The Holly chieftain., 1922-12-14
vi-contlnued.

want one?"
| upon my word" Dwight comment
ed. "she has beautiful secret. l
don't know about your secrets. Lulu"
Every time that he did this, that
fleet. lifted look Of Lulu's seemed to
bleed.
I'm glad for my dinner" remarked
Monona at last please excuse me-"
On that they all rose. Lulu stayed In
the kitchen and did her best to make
her tasks indefinitely last. She had
nearly finished when Di burst in:
Aunt Lulu, Aunt Lulu!' she cried.
Come in there-come. l can't stand
it. What am going to do?"
"Di dear" said Lulu. Tell your
mother-you must tell her."
She'll cry" Di sobbed. "Then
she'll tell papa-and he'll never stop
talking about it. l know hIm-every
day he'll keep 1t going. After he
scolds me it'll be Joke for months.
I'll die-Fl! die, Aunt Lulu"
Ina's voice sounded in the kitchen.
what are you two whispering about?
| declare. mammals hurt. Di. at the
way you're acting :"
Lets go out on the porch" said
Lulu, and when Di would have
escaped. Ina drew her with them.
1t was warm dusk, moonless, wind
less. The sounds of the village
street came in-laughter, touch at
n piano, Ginning clock. Lights
starred and quickened in the blurred
houses. Footsteps echoed on the
board walks. The gate opened. The
gloom yielded up Cornish.
Lulu was inordinately glad to see
him. To have the strain Of the time
broken by him was like hearing, on a
lonely winter wakening, the clock
strike reassuring dawn.
| Cornish, in his gentle way, asked
about the journey, about the sick
woman and Dwight talked Of her
again, and this time his voice broke.
Dl was curiously silent. When cor
nish addressed her. she replied simply
and directly-the rarest of DIS man.
ners-in fact, not DIS manner at ALL
Lulu spoke not at all-it was enough
to have this respite.
! AAtSA "a tttiO khC BhtC oPCACu uSA1A
1t was Bobby. In the besetting fear
that he was leaving Di to face some
thing alone. Bobby had arrived.
And now DIS spirits rose. To her
his presence meant repentance, re-
I chpitalatI6h.: !: o Her laugh rang out, her
ttepHes came archly. But Bobby was
plainly not playing up. Bobby was,
in fact. hardly less than glum. It was
Dwight, the irrepressible fellow, who
kept the talk going.
Mamma Monona shouted from
her room. Come and hear me say
my prayers!"
Monona entered this request with
precision on Ina's nastiest moments
but she always rose, unabashed, and
went. motherly and dutiful. to hear
devotions, as If that function and the
process Of living ran their two d.
vided channels.
She had dispatched this errand and
was returning when Mrs. Bett crossed
the lawn from Grandma Gates, where
the old lady had taken comfort in
Mrs. Belts ministrations for an hour.
Don't you help me-" Mrs. Bett
warned them away sharply. ~
guess I can help myself yet awhile"
She gained her chair. And still in
her momentary rule Of attention, she
said clearly:
II got joke. Grandma Gates
says It's all over town Di and Bobby
Larkin eloped off together today.
He!" The last was single note of
laughter, high and brief.
The silence fell
"What nonsense!" Dwight Herbert
said angrIly.
But Ina said tensely: "Is 1t nom
sense? Haven't been trying and
trying to find out where the black
satchel went7 DIP
DIS laughter rose, but 1t sounded
thin and false.
Listen to that, Bobby" she said.
Listen"
"That won't do. d." said Ina. "You
can't deceive mamma and don't you
try!" Her voice trembled, she was
frantic with loving and authentic
anxiety, but she was without power,
she overshadowed the real gravity Of
the moment by her Indignation.
"Mrs. Deacon" began Bobby, and
stood up, very straight and manly
before them all.
But Dwight interviewed. Dwight,
the father, the master of his house.
Here was something requiring him to
act. So the father set his face like
a mask and brought down his hand
on the rail Of the porch. 1t was as
II the sound shattered a thousand
| ilaments-where7
"Diana!" his voice was terrible.
demanded response, ravened among
them.
"Yes. papa" said Dl, very small.
Answer your mother. Answer me.
70 there anything to this absurd taller"
IA