The Bride's Father Is Captain Of One Of Those
Companies, And The Groom A Lieutenant In The Other.
As one entered the
hall, after passing numerous orderlies, each one in full-dress
uniform, of course, and walked up between the two companies, every man
standing like a statue, one became impressed by the rare beauty and
military completeness of the whole scene.
The bride is petite and very young, and looked almost a child as she
and her father slowly passed us, her gown of heavy ivory satin
trailing far back of her. The orchestra played several numbers
previous to the ceremony - the Mendelssohn March for processional, and
Lohengrin for recessional, but the really exquisite music was during
the ceremony, when there came to us softly, as if floating from afar
over gold lace and perfumed silks and satins, the enchanting strains
of Moszkowski's Serenade! Faye remained with the orchestra all the
time, to see that the music was changed at just the right instant and
without mistake. The pretty reception was in the quarters of Major and
Mrs. Stokes, and there also was the delicious supper served. Some of
the presents were elegant. A case containing sixty handsome small
pieces of silver was given by the officers of the regiment. A superb
silver pitcher by the men of Major Stokes's company, and an exquisite
silver after-dinner coffee set by the company in which the groom is a
lieutenant. Several young officers came down from Fort Assiniboine to
assist as ushers, and there were at the post four girls from Helena.
An army post is always an attractive place to girls, but it was
apparent from the first that these girls came for an extra fine time.
I think they found it!
They were all at our cotillon Monday evening, and kept things moving
fast. It was refreshing to have a new element, and a little variety in
partners. We have danced with each other so much that everyone has
become more or less like a machine. Faye led, dancing with Miss
Stokes, for whom the german was given. The figures were very
pretty - some of them new - and the supper was good. To serve
refreshments of any kind at the hall means much work, for everything
has to be prepared at the house - even coffee, must be sent over hot;
and every piece of china and silver needed must be sent over also.
Mrs. Hughes came from Helena on Saturday and remained with me until
yesterday.
You know something of the awful times I have had with servants since
Hulda went away! First came the lady tourist - who did us the honor to
consent to our paying her expenses from St. Paul, and who informed me
upon her arrival that she was not obliged to work out - no indeed - that
her own home was much nicer than our house - that she had come up to
see the country, and so forth. We found her presence too great a
burden, particularly as she could not prepare the simplest meal, and
so invited her to return to her elegant home.
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