The Holly chieftain., 1922-10-26

II do not see the necessity"
too he said do not always with
Dwight betokening the finalities.
"Why, what would they tll;nk?"
Lulu asked. troubled.
"What difference does 1t make what
they Think
why" said Lulu slowly, 81
shouldn't like-you see they might
why. Dwight, think wei. have to
tell them
You do. You think the disgrace
of bigamy in this family is something
the whole town will have to know
about?'
Lulu looked at him with parted lips.
Say she said. 81 never thought
about 1t being that"
Dwight laughed what do You
think it was? And whose disgrace
is it, pray?"
Ninian's." said Lulu.
''Ninian's Well he's gone. But
you're here. And I'm here Folksll
feel sorry for you. But the disgrace
that'd reflect on me- See?"
But if we don't tell what'Il they
think them"
Said Dwight: They'll think what
they always think when wife leaves
her husband. They'll think you
couldn't get along. That's ALL"
81 should hate that" said Lulu.
well. should hate the other, let
me tell YOU
Dwight, Dwight" said Ina. Lets
90 in the house I'm afraid they'll
hear"
AS they rose, Mrs Bett plucked at
her returned daughters sleeve.
''Lulie," she said, was his other
wife-was she there?"
mo. no, mother She wasn't
there"
Mrs. Belts lips moved. repeating
the words. "Then that amt so bad"
she said. 81 was afraid maybe she
turned you out"
NO" Lulu said, cit wasn't that bad,
mother"
Mrs. Bett frightened. In little mat
ters, she quarreled and resented, but
the large issues left her blank
Through some indeterminate sense
of the Importance due this crisis, the
lighted that high. central burner and
faced about, saying:
"In fact. simply will not have it.
Lulu! You expect, / take it, to make
your home with us in the future. on
the old terms"
"Well-"
81 mean, did Ninian give you any
money!"
No He didn't give me any money
only enough to get home on And +
kept my suit-why!" she flung her
head back, 81 wouIn't have taken any
money!"
THAT MEANS" said Dwight, "that
you will have to continue to live
here-on the old terms, and of course
I'm quite willing that you should. Let
me tell you, however, that this is on
condition-on condition that this dis
graceful business is kept to our
selves"
t'iit ll' uiltHDl ~ cOIIDHt
him now. She looked back at him.
quivering, and in great surprise. but
she said nothing
"Truly, Lulu" said Ina, wouldn't
that be best? They'll talk anyway.
But this way they'll only talk about
you, and the other way it'd be about
all of us"
Lulu said only: But the other way
wonld be the truth"
Dwight's eyes narrowed: my dear
Lulu" he said "are you sure of
that?"
"Sure?'
"Yes. Did he give you any proofs?"
"Proofs?"
"Letters-documents of any sort? :?
ANY sort of assurance that he was
speaking the truth?"
"Why, no.. said Lulu. "Proofs-
no. He told me-"
"He told you?rr
"Why that was hard enough to
have to do. 1t was terrible for him
TO have to do. What proofs She
stopped. puzzled.
'Didn't it occur to you" said
Dwight, that he might have told you
that because he din't want to have
TO 20 on with it?'
As she met his look some power
seemed to go from Lulu She sat
down. looked weakly at them, and with.
in her closed lips her jaw was slightly
fallen. She said nothing. And see
ing on her skirt Il spot of dust she
began to rub at that
'Why. Dwight - Ina cried. and
moved tn her sisters side.
~ may as well tell YOU" he said,
that ] myself have no idea thai Mn
ian told you the truth. He was always
imagining things-you saw that I
know him pretty well-have been
more or less in touch with him the
whole time. In short. haven't the
least idea he was ever married be-
fore"