The Holly chieftain., 1922-12-14

failed, as he saw the unsealed flap.
"You opened the letter." he inquired
incredulously. Fortunately he had no
climaxes Of furious calm for high
occasions. All had been used on small
occasions. You opened the letter.
came In tone of no deeper horror
than "You picked the flower"-Once
put to Lulu.
She said nothing. AS it is impossible
to continue looking Indignantly at
some one who is not looking at you.
Dwight turned to Ina, who was horror
and sympathy, nice half and half.
"Your sister has been opening my
mail" he said.
''But. Dwight, IL it's from Nlnian
at is my mail" he reminded her.
"She had asked me If she might open
1t. OF course told her no."
"Well," said Ina practically, "what
does he say?"
II shall open the letter In my own
time. My present concern is this dis
regard of my wishes. Why did you do
it,?
Lulu smiled family and shook her
head.
Dwight" said Ina, reasonably,
"she knows what's in it and we don't.
Hurry up"
"She is" said Dwight, after a
pause. "an ungrateful woman"
He opened the letter, saw the clip
ping, the avowal, with its facts.
"A-ha!'' said he. $50 after having
been absent with my brother for q
month, you find that you were not
married to him.
Lulu spoke her exceeding triumph.
"You see, Dwight" she said, "he
told the truth. He had another wife.
He didn't just leave me-"
Dwight instantly cried: "But this
seems to me to make you considerably
worse off than IL he had"
"Ol. no." Lulu said serenely. mo.
Why" she said, "you know how it all
came about. He-he was used to
thinking Of his wife as dead. II he
hadn't-hadn't liked me. he wouldn't
hufC lVlu luC. 1Ou SEc liut, uod
your"
Dwight laughed. "That your apollo
gy" he asked.
She said nothing.
Look here, Lulu" he went on, "this
Is bad business. The less you say
about it the better, for all our sakes
you see that, don't your
II want the people to know the
TRUTH" Lulu said.
"But it's nobody's business but oui
business! l take 1t you don't intend
to sue NinianY"
"Sue him? Oh mol"
"Then, for all our sakes. let's drop
the matter. Tell you, Lulu, hero
are three Of us. Our interests are tha
same in this thing-only Ninian is our
relative and he's nothing to you now.
Is he?
"Why, no." said Lulu in surprise.
every well. Let's have vote. Your
snap Judgment is to tell this disgrace
full fact broadcast. Mine is, least said,
soonest mended. What do you say,
Ina-consdering Di and all7"
"My poor. poor slster!' Ina said.
She struck together her little plump
hands. "Oh. Dwight-when think
Of 1t: What have / done-what have
we done that I should have good,
kind, loving husband--be so protected,
so loved, when other women. {.
Darling" she sobbed, and drew near
to Lulu. "You know how sorry am
we all are. :"
Lulu stood up. Her white shawl
slipped to the floor. Her hands were
stiffiy Joined.
"Then," she said, give me the only
thing I've got-that's my pride. My
pride-that he didn't want to get rid
Of me-"
They stared at her. "What about
my pride?" Dwight called to her, as
across great distances. ''Do you
think I want everybody to know my
brother did thing like thatf"
you can't help that" said Lulu.
But I want you to help 1t. want
you to promise me that you won't
shame us like this before all our
friends"
"You want me to promise what?"
II want you'll ask you," Dwight
said with an effort, "to promise me
that you will keep this. with us-a
family secret"
mol" Lulu cried. mo. I won't do
it won't do 1t! l won't do It'll"
1t was like some crude chant, know
ing only two tones. She threw out
her hands, her wrists long and dark on
her blue skirt.
Cant you understand anything"
she asked. I've lived here all my life
ON your money. I've not been
strong enough to work, they say
well, but I've been strong enough to
be a hired girl in your house-nnd
I've been glad to pay for my keep.
Well, then ] got little some