The Collected Works of Susan Coolidge: 7 Novels, 35+ Short Stories, Essays & Poems (Illustrated). Susan Coolidge
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a fair day for the child,” she whispered to herself. “How good God is!” Then she slept again for a long, restful space, and woke refreshed, so that Katy’s secret fear that Cousin Helen might be ill from excitement, and not able to come to her wedding, was not realized.
Clover, meantime, had slept soundly all night. She and Katy shared the same room, and waked almost at the same moment. It was early still; but the sisters felt bright and rested and ready for work, so they rose at once.
They dressed in silence, after a little whispered rejoicing over the beautiful morning, and in silence took their Bibles and sat down side by side to read the daily portion which was their habit. Then hand in hand they stole downstairs, disturbing nobody, softly opened doors and windows, carried bowls and jars out on the porch, and proceeded to arrange a great basket full of roses which had been brought the night before, and set in the dew-cool shade of the willows to keep fresh.
Before breakfast all the house had put on festal airs. Summer had come early to Burnet that year; every garden was in bud and blossom, and every one who had flowers had sent their best to grace Katy’s wedding. The whole world seemed full of delicious smells. Each table and chimney-piece bore a fragrant load; a great bowl of Jacqueminots stood in the middle of the breakfast-table, and two large jars of the same on the porch, where Clover had arranged various seats and cushions that it might serve as a sort of outdoor parlor.
Nobody who came to that early breakfast ever forgot its peace and pleasantness and the sweet atmosphere of affection which seemed to pervade everything about it. After breakfast came family prayers as usual, Dr. Carr reading the chapter, and the dear old commodore joining with a hearty nautical voice in,—
“Awake my soul! and with the sun,”
which was a favorite hymn with all of them. Ned shared Katy’s book, and his face and hers alone would have been breakfast enough for the company if everything else had failed, as Rose remarked to Clover in a whisper, though nobody found any fault with the more substantial fare which Debby had sent in previously. Somehow this little mutual service of prayer and praise seemed to fit in with the spirit of the day, and give it its keynote.
“It’s just the sweetest wedding,” Mrs. Ashe told her brother. “And the wonderful thing is that everything comes so naturally. Katy is precisely her usual self,—only a little more so.”
“I’m under great obligations to Amy for having that fever,” was Ned’s somewhat indirect answer; but his sister understood what he meant.
Breakfast over, the guests discreetly removed themselves; and the whole family joined in resetting the table for the luncheon, which was to be at two, Katy and Ned departing in the boat at four. It was a simple but abundant repast, with plenty of delicious home-cooked food,—oysters and salads and cold chicken; fresh salmon from Lake Superior; a big Virginia ham baked to perfection, red and translucent to its savory centre; hot coffee, and quantities of Debby’s perfect rolls. There were strawberries, also, and ice-cream, and the best of home-made cake and jellies, and everywhere vases of fresh roses to perfume the feast. When all was arranged, there was still time for Katy to make Cousin Helen a visit, and then go to her room for a quiet rest before dressing; and still that same unhurried air pervaded the house.
There had been a little discussion the night before as to just how the bride should make her appearance at the decisive moment; but Katy had settled it by saying simply that she should come downstairs, and Ned could meet her at the foot of the staircase.
“It is the simplest way,” she said; “and you know I don’t want any fuss. I will just come down.”
“I dare say she’s right,” remarked Rose; “but it seems to me to require a great deal of courage.”
And after all, it didn’t. The simple and natural way of doing a thing generally turns out the easiest. Clover helped Katy to put on the wedding-gown of soft crape and creamy white silk. It was trimmed with old lace and knots of ribbon, and Katy wore with it two or three white roses which Ned had brought her, and a pearl pendant which was his gift. Then Clover had to go downstairs to receive the guests, and see that Cousin Helen’s sofa was put in the right place; and Rose, who remained behind, had the pleasure of arranging Katy’s veil. The yellow-white of the old blonde was very becoming, and altogether, the effect, though not “stylish,” was very sweet. Katy was a little pale, but otherwise exactly like her usual self, with no tremors or self-consciousness.
Presently little Rose came up with a message.
“Aunty Tover says dat Dr. Tone has tum, and everything is weddy, and you’d better tum down,” she announced.
Katy gave Rose a last kiss, and went down the hall. But little Rose was so fascinated by the appearance of the white dress and veil that she kept fast hold of Katy’s hand, disregarding her mother’s suggestion that she should slip down the back staircase, as she herself proposed to do.
“No, I want to do with my Aunt Taty,” she persisted.
So it chanced that Katy came downstairs with pretty little Rose clinging to her like a sort of impromptu bridesmaid; and meeting Ned’s eyes as he stood at the foot waiting for her, she forgot herself, lost the little sense of shyness which was creeping over her, and responded to his look with a tender, brilliant smile. The light from the hall-door caught her face and figure just then, the color flashed into her cheeks; and she looked like a beautiful, happy picture of a bride, and all by accident,—which was the best thing about it; for pre-arranged effects are not always effective, and are apt to betray their pre-arrangement.
Then Katy took Ned’s arm, little Rose let go her hand, and they went into the parlor and were married.
Dr. Stone had an old-fashioned and very solemn wedding service which he was accustomed to use on such occasions. He generally spoke of the bride as “Thy handmaiden,” which was a form that Clover particularly deprecated. He had also been known to advert to the world where there is neither marrying nor giving in marriage as a great improvement on this, which seemed, to say the least, an unfortunate allusion under the circumstances. But upon this occasion his feelings were warmed and touched, and he called Katy “My dear child,” which was much better than “Thy handmaiden.”
When the ceremony was over, Ned kissed Katy, and her father kissed her, and the girls and Dorry and Phil; and then, without waiting for any one else, she left her place and went straight to where Cousin Helen lay on her sofa, watching the scene with those clear, tender eyes in which no shadow of past regrets could be detected. Katy knelt down beside her, and they exchanged a long, silent embrace. There was no need for words between hearts which knew each other so well.
After that for a little while all was congratulations and good wishes. I think no bride ever carried more hearty good-will into her new life than did my Katy. All sorts of people took Ned off into corners to tell him privately what a fortunate person he was in winning such a wife. Each fresh confidence of this sort was a fresh delight to him, he so thoroughly agreed with it.
“She’s a prize, sir!—she’s a prize!” old Mr. Worrett kept repeating, shaking Ned’s hand with each repetition. Mrs. Worrett had not been able to come. She never left home now on account of the prevailing weakness of carryalls; but she sent Katy her best love and a gorgeous broom made of the tails of her own peacocks.
“Aren’t you sorry you are not going to stay and have a nice time with us all, and help eat up the rest of the cake?” demanded Clover, as she put her head into the carriage for a last kiss, two hours later.
“Very!” said Katy; but she didn’t look sorry at all.
“There’s one comfort,” Clover remarked valiantly, as she walked back to the house with her arm round Rose’s waist. “She’s coming back in December, when the ship sails, and as likely as not she will stay a year, or perhaps two. That’s what I like about the navy. You can eat your cake, and have it too. Husbands go off for good long times, and leave their wives behind them. I think it’s delightful!”
“I wonder if Katy will think it quite so delightful,” remarked Rose. “Girls are not always