The Glenwood post., 1922-10-05
SYNOPSIS
By
Zona Gale

1-APRH-General factotum in the
house of her sister Ina, wife of Herbert
Deacon, in the small town of Warbleton
Lulu Bett leads a dull, cramped existence,
with which she is constantly at enmity.
though apparently satisfied with her lot.
She has natural thoughts and aspirations
which neither her sister nor her brother
ln-law seemingly can comprehend. To Mr..
Deacon comes Bobby Larkin. recently
graduated high-school youth, secretly
enamored of Deacons elder daughter,
Diana. an applicant for a lob" around
the Deacon house. He is engaged, his
occupation to be to keep the lawn in trim.
The family is excited over the news of al
approaching visit from Deacon's brother
Ninian, whom he had not seen for many
years Deacon jokes with Lulu. with
subtle meaning. concerning the coming
meeting.
H-MAY.-Chiefly because of the ripple
In her placid. colorless existence which
the arrival of Ninian will bring. Lulu is
Interested and speculative. meanwhile
watching with something like envy the
boy-and-girl love-maiing of Bobby and
Diana. Unexpectedly. Nnian arrives. III
the absence of Herbert, at his business
and of Ina. resting. Thus he becomes
acquainted with Lulu first and in a meas
ure understands her position in the house
To Lulu. Ninian is much-traveled man
of the world and even the slight interest
which he takes in her is appreciated be-
-ause it is something new in her life.
III-JUNBA-At an outing which the
family takes. Ninian and Lulu become in
a measure confidential He expresses his
disapproval of her treatment as a sort
of dependent in the Deacon home. Lulu
has vaguely had the same thoughts. but
kar l.ayHN al ha, stG.VA Ia
diffidence make Ninian's comments en-
barrassing. He declares his intention of
giving the family good time" in the
city before he leaves. Diana and Bobby,
In the course OF soft nothings." dis uss
the possibility of eloping and Surprising
the whole school," Lulu despite herself,
has awakened to pleasant possibilities
concerning Ninian's intentions toward
herself, the more so because hitherto she
has been practical nonent,ty in the
household, having little to do with its
simple social functions. The fact that
Ninian had walkcd home with her causes
all sorts of speculatons to disturb. her
slumbers that night
Iv-JULY.-Ninian redeems his promise
of "good time" and dinner in the ada
cent city. with the attentions shown her
by her brother-in-law, is delight to
converse ton langushe1 and Herbert
ban.erinsly suggests reading the funeral
service MS a rebuke for the dullness, Min
ian apparently jokingly urges the substi-
tuition of the wedding service, himself and
Lulu participating. As part of the joke
Lulu repeats the words of the civil cere
nony. with Ninian. The laughter subsid
ing. Herbert remembers that civil we'd
ding is binding in the state. and inasmuch
ha ie srfe Nf,ia nd nj
are legally welded. The rest of the party
Is shocked. but Ninian declares he is per
fectly satisfied Lulu is dumfounded but
secretly happy. she and Ninan depart
at once for their honeymoon. without re-
turning to Warbleton. The Deacons lose
no time spreading the news in the home
town, though the services of Lulu are
sadly missed in the household.
V-AUGUST-Lulu's marriage. now an
event of month ago. still is subject
of conversation in the Deacon family, Ina
feeling that there is something vaguely
disquieting in her sisters letters Abrupt
ly Lulu returns to her foruef home
without Ninian. and with the appalling
news that he had a wife living Chough
he declares he believed her dead when
he and Lulu went through the wedding
ceremony at that -theater supper
With little feeling for Lulu's unhappy po-
siton the Doa ons think only of the dis
grace to the family Reluctantly Herbert
agrees to write to Niran. insisting on the
whole truth, and Lulu takes up her old
position. Herbert is inclined to blame
Lulu for he part in the PROCEEDINGS. and
Ina defends her feebly Billing and 90
ing between Bobby Iarliin and Diana
goes merrily on, though neither Diana's
father nor her stepmother appear to no
tice anything out of the ordinary