A Queer Mistake [pp. 407-418]

A QUEER MISTAKE.
instead of point. Very proudly happy
did their lovers look as the sisters came
into the quiet parlor where we were
waiting just before going to church, and
were presented for the first time to their
future relatives, who had only just joined our group.
"Why, Edward, dear," said Mrs.
Bond, his sister, "I fear you'll never be
able to tell your own lady - love from
cousin Ned's."
"No," said Rannie, promptly, "he
never would if Ned and I weren't so
good and considerate as to help him."
Then she laughed her own little perverse laugh, and went on: "If I could
only get sister Rettie to keep still, I believe I'd let Mr. Wilson marry the wrong
girl this morning, just for fun!"
The young dominie flushed and smiled as if he felt quite secure of his "ain
lassie," but just then the carriages were
announced, and what did that saucy girl
do but slip her little hand into the minister's proffered arm, and with a look at
me which said, "See, now!" tripped
gaily down the walk, leaving Rettie to
be escorted by Ned Wilson. "Will
nothing sober the child?" I thought.
But how bewitching she was in her piquant prettiness! Well, Rachel and I
followed the bridal carriage in our own
little pony-chaise, and then came Mr.
and Mrs. Wilson and Mr. and Mrs.
Bond-a very simple cortege for a double wedding; but our darlings had no
relatives, their uncle with his numerous
family having long ago "gone West."
And so we entered the dear old church
and went up the familiar aisle on such
unfamiliar business. We slipped quietly into our own pew at the right of the
pulpit-the old "minister's pew," which
our father's successor always insisted
on our keeping-and so we had a full
view of our darlings as they passed out
of our keeping. My eyes were misty
enough, but I managed to look at the
group as the wedding- march ceased
and the solemn service began. 0, did
my old eyes deceive me? Could it -
could it be possible? Was that my Rannie there beside the Reverend Mr. Wilson?, O0, would she dare-what could
Rettie be, thinking of? 0, Cupid and
Hymen! Did not anybody know anything when they were getting married!
I almost shrieked; then I thought better
of it, and whispered to Rachel, "0 look
-see-Rannie-Mr. Wilson!" I gasped. Such an expression of dismay as
flashed over Rachel's placid face! She
thought I had gone crazy. As she turned her wondering eyes at me, two great
tears, which she had been resolutely
holding in check, flashed down on her
new brown silk. She could not have
told our girls apart at arm's-length, and
I had only succeeded in alarming her
about myself. 0, the misery that I lived through in the next ten minutes! I
heard the young men's clear "I will"
-I saw the fair young heads bow in response to the great questions - I heard
the awful closing words of the service;
but meanwhile I had had the experience
which tradition gives to the drowning. I
had reviewed minutely the history of the
courtship, to see if it was barely possible I might have been mistaken as to
the pairing of the lovers; and then I
rushed wildly into the future, demolishing in frantic haste all the castles I had
built with such infinite fear and hope;
and then with electric speed threw together a new system of things. Whirlwinds and maelstroms! what a state my
mind was in by the time that service
was over! But there was the minister
shaking hands and kissing the brides,
and we were to come next. I had intended to say something kind and nice
as I kissed the girls and shook hands
with my new brothers; but, as it was, I
seemed to be "clean daft," and could
only gaze solemnly at the blushing
sparkling Rannie, and then give place
to others. Everybody was overflowing
4I6
[MAY,