A DOUBLE WEDDING AT ALL FAITH
“It’s a habit he gibs hisse’f, ole mist’ess! Nuffin’ ’tall but a cussed,
infunally habit he gibs hisse’f! And he ought to be broke ob it, if it
breaks his neck! He to hab de darin’ impidence to take a rale gemman’s
name an’ to go paradin’ up an’ down de yeth an’ roun’ an’ roun’ de worl’
a-deceivin’ ob young damsins like Miss Odilly an’ ole widdies like
you—de owdacious willyun! Wot you reckon dey’ll do wid him, ole
mist’ess?”
Such were the comments and such was the question of Luce, after hearing
the letter of Mrs. Force which the housekeeper of Mondreer, with her
usually perfect openness, had read aloud to the colored cook.
“Wot yer reckon dey gwine to do wid dat ’funally willyun, ole mist’ess?”
again demanded Luce, seeing that the other woman was studying the letter
in silence.
“They’ll hang him! That’s what they’ll do with him. He’s been sent to
England—in chains, I hope—and they’ll hang him! By all accounts they
don’t fool with such people as we do. They hang ’em. And now, Luce,
don’t you ever dare to call me by that devil’s name again! And if
anybody else ever does call me so, I’ll sue ’em for slander and put the
damages as high as the law allows!” exclaimed the housekeeper.
“All yight, ole mist’ess. I won’t call yer dat. But wot mus’ I call
yer?”
“Call me Mrs. Wright. Wright is my right name, and I shall always write
it so, for all of that marriage rite between me and that yonder beat.”
“Jes’ so, ole mist’ess—I’ll ’membeh!”
“It was my dear old man’s name, and I ought never to have changed it.
And I never will again, so help me! And now, Luce, you and me has got to
stir our stumps and make this house jamb, for there’s not only two
weddings—and Lord knows one wedding makes fuss enough in a house!—but
there’s a whole raft of foreign company coming to stay.”
“I t’ought as dere was on’y two st’ange gemmen.”
“Well, but one’s a lord and t’other a lion! And them two’s as much as a
regiment! So look alive, nigger, and put your best foot first before the
foreigners,” said the housekeeper, with vim.
While active preparations were in progress at Mondreer, all the
Grandieres, with Mrs. Hedge, little Rosemary and Miss Sibby Bayard,
returned to the neighborhood.
The sensational news they brought from Washington spread “like wildfire”
through the county, and the capture of the _Kitty_ by the _Argente_; the
taking of the _Argente_ by the _Eagle_; the detection of the true
character of the adventurer whom they had known and lionized as Col.
Angus Anglesea; the discovery of Roland Bayard’s parentage; the
approaching marriage of Leonidas with Odalite, and of Roland with
Rosemary—formed the topics of conversation at all the tea tables and in
all the barrooms for many miles around.
In the height of all this gossip, the Forces, with their two foreign
guests, returned to Mondreer.
They immediately became the objects of daily, yes, hourly calls. Every
acquaintance of the family, high and low, rich and poor, came to welcome
them back to Mondreer, and all were received with courtesy.
Invitations were sent out “broadcast” for the double wedding to be
celebrated at All Faith Church on the first of the ensuing June.
When that day dawned at length the sun arose in a sky as bright and blue
and shone upon a world as green and fresh as ever blessed the bridals of
youth and beauty.
At a very early hour the church was filled with the nearest friends of
the wedding parties, while scores of invited guests who could not press
into the building for want of space sat in their carriages that filled
the grove.
At ten o’clock the venerable clergyman appeared in the chancel, robed in
his white surplice, and attended by his curate and clerk, and with their
appearance a whisper went around the congregation that the bridal
procession was approaching.
This was true. A moment later the doors were noiselessly thrown open,
and the ushers entered, standing on the right and on the left. Then the
bride, Odalite, appeared leaning on the arm of her father. Her dress on
this occasion was very plain and simple—a white silk, trained, and a
long, white tulle veil, with a very slender wreath of orange buds,
gloves, boots, handkerchiefs and bouquet to match, but no jewelry.
Behind her walked her bridesmaids, Wynnette and Elva, girls even more
simply dressed in white than herself.
A few steps in the rear came the second bridal train—little Rosemary
Hedge, led by her greatuncle, Capt. Gideon Grandiere. She looked like a
light, floating cloud, with veil and dress all of snow-white tulle,
looped here and there with lilies of the valley. Behind her walked her
two bridesmaids, the little Elk girls, in simple white organdie dresses.
Last of all came Mrs. Force, with the Earl of Enderby and other friends,
and Mrs. Hedge, with Miss Susannah Grandiere.
