The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-08-19
THEIR GOLDEN WEDDING.

in the morning, and why are you
lingering out there in the moon
sinner"
The shrill-voiced woman who gave
the command, gave the straight
backed chair an ugly shake as she
passed into the house, and glanced
angrily at the silvered head leaning
wearily in the chair.
"All right, Jane, in a minute" he
answered in shaking tones, as he
started from his reverie.
Jane was his eldest daughter, tall
and angular and used to ruling her
fathers house without resistance
She was nearing her forty-elghth
birthday. and the burden of the fam
lily had long hung heavily on her
dropping shoulders.
Love had passed her by. not to re-
turn, when she was acting as moth
er as we'll as elder sister to those
whom dying mother left in her care.
Father gets more childish every
day, and he is dreaming again over
that old VIOLIN" she said TO herself
as she went upstairs to her own
room and, weary from her day of
toll, she soon fell asleep
Out in the golden glory OF the
harvest moon, the old man toyed idly
with the violin which had been his
comfort in darker days
Fifty years ago tonight she was
here, and she liked this old place."
he said to himself.
1T was new then, and the paint
was white and the steps were even.
and she was my bride.
"why, / can see her yet, as she
came down the hall, clad in that lacy,
shiny thing she wore when the
preacher said those solemn words;
let me see. he said, Until death do
us part'-that is what he said, but
death didn't part us, did IT., Mary?"
or late he had grown in the habit
of talking to himself talking to
Mary, he called iO.
Father is getting queer" said
| Jane to the postman that evening
"He sits out on the porch and talks
and talks"
But to the aged one, sitting there
III the moonlight the presence was
| very real.
Mary, your dress is just as white
as IL was 80 years ago tonight, and
| your check is just as smooth, while
| your eyes sparkle just the same as
| they did that night when you first
saw your new home" Then the
Presence, in the white gown, seemed
to draw nearer, and the old man
| continued: stroke my hair, Mary,
] Just as you did that first night, and |
| will tell you all about the beautiful
future we will have together"
| How cool your hand, little one,
and those tiny fingers-so small and
white. | am afraid you made mis-
take when you chose me from among
all your admirers-those who could
have given you mansion instead OF
a cottage, rich jewels and fine clothes
instead Of the love | lay SO gladly at
your little feet"
He was living over again those
frs. hours when he brought his city
bride to his humble home; the hours
when he realized that to him had
come the greatest prize of earth, the
love of beautiful woman, possessing
all the accomplishments OF training
and the inheritance OF old family
traditions.
Fifty years ago, Mary dear, yet
we are no older than we were that
night | cannot understand il all, fol
Jane Is woman now, much Older
than you were when you closed yOuI
bright, blue eyes for the last time
and crossed your little, white hands
on your tired breast, clasping In the
hollow Of your arm the golden-haired
little daughter who was to be youl
exact image
Yes, Jane Is woman, and the
others are married and gone, anl
you left me for awhile-you and the
pretty babe | love best of all, but II
was so like you to come back here
every night and talk to me wher
Jane was sleeping-yes, sometimes
Jane is cross. but she does not NEAR
to be-Jane is like my sister-no
like you, dear. Jane is cross be-
cause she does not believe you come
back here every night when the
moonlight is beautiful and when the
shadows fall black and heavy from
the vines"
His face was turned toward the
Presence, now, and he smiled
Jane does not believe you come
isn't thrt joke?" Then he stretched
out his withered hands and laughed
like a boy.
Let us elope again, tonight, Mary
let's run away again, and be alone
just as we ran away from those whC
sought to part us 80 years ago TO-
night. That dress is so pretty anC
your eyes are so bright. Come, dear
let us go at once, while the moon II
behind that cloud
Long after midnight Jane wen
with heavy tread down the hall anC
to her fathers room. The moonligh
shone across the bed, showing II wal
unoccupied. Down stairs she wen
| with sulIen face grumbling as She