Five Little Peppers Midway

by Margaret Sidney

  XIV

  MAMSIE'S WEDDING

  "Polly," said Dr. Fisher, coming suddenly out of a corner of thelibrary as she ran around the portiere folds, "you are sure you arewilling--are willing it should go on?"

  The little man peered at her anxiously through his big glasses, and helooked so exactly as he did on that morning so long ago when Polly'seyes were at their worst, that she could do nothing but gazespeechlessly into his face.

  "I see you don't consider it quite best, child," said the little doctorbrokenly, "but you are trying with your good heart, to make it so.Don't be afraid; it is not too late to end it all."

  "I was thinking," cried Polly with a gasp, "how good you were to me,when you saved my eyes, and how you kept Joel from dying of themeasles. Oh! I couldn't speak--but I love you so."

  She threw her young arms around him. "Papa Fisher--for you are almostmy father now--I am the very, very happiest girl because you are goingto live here, and now I can show you just how much I really and trulylove you."

  The little man beamed at her. Then he took off his spectacles, wipedthem, and clapped them into place again. "You see, Polly," he saiddeliberately, "it was impossible to see your mother and not love her.She has had--well, there, child, I cannot bear to talk about it," andhe walked to the window, blew his nose violently on an immensepocket-handkerchief, leaving the words poised in mid-air.

  "It was the greatest trial of my life that I couldn't show her thenwhen she was struggling so bravely to keep the wolf from the door, howI felt. But my hands were tied, child," he added, coming back, hisusual self again. "Now I can make her, she says, happy, that is, if youchildren like it. Just think, Polly, she said happy! It's stupendous,but she said so, Polly, she really did!"

  He folded his hands and looked at her in astonishment, behind whichshone an intense gratification, that lighted up his plain little facetill he seemed to grow younger every instant.

  "Indeed she did!" repeated Polly like a bird, and laughing merrily."Oh, Papa Fisher! you ought to hear Mamsie sing. She doesn't know I'mhearing her, but she sings at her work now."

  "Does she?" cried the doctor radiantly. "Well, Polly, we must see thatshe sings every day, after this."

  "Yes, let us," cried Polly, clasping his hand; "we will."

  "And," proceeded the doctor, "after the wedding is over--I It reallydread the wedding, Polly--but after that is over, I do believe we shallall be comfortable together!"

  Polly gave a little cry of delight. Then she said, "You needn't dreadthe wedding one bit, Papa Fisher. There will be only the people that welove, and who love us--Grandpapa promised that."

  "But that will make it very big," said Dr. Fisher, with round eyes anda small shiver he could not suppress.

  "Oh, no!" said Polly cheerily, "sixty-five friends; that's all we aregoing to ask; Mamsie and I made out the list last night."

  "Sixty-five people!" exclaimed Dr. Fisher in dismay. "Oh! isn't ispossible to be married without sixty-five friends to stare at you?"

  "Oh! that's not many," said Polly; "sixty-five is the very smallestnumber that we could manage. We've been over the list ever so manytimes, and struck out quantities of names. You see, everybody lovesMamsie, and they'll want to see her married."

  "I know--I know," assented the doctor, "but that makes one hundred andthirty eyes. Did you ever think of that, Polly?"

  Polly burst into such a laugh that Jasper popped in, and after him,Phronsie, and a general hilarity now reigning, the dreaded weddingpreparations soon sank away from the doctor's perturbed vision.

  But they went on merrily nevertheless. All over the old stone mansionthere were hints of the on-coming festivities; and though all signs ofit were tucked away from the little doctor on his occasional visits,the smothered excitement flamed afresh immediately his departure becamean assured thing. Everybody had the wildest plans for the occasion; itappearing impossible to do enough for the one who had stood at the helmfor five long years, and who was to be reigning housekeeper for as muchlonger as her services were needed.

  And Dr. Fisher never knew how perilously near he had been to the vergeof brilliant evening festivities, in the midst of which he was to beushered into matrimony.

  For Polly had suddenly waked one morning, to find herself, not"famous," but alive with the sense of being--as her mother had so oftenexpressed it--"Mamsie's little right-hand woman."

