The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-05-21

SS--ee~~~o~>~~o-~~e
mistaken about Alice Emilys feelings.
Well. he was done!
When their mothers light was out
the two girls slipped out TO the big
pine After an hours wait. chilled 70
the bone, they crept back to bed.
"Bev sure said he'd wait, but I
expect he concluded he'd better come
back tomorrow, It bein' so late" Mat
tie Lou whispered. Don't cry ~,
Sissy, it'll come out all right"
Several days passed and Beverly did
not come. but Johnny did. Also he
brought news.
THAT Bev Dixen saw out here Is
goin' to marry some time In July, my
niece Hannah Smith, over in Lancas-
ter" 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 surreptitous weep
ing, was bent ever, with a look on her
pretty face that frightened Matte
Lou.
Don't take too much pains with
that dress, Matte Lou. I'm never
goin' TO wear 1t while I'm alive"
What did you say, Sissy? Matte
i Louis lips trembled."
Alice Emily laughed and went down
the stairs. Next day she laughed and
sang all day over the preparations,
but q sense Of dread weighed on Mat.
tie LOUIS heart. At o'clock Minerva
babe her quit work.
Alice Emily's done went upstairs
to nap fer an hour, so she'll be fresh
Iookin' fer the ceremony at s 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 climb
ed 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 Matte
LOUIS troubled mind an awful thought
flashed. Without saying anything to
her mother, she ran down the path
that led to the river. A little way
down the path she ran into q young
man.
He threw out his arms to save her
from falling. then they frightened
around her.
"oh, honeyi" he cried, don't you
know me? It's Ellis Brooks come back
for you! Why. what's the matter,
Matte 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, swaytng weakly. "pd better
drow1d myself" she was saying,
than to live to see Bev married to
another woman, and me married to
an old thing / despise-but the wa.
ter is deep and cold-oh, I'm afraid,
afraid"
Matte Lou seized her and drew her
INCREASINGLY away from the river.
"Oh, Matte Lou!" she walled, 'I'm
50 miserable. 50 n1iserableI't
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
a fine thing for sissy"
"a young Teller named Dixon,
saw in town, told me I'd run on a
weddin' out here tonight" Brooks
said, "and was scared blue. at first,
thinkin' 1t was you, Matte Lou, but
Dixon said the bride was your sister.
and his girl. l said II she's your girl
why in hundred 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.
Hear that, sissy Bev's still a
lovin' you!"
Alice Emily raised her forlorn face.
! I've got to marry that old thinE!"
Not much, you ANTI ihterposed
Brooks exultantly. 1--WE made scads
of money west. 1 came out here in
my own big fine touring car-lett IL
up on the road and walked across the
field. Now all you got to do is to
90 to the house, gather up few
clothes and slip out, and the three
OF us'll 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 you say. Matte Lou?
Matte Lou, folded in his arms,
raised a glorified face from his shout.
der.