Elsie at the World's Fair

by Martha Finley

  CHAPTER XXI.

  "Annis, dear, my ain love, my bonny lass," Mr. Lilburn said, when at lasthe could get a moment's private chat with her, "why condemn me to waitlonger for my sweet young wife? Is it that you fear to trust yourhappiness to my keeping?"

  "Oh, no, not that," she replied, casting down her eyes, and half turningaway her face to hide the vivid blush that mantled her cheek; "but youhardly know yet, hardly understand, what a risk you run in asking me toshare your life."

  "Ah," he said, "my only fear is that you may be disappointed in me; andyet if so, it shall not be for lack of love and tenderest care, for to meit seems that no dearer, sweeter lass ever trod this earth."

  "Ah, you don't know me!" she repeated, with a slight smile. "I am notafraid to trust you, and yet I think it would be better for us to wait alittle and enjoy the days of courtship. One reason why I would defermatters is that we will never again have an opportunity to see thiswonderful Fair, and I have seen but little of it yet; also I would notwillingly miss spending as much time as possible with my dear brother andsisters whom I am about to leave for a home with you, and I must make somepreparation in the matter of dress too."

  "Ah, well, my bonny lass, 'if a woman will, she will you may depend on't,and if she won't, she won't and there's an end on't.' So I'll even give upto you, comforting mysel' that ye'll be mine at last; and that in the meantime I shall have your dear companionship while together we explore thestreets and buildings of this wonderful White City."

  At that moment others came upon the scene and put an end to the privatetalk.

  The next two weeks were those of delightful experience to all our friends,to Annis in particular, spent in visits to that beautiful Court of Honor,and to various interesting exhibits to be found in other parts of theFair, with an occasional change of scene and occupation by a shoppingexcursion to Chicago in search of wedding finery.

  She would not allow herself to anticipate the pain of the partings fromthe dear brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, that lay before her,but gave herself up to the enjoyment of the present; in especial of theintercourse with him who was the chosen companion of her future life onearth.

  The yacht could not furnish night accommodations for all, but usually allthe relatives and friends gathered about its supper table and afterwardspent an hour or more upon its deck in rest that was particularlyenjoyable after the day's exertion, and in cheerful chat over their variedexperiences since separating in the morning; for they were now much toolarge a company to keep together in their wanderings in and about theWhite City.

  But the time approached when they must separate. The trousseau--with theexception of such articles as it was considered more desirable to purchasein New York or Philadelphia--was ready, all the arrangements for thewedding feast had been made, and but a day or two intervened between thatand the one which was to see Annis become a bride and set out upon herwedding tour.

  The evening meal was over, and leaving the table they assembled upon thedeck.

  "Has anyone seen the evening paper or the morning one either?" asked Mr.Dinsmore, addressing his query to the company in general.

  "Yes, sir; I have," answered Harold. "There has been an awful railroadcollision, one section of the train running into another; a good manykilled; one lady meeting with a most terrible fate," he added withemotion, "but she was an earnest, active Christian worker, and no doubt isnow rejoicing before the throne of God."

  "But oh, couldn't they have saved her?" asked his mother, in tonestremulous with feeling. "How was it? what was the difficulty?"

  "The car was crushed and broken, her limbs caught between broken timbersin such a way that it was impossible to free her in season to prevent theflames--for the car was on fire--from burning her to death. The upper partof her body was free, and she close to a window, so that she could speakto the gathered crowd who, though greatly distressed by the sight of heragony, were powerless to help her. She sent messages to her dear ones andher Sunday-school class and died like a martyr."

  "Poor dear woman!" said Violet, in low, tender tones. "Oh, how well thather peace was made with God before the accident, for she could do littlethinking in such an agony of pain."

  "Yes; and such sudden calls should make us all careful to be ready at anymoment for the coming of the Master," said Mr. Dinsmore.

  "Yes," assented the captain, "and we do not know that he may not come atany moment, for any of us; either by death or in the clouds of heaven.'Be ye also ready; for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of Mancometh,' is his own warning to us all."

  "Dear Christian woman, how happy she is now!" said Grandma Elsie; "thatagony of pain all over, and an eternity of bliss at God's right hand--aneternity of the Master's love and presence already hers."

  A moment of deep and solemn silence followed, then from the lake theyseemed to hear two voices sweetly singing:

  "I would not live alway: I ask not to stay Where storm after storm rises dark o'er the way; The few lurid mornings that dawn on us here, Are enough for life's woes, full enough for its cheer.

  "I would not live alway, thus fetter'd by sin, Temptation without and corruption within: E'en the rapture of pardon is mingled with fears, And the cup of thanksgiving with penitent tears.

  "I would not live alway; no, welcome the tomb: Since Jesus hath lain there, I dread not its gloom; There, sweet be my rest, till he bid me arise To hail him in triumph descending the skies.

