Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-10-03

never take a clean one If I'm not here
to tell her.
She breathed injunctions to the very
step of the bus.
In the bus Dwight leaned forward:
"See that you play post Office
squarely, Lulu" he called, and threw
back his head and lifted his eyebrows.
In the train he turned tragic eyes to
his wife.
'Ina," he said. "Its ma. And she's
going to die. 1t can't be. :"
Ina said:' But you're going to help
her, Dwight, just being there with
her."
1t was true that the mere presence
|. Of the man would bring kind of fresh
life to that worn frame. Tact and
wisdom and love would speak through
him and minister.
Toward the end Of their weeks alb
sence the letter from Ninian came.
Lulu took il from the post Office
when she went for the mail that eve
ming, dressed in her dark red gown.
There vas no other letter, and she car
ried that one letter in her hand all
through the streets. She passed those
who were Surmising what her story
might be. who were telling one anOth-
er what they had heard. But she knew
hardly more than they. She passed
Cornish in the doorway of his little
music shop, and spoke with him; and
there was the letter. 1t was so that
Dwight's foster mothers postal card
might have looked on its way to be
mailed.
Cornish stepped down and overlook
her.
"Oh, Miss Lulu. I've got new song
or two"
She said ybstractedly: "Do. Any
night. Tomorrow nigft--eould you"
It was as If Lulu We're too pr2occupied
TO remember 10 he i'll at ease.
Cornish flushed with pleasure, said
that he could indeed.
"Come for supper" Lulu said.
Oh. could he? Wouldn't that be
=. Well, say! Such was his accept
ance.
He came for supper. And Di was
not at home. She had gone off in the
country with Jenny and Bobby, and
they merely did not return.
Mrs. Bett and Lulu and Cornish and
Monom supped alone All were at
ease, now that they were alone. Es-
pecially Mrs. Bett was at ease. 1t be-
came one Of her young nights, her
alive and lucid nights. She was there.
She sat in Dwight's chair and Lulu
sat in Ina's chair. Lulu had picked
flowers for the table-a task coveted
by her but usually performed by Ina.
Lulu had now picked Sweet William
and had filed vase Of silver gilt
taken from the parlor. Also, Lulu
had made ice cream.
81 don't see what Di can be think
ing Of" Lulu said. ut seems like ask
ing you under false" She was afraid
of "pretenseS" and ended without IT.
Cornish savored his steamins beef
pie, with sage. "Oh, WELL" he said,
cOntentedly.
"Kind of relief, l think TO have
her gone" said Mrs. Bett, from the
fullneSS Of something or other.
Mother" Lulu said, twisting her
smile.
"Why, my land, love her." Mrs.
Bett explained, "but she wiggles and
chitterS."
Cornish meyer made the slightest
effort, at any time, to keep straight
face. The honest fellow now laughed
/ loudly.
"Wenr Lulu thought. "He can't
be so very much in love-" And again
she thought: He doesn't know any
thing about the letter He thinks Mn
ian got tired of me-" Deep down in
her heart there abode her certainty
/ that this was not SO.
BY some etiquette of consent Mrs.
| Bett cleared the table and Lulu and
Cornish went into the parlOr There
lay the letter on the drOp-leaf side
table, among the shells. Lulu had car
ried it there, where she need not see
it mt her work. The letter looked no
more than the advertisement of dental
Office furniture beneath it. MonOna
stood indifferently lingering both.
"AIonona," Lulu said sharply, "leave
them be-"
Cornish was displaying his music.
Got up quite attractive" he said-it
was his formula of praise for his
music.
"But we can't try it over" Lulu
said, "lf hi doesn't come
"WeI, say, said Cornish shyly,
you know l left that Album of Old
FavoriteS here. Some Of them we
know by heart"
Lulu looked. "r'n tell you some
thing" she said; there's some OF
these can play with one hand-by
ear. Maybe"
"Why, sure" said Cornish.
Lulu sat at the piano. She had on
the wool chally, long sacred to the
nights when she must combine her
servants estate with the quality of be-
ing Ina's sister. She wore her coral
l,sl,.