Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1922-09-07


In some manner contriycd for him by
forces Of his own with which he
seemed 10 be cooperating without his
conscious will. Continually he glanced
toward the house.
These chances Lulu saw. She was
woman of thirty-four and III and
Bobby were eighteen. but Lulu felt for
them no adult Indulgence, she felt
that sweetness of attention which we
bestow upon May robins. She felt
more.
She cut n fresh cake, filed plate
called TO hi, saying Take some out
TO that Bobby Larkin, why don't you?"
1t was Lulu's way of participating
II was her vicarlous thrill
After supper Dwight and Ina took
their books and departed to the Chau-
tauqua circle. To these meetings Lulu
never went. The reason seemed 10 be
that she never went anywhere.
When they were gone Lulu felt an
instant liberation. She turned aim
lessly to the garden and dug round
things with her finger. And she
thought about the brightness of that
Chautauqua scene to which Ina and
Dwight had gone Lulu thought about
such gatherings in somewhat the way
that n futurist receives the subjects
of his art-forms not vague, but
heightened to intolerable defniteness,
acute color and always motion-mo-
ton as an integral part Of the desir-
able. But q factor of all was that
Lulu herself was the participant, not
the onlooker The perfection of her
dream was not impaired by any long
ing. She had her dream as n saint her
sense Of heaven.
"Lulie!" her mother called. "You
come out of that damp"
She obeyed. as she had obeyed that
voice all her life. But she took one
last look down the dim street. She
had not known ii, but superimposed
on her Chautauqua thoughts had been
her faint hope that it would be to-
night, while she WAS in the garden
alone, that Ninian Deacon would ar
rive. And she had on her wool chally.
her coral beads her cameo pin
She went into the lighted dining
room. Monona was in bed. III was
not there. Mrs. Bett was in Dwight
Herbert's leather chair and she lolled
at her ease. 1t w9s strange TO see this
woman, usually so erect and tense.
now actually lolllng, as if lolling were
the positive, the vital, and her ordi-
nary rightly negation Of her. In
some corresponding orgy of leisure
and liberation, Lulu sat down with no
needle
"Inie ought to make over her de.
laine," Mrs. Bett comfortably began.
They talked of this, devised a mode
recalled other delaines. Dear, dear
said Mrs. Bett, Il had on delaine
when I met your father" She de.
scribed it. Both women talked freely
with animation. They were individuals
and alive. To the two pallid beings
accessory TO the Deacons' presence
Mrs. Bett and her daughter Lulu now
bore no relationship. They emerged
had opinions, contradicted, their eyes
Ntlt ViifhA.
Toward nine O'clock Mrs. Bett an.
nounced that she thought she should
have a lunch. This was debauchery
She brought in bread and butter. and
dish of cold canned peas. She was
committing all the excuses that she
knew-offering opinions, laughing, eat
ing II was to be seen that this won
an had an immense store Of vitality
perpetually submerged.
When she had eaten she grew sleepy
rather cross at the last and inclined
to hold up her sisters excellencies tC
Lulu; and. at Lulu's defense lifted ar
ancient weapon.
"what's the use OF finding fau,,
with Inie? Where'd you been IL shs
hadn't married?"
Lulu said nothing.
''What say?" Mrs. Bett demanded
shrilly. She was enjoying IL.
Lulu said no more. After Ions
| time:
you always was Jealous of Inie.'