The St. Johns herald., 1922-11-23
May.

Lulu was dusting the parlor. The parlor was rarely used, but every morning 1t was dusted. By Lulu.
 She dusted the black walnut center table which was of Ina's choosing, and looked like Ina, shining, complacent, abundantly curved. The leather rocker, too, looked like Ina, brown, plumply upholstered, tipping back bit. Real ly, the davenport looked like Ina, for it's chintz pattern seemed to bear de- Gign of lifted eyebrows and arch, re- proachful eyes.
 Lulu dusted the upright plano, and that was like Dwight-in a perpet- ual attitude of rearing back, with paws out, playful, but capable, too, of roar ing a ready bass.
 And the black firepIace-there was Mrs. Bett to the life. Colorlesss fire less, and with a dust of ashes.
 In the midst of all was Lulu herself reflected in the narrow pier glass, bodiless-loolzing in her blue gingham gown, but somehow alive-natural.
 This pier glass Lulu approached
 
 self but because of. the photograph on its low marble shelf. A large photo graph On a 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. It was, Ninian Deacon, Dwight's brother.
 Every day since his coming had been announced Lulu, dusting the par Tor, had seen the photograph looking at her with its eyes somehow new. Or were her own eyes new? She dusted this photograph with difference, lift ed, dusted, set it back, less as process than as an experience. As she dusted 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 it.
 She dusted the south window sill and saw Bobby Larlzin 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 divined that Di had deliberately disregarded the handy kitchen taps. Lulu dusted 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 im- agine herself sharing. =,
 The south windows were open. Airs of May bore the soft, talking,
 "Oh, Bobby, will you pump while I. hold thisY And again; "Now wait till rinse" And again: 'eYou needn't be so glum.'-the village salutatiO3 sig nifying kindly attention. >v
 Bobby now first spoke: Who's glumT he eountered, glOOmily.
 The iron of those days when she had laughed at him was deep within him, and this she now divined, and said ab- sently:
 'T used to think. you were pretty nice But I don't like you any more"
 "Yes, you used t0l" Bobby repeat ed derisively. "Is Sat 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. 'I had to-" she ad- mitted. "They were all teasing me about you"
 They were?" This was a new thought 10 him. Teasing her about him verp they? He strengthened.