Many people--all Cubitas, in fact--had assembled to witness the
romantic double wedding, but few actually succeeded, for Esteban's
hut was too small to accommodate more than the highest officials
of the Provisional Government, so the others were forced to wait
outside in the gathering dusk. And those Ministers, those
secretaries of departments, those generals and colonels, what a
motley crowd they formed! There was scarcely a whole garment among
them. They were sunburnt, wind-browned, earnest men, the old ones
grayed and grizzled from worry, the younger ones wasted from
hardships in the field. But out of their rags and poverty shone a
stately courtesy and consideration. They were gentlemen, men of
culture and refinement, the best and oldest blood of Cuba. Both
Norine and Johnnie had learned their gratitude, and the story of
the Varona twins was typical of the island, nowadays, so they
unbent and there were warm congratulaitons, well-turned Latin
pleasantries, elaborate compliments upon the beauty of the brides.
Then, afterward, there was a surprise--a genuine surprise--in the
form of a banquet at the big mess shelter, with an orchestra
concealed behind a screen of fresh-cut palm-leaves stuck into the
soft earth. This was the men's part of the celebration, the
official compliment to Cuba's guest.
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