  "It will be much better to have everything plain," said Polly,communing with herself, as she turned on her pillow. "Mamsie has alwaysbeen without show, of any kind, and so," but here Polly's heart stoodstill. Dearly she loved the bright, conspicuous accompaniments to thewedding whereby Mr. King was determined to show his respect for thefamily under his care. And her soul secretly longed for the fivehundred guests named on a list of the old gentleman's drawing up. Andthe feast and the lights, and the pretty dresses, and the dancing partyfor the young people to follow. For Mr. King had announced himself asabout to usher in the brightest of days for the young Peppers toremember.

  "Besides it brings our new physician into notice," he would answer whenany faint protest was made. "And we shall all have reason to beimmensely proud of him, I tell you!"

  "Oh, dear!" cried Polly, burrowing deeper within the pillow folds, "whyaren't pleasant things best to do? Why, I wonder!"

  Cherry, twittering in the window, chirped something vague andunsatisfactory. Polly brought up her brown head suddenly and laughed.

  "Nonsense! our happiness doesn't depend upon a lot of people comingtogether to help it along. Mamsie's face, whenever Grandpapa plans allthis magnificence, is enough to make me feel wretched at the thought ofit. Dear Mamsie! she's afraid of ingratitude if she doesn't try to likeit. She shall have the little morning wedding with a few people around,and the gray silk gown instead of the lavender one Grandpapa wants herto wear, for Mamsie always knows just what is right."

  With that, Polly sprang out of bed, and rushed at her toilet, and afterbreakfast she quietly captured Mr. King on the edge of some otherextravagant plan, and led him into the library.

  "Everything is going on finely, Polly," he cried in elation. "Ring forThomas, child; stay, I'll do it myself. I shall go in an hour to givemy orders for the wedding supper."

  "Grandpapa," cried Polly, turning quite pale, and laying a quick,detaining hand on his arm, "oh! do wait, dear Grandpapa, I havesomething to say."

  "Well, child," but he still retained his hand on the cord.

  "Oh, Grandpapa!" how could she say it! But she must. "Mamsie will beever so much happier if the wedding might be a quiet one. She reallywould, Grandpapa."

  "No doubt Mrs. Pepper finds it a little hard to adjust her ideas to thelarge affair," said the old gentleman, considerably disturbed, and byno means relinquishing the bell-cord, "but it is due to you children tohave a bright time, and I must see that you all have it. That is myaffair," and this time the cord was pulled, and the bell rang a loud,insistent message.

  Polly stood still in despair. "Grandpapa," she said distinctly, findingit hard to proceed, with his face before her, "we children do not wantthe large party; that is I do not."

  It was all out at last.

  "Stuff and nonsense!" exclaimed Mr. King sharply, for his surprise wastoo great to allow of composure, "who has been putting this idea intoyour head? Your mother couldn't have done it, for she promised itshould all be as you young people wanted."

  "Mamsie never said a word," cried Polly, recovering herself as she sawa chance to make things right for Mother Pepper; "it all came to me,Grandpapa, all alone by myself. Oh! I hate the big display!" shedeclared with sudden vehemence, astonishing herself with the repulsionthat now seized her.

  "Hoity toity!" exclaimed Mr. King, "it's not quite the thing, Polly, mychild, to express yourself so decidedly, considering your years."

  "Grandpapa," cried Polly, with a sudden rush of tears, "forgive me, do;I did not mean to be so naughty. I did not, dear Grandpapa." She lookedlike Phronsie now, and the old gentleman's heart melted. "But I
amquite sure that none of us children would be a bit happy not to have itas Mamsie would like."

  "Well, but I am not sure that the others wouldn't like it," said Mr.King persistently.

  "Ben wouldn't," said Polly triumphantly, "I know, for he all alongshrank from the big party."

  "Oh! well, Ben, I suppose, would object somewhat," conceded the oldgentleman slowly.

  "And Davie," cried Polly eagerly; "Oh, Grandpapa! David would muchprefer the morning wedding and the plain things."

