Mabel’s engagement made a second sensation, Mr. Chester’s elopement being the first. Many were the congratulations offered, though these were mingled with regret that so good a teacher should be lost to the village. Mr. Chester heard the news in gloomy silence. His wife remarked patronizingly that it was a very suitable match, for “both are as poor as poverty, goodness knows!”
The wedding took place quietly in October, and in Granville. No one as yet knew that Mabel was other than she seemed, though Mr. Wilson had been informed of her real name. When, however, a check for five hundred dollars was handed to him as his fee for celebrating the marriage, he faltered in amazement, as he inquired, “What does this mean, Allan?”
“It means, my dear uncle, that Mabel is not only rich in every virtue and every accomplishment, but she is also burdened with a large portion of this world’s goods. This is my first opportunity for saying what she authorized me to say, that we will gladly defray Ralph’s expenses through college whenever you are ready to send him.”
“God is indeed good to me and mine!” said the minister, his face beaming with happiness. “My dear child” — this was to Mabel — “may you always be as happy as you have made us.”
“You have made us all happy, dear Mabel,” said her husband. “It was indeed a blessed day when you came to Granville to teach.”