"If you can stand those two feather beds, you can do more than I supposed," and as one means of showing her disapproval, she quitted the room, while Bell, who had taken to writing articles on the follies of the age, soon followed her sister to elaborate an idea suggested to her mind by her brother"s contemplated marriage.
Thus left alone with her son, Mrs. Cameron tried all her powers of persuasion upon him in vain. But nothing she said influenced him in the least, seeing which she suddenly confronted him with the question: "Shall you tell her all? A husband should have no secrets of that kind from his wife."
Wilford"s face was white as ashes, and his voice trembled as he replied: "Yes, mother, I shall tell her all; but, oh! you do not know how hard it has been for me to bring my mind to that, or how sorry I am that we ever kept that secret--when Genevra died--"
"Hush-h!" came warningly from the mother as Juno reappeared, the warning indicating that Genevra, whoever she might be, was a personage never mentioned, except by mother and son.
As Juno remained the conversation was not resumed, and the next morning Wilford wrote to Katy Lennox the letter which carried to her so much of joy, and to Dr. Grant so much of grief. To wait four weeks, as Katy said he must, was a terrible trial to Wilford, who counted every moment which kept him from her side. It was all owing to Dr. Grant and that perpendicular Helen, he knew, for Katy in her letter had admitted that the waiting was wholly their suggestion; and Wilford"s thoughts concerning them were anything but complimentary, until a new idea was suggested, which drove every other consideration from his mind.
Wilford was naturally jealous, but that fault had once led him into so deep a trouble that he had struggled hard to overcome it, and now, at its first approach, after he thought it dead, he tried to shake it off--tried not to believe that Morris cared especially for Katy. But the mere possibility was unendurable, and in a most feverish state of excitement he started again for Silverton.
As before, Morris was waiting for him at the station, his cordial greeting and friendly manner disarming him from all anxiety in that quarter, and making him resolve anew to trample the demon jealousy under his feet, where it could never rise again. Katy"s life should not be darkened by the green monster, he thought, and her future would have been bright indeed had it proved all that he pictured it as he drove along with Morris in the direction of the farmhouse, for he was to stop there first and then at night go over to sleep at Linwood.
Katy was waiting for him, and as he met her alone, he did not hesitate to kiss her more than once as he kept her for a moment in his arms, and then held her off to see if her illness had left any traces upon her. It had not, except it were in the increased delicacy of her complexion and the short hair now growing out in silky rings. She was very pretty in her short hair, but Wilford felt a little impatient as he saw how childish it made her look, and thought how long it would take for it to attain its former length. He was already appropriating her to himself, and devising ways of improving her. In New York, with Morris Grant standing before his jealous gaze, he could see no fault in Katy, and even now, with her beside him, and the ogre jealousy gone, he saw no fault in her; it was only her dress, and that could be so easily remedied. Otherwise she was perfect, and in his delight at meeting her again he forgot to criticise the farmhouse and its occupants, as he had done before.
They were very civil to him--the mother overwhelmingly so--insomuch that Wilford could not help detecting her anxiety that all should be settled this time. Helen, on the contrary, was unusually cool, confirming him in his opinion that she was strong-minded and self-willed, and making him resolve to remove Katy as soon as possible from her strait-laced influence. When talking with his mother he had said that if Katy had told him "yes," he should probably place her at some fashionable school for a year or two; but on the way to Silverton he had changed his mind.
He could not wait a year, and if he married Katy at all, it should he immediately. He would then take her to Europe, where she could have the best of teachers, besides the advantage of traveling; and it was a very satisfactory picture he drew of the woman whom he should introduce into New York society as his wife, Mrs. Wilford Cameron. It is true that Katy had not yet said the all-important word, but she was going to say it, and when late that afternoon they came up from the walk he had asked her to take, she was his promised wife.
They had sat together on the very rock where Katy sat that day when Uncle Ephraim told her of the different paths there were through life, some pleasant and free from care, some th.o.r.n.y and full of grief. Katy had never forgotten the conversation, and, without knowing why, she had always avoided that rock beneath the b.u.t.ternut as a place where there had been revealed to her a glimpse of something sad; and so, when Wilford proposed resting there, she at first objected, but yielded at last, and, with his arm around her, listened to the story of his love.
It was what she had expected and thought herself prepared for, but when it came it was so real, so earnest, that she could only clasp her hands over her face, which she hid on Wilford"s shoulder, weeping pa.s.sionately as she thought how strange it was for a man like Wilford Cameron to seek her for his wife. Katy was no coquette; whatever she felt she expressed, and when she could command herself she frankly confessed to Wilford her love for him, telling him how the fear that he had forgotten her had haunted her all the long, long winter; and then with her clear, truthful blue eyes looking into his, asking him why he had not sent her some message if, as he said, he loved her all the time.
For a moment Wilford"s lip was compressed and a flush overspread his face, as, drawing her closer to him, he replied: "My little Katy will remember that in my first note I spoke of certain circ.u.mstances which had prevented my writing earlier. I do not know that I asked her not to seek to know those circ.u.mstances; but I ask it now. Will Katy trust me so far as to believe that all is right between us, and never allude to these circ.u.mstances?"
