Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1922-09-14

Inc precision and speed of his i'm
provisation revealed him. He had
twenty other diamonds like this one
lie kept them for those Sundays when
the sun comes up in the west. or
course-often Some day he was GO.
ing to melt diamond and eat it. Then
you sparkled all over in the dark. ever
after. Another diamond he was going
10 plant. They say He did II all
gravely, absorbedly. About II he was
as constituencies as a savage. This
was no fancy spun TO pleasure a child.
This was like lying. for it's own sake.
He went on talking with Lulu. and
now again he was the tease. the brag.
CART. the unbrldled. unmodifed male.
Monona stood in the circle of his
arm. The little being was attentive.
softened. subdued. Some pretty, faint
light visited her. In her listening LOOK,
she showed herself q charming child.
1T strikes me-" said Nnian to Lulu
that You're going TO do something
might resting before you die"
1t VS. re clear conversational i'm.
pulse, hopl Of the need 10 keep some.
thing going. but Lulu was all faith
She closed the oven door on her pies
and stood brushing flour from her fin.
gers. He was looking away from her
and she looked at him. He was COM
pletely like his picture. She felt as
If she were looking at his picture and
she was abashed and turned away.
"Well. I hope So" she said. which
had certainly never been true. for her
old formless dreams were no intention
nothing but n mush of discomfort.
Il nope can do something tiats .ice
before / quit" she said. MOI was lis
hope now independently true, bur only
surprising longing 10 appear interest
ing in his eyes. To dance before him.
What would the folks think of me.
going on so?" she suddenly said Her
mild sense of disloyalty was delicious.
SO was his understanding glance.
you're the stuff" he remarked alb
sently.
She laughed happily.
The door opened. Ina appeared.
Well" said Ina. 1t was her re-
hottest tone. She took this man to be
a peddler. beheld her child in his
clasp, made a quick forward step, chin
lifted She had time for very javelin
of look at Lulu.
"Hello :" said Nlnian. He had the
one formula. Il believe I'm your hus-
bands brother Amt this Ina?"
1t had not crossed the mind of Lulu
to present him.
Beautiful Ii was to see Ina relax
soften, warm. transform, humanize. 1t
gave one hope for the whole species.
"Ninian :" she cried. She lent a
faint impression of the double to the
initial vowel She slurred the rest
until the sound squlnted in. Not
Neenyun, but nearly Neenyun.
He kissed her.
"Since Dwight isn't here!" she cried
and shook her finger at him. Ina's
conception Of hostess-ship was def
mite: A volley of questions-was his
train on time? He had found the
house all right? OF course! Anyone
could direct him, she should hope. And
he hadn't seen Dwight? She must
telephone him. But then she arrested
herself with sharp, curved fling Of
her starched skirts. Mo- They would
surprise him at tea-she stood taut,
lips compressed. oh, the Plows were
coming to tea. How unfortunate, she
thought. How fortunate, she said.
The child Monona made her knees
and elbows stiff and danced up and
down. She must. she must participate.
aunt Lulu made three pies" she
screamed. and shook her straight hair.
"Gracious sakes," said Ninian. ~
brought her a pup. and If i didn't for
get to give II to her.
They adjourned to the porch-Nin-
ian. Ina. Monona. The puppy was
presented, and yawned. The party
kept on about "the place. Ina de-
Iightedly exhibited the tomatoes. the
two apple trees, the new shed, the
bird bath. Nlnian said the unspell-
able "nl-m." rising infection. and the
II see" prolonglng the verb as was ex-
pectcd of him. Ina said that they
meant TO build a summer house, only.
dear me, when you hdNc I" i"''' ~"
there. he didn't know anything about
that. Ina was using her eyes. she was
arch. she was coquettlsh, she was hir-
taticr~ end she believed herself
70 So merely matronly, sisteriy, WON
anly
She screamed. Dwight was Mt the
gate Now the meeting, exclamation,
benaIlty. guffaw good VIII.
And Lulu, peeping through the
blind .,oo,
when "tea" had been experienced
that evening. It was found that light
rain was falling and the Deacons ana
their guests, the Plows, were con
strained TO remain in the parlor Inc
plows were gentle. family iustrouS
foIk sketched into life rather lightly
as n they were, say, looking In from
some other Level.
"The only thing" said Dwisnl
Herbert, that rcconclIes me TO ram is
that I'm let of croquet." lie fo'ieu
his RS. favorite device OF ms TO ~,
duce humor. He called 1t "croque,,..
He had never been more irrepressip,e,
Tho advent of his brother was party
-....tio tho need to show himseli