The Holly chieftain., 1922-11-02
BY IONA GALE

dUOut anytnlnS, nor anytnlng TO any
body else about Auntie Lulu being
back. Under these prohibitions, which
loosed thousand speculations, Di
was very nearly paralyzed. She stared
at her Aunt Lulu necessarily.
Not one OF them had even q talent
for the casual, save Lulu herself.
Lulu was amazingly herself. She
took her old place. assumed her old
offices. When Monona declared
against bacon, 1t was Lulu who sug-
gested milk toast and went to make 1t.
Mamma" Di whispered then, like
escaping steam, isn't Uncle Ninlan
coming toO?"
Hush. No. Now don't ask any
more questions"
"Well, can't I tell Bobby and Jenny
she's here?"
"No. Don't say anything at all
about her"
But. mamma. What has she
done?"
'Di! Do as mamma tells you.
Don't you think mamma knows best2"
Di of course did not think so, had
not thought so for long time But
now Dwight said:
Daughter! Are you little girl
or are you our grown-up young lady"
II don't know" said Di reasonably,
'but l think you're treating me like a
little girl now"
SHANE, Di," said Ina, unabashed
by the accident of reason being on
the side of Di.
"I'm eighteen" Di reminded them
forlornly, "and through high school,"
"Then act so,' boombed her father.
Baffied. thwarted, bewildered, Di
went over to Jenny Plow's and there
impaired understanding by the simple
process of letting Jenny guess, to
questions skillfully shaped.
When Dwight said, Look at my
beautiful handkerchief" displayed a
hole, sent his Ina Tor better, Lulu,
with a manner of haste, addressed
him:
Dwight, it's a funny thing, but
haven't Ninian's Oregon address"
"Well?"
swell, wish you'd give 1t to me-"
Dwight frightened and lifted his lips.
ut would SEEM" he said, "that you
have no real use for that particular
address, Lulu"
Eyes. have. want 1t. You have
1t, haven't you, Dwight"
Certainly / have it."
wont you please write 1t down for
meT' She had ready bit of paper
and pencil stump.
"My dear Lulu, now why revive
anything? Why not be sensible and
leave this alone? No good can come
by"
But why shouldn't 1 have his ad-
dress?"
"If everything is over between you,
why should your"
"But you say he's still my hus-
band.''
Dwight flushed. "If my brother has
shown his inclination as plainly as /
Judge that he has, 1t is certainly not
my place to put you in touch with
him again"
"You won't give it to me?"
my dear Lulu, In all kindness
no."
His Ina came running back. bearing
handkerchiefs with different colored
borders for him to choose from. He
chose the initial that she had en-
broidered, and had not the good taste
not to kiss her.
They were all on the porch that
evening, when Lulu came downstairs.
"Where are you goingT Ina de-
nanded. sisterly. And on hearing that
Lulu had an errand, added still more
sisterly: well. but mercy, what you
SO dressed up for?"
Lulu was in thin black and white
gown which they had never seen, and
wore the fitting hat with the red
wing.
"Ninian bought me this" Lulu only
said
"But, Lulu, don't you think it might
be better to keep. well-out of sight
for few days?' Ina's lifted look
besought her.
"Why?" Lulu asked.
"Why set people wondering till we
have to?"
"They don't have to wonder, far as
I'm concerned" said Lulu, and went
down the walk.
Ina looked at Dwight. "She never
spoke to me like that in her life De-
fore,' she said.
She watched her sisters black and
white figure going directly down the
street.
"That gives me the funniest feel
ing" said Ina, "as If Lulu had on
clothes bought for her by some one
that wasn't--that was"
"By her husband who has left her."
said Dwight sadly.
"Is that what 1t is, papa?" Di asked
alertly. For wonder, she was there;
had been there the greater part of
the day--most of the time staring