Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1886-06-10

cut Pompadour, with low oorsage and elbow
sleeves. Her flowers were Jscqueminot roses.
Miss Huddlestoa was dressed in pink silk
Mrs Sunderland's dress was gray satin
trimmed with lace, long train. square neck and
elbow sleeves.
THE DECORATIONS
of the executive mansion tonight were OF
an elaborate character, and, In the language
of one of the oldest employees. at never pre-
sented a handsomer appearance. Tho
various public gardens in the city and many
private consefvatories here and in other
cities contributed their choicest plants and
flowers to lend their beauty and fragrance
to the scene OF course the blue room
where the ceremony YVES performed occu-
pied the principal attention of the decor
ators, 1t was transformed into a yeritable
bower of beauty. The decorations are thus
outlined
THE ENGAGEMENT
A curious story Is told Of the presidents
engagement He has known Miss Folsom
since she was baby He has handled her
on his knee as a little girl, and has been her
great friend all her life. She used to call
him Uncle Cleye, and he has kept up cor
respondence with her for many years He
never thought of her in the way of marriage
until year or so ago. She had gone away
TO school girl, and came back woman.
Still he never though of the possibility OF an
old fellow like hm marrying such a pretty
young girl as frankie Folsom, until while he
was governor at Albany some matchmaking
correspondent disseminated a report that he
was engaged to her The next time he saw
her they chatted and laughed over the re-
port After a time Gov. Cleveland's love
began TO change FROM that OF the
father to the lover. His letters to Miss
Folsom became more tender, and she
at the same time inwardly knowing that she
was doing so, changed the tone of her let
tiers to him She stopped calling him
Uncle Cleven and spoke Of him as "the
governor" He sent her flowers and wrote
her humorous stories of his experience at
Albany She was deeply interested IN his
presidential canvass and her enthusiasm
pleased the president more than anything
else connected with the campaign. The
possibility of marriage, which had been
slowly working its way into President Cieve-
lands heart, became a stronger force than
ever He became now thoroughly in love,
and at the tiIne-Se was elected president he
determined that he would propose during
the first year of the administrator He felt
very delicate about it, however, for the
reason that Miss Folsom was so much
younger than himself, and that she was his
ward
stu he thought she loved him, and he
knew that he was more and more in love
with her every day This was the state of
affairs when Miss frankie and her mother
came ut his invitation TO spend week or so
at the White House during the last Easter
vacation. They thoroughly enjoyed the
visit President Cleveland was being exalted
to the skies in the newspapers and the air of
toadying Washington was full OF his praises
The warm White House was very beautiful
in contrast with cold New York. The grass
was beginning TO creep out OF the ground,
and the buds were showing signs of bursting
forth into the leaves of early spring. The
crocuses were in bloom Tho presidents
mansion was filled with flowers from his
greenhouse, and the great consergatories
were one mass of blossoms and green. IL
was the day after reception, and the
family had just eaten their dinner from
the Ell eganU china and fine cut glass of
the presidential table Miss Folsom had
picked up the elegant bouquet du corsdge
which was laid beside her plate, and had
pinned itinto the lace at her neck President
Cleveland, contrary to his usual custom,
came to the table in full dress. His day had
been pleasant one, and he was feeling very
good humored The dinner passed of very
agreeably. Miss Folsom was talking of her
school days, and she kept the party in roar
of laughter by her stories of Wells college
girls VINO attended it She had never seemed
happier, and the president thought he had
never seen her look more beautiful Alter
the dinner, which lasted about one hour, the
party adjourned to the blue parior for q
moment, and then began to scatter, Miss
Cleveland going up stairs aud Mrs Folsom
settling herself back in u chair and devoting
her attention to a story which she was read
ing. Miss Folsom and the president were
talking together, standing at the door lead
ftar f,r.. fha. md nj
traits of the presidents which line its walls.
moment later they strolled down toward
the east ROOM and then strolled arm in arm
into the conservatory. This was dimiy
lighted. and the air was full of roses. They
walked up and down Its aisles between the
banks of flowers for perhaps full half
hour, talking earnestly. and their voices
were as tender as The forget-me-nots they
passed, and their conversation, decidedly
personal to themselves, was under the rose
in more senses than one They came from
the conservatory with a happy look upon
their faces Miss Folsom was biushing
deeply, and The president held in his hand
a red rose from her bouquet du corsage.
The engagement had been made in the
conservatory It was not announced TO
Mrs Folsom until day or two later, and
to Miss Cleveland even Later still shortly
after this Miss Folsom wrote to her grand
father telling him of her proposed marriage,
and Grandfather Folsom, who was withal q
senSlDio IeiioW, EtOpOseu at once tilu1 MiSS
Folsom be taken to Europe, and spend some
time in travel to fit herself for the position
she was to assume as the first lady of the
land He offered to furnish the money, and
as he liked the president he was enthusiastic
on the subject of the marriage. The Euro
pean trip was afterward talked over with
the president 1t was finally agreed upon,
and the grandfather agreed TO furnish enough
money for a magnificent wardrobe for the
bride. The whole affair was to be kept a
strict secret and the marriage was to take
place Immediately upon the return of Miss
Folsom from Europe.