第23章

In a month he asked her to marry him; that is, he said: ``My dear, I find that I am ready to go the limit--if you are.'' And she assented.He put his arm around her and kissed her cheek--and was delighted to discover that the alluring embrace made no impression upon the ice of her ``purity and ladylike dignity.'' Up to the very last moment of the formal courtship he held himself ready to withdraw should she reveal to his watchfulness the slightest sign of having any ``unladylike'' tendencies or feelings.She revealed no such sign, but remained ``ladylike''; and certainly, so the general reasoned, a woman who could thus resist him, even in the license of the formal engagement, would resist anybody.

As soon as the engagement was formally concluded, the general hurried on the preparations for the wedding.

He opened accounts at half a dozen shops in New York--dressmakers, milliners, dealers in fine and fashionable clothing of every kind--and gave them orders to execute whatever commands Miss Gower or her mother--for HER--might give them.When he told her of this munificence and magnificence and paused for the outburst of gratitude, he listened in vain.

Mildred colored to the roots of her hair and was silent, was seeking the courage to refuse.

``I know that you and your people can't afford to do the thing as things related to me must be done,'' he went on to say.``So I decided to just start in a little early at what I've got to do anyhow.Not that I blame you for your not having money, my dear.On the contrary, that's one of your merits with me.I wouldn't marry a woman with money.It puts the family life on a wrong basis.''

``I had planned a quiet wedding,'' said Mildred.

``I'd much prefer it.''

``Now you can be frank with me, my dear,'' said the general.``I know you ladies--how cheated you feel if you aren't married with all the frills and fixings.

So that's the way it shall be done.''

``Really,'' protested Mildred, ``I'm absolutely frank.

I wish it to be quite quiet--in our drawing-room, with no guests.''

Siddall smiled, genial and tolerant.``Don't argue with me, my dear.I know what you want, and I'll see that you get it.Go ahead with these shop-people I've put at your disposal--and go as far as you like.

There isn't anything--ANYTHING--in the way of clothes that you can't have--that you mustn't have.

Mrs.General Siddall is going to be the best-dressed woman in the world--as she is the prettiest.I haven't opened an account for you with Tiffany's or any of those people.I'll look out for that part of the business, myself.''

``I don't care for jewelry,'' said Mildred.

``Naturally not for the kind that's been within your means heretofore,'' replied he; ``but you'll open your eyes when you see MY jewelry for MY wife.All in good time, my dear.You and your mother must start right in with the shopping; and, a week or so before the wedding, I'll send my people down to transform the house.I may be wrong, but I rather think that the Siddall wedding will cause some talk.''

He was not wrong.Through his confidential secretary, Harding the thorough, the newspaper press was induced to take an interest in the incredible extravagance Siddall was perpetrating in arranging for a fitting wedding for General William Siddall.For many days before the ceremony there were daily columns about him and his romantic career and his romantic wooing of the New Jersey girl of excellent family and social position but of comparatively modest means.

The shopkeepers gave interviews on the trousseau.The decorators and caterers detailed the splendors and the costliness of the preparations of which they had charge.

From morning until dark a crowd hung round the house at Hanging Rock, and on the wedding day the streets leading to it were blocked--chiefly with people come from a distance, many of them from New York.

At the outset all this noise was deeply distasteful to Mildred, but after a few days she recovered her normal point of view, forgot the kind of man she was marry-ing in the excitement and exultation over her sudden splendor and fame.So strongly did the delusion presently become, that she was looking at the little general with anything but unfavorable eyes.He seemed to her a quaint, fascinating, benevolent necromancer, having miraculous powers which he was exercising in her behalf.

She even reproached herself with ingratitude in not being wildly in love with him.Would not any other girl, in her place, have fallen over ears in love with this marvelous man?

However, while she could not quite convince herself that she loved, she became convinced without effort that she was happy, that she was going to be still happier.

The excitement wrought her into a state of exaltation and swept her through the wedding ceremony and the going away as radiant a bride as a man would care to have.

There is much to be said against the noisy, showy wedding.Certainly love has rarely been known to degrade himself to the point of attending any such.But there is something to be said for that sort of married start--for instance, where love is neither invited nor desired, an effort must be made to cover the painful vacancy his absence always causes.

The little general's insistence on a ``real wedding''

was most happy for him.It probably got him his bride.