The Neshoba Democrat., 1922-10-26

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river?"
''But you're not so very used" ;,
Oh, wasn't her Who was 1t that
had lived in boat throughout youth,
If not he?
Ninian refused out-of-hand, lighted
cigar, and sat on 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
out of water. On this pleasure ride
the face of the wife was as the face
Of the damned. II was true that she
revered 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 whip above the back Of any horse,
and this woman would trust any other
woman's husband by preference. 1t
was phenomenon.
Lulu was making the work last. so
that She should be out of everybody's
" iiNh thC DO0t put Olk WltHOuI
Ninian, she felt a 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 ianguor 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 Df on n
preteXt of examining the fiocks 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withdrawn.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
fiuence. The air of the time communi-
Gated itself to Lulu as intense and
quiet happiness. She had not vet 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 deepening Of
his facile sympathy.
DO you know somethingr" he be-
gan. II think you have 1t pretty hard
around here"
'IT" Lulu was genuinely aston
ished.
'Yes, sir. Do you have to work
like this all the timer guess you
won't mind my asking"
well, l ought to work. have a
home with them. Mother, too"
"Yes, but glory! You ought to have
some kind Of a life Of your own. You
want 1t, too. You told me you did
that first day."
She was silent. Again he was In
vesting her with longing which she
had never really had, until he had
planted that longing. She had wanted
she knew not what. Now she accept
ed the dim, the romantic interest Of
this role.
II guess you don't see how Il
seems" he said, "to me, coming along
Ia stranger so. don't like It."
He frowned, regarded the river,
fiicked away ashes, his diamond obedi-
emily shining. Lulu's look, her head
dropping, had the liquid air Of the
look of young girl. For the first
time in her life she was feeling her
helplessness. 1t intoxicated her.
They're very good to me-" she said.
He turned. ''Do you know why You
think that? Because you've never had
anybody really good to you. That's
why"
"But they treat me good"
They make slave Of you. Regu-
lar slave" He puffed, frowning.
"D-d shame, call it." he said.
Her loyalty stirred Lulu. "We have
our whole living"
"And you earn 1t. been watching
you since been here. Don't You ever
go anywheres?"
She said: 'This ID the first placa
in-in years."
Lord! Don't you want TOT OF
course you DOR
"Not so much places like this" N
Il see. What You want Is to get
away--like you'd ought to-" He re-
garded her. you've been. a blamed
fne-loolSing woman" he said.
She did not flush, but the faint. nm.
suspected Lulu spoke for her:
"You must have been a good-look-
Ing man once yourself"
His laugh went ringing across the
water. You're pretty good" he said.
He regarded her approvingly. "I don't
see how you do it," he unused. ''blamed
! If ! do"
How | do whatf"
why come back, quick like that.
with what you say"
Lulu's heart was beating painfully
The effort to hold her own In talk like
this was terrifying. She had never
talked in this fashion to anyone. II was
as If some matter Of life or deati,
hung on her. ability to speak an alien
tongue. And yet. when she was most
at loss that other Lulu, whom she
had never known anything about.
seemed suddenly to speak for her. AZ
now. ki4