As Odalite was led up to the altar by her father, Leonidas Force came
out of the vestry, followed by his groomsman, Sam Grandiere, and joined
them. The circle, immediately arranged itself before the altar—the
friends of the pair standing behind and on the right and left.
The venerable rector opened his book and the rites commenced.
Odalite was the palest bride that ever willingly gave her hand to her
chosen bridegroom; but, then, the shadow of the past overclouded her
spirit.
Leonidas perceived this, and pressed her hand in silent sympathy and
reassuring tenderness.
The rites went on to the end. The benediction was given, and the bride
and groom were warmly congratulated.
Then the newly married pair, with their attendants, withdrew to the rear
to make way for the second wedding.
Old Capt. Grandiere led his niece, Rosemary Hedge, up to the altar,
followed by her bridesmaids. There they were met by Roland Saviola and
his groomsman, Ned Grandiere. They formed before the altar, their
friends and relatives standing behind and on either side.
Again the rector advanced and opened his book, and amid the deep silence
commenced the solemn rites.
When they were ended, and the blessing was bestowed, the bride kissed,
and the bridegroom shaken by the hand, both the wedding parties withdrew
to the vestry to register the marriages.
After this they made very slow progress out of the church, their way
being impeded by their acquaintances, who left the pews to offer their
congratulations.
At length they were permitted to enter their carriages and take the road
to Mondreer, where the marriage breakfast was to be given.
It was a great success, of course. The guests remained until two
o’clock, when they departed, well pleased, and leaving their
entertainers to take a few hours’ repose before repairing to Oldfield
for the evening’s ball.
At the farm they all literally:
“Danced all night till broad daylight.”
Then, after coffee, the two brides and grooms put on their traveling
dresses and took leave of their friends.
Leonidas and Odalite went to Greenbushes to spend their honeymoon
quietly.
Roland and Rosemary left for Washington, en route for New York and
Paris. Mrs. Hedge and Miss Grandiere wept freely at parting with their
darling, but were consoled by the assurance from Roland that the trip
across the Atlantic was nothing at all in these days, and that he should
certainly bring Rosemary back to spend Christmas with them, and
afterward, if they pleased, take both of them to Europe to spend a long
time with Rosemary and himself.
To Miss Sibby Bayard, who had been a true mother to the young man, and
who was weeping silently and wiping her eyes surreptitiously, as if she
were ashamed of her tears, Roland said:
“Dearest Aunt Sibby, though I seem to be leaving you finally, yet it is
not so. You will see me much oftener, and for much longer periods, than
you used to do when I was mate on a merchantman and away to sea three
years at a time. Besides, you will come and stay with us on the other
side as often and as long as you please—forever, if you will. We should
like it.”
“Yes, honey! Never mind me! I’m not crying! What should I cry for, when
you are so happy? I love you too true for that! Rale love, sez I, always
rejoices in the good of its objects, sez I! And them as snivels at the
happiness of their children, sez I, hasn’t much love, but a deal of self
in their souls, sez I!” Miss Sibby concluded, with a glance of reproach
on poor Mrs. Hedge and Miss Grandiere.
At last they were gone.
And the invited guests soon followed.
Oldfield was left to itself, except for the presence of the Forces, who,
being very tired, had accepted Mrs. Grandiere’s pressing invitation to
remain and rest for the whole day. They all retired to their rooms to
lie down and sleep—all except the California widow, who, with her
instincts of order, volunteered to help to put the farmhouse “to rights”
after the party. She called to her aid Luce, who had come to Oldfield in
attendance on her mistress.
Luce’s eyes were red, and her nose was swollen through much crying.
“Now, come out of that, you fool!” exclaimed the widow, who had finished
with her own crying.
“I can’t help ob it!” sobbed Luce. “Dese yere boys an’ gals is ’nough to
break a body’s heart! Allers, eberlastin’ gettin’ married world without
end! But wot’s de use ob talkin’? It’s a habit dey gibs deirse’ves!
Nuffin’ ’tall but a habit dey gibs deirse’ves! An’ dey’ll nebber be
broke ob it—nebber!”
“Oh, hush, Luce! Look up! Look up, woman! There is a good omen! The sun
is rising!”
THE END
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES
Page Changed from Changed to
31 Mr. Force, who placed him in Mr. Force, who placed him in the
charge of a respectable charge of a respectable
228 fondly as ever mother did, yet fondly as ever a mother did, yet
I loved them no more I loved them no more
● Typos fixed; non-standard spelling and dialect retained.
● Enclosed italics font in _underscores_.