Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1922-12-13


you see that, don't you?"
81 want the people to know the
truth" Lulu said.
"But it's nobody's business but our
businessl / take 1t you don't intend
TO sue Ninian7"
"Sue him? Oh mol"
'"Then, for all our sakes, let's drop
the matter. Tell you, Lulu, here
are three of us. Our interests are the
same in this thing-only Ninian is our
relative and he's nothing to you now.
Is he?
"Why. no." said Lulu in surprise.
"Vefy well. Let's have vote. Your
snap judgment is to tell this disgrace
full fact broadcast. Mine is. least said,
soonest mended. What do you say,
ma-c0nsidering Di and all?"
my poor poor sisterl'' Ina said.
She struck together her little plump
hands. "Oh, Dwight-when l think
of It: What have / done-what have
we done that / should have a good,
kind, loving husband-be so protected,
so loved, when other women. 4.
Darlingp she sobbed, and drew near
to Lulu. 'sYou know how sorry am
we all are. :"
Lulu stood up. Her white shawl
slipped to the floor Her hands were
stifily joined
Then" she said, "giye me the only
thing I've got-that's my pride. My
pride-that he didn't want to get rid
of me-"
They stared at her. "What about
my pride?" Dwight called to her, as
across great distances. ''Do you
think I want everybody to know my
brother did thing like that9"
''You can't help that" said Lulu.
''But | want you to help it. l want
you to promise me that you won't
shame us like this before all our
friends
"You want me to promise whatT'
Il want you-I ask you" Dwight
said with an effort, "to promise me
that you viii keep this, with us-a
family secret"
mol" Lulu cried. mo. I won't do
iti won't do It'll / won't do itr'
1t was like some crude chant, know
Ing only two tones She threw out
her hands, her wrists long and dark on
her blue skirt.
"Can't you understand anything?"
she asked. I've lived here all my life
Ion your money. I've not been
strong enough to work, they say
well, but I've been strong enough TO
be a hired girl in your house-and
I've been glad to pay for my keep.
Well, then / got little some
thing, same as other folks thought
I was married and / went of on the
train and he bought me things and !
saw the different towns And then 1t
was all mistake. / didn't have any
Of 1t. came back here and went in
to your kitchen again. don't know
why I came back. I s'pose because
I'm most thirty-four and new things
amt so easy any more-but what have
I got or what'll / ever have? And
now you want to put on to me having
folks look at me and think he run
OF and left me, and having 'em all
wonder. can't stand 1t. !
can't stand It. can't. :"
you'd rather they'd know he fooled
you, when he had another wifef"
Dwight sneered.
"Yesl Because he wanted me- How
do know--maybe he wanted me only
tust because he was lonesome, the
way / was. / don't care why And
won't have folks think he went and
left me-"
.when a family once gets talked
about for any reason" said Ina
and shrddered
aPm talked about nowi"
sBut nothing that you could help.
II he got tired of you, you couldn't
help that" This misstep was
Dwights.
"No," Lulu said. 81 couldn't help
that. And 1 couldn't help his other
wife. either"
..Bigamy," said Dwight, "that's a
crime"
i've done no crime" said Lulu.
"Bigamy," said Dwight, "disgraces
everybody 1t touches"
Even d." Lulu said.
Lulu" said Dwight, ION DIS ac-
count viii you promise us to let this
thing rest with US threef"
81 s'pose so," said Lulu quietly.
"You will?"
81 s'pose So"
Ina sobbed: THANK you, thank you
Lulu. This makes up for everything"
"You'll be happy to think you've
done this for us. Lulu" said Dwight.
ST s'pose SO" said Lulu.
Ina. pink from her little gust Of sob
bling, went TO her kissed her. her trir
tan tailor suit against Lulu's blue cot
ton.
my sweet, self-sacrifcing sister"
she murmured.
"oh. stop that" Lulu said.
Dwight took her hand. lying Imply
ia his. Il can now,n he said, "over-
look the matter of the letter"
Lulu drew back. She put her hair
behind her ears, swallowed, and cried
out.
Don't you go around plying me !
III have you know I'm glad the whole
thing happenedl"
II was not yet nine o'clock Of a