Rocky Ford enterprise., 1913-05-16

IL wasn't 80 bad as all that
Aleck stiffened up "Who said any
thing about its being bad? You'd bet
ter get some toss to wear at the we'd
ding. I'm going to need these clothes
myself"
1t turned out, actually enough. that
the wedding was to come off on GER
tain Wednesday in September.
Would you like New York and a
bishop and a big church better than
the old red house and the Charles
port Minister" Aleck anxiously asked
of Melanie.
"Oh. no." she protested; and Aleck
knew she was sincere. So they pre-
pared to terminate their holidays by
celebrating the wedding in the pine
grove. Melanie spent the intervening
days happily with Agatha. or walk.
ing with Aleck, or with the delightful
group that foregathered In Parson
Thayer's library. Jimmy made ex-
travagant and highly colored verses
to the bride-to-be. to Sallie Kingsbury,
ond even to himself His feet were
often lame. but he solemnly assured
the company that 1t was entirely due
to circumstances over which he had
no control A wedding was wedding,
said he, and should have its bard;
also its dancers and its minstrels.
"Well have all our friends in Ilion,
anyway" said Aleck. They counted
up the list Besides the occupants OF
the house and those from the Hillside.
there would be Doctor Thayer. Susan
Stoddard and Angle, Big and Little
Simon. and the lawyer.
And they're all going to dance
with the BRIDE" announced Jim.
After me. I'm first choice"
"A dance led. SO to speak. by the
elusive Monsieur Chatelard?"
The name alone made Jimmy
wroth. "It's dance for which he will
pay the fiddler yeti" he prophesied.
"Oh. he's gone this time. Scared
out of the country for keeps!" was
Alexis expressed opinion. But that
1t might or might not be 80. was what
they all secretly thought.
The day before the wedding was a
Jewel OF a day. such as New England
at her best can fling into the lap of
early autumn. A wind from the sea.
flocks of white clouds scudding across
the sapphire sky, and a sun all kind
ness-such was the day. 1t was never
a weather breeder" either; but
steady, promising good for the NOR
row.
Many times during the week James
and Chamberlain and Agatha had
their heads together. planning sur
prises for the bridal pair. The result
was that on Tuesday Jim and Cham
berlain borrowed the white motor-car.
loaded 1t down with large variety of
junk, such as food from Sallie's kitch-
en-. flowers and SO on. and started for
Charlesport. They ran down to the
wharf, transferred their loot to the
rowboat, and pulled out to the Sea
Gull, swinging at her mooring In deep
water.
A half-hour of work, and the yacht
strings of flags to stretch from bow to
masthead and to stern; pennants for
topmasts; the Stars and Stripes in
beautiful silk for a standard. and
gorgeous banner with an embroidered
A and NJ intertwined. for special oc-
casions. Flowers were placed in the
cabins, and food in the lockers. The
seamen had been aboard. made the
yacht clean and shipshape as a war
vessel on parade, and had got per-
mission to leave for their last night
ashore. Everything was in readiness,
even to the laying of the fire in the
engine hold.
The bride and groom were to come
aboard the next day about noon and
cruise down the coast leisurely, as
weather permitted. Hand, in charge
of the white motor-car, with Madame
Reynier, Chamberlain, Agatha and
Jimmy. were to start for New York,
touring as long as their inclination
lasted. The sophisticated Lizzie was
to travel to what was. for her, the
center of the universe, by the fastest
Pullman.
Jimmy and Chamberlain, on the
way home from their visit to the Sea
Gull, came very near being conf
Dental.
"I want to say, Mr.. Hambleton, that
I shall never forgive myself for bung-
ling that Chatelard business
"As | understand the matter, It
wasn't your bungling. but the sher-
iff's.'
Its all the same" conceded Mr.
Chamberlain mournfully. And In my
opinion, the Frenchman's not done
with his tricks yet. He's a dangerous
character, Mr.. Hambleton."
Jim laughed. remembering certain
incidents on the Jeanne D'Arc.
DO you know" Chamberlain con-
tinued, I'm convinced the bloomin'
oh