CHAPTER XV
The fifteenth of February sparkled all day long. Not half of the Scoutswere able to sleep, and they saw the round bright sun bounce out of theeast and start blazing up in a cloudless sky. All day it was the same.Not a cloud in the sky, not a shadow on the earth. Automobile hornsseemed to take on a joyous toot. The heavy "ding, dong, ding, dong," ofthe locomotive bell as it crossed Third Street lost its mournful toneand sounded sweetly solemn like a wedding bell.
All day relays of restless Scouts belonging to Captain Hooker's troopdrifted in at the open door of the beautiful old cathedral and watchedthe silent workmen setting the palms and flowers under the direction ofa bevy of young ladies who were Miss Hooker's schoolmates and life-longfriends. They had claimed the right to decorate the church since theywere not included in the wedding other than as spectators.
On twenty-four beds twenty-four Girl Scout uniforms in a terrifyingcondition of starch and cleanliness lay stiffly out, with hats andstaffs beside them. And at about three in the afternoon twenty-four GirlScouts lay down on other beds, so they would be "fresh" for the wedding.All the shades were pulled down, but not one of the twenty-four managedto get to sleep. It was awful! Actually painful! Each one lay wonderingwhat the others were doing, and what Miss Hooker was doing. Wonderedwhat she would wear, wondered if she was frightened. The two Webstershad refused to rest in separate rooms, so they talked in a cautiousundertone, while their mother in the next room pressed imaginary creasesout of their tunics. The whole troop had beautiful new hair ribbons fromMiss Hooker and from Mr. Horton a beautiful gold bangle bracelet. Amessenger boy had delivered them all around just at noon, and while theyrested twenty-four left arms were held up to catch the light on thegleaming band. The idea of anyone sleeping!
At six o'clock sharp the Lieutenant, Miss Jamieson, hurried up the stepsof the Hargrave house where the girls were to meet, and ten minuteslater three patrols marched nervously along and turned in. Then forendless ages, too nervous to talk, they sat waiting for the automobilesthat were to carry them to the old cathedral. They were torn with fears.What if Mr. Horton and his best man, Doctor MacLaren, had forgotten toorder the cars at all? What if they should be late, and the wedding goon without them? The voice of Mrs. Hargrave's house boy announcing "Decahs is heah, ma'am," sounded like music.
The cathedral, down in the oldest part of the city, seemed a millionmiles away, and the cars crawled. Not a traffic policeman but stoppedthem as they approached--but at last they arrived and entered thechurch. How beautiful it was, softly yet brilliantly lighted through itshigh arches. White satin with heavy gold embroideries draping altar anddesk, tall candles burning at either side of the Cross. And somewheresoftly, thrillingly out of space, spoke the most entrancing music.
People went down the aisles in gaily clad groups, the delicate perfumesof the flowers worn by beautiful women wafting to the girls as theypassed. Mrs. Breen's two brothers and the brothers of the two GirlScouts who had helped at the benefit were all acting as ushers and theywere certainly busy.
Standing just inside the door, the girls were aware of a little stir,and a group entered, walking more slowly and carefully than the others.Even the girls were surprised as they stared. For first of all cameGwenny, Gwenny leaning heavily on the arm of the kindly sign painter,but Gwenny was _walking_!
Behind, looking very shiny and quite agonized, followed Mary and Tommyand little Myron firmly clutching the still littler Luella, who lookedon the verge of tears. After them, to close all avenue of escape, walkedMrs. Harter, and Minnie and Tom. Very slowly, in Gwenny's haltingfootsteps, they went down the aisle--down and down until they came tothe satin ribbon that fenced off a portion of the seats for MissHooker's most particular friends. And even then they did not stop, forDoctor MacLaren, who was with them, led them to the fourth seat from thefront. It had evidently been saved for them, for in the corner next theaisle was a big pillow for Gwenny's back. Cita's girl friends keptdrifting in, lovely, colorful creatures in dancing frocks, and the girlsreflected with joy that they too were asked to the reception afterwards.
Then came the group of the bride's relatives, and close behind, Mrs.Horton, walking with her hand on the arm of the older Breen boy, andlooking like a queen in her pale gray satin robe, brocaded with silver.
