The Holly chieftain., 1922-09-07

brushed at her skirt. the veins Of her
long. wrinkled hands catching an in
tenser blue from the dark cloth. She
put her hair behind her ears.
1--WE put potato in the oven for
you said Ina. She had never learned
quite how to treat these periodic re-
fusals of her mother to eat, but she
never had ceased to resent them.
enc, thank you," said Mrs. Bett.
Evidently she rather enjoyed the sitn-
alton, creating for herself a spotlight
much in the manner of Monona.
Mother" said Lulu, "let me make
you some toast and tea"
Mrs. Bett turned her gentle, blood
less face toward her daughter, and
her eyes warmed
''After little, maybe" she said. II
think I'll run over to see Grandma
Gates now" she added, and went
toward the door.
"Tell her" cried Dwight, "tell her
she's my best girl"
Grandma Gates was rheumatic
cripple who lived next door, and when
CNNi ihC lChCoHS VI DtllS WcTc
angry or hurt or wished to escape the
house for some reason, they stalked
over to Grandma Gates-in lieu of,
say, slamming door, These visits
radiated an almost daily friendliness
which lifted and tempered the old in
yalid's lot and life.
Di flashed out at the door again, on
some trivial permission.
"a good many Of mammals stitches
in that dress to keep Clean" Ina called
after
EARLY, darling, early!" her father
reminded her. A faint regurgltation
of his was somehow invested with the
paternal
whats thisf" cried Dwight Her
bert Deacon abruptly.
On the clock shelf lay letter.
"Oh, Dwight" Ina was all compunc.
tion. ut came this morning. / for
got"
81 forgot 1t too! And 1 laid II up
there" Lulu was eager for her share
of the blame.
isn't it understood that my mall
can't wait like this?"
Dwight's sense of importance was
now being fed in gulps.
II know. I'm awfully sorry" Lulu
said, "but you hardly ever get let
ter"
This might have made things worse,
but it provided Dwight with greater
Importance.
"Of course, pressing matter goes to
my Office" he admitted it. "Still. my
mail should have more careful"
He read. frowning. He replaced the
letter, and they hung upon his mo-
tions as he tapped the envelope and
regarded them.
"Ncwr' said he. "What do you
think have to tell you?"
Something nice,' Ina was sure.
Something surprising" Dwight said
portentiously.
"But, Dwight-is it nice?' from his
Ina.
''That depends. 2 like 1t. SOIL
Lulu" He leered at her. "Its COM
pany."
"Oh, Dwight" said Ina. "Who?"
"From Oregon" he said, toying with
his suspense.
"Your brotherw cried Ina. as he
coming?"
"Yes. Ninian's coming, so he says"
"Ninian!" !" cried Ina again. She was
excited, round-eyed, her moist lips
parted. Dwight's brother Ninian. How
long was 1t? Nineteen years. South
America. Central America, Mexico,
Panama "and ALL" When was he
coming and what was he coming for?
ITO see me-" said Dwight. ITO meet
you. Some day next week. He don't
know what charmer Lulu is, or he'd
come quicker"
Lulu flushed terribly. Not from the
implication. But from the knowledge
that she was not charmer.
The clock struck. The child Mo
mona uttered cutting shrek. Her.
bert's eyes flew not only to the child
but to his wife. What was this, was
their progeny hurt?
BEDTIME" his wife elucidated, and
added: Lulu, will you take her to
bed? I'm pretty tired"
Lulu rose and took Monona by the
hand, the child hanging back and
shaking her straight hair in an un-
convincing negative.
AS they crossed the room, Dwight
Herbert Deacon, strOlling about and
swapping his fingers. halted and cried
out sharply:
Lulu. One moment!"
He approached her. A finger was ex-
tended, his lips were parted, on his
forehead was frown.
"YOu picked the flower on the
plant?" he asked. incredulously.
Lulu made no reply. But the child
Monona felt herself lifted and borne to
the stairway and the door was shut
with violence. On the dark stairway
Lulu's arms closed about her In an
embrace which left her breathIess and
And yet Lulu was not