CHAPTER XXII.
"There's Blanche now!" exclaimed Dorothy at the breakfast table the nextmorning, as she filled her uncle's coffee cup for the second time. "Ah,Blanche," as the door opened and the young girl walked in, "you are goodin obeying orders, and I'm glad to see you."
"As we all are," said her uncle. "Come, take a seat here by my side andhave a cup of coffee."
"Thank you, sir, I have been to breakfast," she said, taking theindicated seat and exchanging a morning salutation with her CousinsGeorge and William. "And oh, uncle, I want to thank you for the lovelylace you have given me, and the beautiful dress. I know it's beautiful,though I haven't had the pleasure of seeing it yet."
"Well, you shall have that pleasure presently, when we are all done withbreakfast," he said. "I am glad you like my gift, but I expect somereturn for it."
"And I will be delighted to give anything in my power," she replied,smiling up into his eyes. "Please tell me in what coin you will takeyour pay."
"The same that Johnnie, who stayed so long at the fair, wanted to havefor the fair ring he promised to bring his lady-love."
"And will you buy me a bunch of blue ribbon to tie up my bonny brownhair?" she asked with a merry look and smile.
"Not brown, Blanche, darling, it's pure gold," laughed her CousinWilliam.
"And gold and blue look quite as pretty together as blue and brown,"remarked Dorothy.
"I'll buy you as many bunches of blue ribbon as you want and are willingto pay for in the same kind of coin," said Uncle George, laying asidethe napkin he had just been using, turning toward Blanche, taking herface between his hands, and bestowing several kisses upon the rosycheeks and red lips.
"There, uncle, you helped yourself, but I didn't give you any," she saidlaughingly, as he released her, then putting her arms around his neckshe returned his caresses.
"That's the right kind of coin," he said, "and I think I must spare youa few minutes of my valuable time. We are all done eating, and we willgo up now to your aunt's room to say good-morning to her and show youthe wedding silk; for she wants the pleasure of seeing how you like it.Come along, Dorothy, George, and Will, if you care to see whatimpression it makes."
All accepted the invitation and followed quickly after him and Blancheas he led her up the stairs and into Mrs. Eldon's room, where she sat inher invalid chair, looking over the morning paper. She turned towardthem as they entered, saying in a pleasant tone, "Ah, good-morning,Blanche, I am glad to see you. Good-morning, my sons. Help your cousinand yourselves to seats. My dear, you are as much at home here as I am.I'm pleased that you found time to come up again before leaving for thestore. Dorothy, will you please get out the packages and let Blanche seewhat she thinks of the goods?"
Dorothy opened a closet door and brought out several packages done up inbrown paper, handing one to her uncle. "I think you are the one to showthis, sir," she said with a smile.
"Very well," he replied, and in another moment Blanche was gazing withdelighted eyes upon the rich folds of the white silk intended for herwedding dress.
"Oh, I think it is the very loveliest thing I ever saw!" she exclaimed,clasping her hands in an ecstasy of admiration. "Thank you, uncle, thankyou a thousand times! Oh, what a beautiful dress it will make trimmedwith that lovely, lovely lace you have given Ethel and me for thatpurpose."
"Yes, it is very handsome, and you must have veils too," said her aunt,enjoying the sight of the young girl's pleasure almost as much as shedid that of the silk. "Show her the material for them, Dorothy."
Dorothy obeyed, saying, "This is Aunt Sarah's own gift toward yourtrousseaus."
"Oh, auntie, thank you very much," cried Blanche, examining itcritically, "it is just lovely, and I am sure will make up beautifully."
"I am glad you like it," Mrs. Eldon said with a gratified look.
"And these two dress patterns, of different shades of gray silk, arefrom Uncle Albert," remarked Dorothy, opening another package. "Hethought you would not want to be always dressed exactly alike, and saysyou are to decide for yourselves which shall have which."
"Ethel, as the eldest, should be the one to settle that question," saidBlanche. "I think them both so beautiful that I shall not care which isleft for me. Oh, how kind in Uncle Albert to give them to us!"
"And here is enough handsome black silk to make a dress for each ofyou," continued Dorothy, opening still another package and displayingits contents. "It is Aunt Augusta's wedding gift."
"I--I am almost overwhelmed!" cried Blanche, scarcely able to speak fromemotion. "I who never before had even one perfectly new silk dress! Oh,Uncle George, I am afraid you and Uncle Albert will ruin yourselvesdoing so much for us!"
