Her father had gone unexpectedly to Baltimore, and the good old housekeeper had been laid to rest, but in the excitement and bustle attending the great coming event these two incidents created little comment.
Mirth and gayety reigned supreme, and the grim old halls resounded with laughter and song and gay young voices from morning until night.
Pluma, the spoiled, petted, willful heiress, was fond of excitement and gay throngs.
“Our marriage must be an event worthy of remembrance, Rex,” she said, as they walked together through the grounds the morning before the wedding. “We must have something new and novel. I am tired of brilliant parlors and gas-light. I propose we shall have a beautiful platform built, covered with moss and roses, beneath the blossoming trees, with the birds singing in their boughs, upon which we shall be united. What do you think of my idea––is it not a pretty one?”
“Your ideas are always poetical and fanciful,” said Rex, glancing down into the beautiful brilliant face beside him. “My thoughts are so dull and prosy compared with yours, are you not afraid you will have a very monotonous life-companion?”
“I am going to try my best to win you from that cold reserve. There must not be one shadow between us; do you know, Rex, I have been thinking, if anything should ever happen to take your love from me I should surely die. I––I am jealous of your very thoughts. I know I ought not to admit it, but I can not help it.”
Rex flushed nervously; it was really embarrassing to him, the tender way in which she looked up to him––her black eyelids coyly drooping over her dark, slumbrous eyes, inviting a caress. He was certainly wooed against his will, but there was no help for it; he was forced to take up his part and act it out gracefully.
“You need not be jealous of my thoughts, Pluma,” he replied, “for they were all of you.”
“I wonder if they were pleasant thoughts?” she asked, toying with the crimson flower-bells she holds in her white 154 hands. “I have heard you sigh so much of late. Are you quite happy, Rex?” she inquired, hesitatingly.
The abruptness of the question staggered him: he recovered his composure instantly, however.