Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1922-11-15

Dy the kitchen clock to read over from
time to time, and before they left.
dwight lifted the griddle of the cook
lng-stove and burned the postal card.
And before they left Lulu said:
"Dwight--you can't tell how long
you'll be gomez"
"Of course not. How should | tell?"
mo. And that letter might come
while you're away"
"Conceivably. Letters do come while
a mans awayr
Dwight thought il you wouldn't
mind if I opened it,"
Opened it?"
/ Yes. You see, it'll be about me
mostly"
Il should have said that it'll be
about my brother mostly"
But you know what | mean You
wouldn't mind if did open it?"
But you say you know whatn be
in It."
$50 did know-tin you've got to
see that letter, Dwight"
"And so you SHALL But not till
show 1t to you. My dear Lulu, you
know how hate having my mail in
terfered with"
She might have said: "Snall souls
always make point of that" She
said nothing. She watched them set
off, and kept her mind on Ina's thou
sand injunctions.
Don't let Di see much of Bobby
Larkin. And, Lulu--if 1t occurs to her
to have Mr.. Cornish come up to sing
of course you ask him. You might
ask him to supper. And don't let moth
er overdo. And, Lulu, now do watch
Monona's handkerchief-the child will
never take a clean one If I'm not here
to tell her. :"
She breathed inJunctions to the very
step of the bus
In the bus Dwight leaned forward:
"See that you play post Office
squareIy, LuluT he called and threw
back his head and lifted his eyebrows
In the train he turned tragic eyes to
his wife.
ina" he said Its ma And she's
going to die. 1t can't be. :"
Ina said: "But you're going to help
her, Dwight, just being there with
her."
1t was true that the mere presence
of the man would bring kind of fresh
life to that worn frame. Tact and
wisdom and love would speak through
him and minister.
Toward the end of their weeks abb
sence the letter from Ninian came
Lulu took it from the post office
when she went for the mail that eve
ming, dressed in her dark red gown.
There was no other letter, and she car
ried that one letter in her hand all
through the streets. She passed those
who were surrnising what her story
might be, who were telling one anoth-
er what they had heard. But she knew
hardly more than they. She passed
Cornish in the doorway of his little
music shop, and spoke with him; and
there was the letter. 1t was so that
Dwight's foster mothers postal card
might have looked on its way to be
mailed.
Cornish stepped down and overlook
her.
"oh, Miss Lulu. I've got a new song
or two"
She said abstractedly: do. Any
night. Tomorrow night-could you"
1t was as If Lulu were too preoccupied
to remember to be Ill at ease.
Cornish flushed with pleasure. said
that he could indeed.
"Come for supper Lulu said.
Oh, could he7 wouldn't that be
:. Well, sayl Such was his accept
ance.
He came for supper. And Di was
not at home. She had gone off In the
country with Jenny and Bobby, and
they merely did not return.
Mrs. Bett and Lulu and Cornish and
Monona supped alone. All were at
ease, now that they were alone. Es-
peeially Mrs. Bett was at ease. 1t be-
came one of her young nights, her
alive and lucid nights. She was there.
She sat In Dwight's chair and Lulu
sat in Ina's chair. Lulu had picked
flowers for the table--a task coveted
by her but usually performed by Ina.
Lulu had now picked Sweet William
anu ndu ulttu vase Vi SILVER sAit
taken from the parlor. Also, Lulu
had made ice cream.
II don't see what Di can be think
ing Of" Lulu said. sit seems like ask
ing you under false" She was afraid
of "pretenses'' and ended without 1t.
Cornish savored his steaming beef
pie. with sage. "oh, welll" he said.
contentedly.
kind Of relief, I think, to have
her gone" said Mrs. Bett, from the
fullness of something or other.
Mother" Lulu SAID, twisting her
smile.
why, my land, / love her" Mrs
Bett explained. 'but she wiggles and
chitters"
Cornish never made the slightest
effort. at any time, to keep a straight
face. The honest fellow now laughed
loudly.
-wellir Lulu thought. HE can't
be so very much in love" And again
she thought: HE doesn't know any
thing about the letter. He thinks Mn
ian got tired of me-" Deep down In
her heart there abode her certainty
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