"I have no great apprehensions of that, my little girl," he returnedwith a fatherly smile. "You are the only nieces we have to providefor--except Dorothy here for me, and I don't mean to let her go for agood while yet," smiling affectionately upon her; "so it would be a sadpity if we couldn't open our hearts enough to give you a few weddingclothes. But I must go now, and I think it would be well for you andDorothy to start out pretty soon to attend to that important shoppingwhich I hear you have on hand."
With that the three gentlemen withdrew from the room, and after a fewminutes' chat with their aunt about the purchases to be made thatmorning, Dorothy and Blanche started out also.
They returned to Ethel at dinner time to report as good success withtheir shopping as hers of the previous day. Blanche had bought a graytravelling dress of a different shade from that of her sister, a hat andgloves to match it, besides various smaller articles needed to completeher trousseau, and Ethel admired and approved to the entire satisfactionof the purchasers.
"Now," said Dorothy, "I think we need do very little, if any more,shopping for some weeks, when the spring fashions have come out; butthere is plenty of sewing connected with what we have already bought tokeep us all three busy. How I wish you were ready to come to us at once,so that we could get fairly to work immediately."
"Dorothy, how very kind you are," said Ethel, giving her a bright lookand smile. "I doubt if many girls in your place would think it anyconcern of theirs whether our sewing was done in season or not, or offerus any assistance with it."
"Ah, but you see I am naturally fond of such doings as you have on handat present," laughed Dorothy. "Now, can't you decide to close outearlier than you have been intending to--say in two or three weeks, ifnot sooner? I know perfectly well that aunt and uncle would be delightedto have you come to them so much sooner than you have intended, to saynothing of the boys and the girl Dorothy."
"Then perhaps you may be glad to hear of something that occurred thismorning while you two were shopping. A woman called in to say that,hearing I was going to give up the house this spring, she would like tolook at it with a view to taking it. So I took her over it from attic tocellar. She seemed to think it would exactly suit her, and if it wouldnot inconvenience me to move out sooner than I had intended--say in aweek or two--she would be very glad to take it off my hands, buying thefixtures, most of the furniture, and the goods also--as she means to keepthe same kind of stock--and settling for the rent I should have to paythe landlord if I had stayed on as long as I had intended."
"Oh, delightful!" cried Dorothy. "I hope you closed with the offer atonce?"
"No, not exactly," replied Ethel, smiling at Dorothy's earnestness, "butI told her I would give her my answer to-morrow or next day. I wantedtime you see to consult my uncles, and to make sure I should notinconvenience anybody by accepting the invitation from Uncle George andAunt Sarah so much earlier than they and we had expected."
"I can assure you you needn't hesitate one minute about that," returnedDorothy. "Suppose you come up and talk with Aunt Sarah and the unclesthis evening and have it settled. Then you can see some pretty things wewere showing Blanche this morning."
"Oh, yes, Ethel; some lovely gifts to us from Uncle Albert and the twoaunts."
"Oh, hush!" cried Dorothy, "don't tell what
they are, but let her besurprised as you were this morning."
"Why, you cruel thing! the idea of keeping her waiting so long!"exclaimed Blanche in simulated wrath.
"Oh, I can wait," laughed Ethel; "mysteries and expectations are reallydelightful things sometimes. Now I think of it, as we do not often havemuch custom in the evenings, Harry and you and I, Blanche, might go toUncle George's after tea and talk the matter over with him and UncleAlbert; see the pretty things too, and thank them and the aunts fortheir gifts."
The others thought well of the plan and it was duly carried out
The uncles highly approved of the immediate closing up of Ethel'sbusiness, and the coming to their houses of both nieces and nephewwithout any unnecessary delay. In consequence they were all, in lessthan a fortnight, installed as temporary members of their Uncle George'sfamily, the girls very busy with the necessary preparations for theirapproaching nuptials, and Dorothy equally so as their most kind helper.
The young lady cousins next door took a languid interest and preparedsome little wedding gifts for each of the prospective brides, but thatwas the utmost of their helpfulness.
Busy though they were--very busy with their preparations--Ethel andBlanche managed to find time to carry on a brisk correspondence withPercy and Stuart, whose letters kept them informed of the progress madefrom week to week in the building of their houses and the laying out ofthe grounds, assuring them that they confidently hoped to have thepretty homes ready in good season for their occupants. Their fathers, sothey wrote, would give them, not the grounds and houses alone, butfurniture for them also, and it was their intention to buy carpets,curtains, and parlor furniture at least, in Philadelphia when they wenton for their brides. These would be sent immediately to Pleasant Plains,as their town was called, and arranged in the houses by their Aunt Annisand others of the family who intended to remain at home while the bridalparty made their wedding trip, visiting various places of note in theEastern and Middle States.