  "But how about Joel and Phronsie?" interrupted Mr. King, utterlyignoring Davie's claims to be heard. "Ah! Polly, my dear, until youtell me that they will prefer to give up the fine party, you mustn'texpect me to pay any attention to what you say. It's due to Phronsiethat your mother's wedding is a thing worthy to remember as a fineaffair."

  "Perhaps Joel and Phronsie will think as we do," said Polly. But herheart said No.

  "All right if they do," said Mr. King easily, "but unless you come andtell me it is their own choice, why, I shall just go on with my plansas mapped out," he added obstinately. "Thomas," as that functionaryappeared in the doorway, "take the letters to the post at once; youwill find them on my writing table."

  "All right, sir."

  "I'll give you till to-morrow to find out," said Mr. King. "Now comeand kiss me, Polly dear. You'll see it's all right after it's over, andbe glad I had the sense to keep my mind about it."

  Polly put up her lips obediently. But it was a sad little kiss that wasset upon his mouth, and it left him feeling like a criminal.

  And running out, she met her difficult task without a moment ofpreparation.

  "Halloo, Polly!" whooped Joel, rushing around an angle in the hall,"Grandpapa promised me that I might go out with him, to give the supperorders, and all that kind of nonsense."

  Polly's heart stood still.

  "Joel," she began, seizing his jacket with trembling fingers, "come upinto my room a minute."

  "What's up?" cried Joel with curiosity; "some more mysteries? There'snothing but whisperings, and secrets, and no end of jollyunderstandings, ever since Mamsie commenced to marry Dr. Fisher. Goahead, I'll come."

  "And Phronsie, too," said Polly, seeing the yellow head emerge from thebreakfast-room doorway.

  "Come on, Phron," sang out Joel, "up in Polly's room--she wants you,"and the three hurried off.

  "Now, Joel," said Polly, closing the door and facing him desperately,"you are Mamsie's own boy."

  "I should think so," said Joel, "I'm not anybody's else. Is that allyou brought me up here to say?" thrusting his hands in his pockets andlooking at her.

  "And you can make her happy, or just as miserable as I can't say what,"went on Polly incoherently.

  "What in the world are you firing at?" demanded the boy, visions ofcertain pranks at school unpleasantly before him. "Don't shoot over myhead, Polly, but keep somewhere near your mark," he advised irritably.

  Phronsie surveyed the two with wide eyes, and a not wholly pleasedmanner.

  "Mamsie does not want a big wedding," declared Polly, going to theheart of the matter, "but dear kind Grandpapa thinks it will please uschildren, and so he wants to give her one."

  "And so it will," cried Joel, "please us children. Whoop la! give usyour hand, Phronsie, this is the way we'll dance afterwards at theparty."

  "I don't want to dance," said Phronsie, standing quite still in themiddle of the room. The morning sun shone across her yellow hair, butno light came into the large eyes. "Polly wants something, first; whatis it, Joel?"

  "I'm sure I don't know," said Joel, poised on a careless foot, andexecuting a remarkable pas seul. "I don't believe she knows herself.Polly is often queer, you know, Phronsie," he added cheerfully.

  "Tell me, Polly, do," whispered Phronsie, going over to her.

  "Phronsie," said Polly very slowly, "Mamsie doesn't want a big party inthe evening to see her married, but to have a cunning little company offriends come in the morning, and"--

  "Ugh!" cried Joel in disgust, coming down suddenly to both feet.

  "It will please Mamsie best," went on Polly, with a cold shoulder toJoel. "And I never should be happy in all this world to remember that Ihelped to make my Mamsie unhappy on her wedding day."

  Phronsie shivered, and her voice held a miserable little thrill as shebegged, "Oh! make her be married just as she wants to be, Polly, do."

  "Now that's what I call mean," cried Joel in a loud, vindictive toneback of Polly, "to work on Phronsie's feelings. You can't make me say Idon't want Mamsie to have a wedding splurge, so there, Polly Pepper!"

  Polly preserved a dignified silence, and presented her shoulder againto his view.

  "You can't make me say it, Polly Pepper!" shouted Joel shrilly.

