Democratic messenger., 1919-08-09
PACE THREE
lamp on the front porch water shelf,
eos Mr. Beals won't ketch his fest on
that rlckety old floor"

Alice Emily obeyed Johnny fol-
lowed her out. aud the young lover.
waiting In the shadow II the big pine
Ia the revealing light. saw her folded
Ia Johnny's arms aud IN apparent
willingness receiving Iohnny's kisses
He turned on his heel. and with his
heart Oh fire went bnck to town Mat
Ii. Lou meant well. hut She wns mis-.
lHkcn about Alice Emlly's feelings.
Well hc was done
When their mothers light was out
ihr two lirI, slipped iu' to the big
pine After an hours walt chilled 20
th, bone they rrept back 10 bed
Boy sure suld he'd wait, but OK.
pcct h. concluded he'd better come
back tomorrow It bcin' 50 late" Matte
Lou whispered Don't cry So, Sissy.
ii'll come out all right"
S,veru days passed ana Beverly did
not come, hu, Johnny did Also he
brought news
"Thu, Bev Dixon ! saw ont here Is
guln to marry some time in july, my
niece. Hannuh Smith. over In Lancas-
tel" he told Minerva carelcssly on
sunday I'm afraid She aln'' doin'
much And here's the SILK ! brought
10 make my little girls weddn' dress"
After that Alice Emily protested no
more against marrying Johnny, but on
the day preceding the day that was 10
bring The wedding night. She looked at
I h..e
red from surreptltlous weeping. was
bent over her
Don't take too much pains with
that dress. Matte Lou. I'm never go
in 10 wear it while I'm alive"
what did you say sissy" Matte
I.ous lips trembled
Alice Emily laughed and went down
the stuirs Next day she laughed and
sung all day over the preparations, but
sense of dread weighed ou Matte
LOUIS heart Al i've O'Clock rlnerva
hadc her quit work
Alice Em1y's done went upstairs
to nap fer am hour. 80 she'll be fresh
lookin Ter the ceremony at eight
o'clock. and you do the same. she
hudc her. Some frller at the weddln'
might git tuck with you 80
With leuden feet Matte Lou climbed
10 their room; the red SILK dress lay
on the bed. but Alice Emily was not
there Nor was sh" anywhere In the
house or yard. Across Mattie'S trou-
bled mind an awful thought flashed
Without saying anything TO her moth
er she run down The path that led 70
the river little way down the path
she run into n young man
He threw out his arms 20 save her
from failing then they tghtened
around her.
"Oh honey he cried don't you
know me- I'm Ellis Brooks come back
fol you why what's thr matter Mat
ne Lou"
Sh. did not look ~ him or answer
him. but pushed him away from her
and ran 10 the river bank
A. the waters edge Alice Emily
stood. >wayng weakly ia better
drownl iuysef." she was saying than
10 live 20 se- Rev married tu another
woman. and me married % an old
thing despise--but the water Is so
deep aud eald-oh I'm afraid. afra!d."
Mattl, Lou seized her and drew her
unrnsisiingly away from the river
"Oh. Matte Lou she walled. I'm
So miserable. So miserable 80
Brooks took hold of Matte LOUIS
arm. Honey. what's troubIiu herr"
Holding fast 70 him with one arm
ana ~ her sister with the other, Mat
ii. Lou sobbed gu, her explanation.
Poor ma nin't never had no prop
erty." she concluded she thinks It's
tine thing for Sissy Z"
a young feller named Dixon. saw
in town. told me I'd run on weddin
ont here tonight" Brooks said, 'and l
was scared blue at first. thlnkln' II was
you. Matte Lou, hut Dixon said the
bride WAS your sister. and his girl.
said: II she's your girl. why In thun-
der aln't you the man that's marryin'
herr He sntd he'd give his head 10
be. hut the other feller with money'd
got ahead of him felt sorry for him,
he looked So down"
Matte Lou shook the tears from her
laShes
"Hear that. sissy Bevs still ALLOW.
In you ."
Alice Emily raised her forlorn face.
i've got 10 marry thni old thing"
"Not much. you amt" lnterposed
Brooks exultauily ave made scads
Of money West came out here in
my own big line touring car-left It
VI on the road and walked across the
field Now all YOU got t. DO Is 20 go
to the house, gather NJ "a few clothes
aud slip out, and the three " us'll get
iu that ear. hit town hunt ~ your
young man aud do some Speedin' until
We cross the stat" line; then Wen
have double wod'llu' What do you
say Mntt! Louf'
Matte Lou folded IN his arms.
raised glorifvd fucc from his shoul-