"Oh, how pleasant!" exclaimed Dorothy on hearing of these arrangements;"you can go right into your own homes just as soon as you reach thetown. I should like nothing better if I were in your place."
"It suits us exactly," said Ethel.
"Aunt Sarah was saying only this morning that it was time to bepreparing invitations to the wedding and sending them out," remarkedDorothy, "and she wants you girls to make out a list of the relativesand friends of the bridegroom that are to be, who ought to receivecards, so that she can attend to the business, which is just in herline, as she can do it sitting in her chair and with very littleexertion."
"It is most kind in aunt, and we will write at once for such a list,"replied Ethel, looking highly gratified; for both she and Blanche wishedto show every attention to the relatives of Percy and Stuart, but hadnot thus far felt that they had any right to invite them, or anyone, tothe house of their uncle; and he had expressed a wish to have theceremony performed in his own parlor.
The letters were promptly written, sent by the next train for the West,and a reply containing the requested list came by the return of mail.
It gave the names of relatives only, few besides the Keiths, AuntWealthy Stanhope, and such of the Dinsmores as were related to Mrs.Marcia Keith, the maternal grandmother of Percy and Stuart, including,of course, those of New Jersey who had for years so kindly befriendedEthel, Blanche, and their younger brother and sister.
The girls had few friends or acquaintances outside of the families oftheir two uncles, and desiring a quiet wedding because of their recentbereavement, none others were invited.
They were very busy with their preparations, yet had time enough to takematters easily and not be so overworked as to mar their good looks orexhaust their strength. They were almost at leisure and looking rosy andhappy, when their intended partners for life walked in upon them somedays before the one appointed for the important ceremony.
The arrival was not unexpected, for it had been agreed upon that theyshould come in good season to allow time for each young couple to maketheir purchases of household goods and have them shipped for PleasantPlains before the wedding.
Some two or three days were spent most enjoyably in this fascinatingwork of choosing the adornments of their future homes, Dorothy sometimesaccompanying them, by invitation, that they might have the benefit ofher excellent taste and judgment.
In the meantime letters of acceptance or declination, accompanied bygifts--principally of handsome jewelry or silver ware--came pouring infrom the invited relatives, causing the most pleasurable excitementEthel and Blanche had ever known.
Dorothy heartily rejoiced with and for them, fairly going into ecstasiesover a diamond pin for each, from Mr. Horace Dinsmore and his father,and lovely bracelets from Mr. Travilla and his wife, the dear CousinElsie of whom they had often heard Mrs. Landreth speak.
These handsome gifts were accompanied by letters expressing kindlyinterest and the hope of making the acquaintance of the young brides atsome future day, but declining to attend the wedding, as it was notconvenient for any of them to leave home just at that time.
Aunt Wealthy, too, declined for the same reason, and because of heradvanced years, but sent a piece of silver ware to each of the bridesand a warm, even urgent invitation for a visit to her on their homewardway.
"Dear old auntie!" exclaimed Percy on reading the letter, which Ethelhad handed to him, "I think, Stuart, we should try to manage it; if ourbrides are willing," he added with a smiling glance at the two girlssitting near. "It will not take us very much out of our way, and wouldbe such a gratification to her."
"With all my heart, if the ladies do not object," returned Stuart withan enquiring look at them. "I do not believe either of them would regretit, for she is, as you say, 'a dear old lady.' A very amusing one, also,at times," he added with a mirthful look.
"Oh, yes; I have heard your mother and sisters speak of her, Percy, andI should like nothing better than to pay her a little visit in her ownhouse, and engage her to make a return, if possible," Ethel said, hereyes sparkling with pleasure at the very idea.
"I, too," exclaimed Blanche. "Oh, it would be lovely! better than goingto the Eastern States, if we cannot do both."
"Oh, we can do both," said Stuart, "if we do not stay too long at anyone place."
"Yes, of course, we do not expect ever to have another honeymoon,"laughed Percy. "If nobody objects, I'll write at once to Aunt Wealthythat we hope and expect to accept her invitation." A moment of silence,then Blanche said:
"I think you are safe in doing so, as we have all expressed a desire tomake the visit."
