The Glenwood post., 1922-08-17
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May

,)arlor was rarely used. but every
morning It was busted. By Lulu.
She busted the black walnut center
table which was Of lna's choosing. and
looked like Ina, shining, complacent.
abundantly curved The leather rocker,
too, looked like Ina, brown. plumpy
upholstered, tipping back a bit. Real
ly, the davenport looked like Ina, for
its chintZ pattern seemed to bear de-
sign of lifted eyebrows and arch. re-
proachful eyes.
Lulu busted the upright piano. and
that was like Dwight-in n perpet-
ual attitude of rearing back, with paws
out, playful, but capable, too, of roar
ing ready bass.
And the black freplace-there was
Mrs. Bett to the lie Colorless. fire
less, and with a dust Of ashes.
In the midst of all was Lulu herself
reflected in the narrow pier glass,
bodiless-lool5ing in her blue Bingham
gown, but somehow alive-natural.
This pier glass Lulu approached
with expectation, not because # her
self but because Of the photograph on
its low marble shelf. a large photo
graph on a little shelf-easel. y photo
graph of a man with evident eyes, evil
dent lips, evident chaeks-and each Of
the six We're rounded and convex. You
could construct the rest Of hin. Down
there under the glass you could imagine
him extending rounded and convex.
with plump hands and curly thumbs
4 t. ,t,,,
Deacon. Dwight's brother.
Every day since his coming had
been announced Lulu, dusting the par
lor. had seen the photograph looking
at her with its eyes somehow new. Or
were her own eyes new? She busted
this photograph with difference, lift
ed, busted, set it back, less as process
than as an experience. AS she busted
the mirror and saw his trim sem
blance over against her own bodiless
reflection, she hurried away. But the
eyes of the picture follow ed her, and
she liked it.
She busted the south window sill
and saw Bobby Larkin come round the
house and go to the woodshed for the
lawn mower. She heard the smooth
blur of the cutter. Not six times had
Bobby traversed the lawn when Lulu
saw Di emerge from the house. hi
had been caring for her canary and
she carried her bird bath and went to
the well, and Lulu OWNED that Di had
deliberately disregarded the handy
kitchen taps. Lulu busted the south
window and watched, and in her
watching was no quality OF spying or
of criticism. Rather she looked ont
on something in which she had never
shared. could not by any chance i'm
agine herself sharing.
The south windows were open. Airs
of May bore the soft talking.
"Oh. Bobby. will you pump while
hold this?' And again: "Now wait
till I rinse" And again: "You needn't
be so glum the village salutation sig
nifying kindly attention.
Bobby now first spoke: "Who's
glum?" he countered. gloomily.
The iron of those days when she had
laughed at him was deep within him
ard this she now OWNED, and said alb
sently:
81 used to think you were pretty
nice. But l don't like you any more"
Eyes, you used to-" Bobby repeat.
cd derisively. ''ls that why you made
fun OF me all the time?'
At this hi colored and tapped her
foot on the well-curb. He seemed to
have her now. and enjoyed his tri-
umph. But Di looked up at him shyly
and looked down. 81 had to-" she adj
mitted "They We're all teasing me
about you."
"They were?' This was new
thought to him Teasing her about
him, were they? He Strengthened
Huh" he said, in magnificent eva
sion.
Il had TO make them stop so
teased you. IL never wanted to-"
Again the upward look.
"Well!" Bobby stared at her. ~
never thought 1t was anything like
that"
"Of course you didn't" sac tossed
back her bright hair. met his eyes full.
"And you never came whore | could
tell you. wanted to tell you"
She ran into the house.
Lulu lowered her eyes. It was as
II she had witnessed the exercise of
some secret gift. had seen a cocoon
open or an egg hatch. She was think
Ing:
"How easy she done 1t. Got him
right over. But how did she do that1"
Dusting the Dwight-like piano, Lulu
looked over-shouder, with manner OF
speculation, at the photograph OF
Ninian.
Bobby moved and pondered. The
magnificent conceit OF the male In his
understanding Of the female character
was sufficiently developed to cause
him to welcome the improvisation
which he had just heard. Perhaps
that was the way It had been. OF