Amanda: A Daughter of the Mennonites - Page 147/147

Later there was supper out under the trees. A supper at which Millie,

trim in her new gray Mennonite garb and white cap, was able to show her

affection for the bride, but at which the bride was so riotously happy

that she scarcely knew what she was eating.

Of course there was a real bride's cake with white icing. Amanda had to

cut it and hand out pieces for the young people to dream upon.

After a while the bride slipped away, took off her white dress and put

on a dark suit. Then she and Martin dodged rice and were whirled away

in a big automobile.

The other members of the household had much to occupy their hands for

the next hour, setting things to rights, as Millie said, the while

their hearts and thoughts were speeding after the two who had smiled

and looked as though no other mortals had ever known such love.

When the place was once more in order and the Landis family, the last

guests, had gone off in the darkness, the children flinging back loud

good-nights, Mrs. Reist, Philip, Millie and Uncle Amos sat alone on the

porch and talked things over.

"It was some wedding, Mother," was the opinion of the boy.

"Yes." "Prettiest thing I ever seen," said the hired girl.

"Yes, so it was," Uncle Amos agreed. "But say, Millie, it's dandy and

moonlight. What d'you say to a little walk down the road? Or are you

too tired?"

"Ach, I'm not tired." And the two went off in the soft spring night for

a stroll along the lane, Millie in her gray Mennonite dress, Uncle Amos

in his plain suit of the faith. The two on the porch saw her homely

face transfigured by a smile as she looked up into the countenance of

the man who had brought romance into her life, then they saw Uncle Amos

draw the hand of Millie through his arm and in that fashion they walked

along in the moonlight, the man, contented and happy, holding the hand

of the woman warmly in his grasp. To them, no less than to the youthful

lovers, was given the promise of happiness and in their hearts was

ringing Amanda's and Martin's pledge: "Sure, I will walk with you, my lad,

As love ordains me to,--

To Heaven's door, and _through_, my lad,

O I will walk with you."