The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1925-03-20
BIC
By EDNA FERBER
GO, Doubleday. Page & Coz
WNU Services.

/ Tapped her slim waist; her slender lit
tie bosom did not fill out the generous
width of the bodice; but the effect Of
the whole was amazingly quaint as
well as pathetic.
They, were married at the Pools.
Klaas and Maartje had insisted on
furnishing the wedding supper-ham,
chickens, sausages, cakes pickles. beer.
The Reverend Decker married them,
| and all through the ceremony Selma
chided herself because she could not
keep her mind on his words in the
fascination Of watching his short,
stubby beard as it waggled with every
motion of his jaw. Pervus looked
stiff, solemn and uncomfortable in his
wedding blacks-not at all the hand
some giant of the everyday corduroys
and blue shirt. In the midst of the
ceremony Selma had her moment of
panic when she actually saw herself
running shrieking from this company,
this man, this house, down the road.
on, on toward-toward what? The
feeling was so strong that she was
surprised to find herself still standing
/ there in the Dutch wedding gown an
swering II do in the proper place.
After the wedding they went
straight to belongs house. In May
the vegetable farmer cannot neglect
| his garden even for day. The house
had been made ready for them.
Throughout the supper Selma had
had thoughts which were so foolish
and detached as almost to alarm her.
NOW l am married. am Mrs. Per-
vus DeJong. That's pretty name. 1t
would look quite distinguished on
calling card, very spidery and fine:
MRS. PERvUs DE JoNG
At Home Fridays
She recalled this later, grimly, when
she was Mrs. Pervus DeJong. at home
not only Fridays, but Saturdays, Sun
days, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednes-
days and Thursdays.
They drove down the road to De
Jong's place. Selma thought, "Now l
am driving home with my husband.
feel his shoulder against mine. l
wish he would talk I wish he would
say something. Still, l am not
| frightened" nS-
Pervus' market wagon was standing
in the yard, shafts down. He should
have gone to market today; would GER
tainly have to go tomorrow. starting
| early in the afternoon so as to get a
! good stand in the Haymarket. BY the
light Of his lantern the wagon seemed
| to Selma to be symbol. She had
often seen it before, but now that it
was to be part of her life-this the
DeJong market wagon and she Mrs
disreputable and poverty-proclaiming
old vehicle 1t was, in contrast with the
neat strong wagon In Klaas Pools
yard, smart with green paint and red
lettering that announced, "Klaas Pool,
Garden Produce" With the two sleek
farm horses the turnout looked as
prosperous and comfortable as Klaas
himself.
Pervus swung her down from the
seat of the buggy, his hand about her
| waist, and held her so for moment,
close. Selma said: "You must have
that wagon painted, Pervus And the
/ seat-springs fixed and the sideboard
mended."
He stared. Wagon p
Eyes. 1t looks sight"
The house was tidy enough, but none
too clean. Pervus lighted the lamps.
There was fire in the kitchen stove.
/ 1t made the house seem stuffy on this
mild May night. Selma thought that
her own little bedroom at the Pools,
no longer hers, must be deliciously cool
and still with the breeze tanning fresh
from the west Pervus was putting
the horse into the barn. The bedroom
was off the sitting room. The window
was shut This last year had taught
Selma to prepare the night before for
next mornings rising. so as to lose the
least possible time. She did this now,
unconsciously. She brushed her hair,
laid out tomorrow's garments, put ON
her high-necked, long-sleeved night
gown and got into this strange bed.
She heard Pervus DeJong shut the
kitchen door; the latch clicked, the
lock turned. Heavy quick footsteps
across the bare kitchen floor. This
man was coming into her room. /.
"You can't run far enough" Maartje
Pool had said. Except you stop liv-
ing you can't run away from life"
Next morning 1t was dark when he
awakened her at four. She started up
with little cry and sat up, straining
her ears, her eyes. us that you.
father?' She was little Selma Peake