Show CAROLYN WELLS 7 01 COPYRIGHT by CAROLYN WELLS I 1 IJU SERVICE CHAPTER I 1 the summer home called lovell terrace was one of the most effective on long island and its simple straight lines were far more anore suggestive of cool pleasant afternoons than were neighboring houses surrounded by elaborate gardens and fancy hedges that is as to its front lawns at the back there were flowers aplenty and now in early october there were chrysanthemums gold enalow en glow cosmos and other autumn blooms looms It which mingled with the f sumac and asters until the place was a mass of color the house itself had a great front expanse with columns from pediment to porch whose main r rectangle had wings connected by covered passages so large as to be really rooms in the garden two girls were 1 walking Pe perilla rills fairfax daughter of the house who would become a bride tomorrow and hilda shellon who would be her maid of honor just think hil ell this is the last day lovell terrace will be my home nonsense your home as much as ever have two homes all three in fact when you get your city home in shape all the homes I 1 want anyway you know im marrying corey for liis his money all of course I 1 know its what mes lies marrying you for that I 1 cant tell 1 I can give you that bit of information if you want it and corey malden maiden came down the steps of the back porch malden maiden was older than his bride tobe to be he was about thirty eight while perilla was twenty four yet for some reason they had from their first meeting felt a congeniality of tastes and opinions which had quickly grown to friendship and as quickly on to love malden maiden extremely rich thought of his money only to give it to others or use it himself for pleas ure or profit never for ostentation A handsome man was corey malden maiden living in richmond where he well suited the role of a country gentleman he longed for the vday day when he would take his lovely bride to virginia john lovell owner of lovell terrace was a southerner he waa not the father of perilla she was the child of mrs lovell and her first husband charles fairfax of a romantic nature she had named d the child perilla and her other child a boy malcolm the two fairfax children had grown up happily and at peace with the family and two years after the death of their father they had accepted a new parent with calm approval and good na aured welcome malcolm though two years older than perilla had no romantic leanings and looked upon her wed aing ding as a joke perilla on the other hand was making a solemn ritual of the event and malcolm guyed her for it well my turtle doves he said coming round the comer of the house not ready yet to change your plans and give up your mis taken ideas not yet malky returned his i sister but when we do ill let you know what time you leaving the house april dont know im sure what time corey i oh about four or five said the prospective bridegroom the fun of going in your own wn car said hilda you dont have to go till youre ready get t oft off that eirick b rick wan wall perilla 1 catch a cold perilla jumped off the low wall and going into coreys coneys arms nestled there of course her speech that she was marrying malden maiden for his mon ey was a great joke and hilda understood it as such perilla ac customer cus tomed to wealth gave little thought to the great fortune of the theman man she blie was about to marry perilla at twenty four was like inmost of her generation worldly wise but she had a keen sense of humor which made her a general i favorite and a kindly generous na ture which brought her crowds of friends until meeting corey malden maiden she had bad seen been no man she bhe cared for i especially but he be had bad captured her staunch young heart and now she longed to be with him the rest of her life malden maiden too had bad fallen victim to her charms at once and their courtship had been rapid and sincere the parents had approved the match the outlook then for the wedding the next day seemed in every way favorable and preparations were fre practically completed you dont seem a bit fit eistrat ed said hilda shaking her blond curls as she looked a perilla you yi y i ought to be nervous and almost hysterical why asked the bride to be mum is overseeing everything and ashes a marvel of an overseer ob heres mr gaskell hello mr best man corey tell everybody chos who malden maiden made introductions all round and the newcomer fitted himself into the circle call me tony he said makes me feel more at home and then its such a pretty name it is a pretty name protested perilla 1 I mean its a jolly name one of the sort I 1 like yes I 1 know smiled gaskell like pete and billy and such me for marmaduke and reginald you and I 1 are rather out of it malcolm said malden maiden looking downcast but perilla slipped her hand into his and said be it understood u der er plainly that there is ia no name in the world as beautiful as corey I 1 have spoken speak again begged gaskell 1 I like to hear you talk you dont have to urge her said malcolm april is a chatterbox thank heaven for that and malcolm laughed it relieves me of a lot of responsibility I 1 hate to talk listen to him exclaimed tony ive known that guy years and as a talker hes a complete radio outfit how come youve known him so long asked