The Holly chieftain., 1922-11-09

| "How the dickens did you think Of
pianos for line?" Dwight asked him
once Now, my father was a dentist,
so came by 1t natural-never entered
my head to be anything else. But pi.
amos
| The music man-hls name was NeD
Cornish-threw up his chin in boy.
ish fashion, and said he'd be jggeret
If he knew. All up and down the War
bleton main street, the chances are
that the answer would sound the
same. 'I'm studying law when l get
the chance" said Cornish, as one who
makes bid to be thought of more
highly.
II see." said Dwight, respectfully
dwelling on the verb.
Later on, Cornish cOnfided more to
Dwight: He was to come by little
Inheritance some day-not much, but
certain confidence.
Don't it?" said Dwight, heartily. as
II he knew.
Every one liked Cornish. He told
funny stories. and he never compared
WarbletOn save to Its advantage. So
at last Dwight said tentatively at
lunch:
what If l brought that Nell Cor
nlsh up for supper one of these
nights?"
"Oh. Dwightie. do" said Ina. "If
there's a man In town, let's know it."
what If brought him up tonight?"
Up went Ina's eyebrows. Tonight
"'Scalloped potatoes and meat loaf
and sauce and bread and butter"
Lulu contributed.
Cornish came to supper. He was
what is known In Warbleton as dap
per. This Ina saw as she emerged on
the veranda In response to Dwight's
informal halloo on his way upstairs.
She herself was In white muslin, now
much too snug, and blue ribbon. To
her greeting their guest replied In that
engaging shyness which Is not awk-
wardness. He moved In some pleasant
web of gentleness and friendliness.
They asked him the usual questions,
and he replied, rocking all the time
with faint undulating motion Of
head and shoulders: WarbletOn was
one of the prettiest little towns that
he had ever seen. He liked the people
they seemed different. He was sure
to like the place, already liked it.
Lulu came to the door in NInian's
thin black-andwhite gown. She shook
hands with the stranger, not looking
at him. and said "Come to supper,
ALL" Monona was already In her place,
singing under-breath. Mrs Bett after
lowering in the kitchen door, entered;
but they forgot to introduce her.
where's DIP asked Ina. 'I declare
that daughter of mine Is never any
where"
A brief silence ensued as they were
seated. There being guest, grace was
to come, and Dwight said, unintelligi-
bly, and like lightning, generic ap-
peal to bless this food, forgive all our
sins and finally save us. And there
was something tremendous In this
ancient form whereby all stages Of
men bow In some now unrecognized
recognition of the ceremonial OF TAX
Ing food to nourish life-and more.
At "Amen" DI flashed In, her Of
fees at the mirror fresh upon her
perfect hair silk dress turned up at
the hem. She met Cornish, crimsoned,
fluttered to her seat, Joggled the sable
and, ooh, dear" she said audbly to
her mother, II forgot my ring"
The talk was saved alive by frank
effort. Dwight served making jests
about everybody coming back for
more. They went on with Warbleton
happenings, improvements and open
ings; and the runaway. Cornish tried
hard to make himself agreeable, not
ingratiatingy. but good-naturedly. He
wished profoundly that before coming
he had looked up. some more stories
In the back of the Musical Gazcttes.
Lulu surreptltiously pinched off an
ant that was running at large upon
the cloth and thereafter kept her eyes
steadfastly on the sugar bowl to see If
1t could be from that. Dwight pre-
tended that those whom he was help
Ing a second time were getting more
than their share and facetiously land
ed on Di about eating so much that
she would grow up and be married,
first thing she knew. At the word
married" Di turned scarlet. laughed
heartily and lifted her glass Of water.
"And what instruments do you
play?" Ina asked Cornish, In an un
related effort to lift the talk to mu-
sical levels.
"Well, do you know" said the mu-
sic man, Il can't play thing. Don't
know u black note from white one"
you don't? Why Di plays very
prettily," said DIS mother. "But.
then, how can you tell what songs to
orderf" Ina cried.
tTO BE CONTINUED)
Japanese Paper.