Elsie at the World's Fair

by Martha Finley

  CHAPTER XIX.

  Upon leaving the supper table the whole company resorted to the deck,where most of them spent the evening, being very weary with thesight-seeing of the day and finding restful seats there and a view of muchthat was interesting and enjoyable. Chester and his brother left early totake an evening train for the South.

  "I am sorry for you that you must leave without having seen everything atthe Fair, Chester," Lucilla said in bidding him good-by, "but we can't anyof us stay the necessary forty-two years. I'll see all I can, though, andgive you a full account of it after I get home; that is, if you care tocome over to Woodburn and hear it."

  "You may be sure I will and thank you, too," he returned, giving thepretty white hand she had put into his an affectionate squeeze. "Good-by.I'm glad you have your father to take good care of you."

  "So am I," she said, with a happy laugh; "I'm sure there's no bettercaretaker in the world."

  It was somewhat later before the others went and Lucilia, sitting a littleapart from them, watched furtively the behavior toward each other of thenewly engaged couples.

  "A penny for your thoughts, Lu," said Violet, coming up from seeing herlittle ones in bed, and taking a seat by Lucilla's side.

  "Really, they are not worth it, Mamma Vi," laughed the young girl. "I waswatching Rosie, and wondering how she could ever think of leaving such adear mother as hers to--marry and live with even so good and agreeable ayoung man as Mr. Croly."

  "And what do you think of my leaving that very mother (the very best anddearest of mothers she is, too) for a husband when I was a full yearyounger than Rosie is now?" returned Violet, with a mischievous twinkle ofamusement in her eyes.

  "Oh, that was to live with papa--the dearest and best of men! I can seehow one might well forsake father and mother and everybody else to livewith him."

  "I agree with you," said Violet. "I love my mother dearly; it would breakmy heart to lose her; and yet I love my husband still more."

  "I don't believe I shall ever be able to say that," said Luluemphatically. "I feel perfectly sure that I shall never love anybody elsehalf so well as I do my own dear father."

  "I know it would trouble him sorely to think you did," said Violet; "so Ihope you will not think of such a thing for at least five or six years tocome."

  "Five or six years! Indeed, Mamma Vi, you may be sure I will never leavehim while he lives. I know I could not be happy away from him. I havealways looked to him for loving care and protection, and I hope that ifever he should grow old and feeble, I may be able to give the same tohim."

  "I can scarcely bear to think that that time will ever come," said Violet,gazing at her husband with loving, admiring eyes. "But I hope it is faroff, for he really seems to have grown younger of late--since coming hereto the Fair."

  "I think so too, Mamma Vi," said Lucilla; "and indeed it seems as thougheverybody was younger--they all look so happy and interested; at leastuntil they get worn out; as one does with all the walking and thethousands of things to look at, and feeling all the time in fear that youmay miss the very things you would care most to see."

  "Yes, that is the fatiguing part of it. But we had a nice time to-day,Lu. Aren't you pleased with our purchases?"

  "Yes, indeed, Mamma Vi! I am sure Christine, Alma, and the servants cannotfail to be delighted with the gifts we have for them. And papa has been sovery generous in supplying Grace and me with money. I hope Max will bepleased with all we bought for him. Poor, dear fellow! It is just a shamehe couldn't have been allowed to come here with us."

  "Yes, I regret it very much," said Violet. "It has been one great drawbackupon our pleasure. O Lu, do look at Cousin Annis! She seems to have grownten years younger with happiness. I am so glad for her, and that we are tohave her for a near neighbor."

  "I too; but judging from Mr. Lilburn's looks I should say he is gladderthan anybody else. Oh, I wish they would get married at once! Wouldn't itbe fun, Mamma Vi, to have a wedding here on the yacht?"

  "Yes, indeed! Here comes your father," as the captain rose and came towardthem; "we will suggest it to him and see what he thinks of the idea," sheadded, making room for him at her side.

  "Thank you, my dear," he said, taking the offered seat. "You two seem tohave found some very interesting topic of conversation. May I ask what itis?"

  "We are ready to let you into the secret without waiting to bequestioned," returned Violet. "We have been planning to have a wedding onboard, should you and the parties more particularly interested giveconsent."

  "And who may they be?" he asked lightly. "Not that couple, I hope,"glancing in the direction of Croly and his lady-love. "Rosie is, in myopinion, rather young to assume the cares and duties of married life."

  "As you said before, quite forgetting how you coaxed and persuaded a stillyounger girl to undertake them--under your supervision," laughed Violet."Ah, Captain Raymond, have you forgotten that consistency is a jewel?"

  "Ah, my dear, have you forgotten that circumstances alter cases?" hereturned in sportive tone. "But allow me to remind you that you have notyet answered my question."

  "But I do now; it is the older couple of lovers Lu and I are benevolentlyinclined to assist into the bonds of matrimony."

  "Ah! Well, I am pleased with the idea, and have no doubt that it will bean easy matter to secure the gentleman's consent; as regards that of thelady I am somewhat doubtful."

