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MISS BILLY-- MARRIED
BY ELEANOR H. PORTER
AUTHOR OF POLLYANNA, Etc.
TO My Cousin Maud
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I. SOME OPINIONS AND A WEDDING II. FOR WILLIAM--A HOME III. BILLY SPEAKS HER MIND IV. JUST LIKE BILLY V. TIGER SKINS VI. ''THE PAINTING LOOK'' VII. THE BIG BAD QUARREL VIII. BILLY CULTIVATES A COMFORTABLE INDIFFERENCE'' IX. THE DINNER BILLY TRIED TO GET X. THE DINNER BILLY GOT XI. CALDERWELL DOES SOME QUESTIONING XII. FOR BILLY--SOME ADVICE XIII. PETE XIV. WHEN BERTRAM CAME HOME XV. AFTER THE STORM XVI. INTO TRAINING FOR MARY ELLEN XVII. THE EFFICIENCY STAR--AND BILLY XVIII. BILLY TRIES HER HAND AT ''MANAGING'' XIX. A TOUGH NUT TO CRACK FOR CYRIL XX. ARKWRIGHT'S EYES ARE OPENED XXI. BILLY TAKES HER TURN AT QUESTIONING XXII. A DOT AND A DIMPLE XXIII. BILLY AND THE ENORMOUS RESPONSIBILITY XXIV. A NIGHT OFF XXV. ''SHOULD AULD ACQUAINTANCE BE FORGOT'' XXVI. GHOSTS THAT WALKED FOR BERTRAM XXVII. THE MOTHER--THE WIFE XXVIII. CONSPIRATORS XXIX. CHESS XXX. BY A BABY'S HAND
Miss Billy--Married
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CHAPTER I
SOME OPINIONS AND A WEDDING
''I, Bertram, take thee, Billy,'' chanted the white-robed clergyman.
'' 'I, Bertram, take thee, Billy,' '' echoed the tall young bridegroom, his eyes gravely tender.
''To my wedded wife.''
'' 'To my wedded wife.' '' The bridegroom's voice shook a little.
''To have and to hold from this day forward.''
'' 'To have and to hold from this day forward.' '' Now the young voice rang with triumph. It had grown strong and steady.
''For better for worse.''
'' 'For better for worse.' ''
''For richer for poorer,'' droned the clergyman, with the weariness of uncounted repetitions.
'' 'For richer for poorer,' '' avowed the bridegroom, with the decisive emphasis of one to whom the words are new and significant.
''In sickness and in health.''
'' 'In sickness and in health.' ''
''To love and to cherish.''
'' 'To love and to cherish.' '' The younger voice carried infinite tenderness now.
''Till death us do part.''
'' 'Till death us do part,' '' repeated the bridegroom's lips; but everybody knew that what his heart said was: ''Now, and through all eternity.''
''According to God's holy ordinance.''
'' 'According to God's holy ordinance.' ''
''And thereto I plight thee my troth.''
'' 'And thereto I plight thee my troth.' ''
There was a faint stir in the room. In one corner a white-haired woman blinked tear-wet eyes and pulled a fleecy white shawl more closely about her shoulders. Then the minister's voice sounded again.
''I, Billy, take thee, Bertram.''
'' 'I, Billy, take thee, Bertram.' ''
This time the echoing voice was a feminine one, low and sweet, but clearly distinct, and vibrant with joyous confidence, on through one after another of the ever familiar, but ever impressive phrases of the service that gives into the hands of one man and of one woman the future happiness, each of the other.
