The Neshoba Democrat., 1922-09-21


ieft their places to form sort On
ruff about the word.
Lulu flushed. and her eyes and their
very brows appealed.
1T was a. quarter" she said.
'Therell be five flowers"
you bought it?"
YES. There'll be five-thats a
nickel apiece"
His tone was as methodical as If he
had been talking about the bread.
Yet we give you home on the
supposition that you have no money
to spend, even for necessities"
His voice, without resonance, cleft
air, thought, spirit, and even flesh.
Mrs. Deacon, indeterminately feel.
ing her guilt in having let loose the
dogs of her husband upon Lulu, in.
terposed: "Well, but, Herbert-Lulu
isn't strong enough to work. What's
the use !. :"
She dwindled. For years the fiction
had been sustained that Lulu, the
family beast of burden, was not strong
enough to work anywhere else.
'The justice business" said Dwight
Herbert Deacon-he was justice Of
the peace-"and the dental profes-
sion" he was also a dentist-'do not
warrant the purchase of spring fow-
ers In my home"
'Well, but, Herbert" 1t was his
wife again.
mo MORE" he cried briefly, with a
slight bend Of his head. Lulu meant
no HARM" he added, and smiled at
Lulu,
There was a moments silence into
which Monona injected q loud "Num,
mum, nummy-num," as IL she were the
burden of an Elizabethan lyric She
seemed to close the incident. But the
burden was cut off untimely. There
was, her father reminded her porten-
tously, company in the parlor..
"When the bell rang, was so afraid
something had happened to Di," said
Ina, signing.
'Let's see" said DIS father where
is little daughter tonight?"
He must have known that she was
at Jenny Plow's at a tea party, for at
noon they had talked of nothing else
but this was his way. And Ina played
his game, always. She informed him,
dutifully.
"Oh, no." said he, absently. How
could he be expected to keep his mind
on these domestic trifies.
I'VE told you that this noon, said
Lulu. He frowned, disregarded her.
Lulu had no delicacy.
"How much is salmon the can now?'
he inquired abruptly-this was one of
his forms Of speech, the can, the
pound, the cord.
His partner supplied this informa-
tion with admirable promptness. Large
size. small size, present price, former
price-she had them all.
Dear me-" said Mr.. Deacon. 'That
is very nearly salmoney, isn't itf'
"Herbertv' his Ina admonished, in
gentle, gentle reproach. Mr.. Deacon
punned, organically. In talk he often
fell silent and then asked some ques-
ton, schemed to permit his voice to
flourish. Mrs. Deacon's return was
always automatic: HERBERT"
Whose Bert" he said to this. II
thought / was your Bert"
She shook her little head. "You are
q case" she told him. He beamed
upon her. It was his intention to be
q case.
Lulu ventured in upon this pleas
antry, and cleared her throat. She
was not hoarse, bat she was always
clearing her throat.
"The butter is about all gone" she
observed. "Shall wait for the butter
woman or get some creameryr'
Mr.. Deacon now felt his little jocu-
farity lost before wall of the matter
Of fact. He was not pleased. He saw
himself as the light Of his home,
bringer of brightness, lightener Of dull
hours. 1t was pretty role. He in
sisted upon 1t. 70 maintain 1t intact,
1t was necessary to turn upon their
sister with concentrated irritation.
Kindly settle these matters with
out bringing them to my attention at
mealtime." he said icily.
Lulu flushed and was silent. She
was an olive woman, once handsome,
now with fiat, blush shadows under
her wistful eyes. And IL only she
would look at her brother Herbert and
say something. But she looked at hel
plate.
II want some honey" shouted the
child, Monona.
"There isn't any, Pet" said Lulu.
II want some," said Monona, cycling
her stonily. But she found that feI
hair-ribbon could be pulled forward to
meet her lips, and she embarked on
the biting of an end. Lulu departed
for some sauce and cake. 1t was
apple sauce. Mr.. Deacon remarked
that the apples were almost as goot
as If he had stolen them. He was
giving the impression that he was ar
irrepressible fellow. He was eatins
very slowly. 1t added pleasantly to hi
sense Of Importance to feel that some
nra fharn In tho vla x.lar tkt,.