The Neshoba Democrat., 1922-11-02
Nv

up" Mrs. Bett directed her at length.
Nv
July.
When, on a warm evening q fort.
night later, Lulu descended the stairs
dressed for her incredible trip TO the
city, she wore the white waist which
she had often thought they would
use for her IL she died. And really.
the waist hooked as If 1t had been
planned for the purpose, and It's wide,
outstanding plated lace at throat and
wrist made her neck look thinner. her
forearm sharp and veined. Her hair
she had "crimped', and parted in the
middle, puffed hight was so that
hair had been worn in Lulu's girlhood.
Well" said Ina, when she saw this
coiffure, and frankly examined 1t.
head well back, tongue meditatively
teasing at her lower lip.
For travel Lulu was again wearing
lna's linen duster-the old one.
Nfnian appeared, in a sack coat
and his diamond. His distinctly con-
vex face, it's thick, rosy flesh, thick
mouth and cleft chin gave Lulu once
more that bold sense of Iooking-not
at him, for then she was shy and
averted her eyes-but at his photo
graph at which she could gaze as
much as she would. She looked up
at him openly, fell in step beside him.
Was he not taking her to the city?
Ina and Dwight themselves were go
Ing because she, Lulu, had brought
about this party.
"Act as good as you look, Lulie,"
Mrs. Bett called after them. She gave
no instructions to Ina, who was mar
ried and able to shine In her conduct.
1t seemed.
Dwight was cross. On the way to
the station he might have been heard
to take it up again, whatever 1t was
and his Ina Enthusiastically said "Well
now, don't keep it going all the way
there; and turned back to the others
with some elaborate comment about
the dust, thus cutting off her so-called
lord from his legitimate retort. A
mean advantage.
The city was two hours distant, and
they were to spend the night. On the
train, in the double seat, Ninian be-
side her among the bags, Lulu sat In
the simple consciousness that the
people all knew that she too had been
chosen. A man and woman were
opposite, with their little boy between
them. Lulu felt this woman's supe-
riority of experience over her own,
and smiled at her from world of fell
lowship. But the woman lifted her
eyebrows and stared and turned away,
with slow and insolent winking.
Ninian had boyish pride in his
knowledge of places to eat in MANY
cities--as If he were leading certain
of the tribe to deer-run in strange
wood Ninian took his party to a
downtown cafe, then popular among
business and newspaper men. The
place was below the sidewalk, was
reached by dozen marble steps, and
the odor of its griddle-ca took the
air of the street Ninian made q
great show of selecting table,
changed once, called the waiter "my
man" and rubbed soft hands on "What
do You say? Shall 1t be lobsterr'
He ordered the dinner instructing the
waiter with painstaking gruffness.
Not that they can touch your cook
ing here, Miss Lulu" he said, settling
himcnlf n
crust.
Dwight, expanding bit in the aura
of the food, observed that Lulu was
a regular chef, that was what Lulu
was. He still would not look at his
wife, who now remarked:
Shelf, Dwightie. Not cheff."
This was a mean advantage, which
he pretended not to hear-another
mean advantage.
Ina,' said Lulu, "your hats Just a
little mite-no, over the other way
''Was there anything to prevent
your speaking of that before?r Ina
| inquired acidly.
| Il started to and then somebody
always said something" said Lulu
\ humbly.
Nothing could SO much ais cloud
Lnlu's hour. She was proof against
any shadow.
I Say but you look tremendous to-
night Dwight observed to her.
Understanding perfectly that this
was said to tease his wife, Lulu yet
/ flushed with pleasure. She saw two
women watching. and she thought:
They're feeling sorry for Ina no.
body talking to her." She laughed
at everything that the men said. She
passionately wanted to talk herself.
aHow many folks keep going past
size said, many times.
At length. having noted the details