The Holly chieftain., 1922-08-31
!
April.

The Deacons were at supper. In
the middle of the table was small,
appealing tulip plant, looking as any,
thing would look whose sun was a
gas Jet. This jet was high above
the table and flared with sound.
Better turn down the gas jest a
little" Mr.. Deacon said, and stretched
up to do SO. He made this Joke almost
every night. He seldom spoke as a
man speaks who has something to say,
but as man who makes something
to say.
"Well, what have we on the festive
board tonight?" he questioned, cycling
1t. "Festlve" was his favorite adjec-
tive. Beautiful" too. In October he
might be heard asking: where's my
beautiful fall coat7"
1--WE have creamed salmon" replied
Mrs. Deacon gently. ION toast" she
added, with scrupulous regard for
the whole truth. Why she should say
this SO gently no one can tell. She
says everything gently. Her Gould
you leave me another bottle Of milk
this morning?" would wiring a milk
mans heart.
well, now, let us see." said Mr..
Deacon. and attacked the principal
dish benignly. LET US see." he added,
as he served.
II don't want any" said Monona.
The child Monona was seated upon
a book and a cushion, so that her
little triangle Of nose rose adultly
above her plate. Her remark pro-
duced precisely the effect for which
she had passionately hoped.
whats this?" cried Mr.. Deacon
"No salmon?'
NO" said Monona. infected up.
chin pertly pointed. She felt he,
power, discarded her "sir."
"Oh now, Pet II" from Mrs. Deacon,
on three notes. "You liked 1t before" !"
II don't want any" said Monona, In
precisely her original tone.
"Just little7 A very little7" Mr..
Deacon persuaded, spoon dripping.
The child Monona made her lips thin
and straight and shook her head until
her straight hair tapped in her eyes
on either side. Mr.. Deacon's eyes anx-
iously consulted his wife's eyes. What
is thisf Their progeny will not eat
What can be supplied?
"Some bread and milk !" cried Mrs.
Deacon brightly, exploding on bread"
One wondered how she thought Of It.
"No," said Monona, infection up.
chin the same. She was affecting in
difference to this scene, in which her
soul delighted. She twisted her head,
bit her lips unconcernedly. and turned
her eyes to the remote.
There emerged from the fringe Of
things, where she perpetually hovered,
Mrs. Deacon's older sister, Lulu Bett,
who was making her home with u.s."
And that was precisely the case. They
were not making her a home, good
ness knows. Lulu was the family
beast of burden.
Cant l make her little milk
toast?" she asked Mrs. Deacon.
Mrs. Deacon hesitated, not with
compunction at accepting Lulu's offer.
not diplomatically to lure Monona.
But she hestated habitually, by ma
ture, as another is by nature vivacious
or brunette.
"Yes!" shouted the child Monona.
The tension relaxed. Mrs. Deacon
assented. Lulu went to the kitchen.
Mr. Deacon served on. Something Of
this scene was enacted every day. For
Monona the drama never lost Its zest.
1t never occurred to the others to let
her sit without eating, once, as a cure
all. The Deacons were devoted par
ents and the child Monona was deli
cate. She had white, grave face.
white hair, white eyebrows, white
lashes. She was sullen, anemic. They
let her wear rings. She "toed In"
The poor child was the late birth Of
a late marriage and the principal Joy
which she had provided for them thus
far was the plensed reflection that
they had produced her at all.
"Where's your mother. InaT Mr..
Deacon inquired. isn't she coming
to her support"
"Tantrim," said Mrs. Deacon softly.
"Ol,, no." said he, and said no more.
The temper Of Mrs. Bett, who also
lived with them, had days of high VI
bration when she absented herself
from the table as kind Of self
Indulgence, and no one could persuade
her to food. "Tantrims." they called
these occasions.
Baked potatoes" said Mr.. Deacon.
"That's good-that's good. The baked
potato contains more nourishment
than potatoes prepared in any other