The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1919-07-10


"Yes, but she will, Mister Beals,"
Minerva assured him; "shes jest sor-
tie bashful. Alice Emily, you set
lamp on the front porch water shelf,
SOS Mr.. Beals won't ketch his feet on
that rickety old floor !"
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 two girls slipped out to the Dig
pine. After an hours wait, chilled TO
the bone, they crept back to bed.
'Bev sure said he'd wait, but ex-
pect he concluded he'd better come
back tomorrow, it 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 ne
brought news.
"That Bev Dixon 1 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 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 go
In to wear it while I'm alive"
"What did you say, sissy" 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 fivel 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. 'sSome 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 pash that led to
the river. A little way down the path
she ran into young man.
| He threw out his arms to save her
from falling, then they frightened
around her.
"Oh, honeyl" he cried, "don't you
know me? I'm Ellis Brooks come back
fol you! Why what's the matter, Mat
tie Lou?''
| She did not look at him 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 / despise-but the water is so
deep and cold-oh, I'm afraid, afraid !"
Matte Lou seized her and drew her,
unresistingly away from the river.
"Oh, Matte Lou r she walled, I'm
so miserable, SO miserabierl"
Brooks took hold of Matte LOUIS
arm. Honey, what's troublin' herr"
Holding fast to him with one 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
fine thing for SISSY"
GA young Teller named Dixon, saw
in town, told me I'd run onsa weddin
out here tonight Brooks said, "and
Was scared blue at first, thinkin' it was
you, Matte Lou, but Dixon said the
bride was your sister, and his girl. /
said: IF she's your girl, why in thun-
der amt you the man that's marryin'
her?' He said he'd give his head to
be, but the other Teller with money'd
got ahead of him. felt sorry for him.
he looked so down."
Matte Lou shook the tears from her
lashes.
sHear that, sissy Bev's still allow
in your
Alice Emily raised her forlorn face.
"I've got to marry that old thingl"
mot much. you ain't!" interposed
Brooks exultantly Eve made scads
of money West. / came out here in
my own big fine touring car-left it
up Cd the road and walked across the
field. Now all you got to do is to go
to the house, gather up few clothes
and slip out, and the three of us'lI get
in that car, hit town, hunt up your
young man and do some speedin' until
we cross the state line; then we'll
have a double weddin'. What do you
say, Matte Lou?"
Matte Lou, folded in his arms,
raised a glorifed face from his Shout
der.
nalyn No. low rocnocfin0 ro1io,;or =.