Washington State journal and Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1906-1907, 1907-02-13

Avn SAAOJ VOAs w oAOSRs
For the next few days there were
busy preparations in the old farm
house. Mysterious doings were going
on. all over the house. Mother was
hustled OF somewhere every day to
visit some friend or neighbor in the
vicinity, who gladly welcomed the dear,
kind soul and her perpetual knitting
work.
Father and "the boys" stalwart men
Of twenty-five and thirty, were busy in
the field and orchard doing up the fall
work. Janet worked away happily all
day, and when at four o'clock Olive
came home from the little red-painted
diotrict schoolhouse, she donned a big
apron, put - her thimble and went
resOlutely t. work in her own room up
stairs. Evidently something was In
the air.
Wednesday morning dawned bright
and clear, with that indescribable
crispness and sparkle in the air that
makes October a royal month.
Olive had asked the trustee for the
day and he had granted it willingly;
Janet looking like an apple blossom
in her pink calico gown and snowy
white apron, fitting about the house
on light feet, seeming to be everywhere
at once.
John and David were wrestling with
their Sunday neckties and polishing
their boots to the very highest possible
shine.
The old folks looked on wistfully,
but silently, wondering what all the
commotion was about.
Out in the woodshed father conflded
to mother this piece Of news: "Guess
the children must be goin' over to Mil
lerville to the county fair. But It does
seem kind O. curious they don't speak
about It."
''That's 3d." mother had made re-
Spouse; "but mebby they think we're
gettin' too old to be took into their az
fairs" and she sighed a little tremu-
lous sigh that teld palmer than words
the sadness that she felt.
Almost UNANIMOUSLY Olives clear
contralto and Johns deep bass came
ringing down the stairs. Mother.
please come up here asfew minutes!'
and. Here, father. I want you upstairs
little while"
Wondering little. but never guess
ing, they went upstairs together. and In
the hall parted. What mother saw as
she entered her daughters room was
4 shining, silvery mass of something
lying on the neat white bed. a soft and
silky pile Of material which gradual.t
took form AMI shape until she saw
beautiful gown, whose delicate laces In
neck and sleeves combined with the
soft gray tint made 1t look bridelike
Indeed.
"Oh, girlsl" was all she could say, as
Janet put her into a chair and began
to take down her little coil of white
hair.
Dressing the BRIDE occupied, per-
haps. an hour, and when at last the
toilet was announced complete the
faded blue eyes behind the gold-bowed
glasses saw In the large old-fashioned
mirror a sweet and dainty picture-a
bcautiful-faced old lady with delicate
heliotrope nesting among the laces at
her throat, and a tiny spray In her
hair.
A faint, pink flush of excitement
had come to the withered cheeks,
which made the old face a sweet his
tory Of what 1t had been In its youth
full prime. Olive and Janet kissed her
triumphantly.
Mother, you don't realize how sweet
and young you look! You have worn
black so long," And. "Oh, mother,
we're going to have a wedding In this
house to-day, and you are to be the
BRIDE"
FIFTY years ago to-day" the old
bride softly murmured, looking down
at the thin circlet Of gold that she had
worn 30 long, and in her heart a sod
den longing sprang up, newly kindled,
quick and strong desire for him who
had been her husband all these years.
She looked wistfully toward the
door and took faltering step towards
1t, but just then 1t opened, and John
and David entered escortlng between
them proudly the hero Of the day at
tired In a fine new suit Of broadcloth,
with q festive little posy In his button
hole and face beaming with renewed
youth and gladness.
The children were forgotten in the
quick lmpulsive embrace that followed,
and the long kiss of love and honor
and fidelity that had crowned that half
century of welded life.
That was a day never to be forgot
ten in all the country round. Everybody
was there. Not only the old who had
grown old with the happy bride and
groom, but the middle-aged and
strong. A great table had been spread
out of doors under the dropping elms
that had been slender treelets on that
wedding day fifty years ago.
The minister who had married them
was long since dead, but his son, a
IL