A Story of Four Mormon Girls.
By Sarah E. Pearson
Chapter 4
Preparations were going merrily on for Agnes’ and Gowan’s wedding at Christmas, and the only cloud upon their sunny horizon was the break between Jean and Howard.
The two sisters had a long confidential talk before Jean’s departure and Agnes had excused her as cheerfully as she could from attendance at her wedding knowing that it would be too trying after her own recent disappointment, and she had also intimated to Rintha and Chatty that she did not think Jean could possibly come such a long distance through the inclement weather to spend the Christmas holidays at home.
Chatty was so intent upon her own affairs which were not running as smoothly as she could wish, that she did not give Jean’s absence a thought, but Rintha knew that something was amiss, and made a pretty shrewd guess what that something was.
She truly sympathized with her favorite friend, and admired her conduct and courage, but as she had not been taken into Jean’s confidence, she sympathized and admired in silence.
One thing which comforted Jean very much was the knowledge that Douglas had decided to attend the academy after Christmas, the press of work at home not allowing him to join sooner.
He had heard from a pretty reliable source that Chatty and Fred were intending to be married early in the spring, and the knowledge that so unworthy a rival was to carry off the prize he himself had striven for was bitterness indeed.
Could he have seen any prospect of her happiness, he felt that he could have borne his own disappointment better, but the acquaintance he had with Fred’s character and habits dispelled any illusions he might have cherished on that point, and he felt that Chatty’s mistake was destroying her own happiness as well as his.
Jean had urged him to join her at school, knowing from the admission he had made to her under the wild grape vine in the dear old home orchard that he needed the wholesome discipline of study and new surroundings to take his attention from himself, quite as much as she had done, and the help and comfort that he had given her in her hour of trial made her heart very tender towards him.
Gowan came down about ten days before Christmas, and had talked business and politics with Brother Stuart, fun and nonsense with the boys and love to Agnes, to their hearts content, but when the conversation turned upon religious topics he did not seem so well posted, so Brother Stuart had the most of the conversation on that subject to himself.
It was arranged that Agnes and Jamie should return to Salt Lake with him, spending a few days visiting among his relatives, and then he and Agnes would be married in the Endowment House, returning at once to N–– where they were to hold their reception.
And what a lovely visit they did have!
Balls, and suppers, and sleighrides, and skating parties; for the weather had been unusually severe and the sleighing and skating were perfect.
The tender attention of her handsome and dignified lover, and the respectful deference with which she was treated by his people, made those few days very sweet to Agnes. She was a lovely woman and always made hosts of friends wherever she went, but she had never seemed to feel her power to please so much as on this present occasion.
Then came the quiet, blissful day spent in the Endowment House, and the solemn joy with which she had given her handsome lover the salute which sealed the eternal bond of marriage between them. And this kingly man by her side was her husband! How she honored, how she almost worshiped him!
Ah, little did she know that he had, in his heart pronounced the day’s long ceremonies a bore, and how he had previously boasted to his intimates, that he “wasn’t such an idiot as Howard to give himself away as he had done, for it didn’t much matter to him how they were married, as long as they were married.”
Little did she think, sweet innocent, that time would prove her darling idol coarsest clay!
No hint of this, however, marred the joy of her perfect day, and they returned to N— where her parents, with Rintha as chief assistant, had prepared a fine wedding feast, and everything went “merry as a marriage bell.”
Brother Stuart’s house was much too small to accommodate the wedding guests, so it had been arranged to have the tables set in the school-house, which did duty as theatre and dancing hall as well as a temple of learning and afterward to clear them away and dance.
Rintha had been Sister Stuart’s aide-de-camp with half a dozen other girls as waiters, but Sister Stewart had at last commanded her to sit down and do the “bossing,” which she gladly consented to do.
Douglas had installed himself “chief cook and bottle washer,” as he styled it, rendering impartial assistance to all, but Jamie had had hands and feet and eyes for no one but Rintha.
After the supper was cleared away he claimed her for a dance.
“Oh, I am so tired, Jamie, I think you will have to let me rest awhile first.”
“Why didn’t you let me help you more then?”
“Say, young man, who put the pickles on the meat platter and the cheese into the sugar bowl?”
“And who looked so sweet I couldn’t see sugar for looking at her?”
“Oh, come, silly, you’re talking to your grandmother. If you’ll look close you’ll see the crows feet around her eyes. Jamie, how old are you?”
“Well, I’m twenty.”
“And do you know how old I am?”
“Why you’re twenty, too,” triumphantly.
“That’s just it, Jamie, twenty-two! and a boy has no business making silly speeches to an old lady two whole years older than himself.”
“Rintha, don’t tease me. If you knew how —“
“Jamie don’t you dare say another word.”
“Will you be angry with me if I do?”
“Yes.”