He was kissing her fondly, and his voice was so winning that Katy promised all that was required; and then came the hardest, the trying to tell her all, as he had said to his mother he would. Twice he essayed to speak, and as often something sealed his lips, until at last he began: "You must not think me perfect, Katy, for I have faults, and perhaps if you knew my past life you would wish to revoke your recent decision and render a different verdict to my suit. Suppose I unfold the blackest leaf for your inspection?"
"No, no, oh, no," and Katy playfully stopped his mouth with her hand.
"Of course you have some faults, but I would rather find them out myself. I could not hear anything against you now. I am satisfied to take you as you are."
Wilford felt his heart throb wildly with the feeling that he was in some way deceiving the young girl; but if she would not suffer him to tell her, he was not to be censured if she remained in ignorance. And so the golden moment fled, and when he spoke again he said: "If Katy will not now read that leaf I offered to show her, she must not shrink back in horror if ever it does meet her eye."
"I don"t, I promise," Katy answered, a vague feeling of fear creeping over her as to what the reading of that mysterious page involved. But this was soon forgotten, as Wilford, remembering his suspicions of Dr.
Grant, thought to probe a little by asking if she had ever loved any one before himself?
"No, never," she answered. "I never dreamed of such a thing until I saw you, Mr. Cameron;" and Wilford believed the trusting girl, whose loving nature shone in every lineament of her face, upturned to receive the kisses he pressed upon it, resolving within himself to be to her what he ought to be.
"By the way," he continued, "don"t call me Mr. Cameron again, as you did just now. I would rather be your Wilford. It sounds more familiar. And still," he added, "it may be better at present to reserve that name for the time when we are alone. To your family I may as well remain Mr.
Cameron."
This was an after thought, suggested by his knowing how he should shiver to hear Aunt Betsy call him "Wilford," as she surely would if Katy did.
Then he told her of his projected tour to Europe, and Katy felt her pulses quicken as she thought of London, Paris and Rome, as places which her plain country eyes might yet look upon. But when it came to their marriage, which Wilford said must be soon--within a few weeks--she demurred, for this arrangement was not in accordance with her desires.
She should so much enjoy a long courtship with Wilford coming often to Silverton, and such quant.i.ties of letters pa.s.sing between them as should make her the envy of all Silverton. This was Katy"s idea, and she opposed her lover with all her strength, telling him she was so young, not eighteen till July, and she knew so little of housekeeping. He must let her stay at home until she learned at least the art of making bread!
Poor, ignorant Katy! Wilford could not forbear a smile as he thought how different were her views from his, and tried to explain that the art of bread-making, though very desirable in most wives, was not an essential accomplishment for his. Servants would do that; besides he did not intend to have a house of his own at once; he should take her first to live with his mother, where she could learn what was necessary much better than there in Silverton.
Wilford Cameron expected to be obeyed in every important matter by the happy person who should be his wife, and as he possessed the faculty of enforcing perfect obedience without seeming to be severe, so he silenced Katy"s arguments, and when they left the shadow of the b.u.t.ternut tree she knew that in all human probability six weeks" time would find her on the broad ocean alone with Wilford Cameron. So perfect was Katy"s faith and love that she had no fear of Wilford now, but as his affianced wife walked confidently by his side, feeling fully his equal, nor once dreaming how great the disparity his city friends would discover between the fastidious man of fashion and the unsophisticated country girl. And Wilford did not seek to enlighten her, but suffered her to talk of the delight it would be to live in New York, and how pleasant for mother and Helen to visit her, especially the latter, who would thus have a chance to see something of the world.
"When I get a house of my own I mean she shall live with me all the while," she said, stooping to gather a tuft of wild bluebells growing in a marshy spot.
Wilford winced a little, for in his estimation Helen Lennox formed no part of that household to be established on Madison Square, but he would not so soon tear down Katy"s castles, and so he merely remarked as she asked if it would not be nice to have Helen with them.
"Yes, very nice, but do not speak of it to her yet, as it will probably be some time before she will come to us, and she had better not have it in antic.i.p.ation."
And so Helen never knew the honor in store for her as she stood in the doorway anxiously waiting for her sister, who, she feared, would take cold from being out so long. Something though in Katy"s face made her guess that to her was lost forever the bright little sister whom she loved so dearly, and fleeing up the narrow stairway to her room she wept bitterly as she thought of the coming time when she would share that room alone, and know that never again would a little golden head lie upon her neck just as it had lain, for there would be a new love, a new interest between them, a love for the man whose voice she could hear now talking to her mother in the peculiar tone he always a.s.sumed when speaking to any one of them excepting Morris or Katy.
"I wish it were not wrong to hate him," she exclaimed pa.s.sionately; "it would be such a relief; but if he is only kind to Katy, I do not care how much he despises us," and bathing her face in water Helen sat down by her window, gazing out upon the fresh green earth, where the young gra.s.s was springing, wondering if Mr. Cameron took her sister, when it would probably be. "Not this year or more," she said, "for Katy is so young;" but on this point she was soon set right by Katy herself, who, leaving her lover alone with her mother, stole up to tell her sister the good news.
