The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1921-10-22
The Wedding
Present
By M. MACWILLIAMS.
9. 1921. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate

Josefa sang mockingly, keeping time
with head and foot:
''Will the flame that you're rich in
Build a fire IN the kitchen,
Or the little god of love turn the spit
spit. spit?"
Ending with dance merry enough
to cure a hypochondriac. But 1t dld
nothing of the sort to her sole specta-
tor. Bess Leech, her sometime chum,
was deep in very angry blues. Il
think YOU might have little pity for
my head" she scolded: ITS splitting
Il came here in hope of Quiet-and
consolatiOn-and you're so cheerful it's
wildly disgusting"
"Why not be cheerful? Praise be,
I'm not contemplating matrimony on
the grace of GOd,-and expectations
JoSefa retorted. Bess sat up very
straight from the couch where she had
thrown herself to say acridly: Sour
grapes, my dear! You know you were
quite mad about WilmOt-and he has
the same as confessed to me, you at
tracted him-until | came"
"Not really" Josefa drawled, going
off into gale of laughing that made
Bess sob angrily: 81 laugh 10 think
of you as the Angel of Deliverance,
Elizabeth Betsy" Josefa explained
when she could speak: with your
red hair. and the way you dance!
When you give your whole mind. and
body to it, nobody's SalOme-not the
original blown-in-the-bottle article-has
anything on you"
"Youl Notwithstanding" Bess
painted. Il won't stay here to be
Knocked. II thought you were my
friend. not a jealous cat" Bess re-
turned, however, without making
motion of departure. Josefa smiled
behind her hand.
Better have lunch before you GO"
she said. "Swear / won't poison you,
no matter If / am jealous, and a cat.
Fact is Betsy Lizabeth. l believe
you're suffering the pangs of hunger
even more than love. Tell me, what
did you have for breakfast|
"Quite all l wanted, thank you"
Bess answered with her gravest dig
nifty, speaking truth literal, and fiction
actual. She had had all she wanted
of rather stale crackers and water
from the tap, but now there was a
void sensation conducive to weak knees
and trembling hands. Josefa knew ii,
but was too kind. in spite of her rail-
lery, to stress the point. "Me myself
has bear appetite" she said over her
shoulder. keep house please till 1
come again; shan't be long,"
She came back quickly to find that
Bess had sobbed herself to sleep.
Josefa looked at her with kind eyes,
II merry ones. murmuring. IF heaven
doesn't help these babies In the woods
I'm afraid they're in bad way"
But nothing of that was In her voice
or manner when she reused Bess to
sit at table well and bountifully
spread and to find further the be-
loved Wilmot Just entering the door,
and saying: "You here? Joe fooled
me. thought she was cooking in
my honor"
"Tm designing person you know"
Josefa retorted. always something
up my sleeve. This time it's some
thing for the pair of you-a chance
to honeymoon in a heavenly cottage
for six weeks or so, rent free, and do
work enough meanwhile to take you
half through the winter"
Bess bridled at that, but Wilmot,
otherwise Billy Johnson, said half
shamedly: Mighty good of you Tell
Us some more"
After the more had been told.
specifically the illustrating Of a book
that might lead to something perma-
nent. he dropped shamed eyes, saying
huskily: "Joe-I-we really don't de-
serve this of you"
BY her showing she had happened"
to hear of the chance. Wilmot thought
the happening had been really an offer
to herself. which she had diplomat
ically diverted his way. knowing his
need. He wanted to thank her; some
how the words stuck, choked back by
memory of vainglorious boasts to his
new love. Josefa might have had him
for the taking With Bess II was in
deed a matter Of Catching on the re-
bound" And he had the grace to be
heartily shamed by this brand of re-
venge. Well, he would work hard so
as TO do Joe credit with the publisher.
meantime keeping wary eye for any,
thing that might lessen in any way
his obligation. He had been rather
appalled, by the prospect of matrimony
without money-scarcely the price of
a wedding ring. But how gainsay a
sweetheart extremely temperamental I!
Sure, in her lies salvation for her lover
and his money. Bess was almost a
genius, but lacking in practically.
She could never stand alone, for all
her looks. her charm. Wilmot had not
withstood her. but had shivered at
thought of taking the plunge.
Bess ate heartily of Josefa's provjd-
ings. Certainly she had an appetite