Those Dale Girls Part 32

"Yes, Julie."

"Oh! Hester, my blessed, blessed girlie, it is the most beautiful thing in the world!"

There was very little sleep for the girls that night. They sat for a long while in the window-seat up in their room where the scent of the honeysuckle came drifting in, talking softly of the past and laying plans whereby their happiness should go out into the world like a strong search-light to illumine dark places.

"It is not always those commonly called the poor who are most in need, Hester. It is the refined, sensitive people who have seen better days, who suffer most. And we have learned, too, dear, how super-sensitive adversity makes one. I am glad we know these things, aren't you, even though the learning of them nearly tore our hearts out? It has broadened and developed us and is going to make us helpful women in the world."

"And oh! Julie dear," replied Hester, "isn't it beautiful to think how we shall be able, both of us, through our-our husbands," stumbling over the word, "to do things for people. Little things and big things to lighten people's burdens and give them courage, just as so many times courage was given to us."

"Yes, darling. G.o.d is putting the power in our hands-it is for us to use it wisely."

Presently Hester said, "I am glad we won our own place in Radnor before going back there again under different circ.u.mstances. It makes me feel that we amounted to something and that if it ever happened that misfortune of that sort came again we should be able to keep our heads above water, to turn our fingers to account. Look at them, Julie,"

holding up her hands for inspection, "they are not the same things at all."

"No dear, they have lost their porcelain transparency which used to be such a pride and delight but I like them better as they are. They are strong, capable hands, now, for all their daintiness which you never can lose. I have been thinking lately, that one's hand can be as indicative of character as one's face. I hope yours and mine will not belie us."

"We did not much think when we came out of the flat that day that we should never go back there, did we, old girl? I can't realize it yet. It seems as if all those pots and kettles and pans and bottles would swoop down and whisk us off to 'The Hustle' when we get back to Radnor. Oh! my dear, we _did_ 'hustle'! The name did not belie that place! Down here in this drowsy Virginia I sometimes wonder if it was really we who worked like that."

"I know," Julie said, "I know, too, that we should have worked right on there to the best of our ability all our lives if it had been so ordered, but I am thankful, thankful that our energies can act in another way. We shall have a great deal to do, dear, and the wisdom of an older experience than ours to help us do it and all the time Daddy watching over his little girls."

And so at last they lay down to rest, these two little comrades whose heads and hearts were full of joyous antic.i.p.ation of a broader field of action, a glorious life campaign.

Nothing could exceed the simplicity of the wedding that lovely June morning. Flanked on either side by Dr. Ware and Kenneth, the girls walked down the avenue to the gate and across the road with those nearest and dearest in attendance, to the little chapel where for generations the Fairleighs had wors.h.i.+ped and where the previous autumn their father had put in a memorial window to their mother. The gardens and the woods for miles around had been stripped of flowers to decorate the chancel, which took on a thousand lights as the mellow suns.h.i.+ne poured in through the stained gla.s.s windows.

Little Nannie stood up with them-she and Sidney Renshawe, and the dear old Colonel during the ceremony was forced more than once to take off his gla.s.ses and wipe them carefully. The girls were without ornament save that each carried a great bunch of white roses gathered in the garden at Wavertree Hall. Julie wore a certain white mulle gown that the Doctor loved while Hester, to please Kenneth, the simple muslin frock in which she had picked blackberries.

"A bride in a frock just out of the wash-tub!" cried Cousin Nancy aghast. She had never dreamed of such a total disregard of the conventionalities. But when she found Mrs. Lennox was on Hester's side she demurred no longer.

Mr. Landor sat with the Lennoxes and many a strange sensation took hold of him as he gazed first at Kenneth and then at Hester and back again at his stalwart son.

Bridget occupied a front seat in a state of perfect beat.i.tude. She was the first to receive a kiss from the brides when the ceremony was over.

Jack was there, of course, immensely relieved at this satisfactory arrangement whereby all three of his friends were happily married. And Peter Snooks was there, solemn and dignified, decorated with a gorgeous red, white and blue bow but indignant at this touch of femininity and resentful that he was not allowed to go up and stand with the bridal party. George Was.h.i.+ngton and the other servants were in the rear of the chapel.

After the ceremony they all trooped back again to Wavertree Hall where, on the lawn under a cl.u.s.ter of superb oak trees, where the stars and stripes were waving, a lunch was spread for their refreshment.

