The courtship of Miles Standish and other poems . ? Why does the bride turn pale, and hide her faceon his shoulder? 102 THE COURTSHIP OF Is it a phantom of air,—a bodiless, spectral illu-sion? Is it a ghost from the grave, that has come to for-bid the betrothal? Long had it stood there unseen, a guest unm-vited, unwelcomed; Over its clouded eyes there had passed at timesan expression Softening the gloom and revealing the warm hearthidden beneath them, As when across the sky the driving rack of therain-cloud Grows for a moment thin, and betrays the sun byits brightness. Once it had lifted its h
The courtship of Miles Standish and other poems . ? Why does the bride turn pale, and hide her faceon his shoulder? 102 THE COURTSHIP OF Is it a phantom of air,—a bodiless, spectral illu-sion? Is it a ghost from the grave, that has come to for-bid the betrothal? Long had it stood there unseen, a guest unm-vited, unwelcomed; Over its clouded eyes there had passed at timesan expression Softening the gloom and revealing the warm hearthidden beneath them, As when across the sky the driving rack of therain-cloud Grows for a moment thin, and betrays the sun byits brightness. Once it had lifted its hand, and moved its lips,but was silent. As if an iron will has mastered the fleeting in-tention. But when were ended the troth and the prayer andthe last benediction. Into the room it strode, and the people beheld withamazement Bodily there in his armor Miles Standish, the Cap-tain of Plymouth! Grasping the bridegrooms hand, he said withemotion, ^Torgive me! MILES STANDISH 103 I have been angry and hurt,—too long have Icherished the feeling;. I have been cruel and hard, but now, thank God!it is ended. I04 THE COURTSHIP OF Mine is the same hot blood that leaped in theveins of Hugh Standish, Sensitive, swift to resent, but as swift in atoningfor error. Never so much as now was Miles Standish thefriend of John Alden/ Thereupon answered the bridegroom: Let all beforgotten between us,— All save the dear, old friendship, and that shallgrow older and dearer! Then the Captain advanced, and, bowing, salutedPriscilla, Gravely, and after the manner of old-fashionedgentry in England, Something of camp and of court, of town and ofcountry, commingled, Wishing her joy of her wedding, and loudly laud-ing her husband. Then he said with a smile: T should have remem-bered the adage,— If you would be well served, you must serve your-self; and moreover, No man can gather cherries in Kent at the seasonof Christmas! MILES STANDISH 105 Great was the peoples amazement, and greateryet their rejo
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