The Jasper news., 1922-11-16

late, then In vogue In her group. And.
Whose dogr she shrieked.
Nlnian looked over his shoulder.
held out his hand, finished something
that he was saying to Lulu. Monona
came to him readily enough, staring,
loose-lipped.
I'll bet I'm your uncle" said Ninian.
Relationship being her highest
known form Of romance, Monona was
thrilled by this Intelligence.
"Glve us a kiss" said Nlnian, find-
Ing In the plural some Jague mitiga-
tion for some vague offense.
Monora, looking lilly, complied. And
her uncle said, my stars such a great
big tall girl-they would have to put
a board on her head.
whats thatT' inquired Monona.
She had spied his great diamond ring.
'This," said her uncle, was brought
to me by Santa Claus, who keeps a
Jewelry shop In heaven"
The precision and speed of his i'm
provisation revealed him. He had
twenty other diamonds like this one.
He kept them for those Sundays when
the sun comes up In the west. OF
course-ofteni Some day he was GO
Ing to melt a diamond and eat It. Then
you sparkled all over In the dark. ever
after. Another diamond he was going
to plant. They say He did It all
gravely, absorbedly. About It he was
as conscienceless as a savage. This
was no fancy spun to pleasure child.
This was like lying, for Its own sake.
He went on talking with Lulu, and
now again he was the tease, the brag-
CART, the unbridled, unmodlfled male.
Monona stood in the circle of his
arm. The. little being was attentive.
softened, subdued. Some pretty, faint
light visited her. In her listening look.
she showed herself a charming child.
1T strikes me-" said Ninian to Lulu,
that you're going to do something
mighty interesting before you de-"
1t was the clear conversational i'm
pulse, born Of the need to keep some.
thing going. but Lulu was all faith.
She closed the oven door on her pies
and stood brushing -four from her fin
gers. He was looking away from her,
and she looked at him. He was COM
pletely like his picture. She felt as
II she were looking at his picture and
she was abashed and turned away.
well, hope So" she said, which
had certainly never been true, for her
old formless dreams were no intention
nothing but a mush of discomfort.
Il hope l can do something that's nice
before quit" she oaId. Nor was this
hope now Independently true, but only
surprising longing to appear interest.
ing Ia his eyes. To dance before him.
what would the folks think of me,
going on so7" she suddenly said. Her
mild sense Of disloyalty was delicious.
So was his understanding glance.
You're the stuff" he remarked alb
sently.
She laughed happily.
The door opened. Ina appeared.
WELL" said Ina. 1t was her re-
hottest tone. She took this man to be
a peddler, beheld her child in his
clasp, made a quick forward step, chin
lifted. She had time for a very javelin
Of look at Lulu.
"HelloI" said Nlnlan. He had the
one formula. 81 believe Pm your hus-
bands brother. Amt this InaT"
II had not crossed the mind of Lulu
to present him.
Beautiful It was to see Ina relax,
soften, warm, transform, humanize. It
gave one hope for the whole species.
"Ninianf" ]" she cried. She lent a
faint impression Of the double to the
Initial vowel. She slurred the rest,
until the y sound squlnted In. Not
Neenyun, but nearly Eeenyun.
He kissed her.
"Slnce Dwight isn't here I" she cried
and shook her finger at him. Ina's
Of hostess-shIp was defl-
Mite: A yolley Of Questions-was his
train on timer He had found the
house all rlghtl or coursel Anyone
could direct him, she should hope. And
he hadn't seen Dwlght7 She must
telephone him. But then she arrested
herself with a sharp, curved fling of
ler starched skirts. mol They would
him at tea-she stood taut,
bps compressed. oh, the Plows were
coming to tea. How unfortunate, she
thought How fortunate. she said.
The child Monona made her knees
md elbows stlff ard danced up and
iown, She must, she must participate.
"Aunt Lulu mnde three pIesl" she !
screamed. and shook her straight hair. |
Gracious sakes," said Ninlan. 81
brought her pup. and II I didn't for. |
yet to give II TO her."
They adjourned to the porch-Nin- |
an, Ina, Monona. The puppy was
and yawned. The party |
Iept on about "the place. Ina de- |