“They stand, those halls
of Zion,
All jubilant
with song,
And bright with many
an angel,
And all
the martyr throng.
The Prince is ever in
them,
The daylight
is serene;
The pastures of the
blessed
Are decked
in glorious sheen,
“There is the throne
of David;
And there,
from care released,
The shout of them that
triumph,
The song
of them that feast.
And they, who with their
Leader,
Have conquered
in the fight,
For ever and for ever
Are clad
in robes of white.
“O sweet and blessed
country,
The home
of God’s elect!
O sweet and blessed
country,
That eager
hearts expect!
Jesus, in mercy bring
us
To that
dear land of rest;
Who art, with God the
Father,
And Spirit,
ever blest,”
“Thank you very much, gentlemen,” said Mildred as the last notes died away. “What lovely words those are! Ah, they make one almost envious of that dear woman who has already reached that happy land where sin and sorrow are unknown.”
“And death never enters,” added Grandma Elsie low and feelingly. “Oh, ‘blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.’”
CHAPTER XXII.
The wedding morning dawned bright and clear. All the invited guests who had passed the night on shore were early arrivals upon the yacht, which then immediately started across the lake, heading for Michigan City.
The crew had outdone themselves in making everything about the vessel even more than ordinarily clean and bright, and everyone was arrayed in holiday attire. The young men of the party had taken care to provide abundance of flowers, especially for the saloon where the ceremony was to take place.
There they all assembled, drawn by the familiar strains of the Bridal Chorus from “Lohengrin,” played by Violet on the small pipe organ which the captain’s thoughtfulness had provided for his wife’s amusement and his own pleasure, as well as that of his daughters.
A hush fell upon them as Cyril entered and took his appointed place, followed closely by the bridal party, which consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Dinsmore and the bride and groom; Annis preferring to be without bridesmaids, and Mr. Dinsmore having expressed a desire to take a father’s part and give her away.
The short and simple ceremony was soon over, and after the customary congratulations and good wishes, all repaired to the dining saloon where they partook of a delicious breakfast.
All this time the vessel was speeding on her way, and the lake being calm, and such breeze as there was favorable, she made excellent headway, carrying them into their port in good season for catching their trains without being unpleasantly hurried.
Then the Dolphin turned and retraced her course, arriving at her old station near the Peristyle before nightfall; so that the returned passengers were able to spend their evening, as usual, in the beautiful Court of Honor.