"Yes; then I'll write to-night," said Percy. "Oh, by the way, I receiveda letter from Cousin Horace Dinsmore, junior--who is about my ownage--accepting an invitation I sent him the other day to be one of ourgroomsmen."
"I am pleased to hear it," said Ethel. "Having heard a great deal aboutthe family I have wanted very much to see them."
"Which I intend you shall one of these days, if I have to take you allthe way down there," laughed Percy.
"Possibly you maybe able to induce them to pay us a visit this comingsummer or fall," said Stuart. "I own to a strong desire to see themmyself; so many years having passed since there was an exchange ofvisits that I have no recollection of any of the family."
"I should think not," laughed Percy; "for if I am not mistaken none ofthem have visited our part of the country since you were born. I wastaken down there in my babyhood, but, of course, have no recollection ofthe circumstances, or of the relatives I saw there. But we have heard somuch talk about them, and read so many of their letters, that it almostseems as if we had seen and known them."
"Yes, I believe you are right," Stuart said musingly. "I shall bepleased to make the acquaintance of Horace, junior, so am very glad heis coming. It brings up the number of our groomsmen to six--Horace, HarryEldon, Stuart Landreth, and the three cousins of the brides--George,William, and Albert."
"And we have the same number of bridesmaids,"
remarked Blanche; "yoursister and Percy's two, his and your cousin Mary Keith, our cousinMinnie Eldon, and Dorothy. Aunt Sarah says we must have a rehearsalto-night."
"Yes," said Stuart, "and another after Horace Dinsmore gets here, as hewill to-morrow, I think."
"And we expect all our party from Pleasant Plains to be here in the cityby that time," added Percy; "so that we may hope to get all the intendedbridesmaids and groomsmen together for that second one."
"I think they will get in to-night," said Stuart; "and it will be wellif they do, as that will give them--I mean the girls, particularly--timeto rest a bit before going through the ordeal."
"The rehearsal will be scarcely an ordeal, but----" It was Blanche whospoke, but she paused without finishing her sentence, and assuming acomical expression of pretended fright and apprehension.
"The actual ceremony will?" queried Stuart laughingly.
"Yes; remembering that I have heard more than once that men aredeceivers," she sighed. "Alas! if I should be mistaken in the one towhose keeping I commit my happiness."
"It would be dreadful," returned Stuart regarding her with admiring,laughing eyes, "and perhaps equally so should I be mistaken in thelittle woman to whom I commit mine. But I am not afraid."
"Nor need you be, Blanche, let me assure you," said Percy. "Try to be asreasonable and trustful as Ethel, who I feel convinced is not the leastafraid of me," he added with a happy little laugh, and a glance ofardent affection at his betrothed.
"Ah, who shall say that that is not because she is a brave--if notparticularly bright woman?" laughed Ethel.
"I," said Percy; "you, Miss Eldon, are the only person who will bepermitted to utter such a slander concerning her in my presence."
The next few days seemed taken up by a whirl of pleasurableexcitement--introductions to new friends, soon to become relatives, thereception of many beautiful presents, the rehearsals of those who wereto take part in the ceremony, the trimming of the house with flowers,the trying on of wedding finery, and selecting of flowers--orangeblossoms--for the adornment of the brides.
There was scarcely time to think of the pain of the coming partings frombrother, uncles, and other relatives; pain it would be, yet not to becompared with that of many a young bride who must leave father, mother,home, and more than one loved brother and sister.
The wedding was a pronounced success; brides and bridesmaids lookingtheir best--groom and groomsmen also--and each going through his or herpart of the ceremony in an altogether creditable manner.
A wedding feast followed; then came the leave-takings and the scatteringof the guests and the bridal party, the latter taking the cars for NewYork, where they spent some days in sight-seeing; from there they wenton to Boston, where a week was spent visiting places in the city and itsvicinity interesting from a historical point of view. Then they returnedto New York, went up the Hudson on a fine steamer to West Point, wherethey spent a day and a night; then by boat again up to Albany, wherethey made but a brief halt, then took the cars for Saratoga, spent a fewdays there, during which they visited the battlefield--all beingintensely interested in everything connected with the struggle that hadmade us a nation.
Their next pause was at Niagara, where they made a brief stay to see theFalls. From there they went to Lansdale, O., to pay the promised visitto Aunt Wealthy, which would be their last halt on their homeward way.