Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1906-06-20


helping hand, and the big turkey
was soon in readiness for the slow
process Of cooking. All the jellies had
been prepared days ago, and the pickle
shelf was we'll stocked.
1T sh'll be supper theyA never for.
GIT said Miss Hepsy to Tressa. Tvs
had no one here for year come this
spring, an want 1t fine. Would you
use tn blue chiny, Tressa?" she asked,
as she stood on a wooden kitchen chair
and took a cup between her fingers.
ooh, yes, auntiel It's so beautiful,
no onell be so mean as to break a
single piece"
And Tressas admiration and per-
suasion won her aunt.
By candle-light the small, neat house
was in readiness, and the dining room
a mass Of evergreens, Christmas be-
ries and mistletoe. In the square par
lor Kittie Mooney had hung large
piece Of mistletoe, from screw In
the ceiling, "jes' over yer head, Mis-
Hepsy," she said, where he'll be afther
kissin' yer" and Miss Hepsy blushed
several times.
'Can you play q march, Tressa?"
asked the prospective bride, hoping ner
niece was sufficiently educated.
ooh, yes'm! | know several. The
prettiest is the Turkish march" and
she played it as we'll as she could on
the old yellow keys.
s"That'll do" said Miss Hepsy, de-
lightedly. Its beautiful" And she
felt entirely ready. The pearl-gray
dress lay on the bed, and big bunch
of white roses that had just come from
John. These she would carry in her
hands.
"Well, never!" exclaimed the Wild
ow Greene, as she sat in Miss Hepsy'a
parlor with the rest of the guests.
'Somethin's up, sure's I'm alive! Did
you ever hear Of party, an no hostess
Z receive you but that chit Of a child,
an Kitty MONEY!"
mot zactly," replied Jerushy Mar
tin, "but Mis- Hepsy knows her mind.
It's some surprise or puther"
Lucindy Grimes and the Collinses
nodded in assent.
Tressa had seated herself at the me.
lodeon and was playing.
1T sounds pretty nice, don't it,"
asked Matilda Collins Of the widow.
"Sorter," said she, "but l like a plany
better"
Some one was coming from the next
room, all Respondent In gray, with a
big bunch of cream roses in one hand
Her hair was all pulled, like the pic.
ture in Mrs. Collins parlor. 1t waa
MISS Hepsy, and she rail1y TOOK widow
Greene'sy breath away. And man
stood near--'a tall, nice lookin' man, I"
whispered Jerushy Martin; and no one
knew him. Before the fascinated COM
pany could utter another word, Parson
Blair stood up and read the marriage
service Miss Hepsy's voice rang out
sweetly in II do" and some one was
kissing the bride.
Il never seed such a surprised" said
Widow Greene, tanning herself with
the turkey-tail feather fan; for she felt
as warm as on June day; did you,
Mis- Collins? 1t beats me, I'll declare
on t."
mot esence Bess Fraser ruined
way"
Every one then went up and kissed
the bride, and Kitty Mooney asked
them in to supper. And there was the
blue china-every piece of it-as dainty
and fragile as anything they'd ever
seen.
kinder 'fraid to tech it," said Luz
cinda to the widow.
"Why, amt you got 'nough sense to
hold it twixt your fngers?" and the
widow bravely picked up her cup, But
Lucinda could see the firm grip she
had upon 1t.
Daniel Sellers was proposing q toast
to the bride, and wished them joy, long
life and prosperity.
Every one rose in affirmation.
Twas long ago." some one heard
Mis- Hepsy say, John went cross the
seas, an we was to We married as soon
as he come back. Years passed an I
didn't hear no news Of him. Then we
moved away. an came here. Mother
died, an | sat evening after evening
alone Seemed as If no Joy would ever
come back to me, till letter came
from John. He had tracked me out in
some way, an come back to me-" NJ
at reads like one O. them stories il
your red book, Jerushy," said the Wild
pw. who felt at peace now with her
neighbor.
Then everybody cheered for Miss
Hepsy and her husband.