, 1919-07-03

ramp vi the IrOnI porch wafer Snelr,
SOS Mr.. Beals won't ketch his feet on
that rickety old f1oorI"
Alice Emily obeyed. Johnny fol-
lowed her out, and the young lover,
waiting in the shadow of the big pine,
in the revealing light, saw her folded
In Johnny's arms, and in apparent
Willingness receiving Johnny's kisses.
He turned on his heel. and with his
heart on fire, went back to town. Mat
tie Lou meant well, but she was mis-
taken about Alice Emily's feelings.
Well, he was donel
When their mothers light was out
the W girls slipped out to the big
pine. After an hours wait, chilled to
the bone, they crept back to bed.
"Bev sure said he'd wait, but 1 ex-
pect he concluded ed better come
back tomorrow, 1t bein' SO late" Matte
Lou whispered. Don't cry so, Sissy;
it'll come u all right"
Several days passed and Beverly did
not come, but Johnny did. Also he
brought news.
THAT Bev Dixon l saw out here is
goin' to marry some time in July, my
niece, Hannah Smith. over in Lancas-
tel" he told Minerva carelessly on
Sunday. I'm afraid she amt dom
much. And here's the silk / brought
to make my little girls weddin' dress"
After that Alice Emily protested no
more against marrying Johnny, but on
the day preceding the day hat was to
bring the wedding night, she looked at
the silk dress. Matte Lou, her eyes
red from surreptitious weeping. was
bent over her.
Don't take too much pains with
that dress, Matte Lou. I'm never 60
In to wear 1t while I'm alive"
"What did you say, SissyT Matte
LOUIS lips trembled.
Alice Emily laughed and went down
the stairs. Next day she laughed and
sung all day over the preparations, but
a Sense of dread weighed on Matte
LOUIS heart. At FIVE o'clock Minerva
babe her quit work.
"Alice Em'ly's done went upstairs
to nap fer an hour, so she'll be fresh
lookin' fer the ceremony at eight
o'clock, and you do the same" she
babe her. "Some Teller at the weddin'
might git tuck with you"
With leaden feet Matte Lou climbed
to their room; the red silk dress lay
on the bed, but Alice Emily was not
there. Nor was she anywhere in the
house or yard. Across Mattie's trou-
bled mind an awful thought flashed.
Without saying anything to her moth
er, The ran down the path that led to
the river. A little way down the path
she ran into a young
He threw out his arms to save her
from falling, then they frightened
around her.
"Oh, honey!" he cried, don't you
know me? I'm Ellis Brooks come back
fol you'll Why what's the matter, Mat
tie Lou?'
She did not Dol at iii or answer
him, but pushed him away from her
and ran to the river bank.
At the waters edge, Alice Emily
stood, swaying weakly. I'D better
drownd myself" she was saying, than
to live to see Bev married to another
woman, and me married to an old
thing 1 despise-but the water is so
deep and cold-oh, I'm afraid, afraid! !"
Matte Lou seized her and drew her
INCREASINGLY away from the river.
"Oh, Matte Lou!" h walled, TN
so miserable, so miserable"
Brooks took hold of Matte LOUIS
arm. Honey, what's troublin' herr"
Holding fast to him with n arm
and to her sister with the other, Mat
tie Lou sobbed out her explanation.
poor ma amt never had no prop
erty,' she concluded. "She thinks it's
a fine thing for SISSY"
"a young Teller named Dixon, 1 saw
in town, told me I'd run on a weddin'
out here tonight" Brooks said, land l
was scared blue at first. thinkin' it was
you, Matte Lou, but Dixon said the
bride was your sister, and his girl. 1
said IF she's your girl, why in thun-
der amt you the a that's marryin'
her?' He said he'd give his head to
be, but the other Teller with money'd
got ahead of him. I felt sorry for him,
he looked so down."
Matte Lou shook the tears from her
lashes.
Hear that, Sissy? Bev's still allow
in your
Alice Emily raised her forlorn face.
I've got to marry that old thing !"
mot much, you ANTI" ~interposed
Brooks e~xultantly. 1--WE made scads
of money West. 1 came out here in
my own big fine touring car-left 1t
up on the road and walked across the
field. Now all you got to do is to &c
to the house. gather NJ a few clothes
and slip out. and the three of us1l get
In that car, hit town, hunt up your
young man and do some speedin' until
we cross the state line; then We'll
nave a double weddin'. What do you
say, Matte Louf'