Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1922-09-21

wanted 10 talk with Nlnlan.
II do hope we've brought sand
witches enough" was all that she could
get 10 say.
They chose n spot, that Is TO say,
Dwight Herbert chose n spot, across
the river and up the shore where
there was at that season strip Of
warm beach Dwight Herbert declared
himself the builder OF Incompatible
fires, and made a bad smudge. Mn
ian who was a camper neither by birth
nor by adoption, kept Offering bright
ly to help, could think of nothing 10
do, and presently, bethinking himself
OF skipping stones went and tried to
skip them on the flowing river. Ina
cut her hand opening the condensed
milk and was obliged 10 sit under n
tree and nurse the wound. Monona
spilled all the salt and sought diligent-
ly To recover il. SO Lulu did all the
work. AS for Di and Bobby, they had
taken the pail and gone for water, dis
couraging her TO the point of tears
But the two were gone for SO long
CRY and cross and majestic.
Those who disregard the comfort Of
other people," he cnunciated, cannot
expect consideration for themselves in
the future"
He did not say on what ethical tenet
this dictum was based, but he deliv-
cred ii with extreme authority. Ina
caught her lower lip with her teeth,
dipped her head and looked at Di. And
Monona laughed like a little demon
AS soon as Lulu had all in readiness,
and cold corned beef and salad had be-
gun their orderly progression, Dwight
became the immemorial dweler in
green Businesses. He began:
"This is ideal. tell you, people
don't half know life if they don't get
out and eat in the open. It's better
than any tonic at a dollar the bottle.
Natures tonic--eh? Free as the air.
Look at that sky. See that water.
Could anything be more pleasantT
He smiled at his wife. This mans
face was glowing with simple pleasure.
He loved the out-ofdoors with a love
which could not explain itself. But he
now lost a definite climax when his
wife's comment was heard to be:
"Mononal Now it's all over both
rufles And mamma does try so
hard.
After supper some boys arrived with
a boat which they beached, and
Dwight, with enthusiasm, gave the
boys ten cents for a half hours use Of
that boat and invited to the waters his
wife, his brother and his younger
daughter. Ina was timld-not be-
cause she was afraid. but because she
was congenitally timid-with her this
was not a belief or an emotion, It was
a disease.
Dwight, darling, are you sure
there's no dangerT
"Why, none. None in the world.
Whoever heard of drowning in a
river?"
but you're not so very used" :,
Oh, wasn't he? Who was 1t that
had lived in boat throughout youth,
If not he?
Ninian refused out-of-hand, lighted
q cigar, and sat on a log in a perma-
nent fashion. Ina's plump figure was
fitted in the stern, the child Monona
affixed, and the boat put off, bow well
ont OF water. On this pleasure ride
the face Of the wife was as the face
of the damned. 1t was true that she
reyered her husbands opinions above
those Of all other men. In politics.
in science in religion, in dentistry, she
looked up TO his dicta as TO revelation.
And was he not magistrate? But let
him take oars In hand, or shake lines
or a whip above the back Of any horse,
and this woman would trust any other
woman's husband by preference. 1t
was a phenomenon.
Lulu was making the work last, so
that she should be out Of everybody's
way. When the boat put off without
Ninian, she felt kind OF terror and
wished that he had gone He had
sat down near her, and she pretended
not TO see. At last Lulu understood
that Ninian was deliberately choosing
to remain with her. The languor Of
his bulk after the evening meal made
no explanation for Lulu. She asked
for no explanation. He had stayed.
And they were alone. For Di, on a
pretext Of examining the focks and
herds was leading Bobby away to the
pastures, little at time.
The sun, now fallen, had left an
even, waxen sky. Leaves and ferns
appeared drenched with the light just
withdrawn. The hush. the warmth
the color, were charged with some in
luence. The air of the time communi.
Gated itself to Lulu as intense and
quiet happiness. She had not yet felt
quiet with Ninian. For the first time
| her blind excitement in his presence
ceased, and she felt curiously accus
toned TO him. To him the air Of the
time impaired itself in a deepening OF
his facile sympathy.
"Do you know something's he be
gan. II think you have II pretty harC
around here"
"I?' Lulu was genuinely aston
| ished.
Eyes, sir. Do you have to worl
| like this all the timer / guess you