Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-08-29
"Well. Jimmy. guess it is just about


hand. Jimmy gasped. Never before
had be owned a whole dollar. For the
circus, part Of it, dearie, and the rest
for cannon firecrackers. Be sure YOU
get an extra large one and shoot it
for me. You know I'm afraid to touch
it Off myself"
And with Il smile the girl drew her
mothers arm through her own and
started back toward the house. Mrs.
Crimes protested fceb;y against the ex-
trav&Gancc. hut Life laid loving hand
over her mJ;hcr'S lips.
Il n!;ist-I must DO something per-
fect!y wild. am 50 happy
But tiiorp was Il sugsc 'tiJn OF tears
in her vo.cc. ana her hands this morn
ing were 10: 900! and firm. but hot and
trembling. Mandy turned anxious eyes
On her iI.;:born.
"I.ii;c, you amt acted natural since
you come home. What's on your
minl?"
"You, just now," came the quick re-
sponse. Il don't like to be selfish. but
| am so glad you dill not go with IA
ther to the celebration. for-for. you
see, mother, dear, l am going to be mar
ried today, and it would be hard not
to have you at the ceremony"
They had reached the house by this
time, and Mrs. Grimes dropped weakly
into the nearest chair Ellie knelt be-
side her.
"You mustn't blame me too much for
not telling you before, but was afraid
father would find out. He would never
give his consent to my marrying Ed.
There is nothing but political il! feeling
on his part, for Ed jameson hasn't an
other enemy in the world, only father
Is afraid of him, afraid Of Eds power
in politics. We love each other, and |
want Il home. real home, not an abid-
ing place. Oh, | don't mean to hurt
YOU. but you must understand that IA
thcr ruined my giIhood. just rs he has
ruined your life. don't want to teach;
am not suited for the work. And do
love Ed. He could not come to the
house all summer long, and am too
proud to meet the man l love like Il
thief In the night. So we are going
over to the Methodist minister's this
morning and be quietly married. And
there is where all my money went. |
have all my clothes and my linen
During Efiie's long and ut times halt
ing speech Mrs. Grimes had offered no
interruption. She sat as in Il dream,
perhaps n dream Of the day long years
before when she, too, had been Il bride.
But ut the words CLOTHES and linen"
she started as one stung to the realiza-
ton of an unpleasant fact.
"And you've done this all alone! Your
father and mother amt had any hand
In gettin' your outfit, amt done thing
for YOU" A world Of hurt pride, Of
motherly despair, rang in the words,
and then she turned pleadingly to her
daughter. Don't you reckon II you
waited a day and things went right at
Chadron for your father he'd feel bet
ter natured and we could have we'd
married without any weddin'"
We don't want to take any chances.
mother, and promised Ed to be ready
when he comes, so bring your bonnet
and I'll fasten on some fresh roses. You
must look your prettiest for my wed.
ding day"
Silently Mandy left the room. but
when she returned a few moments
later she carried, instead Of the bonnet
which had been "freshened" annually
for five years, an old fashioned steel
bead purse. The expression Of her
face, even her bearing, had undergone
q subtle change. She stood erect, and
the lines had disappeared from her
face, now Illuminated by sudden re-
solve that seemed to restore her lost
youth.
"Effie we've just got to have a wed.
din. 1t shan't be said that daughter
of mine was married away from her
home an without weddin' dinner.
We've got the whole day before us.
It's only a little past I, an I've got
little money of my own that I've been
savin' for somethin' just like this"
In her excitement she had forgotten
that the nickels and dimes had been
laid aside to buy new underwear for
her laying out" Il custom prevalent
in her family for many generations
which for her lacked any element
of CrewsomeneSS. We'll have some
of the girls you went to school with
There's Mary Harter-she said she
woulln't go to the Celebration Deca lse
she hates cannol an noise-an' Lucy
Burns didn't get her new dress finish
ed. You get them two to help us hX
up the house with flowers. Mandy
fairly quivered with happiness and
new found powers, while Ettie stood
dumfounded in the presence OF TINS
sudden assertion Of maternal righ''.
1--WE got chickens a-plenty, and there's
time to beat up couple of cakes.
Thank goodness we didn't eat up all
of that best apple jelly. Now you run
for the girls while set Jimmy catch-
in the chickens. II Ed comes while
you're gone Ill send him right over
TO engage the preacher.
And Mandy Grimes, rejuvenated-
nav, born anew-hurried. with soft
tune OH her lips. toward the barn,
where Jimmy was rushing through MS
chores as only small boy with Sill
YER dollar burning hole in his pocket
can hurry.
In the dull blaze Of the midsummer
sunset David Grimes drove slowly to-
ward Jepson Center. The seat beside
him was vacant, and the dust fell I'M
noticed on his black suit and wlthered
linen. His duster ut this moment hung
on peg in Chadron's principal livery
stable. The superintendent of the North
farm had remained over for the fire.
works and ball. The pyrotechnics in
the bosom of David Grimes were sufti-
cient to satisfy that gentleman fully,
and he had been glad to escape from
the gaping, applauding crowds ut the
county seat-not that his Grafton had
failed to win the approval OF his con-
stituents, but there are occasions Wien
constituents are unavailing. This had
been one of them.
1t had all happened at the conference,
| when, with the plaudits OF the crowd
still ringing in his ears, he had heard
c,,,.,,,o static ~ hluntly rs he could