Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-08-22
April.


appealing tulip plant, looking as any
thing would look whose sun was a
gas jet. This gas 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 q man who makes something
to say.
'"Well, what have we on the festive
board tonight?" he questioned, eyeing
1t. Festive was his fayorite adjec-
tive. Beautiful" too. In October he
might be heard asking: where's my
beautiful fall coat?"
ave have creamed salmon" replied
Mrs. Deacon gently. "On 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 milk
mans heart.
"Wen, now, let US see" said Mr..
Deacon, and attacked the principal
dish benignly. "Let us see," he added,
as he served.
""I don't want any," said Monona.
The child Monona was seated upon
O book and q cushion, so that her
little triangle Of nose rose adulty
above her plate. Her remark pro-
duced precisely the effect for which
she had passionately hoped.
'What's this" cried Mr.. Deacon
mo salmon?"
mo-" said Monona, infected up,
chin pertly pointed. She felt hei
power, discarded her Sir
"Oh now, Pet!" from Mrs. Deacon:
on three notes. "You liked it before"
ST don't want any, said Monona, in
precisely her original tone.
N"Just little? A very hitler. 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 this? Their progeny will not eati
What can be supplied?
"Some bread and milk" cried Mrs
Deacon brightly, exploding on dread"
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 lowered
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 home, good
ness knows. Lulu was the family
beast of burden.
Cant l make her little mili
toaSt?" she asked Mrs. Deacon.
Mrs. Deacon hesitpted, not with
compunction at accepting Lulu's offer
not automatically to lure Monona
But she hesitated habitually, by ma
ture. as another is by nature vivacious
or brunette.
"Yesw shouted the child Monona.
The tension relaxed Mrs. Deacon
assented Lulu went to the kitchen
Mr.. Deacon served on. Something o.
this scene was enacted every day. Fol
Monona the drama never lost its zest
1t never occurred to the others to let
her sit without eating, once, as 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, ancmic. They
let her wear rings. She "toed in
The poor child was the late birth OF
q late marriage and the principal JOY
which she had provided for them thus
far was the pleased reflection that
they had produced her at all.
"Where's your mother, Ina" Mr.
Deacon inquired. isn't she coming
to her supper?"
'oTuntrim," said Mrs. Deacon softly
"Oh, 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 herselt
from the table as q kind of self
indulgence, and no one could persuade
her to food "Tantrims," they called
these occasions.
"Bakcd potatoes" said Mr.. Deacon
That's gOod-that'S good. The bakeC
potato contains more nourishmen
than potatoes prepared in any othe
way. The nouriShment is next to th'
skin. Roasting retains it."
"rhai's what l always think" saiC
his wife pleasantly.
For fifteen years they had agrcG'
about this.
They ate, III the indecent silence O
first SavOring food. \ delicate crunch
Ing of crusts, an odor of baked-potatt
shells. the slip and touch of thC
silver.
NUN, NUN, numny-num" sang tht
child MOnOna loudly. and was bushet