  "Oh, Phronsie!" exclaimed Polly in a rapture, throwing her arms aroundthe child, "Mamsie will be so pleased--you can't think. Let us go andtell her; come!"

  "See here!" called Joel, edging up, "why don't you talk to me?"

  "I haven't anything to say," Polly condescended to give him, withoutturning her head. "Come, Phronsie," holding out her hand.

  "Wait a minute."

  "Well, what is it?" Polly's hand now held Phronsie's, but she paused onthe way to the door.

  "I guess I can give up things as well as she can, if I know Mamsiewants me to," said Joel, with a deeply injured manner.

  "Mamsie doesn't want any of us to give up anything unless we do it asif we were glad to," said Polly. For her life, she couldn't conceal alittle scornful note in her voice, and Joel winced miserably.

  "I--I wish she wouldn't have the big party," he whined.

  "I thought you wanted it," said Polly, turning to him.

  "I--I don't. I'd rather Mamsie would be happy. O, dear! don't look atme so."

  "I'm not looking at you so," said Polly. "You acted just as if you hadyour heart set on the party."

  "Well, it isn't. I'll--I'll--if you say party to me again!" and hefaced her vindictively.

  "Joel Pepper!" cried Polly, holding him with her brown eyes, "do youreally mean that you are glad to give up that big evening party, andhave the little teeny one in the morning?"

  "Yes," said Joel, "as true as I live and breathe, I do!"

  "Oh! oh! oh!" cried Polly, and seizing his arm, she led off in a dance,so much surpassing his efforts, that Phronsie screamed with delight tosee them go. When they could dance no more, Polly, flushed and panting,ran out of the room, leaving the two to find out as best they might,the cause of the strange demeanor.

  "Grandpapa," Polly rushing over the stairs, met him coming up to Mrs.Whitney's room, "Joel says it's the little morning wedding--please; andPhronsie too!"

  The old gentleman gave no sign of his defeat, beyond a "Humph! and soI'm beaten, after all!"

  And Dr. Fisher never knew all this.

  Mamsie's wedding-day! At last it came! Was any other ever so bright andbeautiful? Phronsie thought not, and thereupon she impeded thepreparations by running up to kiss her mother every few moments, untilsuch time as Felicie carried her off to induct her into a white muslingown. Polly, here, there, and everywhere, was in such a rapture thatshe seemed to float on wings, while the boys of the household, with theexception of Jasper, lost their heads early in the day, and helplesslysuccumbed to all demands upon them.

  Every flower had to be put in place by the young people. Old Turner foronce stood one side. And Polly must put the white satin boxes filledwith wedding cake on the little table where one of the waiters wouldhand them to departing guests. And Phronsie must fasten Mamsie's pearlbroach--the gift of the five little Peppers--in her lace collar thevery last thing. And Jasper collected the rice and set the basketholding it safely away from Joel's eager fingers till such time as theycould shower the bride's carriage. And all the boys were ushers, evenlittle Dick coming up grandly to offer his arm to the tallest guest asit happened.

  And old Mr. King gave the bride away! And Dr. Fisher at the last forgotall the one hundred and thirty eyes, and his "I wi
ll," rang out like aman's who has secured what he has long wanted. And ever so many of theguests said "What a good father he will make the children," and severalattempted to tell the Peppers so. "As if we didn't know it before,"said Joel indignantly.

  And Alexia and all the other girls of Polly's set were there, andJoel's little blue and white creature came, to his great satisfaction,with her aunt, who was quite intimate in the family; and PickeringDodge was there of course, and the Alstynes, and hosts of others.

  And Mother Pepper in her silver-gray gown and bonnet, by the side ofher husband, with Phronsie clinging to one hand, heard nothing butheart-felt wishes for her happiness and that of the five little Peppers.

  And there was not so much as the shadow of a skeleton at the weddingbreakfast. And Cousin Mason Whitney took charge of the toasts--andeverybody felt that just the right things had been said. And then therewas a flutter of departure of the bridal party, and in the rattle ofthe wheels Phronsie piped out bravely as she threw the slipper afterthe departing coach:

  "Mamsie has been taking care of us all these years; now we're going tobe good and let her be happy."