Carolyn Wells

The Clue Carolyn Wells

The day before the wedding the old house was a pleasant scene of bustle and confusion. Professional decorators were in charge of the great drawing-room, building a canopy ofgreen vines and flowers, beneath which the bridal pair should stand the next day at highnoon. This work was greatly hindered by a bevy of young people who thought they werehelping. At last, noting a look of dumb exasperation on the face of one of the florist's men, MollyGardner exclaimed, "I don't believe our help is needed here; come on, Kitty, let's go in thelibrary and wait for tea-time."It was nearly five o'clock, and the girls found most of the house guests alreadyassembled in the library, awaiting the arrival of the tea-tray. Several other young people were there also, most of them being those who were to beof the wedding cortège next day. Robert Fessenden, who was to be best man, had just come from New York, and haddropped in to see Miss Van Norman. Although he was an old friend of Carleton's, Madeleine did not know him very well, andthough she made him welcome, it was with that coldly formal air that did not greatlyattract the young man, but he could not fail to be impressed by her great beauty."Lucky fellow, Carleton," he said to Tom Willard. "Why, that woman would create asensation in any great city in the world.""Yes, she is too handsome to live all her life in a small village," agreed Tom. "I think theyintend to travel a great deal.""An heiress, too, I believe.""Yes, she has all the desirable traits a woman can possess.""All?" Fessenden's tone was quizzical."What do you mean?" asked Tom sharply."Nothing; only, if I were to marry, I should prefer a little more softness of nature.""Oh, that's only her manner. My cousin is most sweet and womanly, I assure you.""I'm sure she is," returned Fessenden, who was a bit ashamed of his outspokenness;"and she's getting a sterling good fellow for a husband.""She is so," said Tom, heartily, which was kind of him, considering his own opinion ofCarleton.