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Page 82
"And now," said Captain Headley to the young officer,
"what reward do you expect for your maiden oration? What
shall it be, Miss Heywood?"
"I will spare her the trouble of an answer," interposed
Ronayne, as he took the arm which had just disengaged
itself from that of the commandant, and placed it within
his own, "until you have set your seal to the priceless
gift," and his eyes looked all the intensity of his
feeling; "I part not with it again."
"Every thing is ready is the next room," answered Captain
Headley--"go in. When I have announced that the ceremony
is about to take place, I shall hasten to give you the
dear girl for life," and imprinting a kiss upon her brow,
he passed on to those who were paying their homage to
the punch-bowl, and discussing the merits of the oration
just delivered.
It was with a flushed cheek, and a beating heart that
Maria Heywood was led by Ronayne, radiant with hope and
joy, to the little table covered with plain, white linen,
and illuminated by half a dozen tall candles, behind
which the commanding officer had placed himself on an
elevated estrade.
All of the guests were grouped around, a little in the
rear, while Lieutenant Elmsley stood on the right hand
of his friend, and his wife on the left of the betrothed.
Next to her, in an arm chair, which, provided with rollers,
was easily moved, Mrs. Heywood--and with her beautiful
arms reposing on the high back of this, stood Mrs. Headley
in graceful attitude, watching the ceremony with almost
maternal interest. Immediately behind Ronayne, from whom
he evidently did not like to be separated, stood Waunangee,
with an air of deep dejection, yet casting glances rapidly
from one to the other of his two friends.
When the young officer, after having formally received
the bride from her mother, whose strength barely permitted
her to rise and go through that part of the ceremony,
proceeded to place the ring upon the finger of his wife,
it fell, either from nervousness or accident upon the
matted floor. Quick as thought, Waunangee, who had now
his whole attention bent upon the passing scene, stooped,
picked it up, and attempted to place it on the finger,
still extended, for which it was designed.
"Gently, Waunangee, my good fellow," said the officer,
piqued not less at his own awkwardness at such a moment,
than at the outre act of the youth, from whom he rather
unceremoniously took it--"the husband only does this."
"Wah!" involuntarily exclaimed the other, his cheek
becoming brighter, and his eyes kindling into sudden
fierceness, while his hand intuitively clutched the handle
of his knife--yet the moment afterwards relinquished it.
The motion had been so quick, indeed, that only Mr.
Headley and the bride herself had noticed it.
Still fascinated as it were by the novel scene, Waunangee
moved not away, but the expression of his eyes had wholly
changed. There was no longer to be remarked there the
great melancholy of the past--but the wild restless,
flashing glance that told of strong excitement within.
When immediately afterwards they knelt, and had their
hands joined by Captain Headley, Waunangee bent eagerly
forward, as if apprehensive of losing the slightest part
of the ceremonial, but when at the conclusion, Ronayne
saluted his wife in the usual manner, his cheek became
suddenly pale as its native hue would permit, and with
folded arms and proud attitude he withdrew slowly from
the place he had hitherto occupied, to mingle more with
the crowd behind.
When Ronayne, who, remembering the little incident of
the ring, and the possible pique Waunangee might feel,
turned to look for him, that he might again present his
bride in her new character, he was no where to be seen,
nor was he ever again beheld within the precincts of that
stockade.
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