And then the Lieutenant, who had been standing outside all this time,returned, looking quite pale, and gave an order in a tone so low thathalf of the girls did not hear at all, but they were so keyed up thatthey knew just what to do and formed a double line facing the chancel.
The music burst suddenly, joyously into the Wedding March, and the girlsstarted slowly down the broad aisle, keeping step to the music. Sosmoothly and so quickly had it been done that they had not had a glimpseof the bride, who was following them on her father's arm, with Rosannaall in white before her as maid of honor.
Down the aisle, straight and trim, marched the Guard of Honor. When thefirst two girls reached the foot of the chancel steps, they stopped andturned to face each other, taking two steps backward. As the line allformed, the staffs were raised until the tips met, and under this arch,all misty tulle and gleaming satin, her cheeks faintly flushed, her lipssoftly smiling, passed their little Captain. Mr. Robert who had beenwaiting just beyond came forward and took her hand, and the Dean steppeddown to meet them, while the Bishop waited before the altar.
The music muted. And in the place of the march came faint sighs ofmelody. Then in a pause of the ceremony, from somewhere silvery chimesrang out. The little bride stood motionless, her tulle train seeming tomelt into the whiteness of the marble on which she stood.
And then, almost at once it seemed, it was all over. The little Captainhad made her new vows, the ring was on her hand, the blessing on herbowed head. Quite solemnly Mr. Robert kissed her, then the organ brokeout with a burst that filled the great church, and fairly beat down therising throngs, as the married couple, passing under the crossed staves,passed down the aisle and out into their new life.
The Guard of Honor, in their automobiles once more and whirling afterthe bridal car to the reception, found their tongues and all talked atonce. No one listened; no one cared. They went through a canopied,carpeted tunnel across the sidewalk to the house, and there were firmlyhandled by a bevy of colored maids who took their staffs and hats andsent them forth with nothing to do with their hands. But Mr. Robertshook all the hands they had, and the little Captain kissed them eachand every one. And then she asked them to form just back of her untilshe had greeted all the guests. This took a long time, but was such fun,because they saw everyone and all the dresses, and everything.
But finally the line thinned out, the congratulations were over, and thelittle Captain, taking her filmy train over her arm, drifted out amongthe guests and the girls broke up into groups. A little later Rosannacame hurrying around to tell the girls to come to the library. Theyfound the Captain and her husband there, talking to a chubby, smiling,altogether kindly and delightful little gentleman, who stared beaminglyat them through immense horn-rimmed spectacles.
"I want to present you to Doctor Branshaw, girls," said Mrs. Horton. "Hecame all the way from Cincinnati to attend our wedding and to meet you."
The girls stepped up one by one to be presented to the great man.
"I didn't see any other way of meeting you all," he said. "My time isalways so broken, and they keep me so busy down there that I actuallydidn't have time to write and tell you how greatly I appreciated thatbook you sent me. I think it was quite the nicest thing in the world. Ishall always keep it."
"It was poor thanks for what you did for Gwenny," said Miss Jamieson,finding that someone had to answer.
"I was glad to do it," said the Doctor, "after you had led the way. Itis an honor to work with the Girl Scouts. When you are twice as old,yes, three times as old as you are now, you will realize what awonderful work you are doing in the world. I come across evidences of itevery day. This Gwenny, for instance. Did you see the way she went downthat long aisle ton
ight? Why, that girl is going to be well, perfectlywell! Think of the years of pain and misery you have saved her, theagonizing nights and the untimely death. Whose plan was it, anyway?"
"Rosanna Horton's," said half a dozen voices.
Rosanna flushed. "No, don't say that!" she objected. "It is just as thedoctor says. If I thought of it it was because I am a Scout. Call it theGirl Scouts' Plan."
"Yours or theirs, Miss Rosanna; it was a divine thought and should makeyou all happy. You have given the three greatest boons to a fellowcreature: life, health, and happiness, and all because your splendidorder teaches you to watch for just such opportunities. Now I will giveyou an opportunity to do a good deed tonight," and he laughed thejolliest laugh. "There are a couple of very wise gentlemen here tonight,who would like to talk to me, and they would want to talk aboutoperations and anesthetics and all those things that I left locked up inmy office at home. But I can't tell them that, so I wish you could justlook after me for the next hour, and sort of beau me around, you know,and if you see any bald heads or spectacles bearing down on us, justclose in and protect me."
