“At the Head of a Long Table stood Helen Dayton”
The hum of conversation rose to a din as the young people laughed and chatted. All had been admiring the furnishings, which were indeed charming. There were some quaint old chairs which had belonged to Sandy’s father; a large family portrait hung on the wall above the fireplace; some beautiful old candlesticks in which bright tapers burned; and the evident delight of their guests charmed Sandy and his dear old wife.
“Now, friends,” said Sandy, stepping forward, “ye ha’ all seen my Margaret, noo will ye walk this way and I’ll gie ye another surprise,” and he led the way to the end of the parlor, where he opened a door, and there at the head of a long table, spread with a feast such as no one in the village had ever seen, stood Helen Dayton.
With a sharp cry of delight Randy ran to greet her, and was folded in Helen’s arms. Then every one crowded about Miss Dayton, and many were the questions with which she was plied.
“I cannot answer all these questions,” she said with a merry laugh; “but I’ll tell you how I happened to be here again so soon. I hastened home, as many of you know, to see my Uncle Robert, who was to be in Boston but a few days, and on the day of his departure for the West I received the glad news of the wedding in a most delightful letter, which also contained a cordial invitation for me to be present and surprise you all to-night.”
“We’re glad enough to see you again,” said Jotham Potts, and a chorus of voices echoed the boy’s frank speech.
Then the feast began. Such a treat it was to Sandy’s neighbors and friends. The children were fairly wild with excitement. A giant wedding cake graced the centre of the table, and the beautiful frosting, with its garlands of flowers and little sugar cupids, delighted the children, who thought it the finest thing which they had ever seen.