St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1909-08-28
Lide Ann Potter's Wedding
Copyright, by ]. B. Lippincott Coz
By Grace McElroy Iurs

neighborhood verdict was strength
ened by the unconcealed horror with
which the Trimmers had received hel
announcement. She groaned aloud as
she drove away from their house
Wringing her hands with hopeless
ness very far removed from her usual
sturdy self-mastery. Then, suddenly
new decision shaped itself in he1
mind and struggled forth from the
numb determination of the morning.
It's cowardliness, the very worst
kind, for it only puts off," she whis
pered to herself, but I'm goin' to do
1t anyhow, and let things at the last
take care of themselves"
| Accordingly, at the next house and
throughout the afternoons round OF
visits the formula of her invitation
| changed. Only to wedding, that
wedding her own, was her IBID" given,
but the element of the extraordinary
in the Withholding of the bridegroom s
name, as well as the absence of ap.
propriate joy from her own demeanor,
| aroused neighborhood expectation to
the highest pitch.
The days went on apace while Lide
Ann toilec to perfect the details of
the wedding. On Tuesday evening,
after a last look at the over
flowing pantry shelves, she went out
to the big apple-trees which shaded
the back porch. AS she looked at it's
peaceful silence, slow tears beginning
to course down her cheeks, she be.
came aware of form in the garden
making its way towards her. She
started up, but before she could speak
Victor Trimmer was beside her.
come up to see about the wed.
din tomorrow" he began, awkward.
ly; then, seeing her vince, he came
closer, and his voice took on a more
earnest tone. Say, Lide Ann, you
don't need to get married that way.
l know the reason you're dom it and
all, and think you're the best woman
that ever breathed to do so much for
Sarah Belle, but wouldn't you rather
have Twin husband?" He paused,
Then, as he met her eyes, full of won.
der, he went on hastily: Take me,
Llde Ann. I'm not very smart, but !
can run the farm for you and I'll be
Just as good to you as know how"
Her face had undergone a hundred
changes while he spoke; it was SUI.
fused with crimson now, but her eyes
shone softly.
You've good heart, Victor" she
said, laying her hand on his; but that
couldn't be, you know; I'm older n
you, and then, there's Sarah Belief"
Il know" he said, eagerly, "but I'll
be gettin' older every day, and if I
raise a beard I'll look every mite as
old as you. There ant but a years
difference, anyhow; and I'll just help
you take care Of Sarah Belle.
Don't decide now for good and all,''
he urged, taking refuge in delay.
Think it over tonight; I'll come up
early in the morning, and if you can
make up your mind to have me, we'll
fix it up then. Nobody but us knows
how you'd planned to do, and Tiff I'll
do, Llde Ann, nobody ever needs to
know but what we planned and ar
ranged it long ago."
He strobe off into the darkness and
she sank weakly back in the swing.
Something new and wonderful was
at her temples and swelling
IN her throat. All her starved, SUP.
pressed womanhood-that womanhood
which had been crushed as a matter
OF course in her devotion to her sister
was now awake and crying for its
fightful heritage of love. Undreamed.
OF kisses trembled at her lips; TN.
known voices clamored in her heart.
unborn possibilities stirred her soul, |
until, half in terror, half in fierce iov.
she fled into the house.
Sarah Belle was up with the dawn. |
We'll take some flowers down to
the grave" she said, and Lide Ann
followed her through the garden. The |
brisk wind blew her f1imsy draperies
as she watched the roses scatter over
the sodden mound, and the chill of the
raw day seemed to penetrate to her
very heart as she noted, in the dis.
,ance, the first carry-all of her neigh
Oors coming up the hill. She was try.
ng to stif1e the groans which forced
heir way out, at thought of the near
ng ordeal, when Victor Trimmer
made his quick way from the house
md stopped beside her.
His pleading eyes brought back the
,hrobbing to her throat, and she
'lenched her brown hands tensely, but
Sarah Belle, laughing delightedly.
iropped her flowers and ran to them.
isn't she lovely bride?" she
lueried, and, moved by sudden inspira.
ion, Victor put his arm around her.
Il think she's the loveliest ever
Gen." he said, earnestly, "and I want
Ter to be my bride instead of a dead
mans. She won't do it for fear you'd
ret, Sarah Belle; bat you tell her to
'es-maybe she will for you-and
hen I'll be your brother"
Sayah Belle drew back. her blue
yes dancing brightly from one to
he other, then she clapped her hands.
THAT would be the very incest
hing ever heard off, she cried. "JaL
Ways wanted big brother! And Wen
ave really weddin' instead of lust
make-believe, picture one! Say YES,
.ide Ann, you'll do ie for your Sarah
Ielle!"
Lide Ann looked at her, then at Vic.
or. Into her patient eyes leaped the
ght of a glowing hope. Without
Iord she held out her hands and was
olded in his protecting embrace Just