r Bates was in the
habit of carrying up to Misty other things besides his stock in trade
and the Word of God. Very little that occurred at Storm was unknown to
the man he called "Teacher."

Nobody who had any possible claim to be present missed that wedding. It
was the nine days' wonder of the community. As Mrs. Sykes murmured to
her chosen intimates: "To think of both them beautiful young gals bein'
content to take their ma's cast-off leavin's!"--for the heart-affairs of
the Madam were viewed by her realm with a certain proprietary,
disapproving interest, not entirely unmixed with pride. And more than
one noted that the bridegroom, waiting at the altar-steps with his best
man, Farwell, was careful never to glance toward the pew where Mrs.
Kildare sat, quite as beautiful and far more radiant than the young
creature in white, who moved dreamily up the aisle as if her thoughts
were far away. There was a certain amount of buzzing among the
congregation.

Jacqueline was married in a sort of daze. She had remembered quite
mechanically to keep five paces behind Jemima, to lift her skirts at the
step so as not to stumble over them, even to smile at Philip because he
smiled at her--a very tender, encouraging smile. As she spoke the words
that made her his wife she thought triumphantly, "If Mr. Channing could
only see me now!"

It was not until she was going down the aisle again on her husband's arm
that the daze lifted suddenly. Her husband! She looked up at him with a
little gasp, and Philip, feeling her tremble, pressed her hand,
murmuring, "Steady, dear," as he would have spoken to a frightened colt.

Then she remembered that after all it was only old Philip, her
friend....

Some hours later they drove back in the Ark from Storm to the
rectory--their only wedding-journey--through a world white with the
first snow, in honor of their nuptials. They went hand in hand through
the little blanketed garden toward the welcome of the firelight that
glowed through the cabin windows; and the door was eagerly opened to
them by the elderly housewoman, Ella, and proud Lige, both of whom Mrs.
Kildare had spared from Storm to replace the worthless Dilsey.

"We all's got two more presents!" announced Lige, a-grin from ear to ear
with the joy of the occasion. "Come and look."

He led the way with a lantern toward Philip's modest stable, where they
found a pretty little Jersey cow with a placard tied to her crumpled
horn, which read,