjoyment. Have you come far?"
"Yes," said the leader, "many leagues to do you honor. We crave your
acceptance of these few, simple, unpretentious gifts as a trifling
evidence of the distinguished consideration and esteem in which we hold
your fair bride and yourself."
It was plain that he had first carefully prepared and then committed to
memory such a flowery speech.
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In their curiosity to examine the presents the Brownies began to
circulate among the strangers.
When in doing so the Chinaman thoughtlessly put his head between the
open scissors-blades the big, hulking fellow who held them could not
repress an evil inclination, and snapped them together almost instantly
so that the head was held between them in a vise-like grip.
Taking note of this another who had the snuffers clapped the hood
forthwith over an ordinary Brownie so it looked as though he did not
have a head.
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The leader angrily stamped his foot for them to desist from such rude,
ill-mannered antics, whereupon the one reluctantly released the
frightened Chinaman, while the other removed the snuffers from
Brownie's head.
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"You must be weary and travel-stained from your long journey," said
Florimel, not knowing what to think.
"If you will come with me," said Titania hospitably, "I will see that
your wants are provided for."
The new guests at a signal from their leader rose, and when he bowed his
acknowledgment of the proffered courtesy they clumsily followed his
example, while the imps gloatingly patted their stomachs.
Titania motioned to Dame Drusilda, Violet, Daffodil, and some other
fairies to accompany her, and they led the strangers up the steps into
the palace.
Florimel was strongly tempted to follow, but just then King Stanislaus
and the Policeman arrived very much out of breath.
They had come singly, and from opposite directions. Just outside the
portcullis the Policeman had overtaken His Majesty, and they entered the
palace-garden together.
"Officer," said King Stanislaus, "have you anything to report?"
"Yes, sire," said the Policeman, twirling his club. "The path I took
didn't keep straight. My footsteps got so crooked that I had to arrest
them."
"What did you discover?"
"Nothing."
"What was it?"
"I said nothing, sire."
"But nothing's something."
"No, it's nothing."
"If it wasn't something then it wouldn't be in the dictionary. But it's
no use to argue with you. Did you find a clue?"
"Yes, a good one."
"What is it?"
"He wasn't in any of the places I gum-shoed to, so consequently they're
eliminated. The deduction I've arrived at is that he's in some other
place. As he can only be in one place there's only one place to find.
That's easy."
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"Of whom are you both talking?" asked Florimel curiously.
"The Red Spirit," said King Stanislaus. "We'll catch him yet. But the
lovely bride--where is she?"
"In the palace, Your Majesty, providing for some newly arrived
wedding-guests."
"Well, after you're married, Florimel," said King Stanislaus seriously,
"you must be careful your wife doesn't lose her mind."
"Nonsense!"
"No nonsense about it. It often happens to a married woman."
"How so?"
"Sometimes she keeps on giving her husband a piece of her mind till
finally she hasn't any mind left."
Suddenly Mignonette and Jassamine, ladies-in-waiting to the queen, ran
shrieking from the palace.
"What's wrong?" cried Florimel.
"The queen!" gasped Mignonette.
"Yes, the poor queen!" said Jassamine, almost in hysterics.
"Speak!" urged Florimel. "Has anything happened to her?"
"Alas!" wailed Mignonette. "She is gone!"
"Gone!" echoed Florimel, distracted. "Gone where?"
"We know not," said Jassamine. "We have searched the palace over, and
cannot find her."
"Where is Dame Drusilda?" asked Florimel quickly.
"She is gone too," said Mignonette.
"And Daffodil and Violet are missing," added Jassamine.
"Our strange wedding-guests--where are they?"
"They have flown!" cried Mignonette and Jassamine together.
"Then it is they who have taken them," said Florimel, as he ran toward
the palace-steps. "Quick--a search! They cannot have gone far."
But the Brownies had reached the steps before him, and were already
pointing off at the distant sea-line.
"A sail! A sail!" they cried.
"Too late!" said Florimel. "I see it all now. This is the work of
Dragonfel!"
"Dragonfel!" cried one and all together.
"Yes," said Florimel. "Our unknown guests were Dragonfel and his wicked
followers. He has abducted them, and flown with them to his country."
He bowed his head in great despair. King Stanislaus came, and placed his
hand upon his shoulder.
"Be brave, Florimel!" he said. "The Brownies will go at once to the
rescue of Queen Titania!"
"Yes!" shouted the Brownies. "To the rescue of Queen Titania!"
"But how?" asked the despondent Florimel. "We have no ship to take us."
Quick as a wink King Stanislaus improvised:
"We'll build a raft with magic sleight,
And brave the sea ere morning's light!"
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