Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1919-07-04
Sissy
r.
H g. q. HACKLEY

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Copyright, 1919, BY the Mcclure News
paper syndicats.)
"Gimme them close pins, Alice, EN-.
lily! Pears like see somepin' blue
a-comin' acrost old man Shearer's pas
ter! Ell Johnny Beals a-hadn't Jest
been here Sunday, I'd be willin' to
swear hit us him. Now hain't it,"
Alice Emily Towers eyes, black and
wondrously soft, followed her moth
er's lean forefnger.
"Yes'm, it's him."
Minerva flung q screening sheet over
the line.
''You git in the house." she ordered.
"and skin off them sudsy things you
got on, quick, and put on your new
penang, and tell Matte Lou to kill
two Of them fryin' size 'Nocker chick
ens,' the biggest uns!"
Minerals command was tense with
excitement. 1t was as though the
king, hoped-for but unexpected guest,
approached. Indeed, Johnny Beals,
queer, ffty-year-old Johnny, the gro
Ger, with his reputation for wealth.
boarded and being added to, was to
her a monarch, and the brilliant blue
suit Of clothes he wore, the coat gilt
tering with the golden double-eagleS
that served for buttons, the trappings
OF royalty.
Poor Minerva, for 80 years a tobac-
co-growing tenants wife. with an un-
satisfied longing for an abundance OF
life's good things physical, hoped
through sons-in-law to bring riches to
the family.
For two years Alice Emily, now
eighteen, had lived in the heart OF
Beverly Dixon, who daily drove one
Of the Green River Wholesale Grocery
company"s big delivery trucks. But
since that unfortunate May day when
Alice Emily came into Beals' store
with her little basket of eggs, Johnny
had spent three Sundays at the Tow
ers' ramshackle abode-a tenant house
on the Isom Tewmey farm, and each
time he had brought presents for the
family. With two exceptions, the fam
lily was highly elated over Alice EN-
ily's rich beau. These exceptions were
Alice Emily herself and Matte Lou,
the elder daughter, who was twenty
eight, and lovingly sympathetic In the
plans Of Beverly and the little sister.
Ten years before Matte Lou and
Ellis Brooks, fine young fellow who
cropped for neighbor, in the tobacco.
;ol hut n
his poverty Minerva had raised objee-
tons so vehement and strenuous, Ellis,
angered, had gone away, and Matte
Lou had never seen him again.
On the first two Sundays OF Johnny's
visits Beverly had not been able to
make his usual Sundays visits to Alice
Emily because Of his sick sister, but
on the third Sunday afternoon he had
gone joyfully to the Towers. Minerva,
eating lux,lriously from a five-pound
box of chocolates, greeted him.
"Them's what Alice Emily's new fell
Ter fetched me, Bev" she had exulted.
Hits Johnny Beals! He's been to see
her twict sence you been here. and
now he's tuck her out a-walkin'."
"Johnny's cut ye out shore, Bev," Al
yah had spoken up, "fer good and ALL"
Then remarking the whiteness that
came over Beverly's brown face, he
had thrown a consoling arm about the
boys broad shoulders.
"Ther, don't ye feel that away about
hit, Bev. Gals is curtis, and TIERS a
minny another purity one in the world
sides Alice Emily"
Beverly had laughed, but his laugh
was queer and forlorn. When the
strollers had returned. Minerva had
slyly but successfully frustrated his
maneuvers to speak word alone to
Alice Emily. Hurt and miserable, he
had refused friendly old Alvah's
pressing invitation to stay to supper.
On the next afternoon he had re-
ceived at the post office hastily pen
ciled note.
Dear Bev," it read, INA and pa
and the boys would be mad at me If
they knowed written this, but can't
stand for you to think Alice Emily is
carried away with Johnny Beals
anu his mOucy, AAc lucy are. ouc
amt, but they've got him to thinkin'
she is. You try to come down here
about Wednesday, or any evenin' be-
fore Sunday and talk to Sissy.
MATTE LOU"
And now it was Wednesday, and
Johnny had come again! Matte Lou
went upstairs to their little bedroom.
Alice Emily sobbed softly in the folds
Of the red penang.
"Oh, Matte Lou, he come again,
and ma and them are tickled to death.
They're a-rushin' me to marry that old
theng, with them pop eyes, and
mouth that looks like it wanted to eat
somebody! hate him, Matte Lou! I
never got to say word to Bev Sun
day, and he won't never come back
any more!'
Matte Lou kissed her. "Bev's a.
comm tonight, honey. wrote to him
to come"
But that old things here!" Alice
Emily walled.