The Jasper news., 1922-11-09

perpetuallv submerged.
When she mad eaten she grew sleepy
rather cross at the last and inclined
to hold up her sisters excellencies to
Lulu; and, at Lulu's defense lifted an
ancient weapon.
"What's the use of finding fault
with Inie? Where'd you been II, ~he
hadn't marriedr' I
Lulu said nothing.
"What sayT" Mrs Bett demands,
shrIlly. She was enjoying It.
Lulu said no more. After a long
time:
"You always was Jealous Of Inle."
said Mrs. Bett, and went to her bed.
AS soon as her mothers door had
closed, Lulu took the lamp from its
bracket, stretching up her long body
and her long arms "ntil her skirt lift
ed to show her really slim and pretty
feet. Lulu's feet gave news of some
other Lulu, but slightly incarnate
Perhaps, so far, incarnate only In her
feet and her long hair.
She took the lamp to the parior and
stood before the photograph Of Nlnlan
Deacon, and looked her ill. She did
not admire the photograph, but she
wanted to look at It. The house was
still, there was no possibility Of inter-
ruption. The occasion became sensa-
tlon, which she made no effort to
quench. She held a rendezvous with
she knew not what.
In the early hours Of the next after
noon with the sun shining across the
threshold, Lulu was pairing something
at the kitchen table. Mrs. Bett was
asleep. ("I don't blame you bit,
mother" Lulu had said, as her mother
named the intention.) Ina was asleep.
(But Ina always took off the curse by
calling Il her "sl-esta," long i) Mo
mona was playing with a neighbor's
chlld-you heard their shrill yet love
ly laughter as they obeyed the adult
law that motion is pleasure. Di was
not there.
A man came round the house and
stood tying q puppy TO the porch post.
A long shadow fell through the west
doorway, the puppy whined.
"Oh." said this man. II didn't mean
to arrive at the back door, but since
I'm here"
He lifted n suitcase to the porch,
entered and filled the kitchen.
"It's Ina, isn't ft?" he said.
I'm her sister" said Lulu, and un-
deratood that he was here at last.
swell, I'm Bert's brother" said
Ninlan. $50 can come In, can't IT.
He did so, turned round like a dog
before his chair and sat down heavily.
forcing his fingers through heavy, up
sprInging brown hair.
"Oh, yes" said Lulu. "Ill call Ina.
She's asleep"
Don't call her, then" said Nlnian.
Lets you and / get acquainted"
He said it absently, hardly looking
at her.
"Tll get the pup a drink II you can
spare me a basin," he added.
Lulu brought the basin and. while
he went to the dog. she ran tiptOeing
to the dining room china closet and
brought a cut-glass tumbler, as heavy,
as ungaInly as a stone crock. This
she filled with milk.
81 thought maybe " said she.
and offered 1t.
THANK you" said Nlnian, and
drained 1t. Making pies, as live"
he observed, and brought his chair
nearer to the table. II didn't know
Ina had a sister," he went on. 81 re-
member now Bert said he had two Of
her relatives"
> Lulu flushed and glanced at him pitt
fully.
"Ie has" she said. "It's my mother
and me. But we do quite a good deal
OF the work"
"1n bet you do" said Nlnlan, anc
did not perceive that anything had
been violated. "What's your nameT'
he hethought.
She was In an immense and obscure
excitement. Her manner was serene,
her hands as they went on With the
peelIng did not tremble; her replies
were given with sufficient quiet. But
: she told him her name as one tells
, something of another and more re-
mote creature. She felt as one may
feel In catastrophe-no sharp under
standing, but merely the sense that the
: thing cannot possibly be happening.
"You folks expect met" he went or.
"Oh, yesP' she cried. almost with
vehemence. "Why, we've looked for
you every day"
"'See," he said. show long have they
been marrledT
Lulu flushed as she answered: Eff
, teen years"