Bogalusa enterprise and American. (Bogalusa, La.) 1918-19??, 1921-04-07

GOLDEN WEDDING
BY ELIZABETH R. GREENE.

Nancy looked up from her packing
long enough to note her mothers sun
bonneted head disappearing through
the doorway.
Without answering, Mother Mitchell
walked out into the September sun
shine to join her husband. Her dazed
mind could not comprehend how it
had all come about, but two facts
she understood with featuring clear
ness-Eben was going to Johns and
she was going to Nancy's; the old
home was being broken up.
Eben spoke presently: you'll be
warm an comf'table there t. Nancy's,
mother-thank God. I shan't have t
worry over that. An Nancy'll have tn
specialist for your eyes-she promised
me that"
The woman stirred .restlessly.
II don't need no Specialist" she as
serted stoutly. San, father, whatll
you do when you have them cramps In
tn night2 John won't understand
EN-"
He smiled at her bravely.
"Now, what do you think I'd be TAX
In them cramps along with me forf
he demanded humorously. ''Tm leav-
ia 'em t home, where they blong-"
It was an unlucky speech. She
turned toward him with q stihed cry.
where we b'long. tool" she sObbed,
the foOdgates Of her pent.up sorrow
flung wide. They've no right t sep
arate us; it's wicked. Oh, Eben, let's
not go-let's not gol"
There, thare, mother he soothed.
we c'n get along all right, Eben,"
she said eagerly. 9Th hens amt gone
yet, an they're laying good. There's
food enough t last quite spell an
"No, no, dear heart, he interrupt
ed huskiIy. Il could never forgive my
self II let you suffer peedlessly. ]
Oughter had enough saved T tide us
along now" be reproached himself bit
terly, ''but somehow never had tn
knack O. keepin' much ahead"
ats because you've been so good Z
everybody" she flashed, shat we amt
nothin' nowi
"When John wanted e 60 t college
you sold the wood lot an sent him,
steGd o. lettin' him work his way"
"'Twould be hard on tn boy, Com
fort" responded the old man gently.
She went on as IL she had not heard,
her toil-wOrn hands clasped in her lap.
"After John got settled in biz'ness
an it looked Is If we might get little
help from him now an then, he got
married: an that was tn end o. that
eyes; but faint good for man T.
live alone,'" quoted Eben smilingly,
trying to draw her from the strange
mood she was In.
'aThen Nancy took sick" she CEN
tinued YEARLY, IAN it took all our
rainy day saEin's e pay for her Oper-
alton"
Trying to comfort her with hand
and voice, he was too distressed to see
that his daughter was speeding up the
path toward the house, In back Of the
oak.
White and sobbing, Nancy reached
the house, She had gone to the field
to ask her mother If they hadn't better
sell the clock with the rest Of the
things tomorrow. Approaching the oak
unseen, beneath which her parents
sat, she heard the conversation which
saved her from many bitter regrets
later.
An eager, broken talk through the
telephone with John set the plan in
motion; then Nancy, a chastened.
awakened Nancy, went about many
mysterious errands in the little viii
lage..
Returning home finally, her mother
met her anxiously.
"What time. t'Ihorrer you hayin' tn
auction, Nancy?"
"JOhn won't be here till tomorrow
night" answered her daughter lightly.
''We'H settle, everything Saturday"
Saturday! Their golden wedding
day! In silent anguish mother left
the room.
Never had the sunlight stPeamed so
brightly into the old home as on that
Saturday morning, never had Nancy
sung so joyously, or John whistled so
merrily The gay sounds. cemningled
with savOTy Odors foated up the stair
way to the room where Father and
Mother Mitchell still fingered.
Then suddenly Nancy's voice called
from the hall.
eyes, we're cOmin', Nancy" an
swered her mother, TREMENDOUSLY.
Hand in hand the two old lovers
went downstairs together, each VOW
ing for the others sake to be brave
that day.
But what was this3
Father ard Mother Mitchell stared
bewilderingly at the table spread With
snowy cloth, the blue willOw-ware and
q steaming breakfast, whose crowRing
glory was a bowl Of so yellow roses.
"A happy golden wedding dayi"
ChOrused John and Many, leading
them to the table where two piles of
fifty shining dollars dazzllngly reflect
ed the sunlight in two blue plates.
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