  "I presume," said Violet, "she will veto it at first; that is onlynatural; but we may succeed in coaxing her into it."

  "I should think that if they are going to get married the sooner thebetter," observed Lucilla gravely.

  "Why so, daughter?" asked the captain.

  "Because neither is very young, you know, papa, so that they can hardlyexpect to have many years to live together, and the longer they wait theshorter the time will be."

  "Of their life together on earth, yes; but being Christians, they may hopeto spend a blessed eternity in each other's society."

  "Shall we make any move in the matter to-night, my dear?" asked Violet.

  "I think not, except to talk it over with your mother and grandparents."

  "Yes, that will be the better plan," said Violet. "And mother will be theone to make the suggestion to Cousin Annis and persuade her to adopt it."

  "Yes; there will be no need of persuasion as regards the gentleman's sharein the matter."

  "There, the Conlys are making a move as if about to go," said Lucilla."And I hope they will, for I do want to know what Grandma Elsie and theothers will think of the plan."

  "Always in a hurry, daughter mine," the captain said, giving her an amusedsmile as they rose and went forward to speed the parting guests andassure them of a hearty welcome whenever they should see fit to return.

  Not long after their departure the others retired to their state-rooms,Violet, however, going first into that of her mother to tell of her ownand husband's plans concerning the nuptials of their cousins, Mr. Lilburnand Annis.

  "That would be quite romantic for the youthful pair," Mrs. Travilla saidwith her low, sweet laugh, "I doubt very much, however, if you canpersuade Annis to give her consent to so sudden a relinquishment of allthe rights and privileges of maidenhood. Besides she will hardly like todeprive her brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, of the pleasure ofwitnessing the ceremony."

  "They might be invited to come and be present at the marriage," Violetsuggested a little doubtfully.

  "I fear there are too many of them," her mother said in reply; "so thatthey will think it would be far easier for Aunt Annis to go to them; andmore suitable for her to be married in her own old home."

  "Do you really think so, mamma? Well, please don't suggest it to her. I amsure that if our plan can be carried out it will be a great saving tothem of both expense and trouble; for of course my husband will providethe wedding feast."

  "Well, dear, I should like to see your plan carried out, and I must insistupon sharing the expense. But we will talk it over again in the
morning.We are both weary now and ought to go at once to our beds."

  "Then good-night, mamma, dear. May you sleep sweetly and peacefully andwake again fully rested," Violet said, giving her mother a fond embrace.

  "And you also, daughter. May He who neither slumbers nor sleeps have youand yours in his safe keeping through the silent watches of the night,"responded her mother, returning the embrace.

  The captain had lingered on the deck as usual, to give his orders for thenight, and Lucilla waited about for the bit of petting as she termed it,of which she was so fond.

  "Ah, so you are still here, daughter!" he said in his usual kind, fatherlytones as he turned and found her at his side. "Have you something to sayto your father?" putting his arm about her and holding her close assomething precious.

  "Only the usual story--that I love my father dearly, dearly, and don'tlike to go to bed without telling him so and getting a caress that nobodyelse will know anything about."

  "A great secret that doubtless the whole world would be glad to discover!"he laughed, bestowing them without stint. "Is my little girl unhappy,about--anything? and wanting her father to comfort her?" he asked, lookingkeenly into her face.

  "Unhappy, father? here in your arms and perfectly certain of your dearlove?" she exclaimed, lifting to his eyes full of joy and love. "No,indeed! I don't believe there is a happier girl in the land or in thewhole world for that matter. Oh, you are so good to me and all yourchildren! How very generous you were to-day to Grace and me in letting usbuy so many lovely presents to carry home with us! I am often afraid,papa, that you do without things yourself to give the more to us. Oh, Ihope you don't!"

  "You need not be at all troubled on that score" he said, patting her cheekand smiling down into her eyes. "I have abundance of means and can wellallow my daughters such pleasures. 'It is more blessed to give than toreceive,' and when I give to you, and you use my gift in procuringsomething for another, it gives us both a taste of that blessedness."

  "So it does, papa, and oh, what a good place this is for makingpurchases! there are so many, many lovely things to be found in thevarious buildings."

  "And we meet so many relatives and friends from various quarters. But thatgives us the pain of a good many partings," and again he looked keenly ather as he spoke.

  "Yes, sir," she said, "but one can always hope to meet again with thoseone cares particularly about; so I don't feel that I need to mourn while Ihave you, my dear father, and Mamma Vi and the little brother and sistersleft; and I'm content and more than content, except that I miss dear Maxand can't help wishing he were here to see and enjoy all that we do."

  "Yes; dear boy! I wish he could be," sighed the captain. Then, withanother caress, "Go now to your bed, daughter; it is high time you werethere," he said.

  "Just one minute more, please, papa, dear," she entreated, with her armabout his neck. "Oh, I can't understand how Rosie can think of leaving hermother for Mr. Croly or any other man. I could never, never want to leaveyou for anybody else in the wide world."

  "I am glad and thankful to hear it, dear child," he said, with anothertender caress and good-night.