"Oh, we will!" chorused the girls, greatly pleased.
So the great Dr. Branshaw, quite the greatest and most eminent manpresent, passed happily from room to room surrounded and tagged by achatting, smiling throng of uniformed girls.
When a cheering looking line of waiters appeared with plates andnapkins, the great man and his little court settled in a cozy nook andproceeded to fly in the face of all the best health experts. And to seethe Doctor shamelessly send for more bouillon, and consume sandwiches,and sliced turkey, and candied sweet potato and salad, and oh, dear, all_sorts_ of things, was enough to make any Scout hungry, and they justfeasted and feasted.
Although the doctor refused to talk to the wise men, he did talk to thegirls, getting on the subject dearest to him, as all professional menwill, and telling them many an amusing story and pathetic incident.
Finally he rose. "I must go, girls," he said. "I said good-bye to Mrs.Horton when I came in, so I could just slip out a little side door thereis here."
He shook hands all around and patted each straight shoulder. "Don'tforget me," he said, "and remember if there is anything I can do tohelp, we are all working together. See this?" He smiled and pulled asidehis coat. There on his waistcoat was the Thanks Badge they had sent him."I always wear it," he said, and with a merry good-bye hurried throughthe little door, and was gone.
Rosanna went to the hall and looked out.
"Hurry, hurry!" she called. "Here she comes! We nearly missed her!"
The bride, in her travelling dress, was coming down the stairs. Shepaused on the landing and looked down at the sea of smiling faces below.Then suddenly she tossed her bouquet out. A dozen hands reached for it,and the girl who caught it danced up and down. Everyone laughed.
"What did she do that for?" asked one of the Websters.
"The one who catches the bride's bouquet," said Miss Jamieson, "will bethe next one married."
"Quick!" cried Elise. "Let us all form the guard-line for her. Nevermind those staves!"
Slipping through the throng and out the door, the girls formed a doubleline to the automobile waiting at the curb. A great white bow was tiedon the back, and Rosanna quickly took it off and hid it.
"Cita wouldn't like that," she explained. Then she stood with her handon the door. The house door opened and in a blaze of light, confetti andrice showering about her, rose leaves floating above her, the littlebride and her tall young husband ran down the steps and through thedouble line of Scouts, who closed solidly before the door of thelimousine as she entered it. The other guests were shut out. For thatmoment she was again their little Captain and belonged to them alone.Forming in a solid group, they suddenly shouted the Girl Scout yell,threw her a shower of kisses, and crying good-bye over and over, watchedher little hand wave a farewell as the car sprang forward.
* * * * *
Helen and Elise were Rosanna's guests for the night. A couch had beenprepared so the three girls could sleep in the same room. They rolledthemselves up in bathrobes, and sat on the edge of the couch just asthey had sat on the top step so many months ago, only this time Elisedid not knit. She too sat with her chin in her hands, staring out of thewindow. Rosanna had snapped off the light. A million stars in a deepfrosty sky looked down on them. The night sparkled. It was very, verylate, but Mrs. Horton with surpassing wisdom had not asked them to goright to bed. She too was awake, dreaming long dreams.
Presently Elise spoke. "So much of happiness makes me sad," she said.
"Well, it is all over," sighed Rosanna.
"Not at all!" cried Elise. "What could be over? Not Meeses Horton, whois just beginning. Not us, who have so many, many works to do. NotGwenny who steps into a new life. Just see all those stars. They shineand sparkle always, no matter what goes on down here."
"You sound like a little sermon, Elise dear," said Helen, smiling.
"I don't know just yet what it is you call sermon, but I hope it isnice," replied Elise.
"Yours is, anyway," said Rosanna, kissing the fair face beside her.
"All I meant was that this is over, the wedding and all that. Oh, ofcourse I didn't mean that _everything_ was over. It is just as though abeautiful day had ended, as it has," Rosanna continued. "Others willcome, many, many other busy, beautiful days, and on my honor, I will tryto do my duty to God and my country, to help other people at all timesand to obey the Scout laws," said Rosanna softly, lifting her eyes tothe eternal stars.
THE END
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