Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1919-07-10

waiting IN Lne Sna00W OF Ine Dig plnei |
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 done!
When their mothers light was out
the two girls slipped out to the big
pine. After IN hours wait, chilled to
the bone, they crept back to bed.
"Bev sure said he'd wait, but I ex-
pect he concluded he'd better come
back tomorrow, 1t bein' so late" Matte
Lou whispered. "Don't cry so, Sissy;
It'll come out 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. "Tm afraid she amt doin'
much. And here's the silk I 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 that 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 it while I'm alive"
"What did you say, SissyY 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 OF Matte
Louis heart. At five o'clock Minerva
babe her quit work.
"Alice Em1y'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'll"
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, she ran down the path that led to
the river. A little way down the path
she ran into a young man.
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! Why what's the matter, Mat
tie LouT
She did not look at him or answer
him, but pushed him away from hel
and ran to the river bank.
At the waters edge, Alice Emily
stood, swaying weakly. "Td better
drownd myself" she was saying, "thar
to live to see Bev married to another
woman, and me married to an ole
thing I despise-but the water is *
deep and cold-oh, I'm afraid, afraid |"
Matte Lou seized her and drew hel
INTERESTINGLY away from the river.
'"Oh, Matte Lou!" she walled, "Tn
so miserable, so miserable !"
Brooks took hold of Matte Lou!
), 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.
a fine thing for SISSY"
! "a young Teller named Dixon, I say
In town, told me I'd run on a weddir
!, out here tonight" Brooks said, "and
! was scared blue at first, thinklu' 1t wa
! you, Matte Lou, but Dixon said tn
9 bride was your sister, and his girl.
: said: If she's your girl. why in thur
: der amt you the man that's marryir
herr He said he'd give his head t
be, but the other Teller with money
got ahead Of him. I felt sorry for hin
: he looked so down."
Matte Lou shook the tears from he
/. lashes.
"Hear that, Sissy? Bev's still a-lo'
= In you"
Alice Emily raised her forlorn fac
e "I've got to marry that old thing
% mot much, you ANTI" interpOse
:, Brooks exultantly. "Tve made scad
. of money West. I came out here
: my own big fine touring car-left
. up on the road and walked across ii
field. Now all you got to do Is to G
to the house, gather up a few clotht
4, and slip out, and the three of us1l g.
= In that car, hit town, hunt up yot
,s young man and do some speedin' unit
we cross the state line; then We
!. have a double weddin'. What do yo
y say, Matte LouT"
"a Matte Lou, folded in his arm
raised a glorified face from his shou
~ der. 4
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