The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1906-12-07
The Golden
Wedding Gift
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Franceska, trying mentally to put
herself in the brides place, eyed ner
grandparents with unusual interest
To this girl of sixteen fifty years
seemed a long time to be married.
do you know" Mrs. Wilson had
said that morning to her husband, IN
Franceska's hearing, chat neither
your father nor your mother seems
to remember that three weeks from
today will be their golden-wedding
day."
Father never did remember ami
versaries," Mr. Wilson had replied.
thine and again I've seen mother
fairly speeches. with indignation
because father had forgotten all
about her birthday. He's always been
as good as gold to her, but | must
say that he's neglected fearful num-
Der of opportunities to celebrate
But" pursued Mrs. Wilson, earn
estly, when people have been mar
ried fifty years it seems as if some
thing ought to be done about it. I'd
like to give them a golden wedding.
The Farrels did for their parents and
the Bishops"
Give them two if you like. But
it's my opinion that if you mention
it beforehand father'll take to the
woods"
FRANCESCA, her elbows fianking her
book on the big living-rocm table,
looked up later, to gaze refiectively
at a prim little old lady, sitting stiff
fly upright in her favorite straight
backed chair. Her feet did not
touch the floor, but rested with care
full precision on the footstool that her
one grandchild was always careful to
keep in place. Four of the neatest
of short white curls hung at each
side of the old lady's thin, refined
countenance, while high shell comb
held small knob securely in place
at the back of her head
Grandma Wilson, who, without
spectacles, was doing the finest If
drawn-work, did not look seventy-two
years old.
FRANCESCA turned investigating
eyes upon her grandfather, who re-
.clined comfortably in the big rock
ing chair. He, too, was young for
his age, but if his hair was neatly
brushed it was only because Grand
ma Wilson had insisted that it should
be. Even as FRANCESCA gazed the
door bell rang, and the fastidious old
lady reached out suddenly to tweak
the soft necktie from under his left
ear to its proper place under his
chin.
For the next three weeks there
were mysteries under the Wilson
roof. 1t seemed certain that the alert
old lady must suspect, because so
little that happened ever escaped her;
but it was different with Franceska's
grandfather. 1t was unlikely that
he would be aware of the extra loaves
of bread in the pantry and the extra
busting of the parlor.
q have begged everybody" confid-
ed Mrs Wilson, mot to send expen-
sive presents; we're not giving this
party for the sake of presents. And
I've asked them all to refrain from
sending anything until the evening
of the twenty-fifth.'
The golden-wedding day dawned.
Although the family watched intently
for signs, neither the golden bride
nor the golden bridegroom gave any
token that the day differed from 9th
er days.
1T is very probable" pondsred
Franceska, at breakfast time, that
my absen1-minded grandfather has
forgotten the date; but surely grand
ma, who remembers the birthdays of
every one of her sisters amazing
number of grandchildren, has never
forgotten her own golden-wedding
day! The idea Is absurd But why,
il she remembers it, doesn't she men,
ton it? 1t seems so strange. Per-
haps she suspects the party, and is
going to pretend to be surprised"
At noon, except for several large
cakes concealed in the dining room
closet, the day was still as other
days. Yet there was one other diff.
ference. Grandfather Wilson's tie
had skewed about until it threatened
to dangle down his back; and entire
Iy contrary to her usual custom. his
bride of fifty years permitted it to
dangle.
At three o'clock, Mrs. Balm, we'll
meaning but bungling neighbor, who
never missed an opportunity to blum
der. entered the Wilson's house in