Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1922-08-31
April.

The DeacOns were az supper. In
the middle of the table was a small,
appealing tulip plant, looking as any.
thing would look whose sun was a
gas Jet. This gas jet was high above
thertable and flared with a sound
Better turn down the gas jest a
little Mr.. Deacon said, and stretched
up 10 do SO. He made this joke almost
every night. lie seldom spoke as
man speaks who has something 10 say
but as man who makes something
10 say.
'Well, what have we on the festive
board tonight?' he questioned, cycling
it, FESTIVE" was his favorite adjec-
tive. Beautiful" too. In October he
might be heard asking: where's my
beautiful fall coat?'
"We have creamed salmon" replied
Mrs. Deacon gently. ION toast" she
added, with scrupulous regard for
the whole truth. Why she should say
this so gently no one can tell. She
says everything gently. Her "COuld
you leave me another bottle of milk
this morning?' would wiring milk
mans heart.
well, now, let us See" said Mr.
Deacon, and attacked the principal
dish benignly. "Let us scc,' he added
as he served.
81 don't want any" said Monona.
The child Monona was seated upon
book and cushion. so that her
little triangle of nose rose adultly
above her plate. Her remark pro
duced precisely the effect for which
she had passlonately hoped.
whats this?' cried Mr.. Deacon
"No salmonY
"No," said Monona, infected up,
chin pertly pointed. She felt he's
power, discarded her "sir"
"Oh now, Pet" from Mrs. Deacon
on three notes. you liked it before"
81 don't want any" said Monona, in
precisely her original tone.
"Just little? \ very little?" Mr.
Deacon persuaded, spoon dripping
The child Monona made her lips thin
and straight and shook her head until
her straight hair tapped in her eyes
on either side Mr.. Deacon's eyes anx
iously consulted his wife's eyes. What
is this? Their progeny Will not cat
What can be supplied?
"SOme bread and milk :" cried Mrs
Deacon brightly, exploding on bread
one wondered how she thought of it
mo" said Monona, infection mp
chin the same She was affecting in
III - I'm, fgh
soul delighted. She twisted her head
bit her lips unconcernedly, and turned
her eyes 20 the remote.
There emerged from the fringe Of
things, where she perpetuaily lowered
Mrs Deacon's older sister, Lulu Bott
who was making her home with US"
And that was precisely the case. They
were not making her home, good.
ness knows. Lulu was the family
beast Of burden.
Cant | make her little milk
toast?" she asked Mrs. Deacon.
Mrs. Deacon hesitated not with
conjunction AT accepting Lulu's offer
not automatically TO lure MonOna
But she hesitated habitually, by ma
ture. as another is by nature vivacious
or brunette.
"Yes! shouted the child Monona.
The tension relaxed. Mrs Deacon
assented Lulu went to the kitchen
Mr. Deacon served on Something OF
this scene was enacted every day. FoI
Monona the drama never lost it's zest
1t never occurred TO the others to let
her sit without eating, once, as cure
all. The Deacons were devoted par
ents and the child Mon0na was deli
cate. She had a white, grave face,
white hair, white eyebrows, white
iashes. She was sullen, anemc. They
let her wear rings. She "toed in"
The poor child was the late birth of
n late marriage and the principal joy
which she had provided for them thus
far was the pleased reflection that
they had produced her at all.
"Where's your mother, InaT Mr.
Deacon inquired Isn't she coming
to her supperT'
"Tantrim," said Mrs. Deacon softly
ooh, no." said he, and said no more.
The temper of Mrs. Bett who also
lived with them, had days of high vi
brotion when she absented herself
from the table as kind Of self
indulgence. and no one could persuade
her 10 food. "Tantrims,' they called
these occasions.
Baked potatoes" said Mr.. Deacon.
"That's good-that's good. The baked
potato contains more nourishment
than potatoes prepared in any other
way. The nourishment is next to the
skin. Roasting retains it,
That's what ] always Think" said
his wife pleasantly.
For fifteen years they had agreed
about this.
They ate, In the indecent silence of
first savoring food. A delicate crunch
ing Of crusts, an odor of baked-potato
shells. the slip and touch Of the
silver.
"Num, mum, nummy-num sang the
child Monona loudly, and was hushed
nv both parents in simultaneous excla
nation which rivaled this lyric out
hurst. They were alone at table. Di
daughter of wife early lost to Mr.