The Jasper news., 1922-11-30
Ill-Continued.

D
"Those who disregard the comfort Of
other people," he enunciated, cannot
expect consideration for themselves in
the future"
He did not say on what ethical tenet
this dlctum was based, but he deliv-
cred it with extreme authority. Ina
caught her lower lip with her teeth,
dipped her head and looked at Di. And
MOnona laughed like a little demon.
AS soon as Lulu had all in readiness,
and cold corned beef and salad had be-
gun their orderly progression, Dwight
became the immemorial dweller in
green Businesses. He began:
"This is ideal. l tell you, people
don't half know life if they don't get
out and eat in the open. It's better
than any tonic at dollar the bottle.
Natures tonic-eh? Free as the air.
Look at that sky. See that water.
COulG anything be more pleasant2"
He smiled at his wife. This mans
face was glowing with simple pleasure.
He loved the out-of-doors with a love
which could not explain itself. But ne
wife's comment was heard to be:
"Monona Now it's all over both
.ruffies. And mamma does try so
hard. .
After supper some boys arrived with
a boat which they beached, and
Dwight, with enthusiasm, gave the
boys ten cents for a half hours use of
that boat and invited to the waters his
wife, his brother and his younger
daughter. Ina was timid-nOt be-
cause she was afraid, but because she
was congenitally timid-wlth her this
was not a belief or an emotion, 1t was
u disease.
Dwight, darling, are you sure
there's no danger2'
"Why, none. None in the world.
Whoever heard of drowning In a
river?" .
But you're not so very used" 4,
Oh, wasn't he? Who was 1t that
had lived in a boat throughout youth,
If not he?
Ninian refused out-of-hand, lighted
cigar, and sat on a log in a perma-
nent fashion. Ina's plump figure was
fitted in the stern, the child Monona
affixed, and the boat put off, bow well
out of water. On this pleasure ride
the face of the wife was as the face
of the damned. 1t was true that she
revered her husbands opinions above
those Of all other men. In politics,
in science, In religion, In dentistry, she
looked up to his dicta as to revelation.
And was he not a magistrate? But let
him take oars in hand, or shake lines
or a whip above the back of any horse,
and this woman would trust any other
woman's husband by preference. II
was a phenomenon.
Lulu was making the work last, so
that she should be out of everybody's
way. When the boat put off without
Ninian, she felt a kind Of terror and
wished that he had gone. He had
sat down near her, and she pretended
not to see. At last Lulu understood
that Ninian was deliberately choosing
to remain with her. The languor OF
his bulk after the evening meal made
no explanation for Lulu. She asked
for no explanation. He had stayed.
And they were alone. For Di, on {
pretext Of examining the fiocks an'
herds, was leading Bobby away to thu
pastures, a little at a time.
The sun, now fallen, had left al
even. waxen sky. Leaves and fern
appeared drenched with the light jus
Withdrawn. The hush the warmth
the color, were charged with some in
fluence. The air of the time communl
Gated itself to Lu'u as intense an
quiet happiness. She had not yet fel
quiet with Ninian. For the first tim
her blind excitement in his presenc
ceased, and she felt :uriOusly accui
toned to him. To him the air Of tn
time Impaired itself in a deepening Q
his facile sympathy.