The Hall Was Beautifully Draped With The Greatest Number Of Flags Of
All Sizes - Each One A "Regulation," However - And
The altar and chancel
rail were thickly covered with ropes and sprays of fragrant Western
cedars and many flowers, and
From either side of the reredos hung from
their staffs the beautifully embroidered silken colors of the
regiment. At the rear end of the hall stood two companies of enlisted
men - one on each side of the aisle - in shining full-dress uniforms,
helmets in hand. 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. Then came the two
women - the mother to Mrs. Todd, the daughter to me - who were insulted
because they were expected to occupy servant's rooms, and could not
"eat with the family" - so Mrs. Todd and I gave them cordial
invitations to depart. Then came my Russian treasure - a splendid cook,
but who could not be taught that a breakfast or dinner an hour late
mattered to a regimental adjutant, and wondered why guard mounting
could not be held back while she prepared an early breakfast for Faye.
After a struggle of two months she was passed on. A tall, angular
woman with dull red hair drawn up tight and twisted in a knot as hard
as her head, was my next trial. She was the wife of a gambler of the
lowest type, but that I did not know while she was here.
One day I told her to do something that she objected to, and with her
hands clinched tight she came up close as if to strike me. I stood
still, of course, and quietly said, "You mustn't strike me." She
looked like a fury and screamed, "I will if I want to!" She was inches
taller than I, but I said, "If you do, I will have you locked in the
guardhouse." She became very white, and fairly hissed at me, "You
can't do that - I ain't a soldier." I told her, "No, if you were a
soldier you would soon be taught to behave yourself," and I continued,
"you are in an army post, however, and if you do me violence I will
certainly call the guard." Before I turned to go from the room I
looked up at her and said, "Now I expect you to do what I have told
you to do." I fully expected a strike on my head before I got very
far, but she controlled herself. I went out of the house hoping she
would do the same and never return, but she was there still, and we
had to tell her to go, after all. I must confess, though, that the
work she had objected to doing she did nicely while I was out. Miller
told me that she had three pistols and two large watches in her
satchel when she went away.
Then came a real treasure - Scotch Ellen - who has been with us six
months, and has been very satisfactory every way.
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