FOURTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART XI. 677 



•'Let me show you something else. Here is a knit spread, and this 

 wool shawl that I don't mind telling you is for my mother-in-law." 



"La, me! child, are you married?" 



"Not exactly," blushing slightly, "but I expect to be this winter and 

 that is why I am making these quilts and things. We are to live with 

 my future husband's mother, who is a dear old lady, and I made those 

 things for her. The farmhouse that is to be my home is a beautiful place 

 all covered with roses and Ilowers everywhere. I do love flowers so much 

 and shall be perfectly happy there." 



Grandma sighed. If only Frank had seen this girl before he fell in 

 love with that other. This one was evidently a country girl or how would 

 she know so much about common things and piece quilts and braid rugs 

 etc. In the pantry department she had shown evidences of her skill 

 also, and grandma easily persuaded herself that this girl possessed all 

 the old-fashioned graces and accomplishments which would make her a 

 most cherished daughter. 



At the appointed hour grandpa came, and after promises to meei 

 Thursday morning at the flower display they separated. 



Grandrha sung the praises of her new acquaintance, but the old gen- 

 tleman was too full of his secret to heed much. He finally roused him- 

 self and asked her name. 



"I clear forgot to ask her," and grandma looked a little foolish, "but 

 she told me all about her going to get married and she made the beauti- 

 fulest shawl out of wool for her husband's mother, who is fuch a fine 

 old lady." 



"Not half so fine as j'ou are, I'll be bound," said giandpa stoutly, "you 

 just wait until Thursday and we'll show her something to talk about,' 

 chuckling. 



"Whatever do you mean? ' but not one word more could she get. 



Wednesday they rested, but Thursday found them on hand early, 

 but when they finally reached the floral display the flrst thing they saw 

 v/as tlie girl, who smiled a welcome at them, and began talking at once. 



"Are your Dahlias here," asked grandma. 



"Oh, yes! but they're nothing by the side of some that are here; why 

 there is one display of nearly one hundred varieties; came in early thi^ 

 morning and the most beautiful 1 ever saw." 



Grandpa pressed forward. "What would mother say when he told 

 her." Just then the old lady saw John and said, "Why John, I didn't sup- 

 pose you would care for the flowers. But la, me! one never can tell about 

 these men, for there is father crowding right up among them and iie 

 never cares for the flowers at home, only Dahlias, of course." 



"But it's the Dahlias he is looking at. and your Dahlias, too. mother; 

 that's what is tickling him." 



"My Dahlias! Why John!" she began, and then the whole story came 

 out and the surprise was as great as even grandpa had hoped, until the 

 young lady said: "My poor Dahlias haven't even a chance by the side of 

 your beauties; I never saw such fine ones, so big and perfect. See, they 

 are putting the blue ribbon on them. That's first premium, you know, 

 and there goes the second premium to mine, the red ribbon." 



