The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-01-10
The Daily Short Story

THEIR GOLDEN WEDDING.
By Mrs. Elisabeth R Greene, New
Harbor, Maine.
Where are you going, mother %
Nancy looked up from her packing
long enough to note her mothers
sunbonnetted head disappearing
through the doorway.
Startled, the little gray haired
woman paused. Il was JUS goin
out where Eben's sortin' tn p'ta-
toes" apologetically.
"Oh, l wouldn't-the suns pref
ty hot, mother. I wonder if you'll
need this old shawl-no, l donr
believe you will" Nancy's voice
asked and answered its own ques.
tons in a bewildering way.
There's no use taking only
what you need Of these old clothes
mother" she continued cheerily
"Your wardrobes been frightfully
neglected, but we'll fix it up when
we get back to town"
Without answering, Mother Nit
chell passed down the familiar hal
and out into the September sun.
shine. Her dazed mind could moi
comprehend how 1t had all come
about, but two facts she under.
stood with torturing clearness :.
Eben was going to Johns and SHE
was going to Nancy's; the old
home was being broken up.
Silently she sank down beside
Eben and the potatoes on the grass
under the oak, and when he look.
ed up with a welcoming smile she
understood all he would not say
Mechanically she fell to help.
ing him in his slow, methodica
sorting Of the potatoes. Every min.
ute they had together now was
priceless.
Eben spoke presently: You'll b.
warm an comftable there
Nancy's, mother-thank God,
shan't have t. worry over that. An
Nancy'll have tn specialist fol
your eyes-she promised me that.
Tho woman stirred restlessly.
II don't need no specialist" sht
asserted stoutly. AN father
what1l you do when you have then
cramps in tn night? John won'r
understand EN-"
He smiled at her bravely.
"Now, what do you think I'd b.
takin' them cramps along with me-
for? he demanded humorously
I'm leavin' EN- t. home, wher,
they b'long-"
It was an unlucky speech. Sht
turned toward him with a stiflet
cry.
where we b1ong. tool" she
sobbed, the floodgates of her pent
up sorrow flung wide. They've NJ
right t separate us; it's wicked
Oh. Aben. let's not go-let's mo-
go!"
There, there, mother" he sooth.
ed, clipping a rheumatic old arm
about her tenderly and drawing
her head upon his breast. They
might separate them in body, bu,
never IN heart.
When her grief had spent itsell
and she spoke again it was az II IL
answer to his troubled thoughts.
I'VE 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 inter.
rupted huskily. II could never for.
give myself II l let you suffer
needlessly. l oughter had enough
saved t tide us along now" he re-
preached himself bitterly, ''bur
somehow I never had tn knack o
keepin' much ahead"
ITS because you've been so goot
t everybody" she flashed. that w
amt nothin' now! When tn chill
dren was little you thought thel
mus have tn best O. everything,
she went on breathlessly, AN ".
spoilt 'em. Eben. yes, we did"
But they're good children
mother" interposed her husband
mildly. John an Nancy'd do any
thin for US"
mo they wouldn't! They AIM
tn kind that does things for. any
body. They're thoughtless an self
ish-an' we've made 'em SO. Eben,
sadly.
why. mother, I never knew yor
{ be 20 hard!"
when John wanted t. 20 t col
lege, you sold the wood lot an SEN
him, stead o. lettin' him work BIZ,
way"
"Twould be hard on tn boy
Comfort" responded the old mar
gently.
She went on a. II she had NO,
heard. her toll worn hands clasped
IN her Ian. tia notatnas forSoffan