“What a perverse little torment you are. Let’s see, though, I believe that was the fate of your brother-in-law for saying too much.”
“Who told you?”
“He did.”
“He did? The miserable old simpleton!” and her eyes blazed.
“Oh, don’t be too hard on the poor old fellow. You oughtn’t to make it a penal offense to love you.”
“But he is such an old —“
“And I am such a young — but really, I can’t find it in my heart to regret that I am not so fortified nor fiftyfied as he,” and he stroked the down on his upper lip complacently. “Say, Rintha, about what age do you like the fellows best?”
“In long clothes,” she promptly replied.
“Then how about grandmother getting married and raising babies of her own?”
“Jamie —“’ sternly, but he paid no attention, and went on:
“Now, there’s father! How would he do? and I heard him say that he thought Rintha Rivers was the sweetest —“
“Jamie!” and Rintha was really getting angry now, but he coolly interrupted her with: “I really don’t believe you like the Stuart family. “
She blushed and shot him a suspicious glance but he went on innocently: “Let’s have that dance now. You look as fresh as a daisy.” She had a notion to refuse him but thought better of it.
“Will you behave yourself, after this so I wont be tempted to box your ears?”
“Well, I’ll try,” doubtfully, and they whirled away together.
When they had finished he led her back and seated her beside Douglas, bowed, and walked away.
“Now what did that officious boy mean by that,” she thought angrily, and she looked after Jamie and then at Douglas, with a face like a thundercloud.
Douglas could not altogether conceal his surprise at her expression, but volunteered a polite remark about how she was enjoying herself.
She made some sort of an indifferent reply, wondering if he had overheard Jamie’s nonsense about her not liking the Stuart family, and then with an inward conviction that she was acting oddly, she tried to recover her usual manner and blunderingly asked Douglas if he “was not dancing this evening?”
“Not unless you will favor me, Rintha,” he replied, arising and offering her his arm.
Her face flushed crimson, and she made a hurried gesture of dissent. “No, no! Douglas, I think your mother wants me,” and with this awkward excuse she hurried away.
He sauntered along unconcernedly and passed out into the entry, but he was secretly wondering what made Rintha dislike him so; while she had crossed the floor to where Sister Stuart was sitting and begged her to excuse her for she was very tired and thought she would go home.
“Why, child, I believe you are sick. You are as white as a ghost.” And indeed, she did feel sick — heartily sick of herself and her foolishness. “Now I have made Douglas despise me, indeed! Oh, what possessed me to act like that.”
She still had presence of mind enough to make her polite adieus to the bride and groom, and then sought out the pile of wraps hastily turning them over in her trembling hands in search of her own.
Jamie had been watching her and felt that he had made a serious blunder and wondered what it was.
“Can it be because I seated her beside Douglas? I really believe she does hate him, and me too, for that matter. I intend to find out and in the meantime I’m not going to let her go home alone,” and walking up to her, he searched out a warm shawl and placed it over her shoulders.
“Shall I see you safely home, Rintha?”
“Oh, no, never mind, Jamie. I shall do very well. “
“I think you’d better let me go. You have worked too hard and are trembling like a leaf. Mother would never forgive me if I let you go off like that, after all you have done.”
“All right I guess it would be safer for me to have a big, brawny Scotchman along to keep the bears away, and I do feel a little shakey. “
“Well, come on, little grandmother,”
“You promised not to tease.”
“And I won’t.”
They walked along in silence until they came to her door.
“Are you angry with me, Rintha?”
“No, indeed, Jamie, I am very much obliged to you.”
“And we are to be as good friends as ever?”
“As good friends as ever,” she replied, “if you won’t tease.”
“Well, 1 won’t tease. Goodnight, little sister. “
She quickly drew her hand from his arm and faced him.
“Now Jamie Stuart, what do you mean by that? I declare I don’t know how to take you. “
“I shouldn’t think you did,” ruefully, “but you might take me for a brother if nothing more.”
“Oh, Jamie, go along with you.”
“Well, I said good night. Aren’t you going to kiss your brother good night?”
“No indeed, you big ugly boy!” and she whisked into the house and shut the door.
“Hum, cool, but that is the usual manner with sisters I believe,” and he laughed slyly to himself.
As Rintha warmed her fingers by the dying fire she was thinking: “He is good at getting people into a good humor anyway. Oh, why couldn’t I have liked him? He is a good boy, and nobody’s fool either. Indeed, I am half afraid he is too smart. 1 am just a little hit afraid of him and his sly speeches. His sister, indeed! I don’t suppose Douglas will ever speak to me again, after my inexcusable treatment of him tonight, or worse, he will perhaps be just the same polite indifferent gentlemanly gentleman, and I think I would almost rather have him hate me than for him not to think of me at all,” with which comforting reflection, she picked up the lamp and walked off to bed.
To be continued