The Jasper news., 1922-11-23

since the first mention of picnic, the
child Monona had been dancing stiffly
about the room, knees stiff, elbows
stiff, shoulders immovable, her straight
hair Tapping about her face. The sad
dance Of the child who cannot dance
because she never has danced. Di
gave a conservative assent-she was
at that age-and then took advantage
of the family softness incident to q
guest and demanded that Bobby go
too. Ina hesltated, partly because she
always hesitated, partly because she
was tribal in the extreme. "Just our
little family and Uncle Ninian would
have been so NICE" she sighed, with
her consent.
When, at six o'clock, ma and Dwight
and Ninian assembled on the porch
and Lulu came out with the basket, 1t
was seen that she was In a blue cot
ton house gown.
Look here" said Ninlan, "aren't
you going?"
"MeT said Lulu. "Oh, no."
"Why not?"
"Oh, haven't been to a picnic since
l can remember"
"But why not?"
"Oh, l never think Of such thing"
Ninian waited for the family to
speak. They did speak. Dwight said /:
'Lulu's a regular home body"
And Ina advanced kindly with:
"Come with us, Lulu, If you like"
"No," said Lulu, and flushed.
"Thank you," she added, formally.
Mrs. Belts voice shrilled from with
IN the house, startlingly close-just
beyond the window blind. in fact
"Go on, Lulie. It'll do you good.
You mind me and go on"
"Well," said Ninian, that's what I
say. You hustle for your hat and you
come along"
For the first time this course pre-
sented itself to Lulu as a possibility.
She stared up at Ninlan.
"You can slip on my linen duster,
over" Ina said graciously.
"Your new oneT Dwight incredu-
lousy wished to know.
"Oh, nor Ina laughed at the idea.
"The old one"
They were having to wait for Di In
any case-they always had to wait for
Dl-and at last, hardly believing In
make ready. Mrs. Belts hurried to
help her, but she took down the wrong
things and they we're both irritated.
Lulu reappeared In the linen duster
and a wide hat. There had been no
time to tighten up" her hair; she
was flushed at the adventure; she had
never looked so well.
They started. Lulu, falling In with
Monona, heard for the first time In
her life, the step of the pursuing male,
choosing to walk beside her and the
little girl. Oh, would Ina like thati
And what did Lulu care what Ina
liked? Monona, making a silly, SEMI
artlculate observation, was enchanted
to have Lulu burst into laughter and
squeeze her hand.
Di contributed her bright presence.
and Bobby Larkin appeared from no
where, running, with a gigantic bag
Of fruit.
"Bullylujah II he shouted, and Lulu
could have shouted with him.
She sought for some utterance.
II do hope we've brought sand
wiches enough" was all that she could
get to say.
They chose q spot, that Is to say,
Dwight Herbert chose q spot, across
the river and up the shore where
there was at that season a strip OF
warm beach. Dwight Herbert declared
himself the builder Of incompatible
fires, and made q bad smudge. Mn
ian, who was camper neither by birth
nor by adoption, kept offering bright.
ly to help. could think of nothing to
do, and presently. bethlnking himself
Of skipping stones, went and tried to
skip them on the flowing river. Ina
cut her hand opening the condensed
milk and was obliged to sit under d
tree and nurse the wound. Monons
spilled all the salt and sought dlllgent
ly to recover II. So Lulu did all the
work. As for Di and Bobby. they had
taken the pail and gone for water, dis
couraging her to the point Of tears
But the two were gone for so LONG
that, on their return. Dwight was hun
cry and cross and majestic.