Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1919-07-04
Sissy
r.
BY S. 3. HAcKLEY

| %r~@e@@@@eS~eS@e@eS @NN@@@MNNN@@NsE
Copyright, 1913. by the Mcclure News
paper syndicate.)
Gimme them close pins. Alice EN-
! ilyl Pears like / see somepin' blue
a-comin' acrost old man .Shearer's pas
teri Eff Johnny Beals a-hadn't Jest
been here Sunday. I'd be willin to-
swear hit us him. Now hain't it,"
Alice Emily Towers eyes, black and
wondrously soft, followed her moth
er's lean forefnger.
'Yes'm, it's him"
Minerva flung screening sheet over
the line.
You git in the house" she ordered,
''and skin off then sudsy things you
got on. quick, and put on your new
penang. and tell Matte Lou to kill
| two of them fryin' size 'Nocker chick
ems 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 gro
Ger, with his reputation for wealth.
boarded and being added to, was to
her monarch, and the brilliant blue
suit of clothes he wore, the coat gilt
tering with the golden double-eagles
that served for buttons, the trappings
| of royalty.
Poor Minerva, for 80 years a tobac-
co-growing tenants wife, with an UNI
satisfied longing for an abundance of
lifes good things physical, hoped
| through sonsin-law to bring riches to
the family.
For two years Alice Emily, now
eighteen, had lived Ia 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. Johnny
had spent three Sundays at the Tow
ers' ramshackle abode-a tenant house
on the Isom Tewmey farm, and each
time he had brought presents for the
family. With two exceptions, the fam
lily was highly elated oven Alice EN-
ily'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 a neighbor, in the tobacco,
wanted to be married, but because of
his poverty Minerva had raised objec-
| lions so vehement and strenuous, Ellis,
angered, had gore away, and Matte
Lou had never seen him again.
On the first two Sundays of Johnny's
visits Beverly had not been able to
make his usual Sundays visits to Alice
Emily because of his sick sister. but
ION the third Sunday afternoon he had
gone joyfully to the Towers. Minerva,
eating luxuriously from five-pound
lox of chocolates, greeted him.
"Them's what Alice Emily's new fell
Ter fetched M. Bev!" she had exulted.
Hits Johnny Bealsl He's been TO see
her twict sence you been here, and
now he's tuck her out a-walkin'."
"Johnny's cut ye out shore, Bev," AL
yah had spoken up, "fer good and all"
Then remarking the wilderness that
came over Beverly's brown face, he
had thrown a consoling arm about the
boys broad shoulders.
''Ther, don't We feel that away about
hit, Bev Gals is curtis, and theirs
minny another purity one in the world
sides Alice Em'ly!'
Beverly had laughed. but his laugh
was queer and forlcrn When the
| strollers had returned, Minerva had
slyly but successfully frustrated his
maneuvers to speak q word alone TO
Alice Emily. Hurt and miserable, he
had refused friendly old Alvah's
pressing invitation to stay to supper.
On the next afternoon he had re-
ceived at the post Office hastily pen
ciled note.
"Dear Bev," it read, INA and pa
and the boys would be mad at me il
they knowed l citten this, but can't
stand for you to think Alice Emily is
carried away with Johnny Beals
and his money, like they are. She
amt, but they've got him to thinkin'
| she is. You try TO come down here
about Wednesday, or any evenln' be
fore Sunday and talk to 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.
"oh. Matte Lou, he come again,
and ma and them are tickled to death.
They're a-rushin' me to marry that old
theng. with them pop eyes, and
mouth that looks like 1t wanted to eat
somebody l hate him, Matte Lou
never got TO say a word to Bev Sun
day, and ne won't never come back
| mn, mara fN