  "Who, who would live alway, away from his God; Away from yon heaven, that blissful abode, Where the rivers of pleasure flow o'er the bright plains, And the noontide of glory eternally reigns;

  "Where the saints of all ages in harmony meet, Their Saviour and brethren, transported, to greet; While the anthems of rapture unceasingly roll, And the smile of the Lord is the feast of the soul."

  Hugh Lilburn was present among the guests of the evening, and before thefinishing of the first verse, the voices seemingly coming from the waterhad been recognized by more than one of the company as those of his fatherand himself. As the last notes died upon the air, a solemn silence againfell upon them all.

  It was broken by Mrs. Travilla saying softly, and in tones tremulous withemotion:

  "I have always loved that hymn of Muhlenberg's. Ah, who would wish to livealway in this world of sin and sorrow, never entering, never seeing, themany mansions Jesus has gone to prepare for those that love him?"

  As the last word left her lips, the seemingly distant voices again rose insong, the words coming distinctly to every ear:

  "Jerusalem the golden, With milk and honey blest, Beneath thy contemplation Sink heart and voice opprest. I know not, O I know not What joys await us there, What radiancy of glory, What bliss beyond compare.

  "They stand, those halls of Zion, All jubilant with song, And bright with many an angel, And all the martyr throng. The Prince is ever in them, The daylight is serene; The pastures of the blessed Are decked in glorious sheen,

  "There is the throne of David; And there, from care released, The shout of them that triumph, The song of them that feast. And they, who with their Leader, Have conquered in the fight, For ever and for ever Are clad in robes of white.

  "O sweet and blessed country, The home of God's elect! O sweet and blessed country, That eager hearts expect! Jesus, in mercy bring us To that dear land of rest; Who art, with God the Father, And Spirit, ever blest,"

  "Thank you very much, gentlemen," said Mildred as the last notes diedaway. "What lovely words those are! Ah, they make one almost envious ofthat dear woman who has already reached that happy land where sin andsorrow are unknown."

  "And death never enters,"
added Grandma Elsie low and feelingly. "Oh,'blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.'"

  CHAPTER XXII.

  The wedding morning dawned bright and clear. All the invited guests whohad passed the night on shore were early arrivals upon the yacht, whichthen immediately started across the lake, heading for Michigan City.

  The crew had outdone themselves in making everything about the vessel evenmore than ordinarily clean and bright, and everyone was arrayed in holidayattire. The young men of the party had taken care to provide abundance offlowers, especially for the saloon where the ceremony was to take place.

  There they all assembled, drawn by the familiar strains of the BridalChorus from "Lohengrin," played by Violet on the small pipe organ whichthe captain's thoughtfulness had provided for his wife's amusement and hisown pleasure, as well as that of his daughters.

  A hush fell upon them as Cyril entered and took his appointed place,followed closely by the bridal party, which consisted of Mr. and Mrs.Dinsmore and the bride and groom; Annis preferring to be withoutbridesmaids, and Mr. Dinsmore having expressed a desire to take afather's part and give her away.

  The short and simple ceremony was soon over, and after the customarycongratulations and good wishes, all repaired to the dining saloon wherethey partook of a delicious breakfast.

  All this time the vessel was speeding on her way, and the lake being calm,and such breeze as there was favorable, she made excellent headway,carrying them into their port in good season for catching their trainswithout being unpleasantly hurried.

  Then the _Dolphin_ turned and retraced her course, arriving at her oldstation near the Peristyle before nightfall; so that the returnedpassengers were able to spend their evening, as usual, in the beautifulCourt of Honor.

  Captain Raymond and his wife and daughters returned to the yacht ratherearlier than was their wont, and sat on its deck awaiting the coming ofthe others.

  "Papa," said Lucilla, breaking a momentary silence, "I have been wonderingwhy you took the cousins to Michigan City rather than to Pleasant Plainsas you did before."

  "Because it would have taken a good deal longer to go to Pleasant Plains;for which reason they preferred Michigan City, not wishing to take thecars here because of the great crowds about the stations, causing muchinconvenience and some peril to those who must push their way throughthem."

  "I wondered that the bride and groom were willing to go on the cars at allafter hearing of the many accidents on the trains of late, papa," saidGrace.

  "I trust they will not meet with any," said her father. "The crowds arecoming in this direction, and I think it is on those trains that most ofthe accidents occur. But we will all pray for them, asking the Lord tohave them in his kind care and keeping."

  "Yes, indeed, papa!" she replied, in earnest tones. "I am so glad that wemay, and that we know--because he has told us so--that he is the hearerand answerer of prayer. Still I am glad we are not going home by rail."

  "So am I," he said; "yet yachts are sometimes wrecked; and in fact thereis no place where we could be certain of safety except as our heavenlyFather cares for and protects us; and in his kind care and keeping we aresafe wherever we may be."