Cousin Nancy, aided by Mrs. Lennox, was the presiding genius of the feast, while Mr. Lennox, also, came to the front with jests and stories to relieve the solemnity of the past half hour.

Kenneth, radiantly happy and looking handsomer than ever in his uniform, was here, there and everywhere, but with always his first thought for Hester. She was unusually quiet-subdued by happiness and the thought of the parting so near at hand. It was Julie that day whose laugh was the merriest, but then Julie knew something which Hester did not.

In accordance with a tradition of Wavertree Hall Mrs. Driscoe had brewed a punch, a mild but delicious concoction famous at all the Fairleigh weddings.

Mr. Lennox proposed the health of the brides and then the bridegrooms.

Dr. Ware toasted the mistress of Wavertree Hall. And so it went around from one to the other, until, having cheered the President, the army, the navy and the flag, Dr. Ware excited the wildest enthusiasm by bowing low to Mrs. Driscoe and saying:

"We lived through other days in Virginia, you and I, Mrs. Driscoe. Three cheers now for a reunited country!"

How they did shout! There was not a dry eye among them. Then Jack's thin voice called out:

"Won't somebody please cheer for the boys that want to be soldiers and can't?" At which they all laughed and cheered again.

There were other people who had a secret that day besides Julie. Indeed they were all in it except Hester-in fact they knew much more about it than Julie herself, who only knew half. It had been arranged that Hester and Kenneth should drive with Julie and the Doctor to the station; then, as Hester supposed, she and Kenneth were to have an hour together before he took his departure. He had told her that he had left everything at camp ready to send on, so that it would not be necessary for him to return there.

She was a little surprised when they took such an affectionate farewell of her as well as Julie and before she got into the carriage Mr. Landor had asked her to step aside a moment with him.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE WEDDING BREAKFAST]

"I shall be gone when you return," he said, speaking with some difficulty, "and it is proper you should know that I approve of Kenneth's marriage. He talked at some length about you last night and it's a good thing-a good thing. I never had a daughter-"

Hester kissed him. Caleb Landor had not been kissed for thirty years.

"Kenneth belongs to us both," the girl said simply, "and we are both giving him up but it must be the hardest for you, because you have had him the longest."

"I don't know, I don't know," gruffly, to hide his emotion, "we can't go into that. I want you to take this," slipping something in her hand. "I hear your sister requested there should be no wedding gifts for her.

Mrs. Lennox tells me that she asked those who wished to remember her to turn the money instead into the Red Cross Fund. No doubt you feel as she does. I understand you are much alike. If you will keep that paper and use it for the sick and wounded later-for we are bound to have them-as a gift from yourself, I shall be much obliged to you. No, don't thank me, say nothing about it. And remember that my house is open to you whenever you care to come." It is doubtful if Caleb Landor had ever made so long a speech in his life.

She did thank him, choking back her tears. Then she thrust the paper in her pocket and later when she had a chance to examine it she found a check of a thousand dollars, made payable to her, Hester Dale Landor!

All the way to the station she roused herself and chatted gayly to make Julie's last moments with her a bright remembrance. Julie was so excited she could scarcely contain herself and in order to sit still was fairly rigid in her seat.

When they reached the station the train was not yet in sight but on a side track stood a car.

"What is that?" asked Julie curiously, as they left the carriage.

"That is yours," quietly answered Dr. Ware, watching the effect of his words.

"Mine? What _are_ you talking about?"

"Come and see," cried the Doctor who felt like a boy of twenty.

She ran down the platform, stood still and trembled from head to foot.

"Hester," she gasped, turning with the old habit to her sister, "Hester, it is 'The Hustle!'"

"What!"

"It is, it is!"

Bridget with Peter Snooks in her arms was waving out the car window.

"Oh, Philip!" Julie cried. And without another word he took her in his arms and carried her in the car.

"If the days to come here," he whispered as he put her down, "are as happy as the old ones, little wife, I shall be satisfied."

Hester and Kenneth, who had not known whether or not to follow were called peremptorily in and all exclaimed over by Bridget, who having been appointed by the Doctor a reception committee of one, felt this the proudest and happiest moment of her life.

"Now tell us all about it," said Julie, "but first I am going to make Hester as 'comfy as comfy can be.' You poor little thing, you are not going to lose Kenneth to-day. You are both coming South with us. We are going to do escort duty to the distinguished young officer, Lieutenant Landor."