The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-05-21
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
Sissy.
Sissy.
~ 3. 3. HAckLEX
Copyright, 1918, by the Mcclure
Netvananar Syndicatal

SNgWbPoH0E SyAuAS1SOsI
tf~ iM1ED them close pins, Alice
Emily Pears like sec
somepin' b ue a-comin'
acrost old man Shearer's paster! Ell
Johnny Beals a,hadn't Jest been here
4 Sunday, rd be willin' 70 swear hit
us him Now hain't 1T"
Alice Emily Towers eyes, black and
wondrously soft, followed her mothers
lean foretinger.
"Yes,m it's him.
Minerva flung 4 screening sheet
over the line.
You git In the house" she ordered.
"and skin OF them sudsy things you
got on. quick, and put on your new
red penang, and tell Matte Lou to
kill two OF them fryin' size 'Socker
chickens 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, fifty-year-old Johnny,
the grocer, with his reputation for
wealth, both boarded and being added
to, was TO her a monarch, and the
brilliant blue suit Of clothes he wore,
the coat glittering with the golden
double eagles that served for buttons,
the trappings Of royalty.
Poor Minerva, for thirty years a
tobacco-growing tenants wife, with
{ an unsatisfied longing for an album
dance 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. john
Towers ramshackle abode-a tenant
ny had spent three Sundays at the
house on the Isom Tewmey farm,
and each time he had brought pres
ents for all the family. With two
exceptions, the family was highly elat.
ed over Alice Emily'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, a fine young fellow who
cropped for neighbor. in the tobac-
30. wanted to be married, but because
of his poverty Minerva had raised
objections so vehement and strenu.
GUS, Ellis, angered, had gone away,
and Matte Lou had never seen him
again.
On; the first two Sundays Of john
ny's visits, Beverly had not been able
to make his usual Sundays visits to
Alice Emily because Of his sick sis
ter, but on the third Sunday after
noon he had gone joyfully to the
Towers Minerva eating luxuriously
from five-pound box OF chocolates,
greeted him.
"Them's what Alice Emilys new
Teller fetched me, Bev!" she had ex-
ulted. Hits Johnny Bealsi He's
been to see her twict sence you been
wallSin'!"
"Johnny's cut ye out shore, Bsv,"
Alvah had spoken up, "fer good and
all"
Then remarking the wilderness that
came over Beverlys brown face, he
had thrown consulting arm about the
: DCyS DIOAQ 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
syly but successfully frustrated his
maneuyers to speak a word alone to
Alice Emily. Hurt and miserable, he
had refused friendly old Alvahs press
, ing invitation to stay to supper.
On the next afternoon he had re-
ceived at the postoffice hastily pen
ciled note.
Dear Bev,- It read. ma and Pa and
the boys would be mad at me II they
lnowed written this, but 4 can't stand
for you to think Alice Emily is car.
ried away with Johnny Beals and his
money, like they are. She amt, but
they've got him to thinkin' she is. You
tn. 20 come down here about wednes-
day. or any evenin' before Sunday and
talk 10 Sissy.
MATTE LOU"
And now It was Wednesday, and
Johnny had come againi Matte Lou
went upstairs to their little bedroom.
Alice Emily sobbed softly in the folds
OF the red penang.
20 Matte Lou, he's como again,
and Ma and them are tickled to death.
They're a-rushin' me to marry that
Old theng, with them pop eyes, and a
mouth that looks like it wanted to
eat somebody! hate him, Matte
Loui III never got TO say q word
TO Bey Sunday, and he won't never
come back any more!"
Matte Lou kissed her. Bows acorn
I'm tonight, honey. I wrote to him to
come
sBut that old things here." Alice
Emily walled.
I'm watch for Bey, and tell him 10
wait out by the pine until Johnny
Beais leaves, then me and you can
slip out and you can tell Bev how
you're a-teein' to himp
Alice Emily went down to talk to
Johnny, radiant with her hidden hope.
When he rose to go he told Alvah
and Minerva that he wanted to marry
Alice Emily In two weeks time.
hut ] amt said I'd marry youi"
quavered Alice Emily.
"Yes, but she Will, Mister Beals."
Minerva assured him. sasha,a last