Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1922-10-05
July.

JUlIs
When on warm evening fort
night later Lulu descended the stairs
dressed for her Incredible trip TO the
city. she wore the white waist which
she had often thought they would
use for her II she died. And really.
the waist looked as If il had been
planned for the purpose and its wide,
outstanding plated lace at throat and
wrist made her neck look thinner, her
forearm sharp and veined. Her hair
she had "crimped" and parted in the
middle, pulled hight was so that
hair had been worn in Lulus grlhood.
well !" said Ina. when she saw this
couture, and frankly examined IT,
head we'll back, tongue meditatlvely
teasing at her lower lip.
For travel Lulu was again wearing
Ina's linen duster-the old one.
Ninian appeared, in a sack coat
and his diamond. His distinctly con.
vex face, its thick, rosy flesh, thick
mouth and cleft chin gave Lulu once
more that bold sense of looIing-not
at him. for then she was shy and
graph ut which she could gaze MS
much as she would. She looked up
AT him openly. fell in step beside him.
Was. he not taking her to the city;
Ina and Dwight themselves were go.
Ing because she, Lulu, had brought
about this party.
"Act as good as you look, Luls,n
Mrs. Bett called after them. She gave
no Instructions TO Ina, who was mar.
ried and able 10 shine in her conduct,
II seemed
Dwight was cross. On the way to
the station he might have been heard
to take 1t up again, whatever il was,
and his Ina Enthusiastically said: "Well.
now, don't keep 1t going all the way
there; and turned back to the others
with some elaborate comment about
the dust, thus cutting off her so-called
lord from his legitimate retort. A
mean advantage.
The city was two hours distant, and
they were to spend the night. On the
train, In the double seat, Ninian be-
side her among the bags, Lulu sat in
the simple consciousness that the
people all knew that she too had been
chosen. A man and a woman were
opposite. with their little boy between
them. Lulu felt this wOman's supe
riorlty of experience over her own,
and smiled at her from a world of fcl.
lowship. But the woman lifted her
eyebrows and stared and turned away,
with slow and insolent winking
Ninian had a boyish pride in his
knowledge of places TO eat in many
cities-as If he were leading certain
of the tribe to a deer-run in strange
wood. Ninian took his party to a
downtown cafe, then popular among
business and newspaper men. The
place was below the sidewalk, was
reached by dozen marble steps, and
the odor Of its griddle-cakes took the
air of the street. Ninan made q
great show of selecting table,
changed once, called the waiter my
man" and rubbed soft hands on "What
do you say? Shall IL be lobster?"
He ordered the dinner, instructing the
waiter with painsaking gruffness.
''Not that they can touch your cook
ing here, Miss Lulu" he said, settling
himself to wait, and crumbling a
crust.
Dwight, expanding a bit In the aura
of the food, observed that Lulu was
a regular chef, that was what Lulu
was. He still would not look at his
wife, who now remarked:
"Sheff, Dwightie. Not chef"
This was mean advantage, which
he pretended not to hear-another
mean advantage.
Ina" said Lulu your hats just a
little mite-no, over the other way"
''Was there anything to prevent
inquired acidly.
IL started to and then somebody
always said something" said Lulu
humbly.
Nothing could so much as cloud
Lulus hour. She was proof against
any shadow.
SAY, but you look tremendous to-
night" Dwight observed to her.
Understanding perfectly that this
{ was said to tease his wife, Lulu yet
flushed with pleasure. She saw two
women watching. and she thought :
They're feeling sorry for Ina-no-
body talking TO her" She laughed
at everything that the men said She
passlonately wanted to talk herself
"How many folks keep going past"
she said. many times.
At length, having noted the details
of all the clothes in range. Ina's iso-
lation paIled upon her and she set
herself To take NinIan's attention.
She therefore talked with him about
himself.
"Curlous you've never married,
Mn" she said.
"Don't say it like that" he begged.
II might yet"
Ina laughed enjoyably. eyes, you
mightl she met this.
"She wants everybody TO get mar
ried. but she wishes hadn't"
Dwight threw in with exceeding ram
cor.
They developed this theme exhaus-