The Holly chieftain., 1922-09-14
II
May.


Lulu was dusting the parlor.- The
parlor was rarely used, but every
morning 1t was busted. BY Lulu.
She busted the black walnut center
table which was of Ina's choosing, and
looked like Ina, shining, complacent,
abundantiy curved. The leather rocker,
too.- looked like Ina, brown, plumply
upholstered, tipping back bit. Real
iy. the davenport looked like Ina, for
its chintz pattern seemed to bear de-
sign of lifted eyebrows and arch, re-
proachful eyes.
Lulu busted the upright piano, and
that was like Dwight-in perpet-
ual attitude of rearing back, with paws
out, playful, but capable, too, of roar
ing ready bass.
And the black firepIace-there was
Mrs. Bett to the life. Colorless. fire.
less. and with dust of ashes.
In the midst of all was Lulu herself
reflected in the narrow pier glass,
bodiless-loOking in her blue glngham
gown. but somehow alive-natural.
This pier glass Lulu approached
with expectation. not because Of her.
self but because of the photograph on
Its low marble shelf. A large photo
graph on little shelf-easel. A photo
graph OF a man with evident eyes, evil
dent lips, evident cheeks-and each of
the six were rounded and convex You
could construct the rest of him. Down
there under the glass you could imagine
him extending, rounded and convex,
with plump hands and curly thumbs
and snug clothes. 1t was Ninian
Deacon, Dwight's brother.
Every day since his coming had
been announced Lulu, busting the par
lor. had seen the photograph looking
at her with its eyes somehow new. Or
were her own eyes new? She busted
this photograph with difference, lift
ed, busted, set 1t back, less as process
than as an experience. AS she busted
the mirror and saw his trim SEM
blance over against her own bodiless
reflection, she hurried away. But the
eyes Of the picture followed her, and
she liked 1t.
She busted the south window sill
and saw Bobby Larkin come round the
house and go to the woodshed for the
lawn mower. She heard the smooth
blur Of the cutter. Not six times had
Bobby traversed the lawn when Lulu
saw Di emerge from the house. Di
had been caring for her canary and
she carried her bird bath and went to
the well, and Lulu OWNED that Di had
deliberately disregarded the handy
kitchen taps. Lulu busted the south
window and watched, and in her
watching was no quality OF spying or
of criticism. Rather, she looked out
on something in which she had never
shared, could not by any chance i'm
agine herself sharing.
The south windows were open. Airs
OF May bore the soft talking
"Oh, Bobby, will you pump while I
hold this?" And again: "Now wait
till I rinse" And again: aYou needn't
be so glum'-the village salutation sig
nffying kindly attention.
Bobby now first spoke: "Whos
glum?" he countered, gloOmily.
The iron Of those days when she had
laughed at him was deep within him,
and this she row divined and said alb
sently:
II used to think you were pretty
nice But 1 don't like you any more"
"Yes, you used to!" Bobby repeat
ed derisively. ''Is that why you made
fun OF me all the timer
At this Di colored and tapped her
foot on the well-curb. He seemed to
have her now, and enjoyed his tri-
umph. But Di looked up at him shyly
and looked down. II had to-" she ad-
mitted. "They were all teasing me
about you"
''They were?" This was a new
thought to him. Teasing her about
him, were they? He Strengthened.
-Huh!" he said. in magnificent eva
sion.
II had to make them stop, so /
teased you. II never wanted to-"
Again the upward look.
"Well!" Bobby stared at her. "I
never thought 1t was anything like
that"
"Of course you didn't" She tossed
back her bright hair met his eyes full.
"And you never came where could
tell you. wanted to tell you"
She ran into the house.
Lulu lowered her eyes. 1t was as
II she had witnessed the exercise Of