Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1921-02-11
GOLDEN WEDDING
BY ELIZABETH r. GREENE.

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(@ 1921. by Mcclure Newspaper syndicats.)
'Whefe are you going, motherf'
Nancy looked up from her packing
long enough to note her mothers SUI
bonneted head disappearing through
the doorway.
Without answering, Mother Mitchell
walked out into the September sun
shine to join her husband. Her da1ed
mind could not comprehend how It
had all come about. but two facts
she understood with torturing clear
ness-Eben was going to Johns and
she was going to Nancy's; the old
home was being broken up.
Eben spoke presently: "Youll be
warm an conf table there t Nancy's.
mOther-thank God. l shan't have +.
worry over that. An Nancy'll have IT,
specialist for your. eyes-she promised
me that"
The woman stirred restlessly.
II don't need no specialist :" she AZ
serted st0utly. "An', father, what'u
you do when you have them cramps In
tn night John won't understand
EN-"
He smiled at her bravely.
"Now, what do you think I'd be tab.
in them cramps along with me for!
he demanded humorously. I'm leav.
in 'em t. home, where they blong-"
1t was an unlucky speech. She
turned toward him with q sti1ed cry.
'Where we b'long, tool" she sobbed.
the hoodgates Of her pent-up sorrow
flung wide 'They've no right t sep
arate us; it's wicked. Oh, Eben, lets
not go--let's not got" ~..;
There, there. MOTHER" he soothed.
We en- get along all right, Eben."
she said eagerly. 9TH hens amt gone
yet, an they're laying good. There's
wood enough t. last quite spell an
mo, no, dear heart" he interrupts
ed huskily.; al could never forgive my.
self If I let: you suffer needlessly. I
oughter had enough saved t tide Us
along now;a' he reproached himself bit
terly, ''but somehow never had tn
knack O. keepin' much ahead"
Its because you've been so good t
everybody" she flashed, that we amt
nothtp' now! :
"When John wanted t 60 t. college
you sold the wood lot an sent him,
stead O lettin' him work his way"
"'Twould be hard on tn boy, Com
fort" responded the old man gently.
She went on as if she had not heard,
her toil-worn hands clasped in her lap.
after John got settled in biz'ness
an it looked s if we might get little
help from him now an then, he got
married; an that was tn end o that"
YES; but faint good for man +
live alone,'" quoted Eben smilingly.
trying to draw her from the strange
mood she was in.
"Then Nancy took SICK" she con-
tinued YEARLY, IAN it took all our
rainy day savin's t. 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
seved 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 vii
lage.
Returning home finally, her mother
met her anxiously.
"what time t'morr you havin' tn
auction, Nancy?" =
"John won't be here till tomorrow
night" answered her daughter lightly.
"Well settle everything Saturday."
Saturday! Their golden wedding
day! In silent anguish mother left
the room.
Never had the sunlight streamed SO
brightly into the old home as on that
Saturday morning, never had Nancy
sung so joyously, or John whistled 50
merrily.. The gay sounds commingled
with savory odors floated 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 comm, 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 this7
Father and Mother Mitchell stared
bewilderiHg1y at the table spread with
snowy cloth, the blue willow-ware and
a steaming breakfast, whose browning
glory was bowl of 50 yellow roses.
"A happy golden wedding day r,
chorused John and Nancy, leading
them to the table where two piles Of
fifty shining dollars dazzlingly reflect
ed the sunlight In two blue plates.
children, what does this mean?''
faltered Mother Mitchell.
1T means that there's a hundred
more coming every month"; said John.
his hand on his fathers shoulder.
Man and I have decided we don't
want the old home broken up; it
means too mighty much to u.s." be