CHAPTER XLIX
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_.