Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1922-10-25

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about;"
Lulu looked at him with parted lips.
Say" she said, Il never thought
about 1t being that"
Dwight laughed. "what do you
think it was7 And whose disgrace
is it, pray?h
| Ninian's." said Lulu.
"Ninian'si Well, he's gone. But
you're here. And I'm here. FoIksn
feel sorry for you. But the disgrace
that'd reflect on me. Seer
but II we don't tell. what'n they
think then?"
Said Dwight: They'll think what
they always think when wife leaves
her husband. They'll think you
couldn't get along, That's ALL"
+, II should hate that" said Lulu.
WELL / should hate the other, let
me tell you"
Dwight. Dwight said Ina. Lets
go in the house. I'm afraid they'll
hear"
AS they rose, Mrs. Bett plucked at
her returned daughters sleeve.
"Lulie," she said, was his other
wife-was she thereT'
mo. no, mother. She wasn't
there"
Mrs. Belts lips moved, repeating
| the words ''Then that amt so bad"
she said. 81 was afraid maybe she
turned you out"
"No," Lulu said, at wasn't that bad,
mother"
Mrs. Bett frightened In little mat
ters. she quarreled and resented, but
the large issues left her blank.
Through some indeterminate sense
OF the Importance due this crisis, the
Deacons entered their parlor. Dwight
lighted that high. central burner and
faced about saying:
"In fact. / simply will not have it.
Lulu! You expect, I take ii. to make
your home with us in the future. on
the sid terms"
'svelI
II mean. did Ninian give you any
money!"
No. He didn't give me any money
only enough to get home on. And I
kept my suit--why,r she flung her
head back. II wouIn't have taken any
money!"
THAT means" said Dwight, shat
you will have to continue to live
here-on the old terms, and of course
I'm quite willing that you should. Let
me tell you. however. that this is on
conditi0n-on condition that this dis
graceful business is kept to our
selves"
She made no attempt to combat
him now She looked back at him,
quivering and in great surprise, but
she said nothing.
Truly, Lulu" said Ina, wouldn't
that be best? They'll talk anyway.
But this way they'll only talk about
you, and the other way It'd be about
all of u.s."
Lulu said only: "But the other way
would be the truth"
Dwight's eyes narrowed: 'Sfy dear
Lulu" he said, "are you sure of
that?"
"Sure?"
"Yes. Did he give you any proofsr
"Proofs?"
Letters--document of any sort9
Any sort of assurance that he was
speaking the truthT'
why. no." said Lulu. Proofs
NJ. He told me-"
"He told your"
why that was hard enough to
have to do. 1t was terrible for him
to have to do What proofs" She
stopped, puzzled.
"Didn't 1t occur to YOU said
Dwight, that he might have told you
that because he din't want to have
to go on with TT"
AS she met his look some power
seemed TO go from Lulu. She sat
down, looked weakly at them, and with
In her closed lips her jaw was slightly
fallen. She said nothing. And see
ing on her skirt a spot of dust she
began to rub at that.
"Why, Dwight I" Ina cried, and
moved to her sisters side.
1T may as well tell you," he said,
that myself have no idea that Min
ian told you the truth. He was always
imagining things-you saw that.
know him pretty welI--have been
more or less in touch with him the
whole time. In short, / haven't the
least idea he was ever married be-
fore"
Lulu continued to rub at her skirt.
81 never thought Of that she said.
Look here. Dwight went on per-
suasively. hadn't you and he had some
little tiff when he told your"
"No--nol Why, not once. why, we
weren't bit like you and Ina"
She spoke simply and from her
heart and without guile.
Evidently not" Dwight said dryly.
Lulu went on: HE was very good
to me. This dress-and my shoes
and my hat. And another dress, too"
She found the pins and took OF her
hat. 'He liked the red wing" she
said. II wanted black-oh. Dwight
He did tell me the truth. It was as
IL the red wing had abruptly borne
mute witness.
Dwight's tone now mounted. His
manner. II mounted too.
Even II 1t Is true. said he. II de-
sire that you should keep silent and
protect my family from this scandal
merely mention my doubts to you