hilda and yet youve never been here before 1 I have been here before fair lady but by in ill chance you were not here at the same time 1 I get old tony here very often said malcolms soft southern voice hes all wrapped up in his law cases one of the most famous lawyers in philadelphia our best man is thank you sir was the gay response and then catching sight of a stranger tony dropped his bis voice lower and said baid dont look now but who is the houri tripping across the lawn just as well look now as at any time said malcolm 7 its ts miss latimer muddles muddies watchful and trustworthy social secretary what is it jane mrs lovell wonders if you wont all come into the house its tea time we sure will my souls awakening and malcolm rose wait a minute while I 1 line up these strangers within our gates but you know corey malden maiden not oh yes ive met our mr malden maiden several times of course she has mal said perilla jane knows everybody here except mr gaskell jane let me present tony gaskell our best man except this pleasant faced boy named corey an affectionate smile passed from perilla to her fiance for the last term that could be applied to malden maiden was boy in fact he sometimes looked and seemed older than he was but the lines of his face and the dignity of his bearing were not of age but because of a studious thoughtful life and long hours of scholarly work born bom into a wealthy virginia family he had lived most of his bis life in the south and far from being gregarious he had devoted his bis time to an intensive study of the religions of the world and had made discoveries and proved theories which had set his name high on the roll of honor of his chosen subject oh ob mr gaskell cried jane how nice of you to come I 1 was afraid you and id have to 0 o take on your duties too and ive just all I 1 can attend to jane the secretary was bubbling over with good humored smiles without any effect of presumption she azis was the friend of the family the helper in all social duties or courtesies and the general assistant of perilla and her mother there there mona lisa liba 11 said malcolm youve delivered your message run along now and well follow jane laughing ran along turning to wave her hand as aa she went peach of a secretary declared tony know they grow like that ashes a dear said perilla some girls would be spoiled by our foolery but she bhe takes it beautifully ti malcolm calls he those foolish names because P ill tell it her brother interrupted you see bee jane looks just like a picture I 1 once saw baw in some gallery so I 1 call her all the pic tures I 1 can think of hoping some time ill hit the right one and recognize it perilla walked ahead between corey and tony while hilda came after with malcolm 1 I really think that this time E hilda ilda and malcolm will hit it off said perilla musingly 1 I do hope so no how like a woman said tony no sooner does one get married than she plana wedding for a friend they do look well together though yes corey agreed but that platinum blond hair of hildas would look well with mine asked tony but after all I 1 think I 1 prefer the picturesque jane picturesque according to malcolm agreed perilla Pc rilla he teases that girl terribly and yet she never seems annoyed at him but that teasing said corey carcy she is like a picture not one definite picture you know but A whole film suggested tony however I 1 come here to discuss the little secretary any other guests tonight perilla only a couple of ushers two friends of malcolms pete wilson and bob coles know them no not yet but I 1 know you like their names yes I 1 do I 1 suppose you think im a silly to like silly names 1 I think you everything there is of the most glorious declared tony and malden maiden chimed in right old top glorious is just the word for my perilla Pc rilla and I 1 want you two to like each other a heap for you two are just about the only real friends I 1 have why corey and the girls voice was wondering you never told me that before oh he mean it literally and gaskell laughed they reached the house and went in the lounge a great room with the most comfortable furnishings that could be devised gaskell who had seen mr and mrs lovell on his arrival sati down by her on a big davenport and waited as malcolm brought his two chums to be introduced 1 gorgeous chaps mum 11 he declared and wilson looked modest while coles said enthus istl cally well pete so gorgeous mrs lovell but I 1 am I 1 just put it the other way so think chink I 1 was not too self assert ive ve 1 I think youre both darlings ellen lovell said smiling at them now run and play with the girls I 1 want to talk to mr gaskell 11 what shall we talk about said tony tomorrows doings yes have a cocktail and she herself lifted one from the tray the butler was passing its really absurd for me to ask you such a thing she went on I 1 as my fear is imaginary and I 1 know interference would be useless ellen lovell was a fine looking woman not only her serene seren beautiful face attracted attention but her graceful manner ana and especially her soft low voice charmed all who met her tony gaskell having been at the lovell home many times and feeling well acquainted with his hostess protested that he would follow her wishes in whatever direction they might lead speak low she said 