"Yes, I know; I guessed as much when you came back from the meadows,"
and Helen"s voice was very unsteady in its tone as she smoothed back the soft rings cl.u.s.tering around her sister"s brow.
"Crying. Helen! oh, don"t. I shall love you just the same, and you are coming to live with us in the new house on Madison Square," Katy said, forgetting Wilford"s instructions in her desire to comfort Helen, who broke down again, while Katy"s tears were mingled with her own.
It was the first time Katy had thought what it would be to leave forever the good, patient sister, who had been so true, so kind, treating her like a petted kitten and standing between her and every hardship.
"Don"t cry, Nellie," she said, twining her arms around her neck; "New York is not far away, and I shall come so often--that is, after we return from Europe. Did I tell you we are going there first, and Wilford will not wait, but says we must be married the tenth of June; that"s his birthday--thirty--and he is telling mother now."
"So soon--oh, Katy! and you so young!" was all Helen could say, as with quivering lip she kissed her sister"s hand raised to wipe her tears away.
"Yes, it is soon, and I am young; but Wilford is in such a hurry; he don"t care," Katy replied, trying to comfort Helen, and begging of her not to cry so hard.
No, Wilford did not care, as it would seem, how much he wrung the hearts of Katy"s family by taking her from them at once, and by dictating to a certain extent the way in which he would take her. There must be no invited guests, he said; no lookers-on, except such as chose to go to the church where the ceremony would, of course, be performed, and from which place he should go directly to the Boston train. It was his wish, too, that the matter should be kept as quiet as possible, and not be generally discussed in the neighborhood, as he disliked being a subject for gossip. And Mrs. Lennox, to whom this was said, promised compliance with everything, or if she ventured to object she found herself borne down by a stronger will than her own, and weakly yielded, her manner fully testifying to her delight at the honor conferred upon her by this high marriage of her child. Wilford knew just how pleased she was, and her obsequious manner annoyed him far more than did Helen"s blunt, straightforwardness, when, after supper was over, she told him how averse she was to his taking Katy so soon, adding still further that if it must be, she saw no harm in inviting a few of their neighbors. It was customary--it would be expected, she said, while Mrs. Lennox, emboldened by Helen"s boldness, chimed in, "at least your folks will come; I shall be glad to meet your mother."
Wilford was very polite to them both; very good-humored, but he kept to his first position, and poor Mrs. Lennox saw fade into airy nothingness all her visions of roasted fowls and frosted cake trimmed with myrtle and flowers, with hosts of the Silverton people there to admire and partake of the marriage feast. It was too bad, and so Aunt Betty said, when, after Wilford had gone to Linwood, the family sat together around the kitchen stove, talking the matter over.
"Yes, it was too bad, when there was that white hen turkey she could fat up so easy before June, and she knew how to make "lection cake that would melt in your mouth, and was enough sight better than the black stuff they called weddin" cake. Vum! she meant to try what she could do with Mr. Cameron."
And next morning when he came again she did try, holding out as inducements why he should be married the night before starting for Boston, the "white hen, turkey, the "lection cake, and the gay old times the young folks would have playing snap-and-catchem; or if they had a mind, they could dance a bit in the kitchen. She didn"t believe in it, to be sure--none of the orthodox did; but as Wilford was a "Piscopal, and that was a "Piscopal quirk, it wouldn"t harm for once."
Wilford tried not to show his disgust, and only Helen suspected how hard it was for him to keep down his utter contempt. She saw it in his eyes, which resembled two smoldering volcanoes as they rested upon Aunt Betsy during her harangue.
"Thank you, madam, for your good intentions, but I think we will dispense with the turkey and the cake," was all he said, though he did smile at the old lady"s definition of dancing, which for once she might allow.
Even Morris, when appealed to, decided with Wilford against Mrs. Lennox and Aunt Betsy, knowing how unequal he was to the task which would devolve on him in case of a bridal party at the farmhouse. In comparative silence he had heard from Wilford of his engagement, offering no objection when told how soon the marriage would take place, but congratulating him so quietly that, if Wilford had retained a feeling of jealousy, it would have disappeared; Morris was so seemingly indifferent to everything except Katy"s happiness. But Wilford did not observe closely, and failed to detect the hopeless look in Morris" eyes, or the whiteness which settled about his mouth as he fulfilled the duties of host and sought to entertain his guest. Those were dark hours for Morris Grant, and he was glad when at the end of the second day Wilford"s visit expired, and he saw him driven from Linwood around to the farmhouse, where he would say his parting words to Katy and then go back to New York.
CHAPTER VIII.
GETTING READY TO BE MARRIED.
"Miss Helen Lennox, Silverton, Ma.s.s."
This was the superscription of a letter, postmarked New York, and brought to Helen within a week after Wilford"s departure. It was his handwriting, too; and wondering what he could have written to her, Helen broke the seal, starting as there dropped into her lap a check for five hundred dollars.
"What does it mean?" she said, her cheek flushing with anger and insulted pride as she read the following brief lines:
"NEW YORK, May 8th.