Amador ledger., 1909-06-04
'she

marry me on Oct.1 twenty-five years
ago"
"There," Oliver exclaimed, "and to-
day is the 18th, and tomorrow Is an
anniversary. oh, you've got to take
advantage of that Judge"
"I took her to ride in my buggy" the
Judge rambled on sheeplshly. "There
was big round noon
He stopped suddenly. "But of course
we've grown sensible since then" he
said wistfully.
well, you just ask her to go to-
morrow" Oliver recommended, and
then the judge gave in.
The next evening he presented him
self at the dinner table armed with a
long paper box.
"For you, my dear" he said to his
wife as she came in with Roxane,
heavy eyed and pensive.
The box, being opened, showed rosy
carnations.
"The nearest thing I could get to
pinks," the judge explained.
'Why pinksY his wife demanded.
"Abbie," he reproached, "have you
forgotten that twenty-five years ago
you wore pinks"-
Mrs. Vandiver's expansive features
expressed a blank surprise. what
happened twenty-five years ago"
81 know" Roxane interrupted.
There's the picture on fathers desk
you have on blue dress and bunch
Of pinks-you said you looked that
way when he asked you to marry
him"
The blush that stole up toward Mrs.
Vandiver's gray curls gave her Gu
rious look CT youth. "Why, James,"
she faltered, "did you really remem-
ber?"
"Yes," said the judge, feeling that
had he never forgotten life would
have held deeper meanings
Mrs. Vandiver came around and
kissed her husband. "Thank you,
dear" she said, with gentleness
that made Roxane stare.
After that it was not hard to pro-
pose q ride by moonlight, and Mrs.
Vandiver, consenting, came down in q
blue gown that became her elderly
plumpness almost as well as that 9th
er blue gown had set off her girlish
figure.
The judges electric runa bout re-
placed the buggy of long ago, and as
they went quickly through the city
and out into the country roads that
astute gentleman refrained from any
90 nd
his talk was Of things of the past.
"How happy we were, Abbie," he
said at last, and his wife responded
wistfully, Every happy, James,"
A golden moon hung above the dark
line Of the hills. The air was sweet
with the spiciness of the pines. The
Judge was thrilled with bygone emo
tions, and his arm was comfortably
about his wife's waist.
Then in the rapture of the restora-
ton to her place of romance of the
Abbie Of long ago he forgot Oliver
forgot Roxane.
He was brought back with a shock
when Mrs. Vandiver said as they
turned toward home: give been think
ing of Roxane. If she really loves
Oliver don't know but 1 ought
"Of course you ought" said the
Judge promptly. "Give them your
blessing, and let them be as happy as
we are"
II am afraid that Oliver has been
fooled by some Of those firms who
hunt up lost heirs" the lady pursued.
"Of course Oliver was sincere, but l
don't think much of the fortune sto-
ry."
mo-" mendaciously, ut didn't seem
probable"
"You can settle something on them
after they are married." said Mrs.
Vandiver. 1--WE haven't any one to
leave it to but Roxane-and-and it
would be nice to have them engaged
on the same day that we were, jim
mie."
Jimmie! The magic of the youthful
appellation made the judge feel like a
colt
Lets get them married and you
and 1 will go off and have another
honeymoon" he proposed jubiantly.
1--WE will have the time Of our lives"
The ripple that came from his wifes
lips was silver echo of the golden
laughter of other days.
ave will" she said and lifted her
face to him in the moonlight, "and
now let's go right home and tell the
children. Jimmie"
MbiefIarIa H.oe.n,, R;II