1 11 I 1 dont dentt want any one to hear bear us its just this you know corey and perilla are taking their wedding trip in his motor coreys coneys chauffeur edenton Edyn bo anton ton is simply perfection hes a most skilled and careful driver and a wonderful chan ician as well you know all this yet I 1 remind you of it now now heres my trouble corey loves to go fast not only fast as any one else would use the word but fast like a speeder why when his car is going about seventy hell say can you help her along a little jim but hes never had an accident mrs lovell 1 I know it why im afraid even perilla has confessed to me that frightened the way boynton takes corners comers now my dear lady this is nerves and nothing but have another cocktail no thank you but you may now tony whether you think me silly or not I 1 want you to speak to corey about this before they start tonight perhaps might be better than to wait till tomorrow why of course I 1 will what shall I 1 say 1 I dont care how you word it ju just s t make it clear that I 1 am afraid for my girl if he goes too fast and tell him wont you that I 1 you too feel he is both foolish and unkind to his bride to endanger her safety as he so often does docs 1 I do think so mrs lovell and I 1 will tell him and ask him just what you suggest if he is offended it will be with me not with you i oh thank you tony youve lifted a weight from my heart of course I 1 have spoken to him about this lots of times but just the trouble A thing you harp on like that loses all power of persuasion the same subject brought up by another has far more force yes but you know old corey is going to see through us ill bet hell say at once that you put me up to saying it all right if he does tell him I 1 did and tell him that you want to add your persuasion to mine I 1 and do I 1 I 1 quite agree that he has no right to jeopardize his cifes life whatever he may do with his own A married man has responsibilities that a single man need never think about very well oh theres another thing tony ive had to put you and corey in the same room you see we expect pete and bobby to stay the night we thought they come until tomorrow morning so weve been obliged to double up ive given you ayou and corey malcolms room you wont mind will you no i a mite seems a pity to turn malky out though no indeed hes more than willing dont you envy corey well I 1 just do every man at the wedding will envy him married or not now mrs lovell is there anything else I 1 can do for you anything about the ceremony you know what im here for you know more about your duties as best man than I 1 do dont let corey drop the ring and all that now go over there lo 10 oking looking for you and send miss latimer to me please theres a peach who is she im mad about her ashes a perfect darling dont ever take her away from me tony smiled at her and crossed the room to where jane latimer was gaily chaffing the bridegroom mrs lovell wants you miss latimer gaskell said come back when you can wont you yes indeed and jane ran away 1 I dont know how ill get along without jane said perilla 1 I think rii have to have her when I 1 get back may I 1 corey if I 1 can get her from mother you may have anything or anybody in the world that I 1 can get for you now the sort of husband to have said hilda 1 I hope to goodness the sort I 1 get you will have if you take me exclaimed malcolm who as they all knew was deeply in love with his sisters friend dont bother me about it today she returned airily ive one wedding on my hands now and I 1 never consider more than one wedding on any one day dont take it too hard dear perilla begged her td rd hate to have you overworked to bring my wedding off properly are you letter perfect in your part corey or shall we have a rehearsal oh have a rehearsal cried jane who had returned to the group such fun but not a dress rehearsal perilla decreed come on and dress lor bior dinner now and well nave have the rehearsal this evening so they allwelt all went to their various rooms malden maiden however did not appear until gaskell was ready to go downstairs go along corey said 1 I was delayed talking to mr lovell about some affairs you go on and if im late excuse me Right ol and gaskell hurried bun led down the stairs after dinner perilla declared the rehearsal should take place at once is everybody here that belongs in the procession naked asked malcolm I 1 all but the tenney girls his bis sister said you and bobby run over and get them and well have all ready when you get back now who for mercy sake are ahei the tenney girls exclaimed tony my bridesmaids perina perilla told him darlings and they live just up the road a piece i the great drawing room was soon arranged and under the orders of miss latimer and mrs lovell all the necessary furniture was put in place perilla is beautiful said john lovell watching the graceful ligure figure of his bis stepdaughter as she made sure things were as she wanted them they all are returned his wife 1 I never saw a lovelier wedding group and here are arc the ten quite in the class with the others but corey malden maiden looking at his bis chosen bride wondered how bow anyone could see any charm in the others he wondered a little at his marvelous luck he was handsome in a dignified way had all the courtesies and graces |