The Holly chieftain., 1922-09-21
iI-contlnued.

ll-Continued.
N+
"And a year before that the first one
died-and two years they were mar
ried," he computed. 81 never met that
one. Then it's close to twenty years
since Bert and | have seen each
other"
How awful! !" Lulu said and flushed
again.
"Why?"
"To be that long away from your
folks"
Suddenly she found herself facing
this honestly, as If the immensity of
her present experience were clarifying
her understanding: Would it be so aw-
full to be away from Bert and MOnona
and Di-yes, and Ina, for twenty
years?
You think that?" he laughed. "a
man don't know what he's like till he's
roamed around on his own" He liked
the sound of 1t. 'Roamed around on
his own" he repeated, and laughed
again. Course woman don't know
that"
"Why don't she?' asked Lulu. She
balanced pie on her hand and carved
the crust She was stupetied to hear
her own question. "Why don't she?'
Maybe she does. Do you"
YES" said Lulu.
Good enough" He applauded
noiselessly, with fat hands. His dia-
mond ring sparkled, his even white
teeth flashed "I've had twenty years
of galloping about" he Informed her,
unable, after all. to transfer his inter-
ests from himself to her.
"Where?" she asked, although she
knew.
South America. Central America
Mexico. Panama" He searched his
memory. "Colombo," he superadded.
MY" said Lulu. She had probably
never in her life had the least desire
to see any of these places. She did
not want to see them now. But she
wanted passionately to meet her COM
panion's mind.
Its the life," he informed her.
.Must be-" Lulu breathed. q"
She tried, and gave it up.
"Where you been mostly7" he asked
at last,
BY this unprecedented interest in
her doings she was thrown into a pas
sion Of excitement.
Here" she said. 1--WE always been
here. Fifteen years with Ina. Before
that we lived in the country"
He listened sympathetically now, his
head well on one side. He watched her
veined hands pinch at the pies. Poor
old girl" he was thinking.
as 1t Miss Lulu BETH" he abruptly
inquired. "Or Mrs.?"
Lulu flushed in anguish.
Miss" she said low, as one who
confesses the extremity of failure.
Then. from unplumbed depths, another
Lulu abruptly spoke up. "From
choice" she said.
He shouted with laughter.
"You bet! Oh, you betl" he cried.
"Neyer doubted It," He made his
palms taut and drummed on the table.
say lie Sulu.
Lulu glowed, quickened, smiled. Her
face was another face.
(which kind of Mr.. are your" she
heard herself ask, md his shoutings
redoubled. Well! Who would have
thought 1t of her?
"Never give myself away" he as
sured her. "Say, by George, ! never
thought of that before! There's no
telling whether n mans married or
not, by his name!"
ut don't matter" said Lulu.
"Why not?"
mot so many people want to
know"
Again he laughed. This laughter
was intoxicating to Lulu. No one ever
laughed at what she said save Her.
bert, who laughed at her. go 1t, old
girl" Nlnian was thinking. but this
did not appear.
The child Monona now arrived,
banging the front gate and hurting
herself round the house on the board
walk, catching the toe Of one foot in
the heel of the other and laundering
forward, head down, her short,
straight hair Tapping over her face.
She landed fiat-footed on the porch.
She began to speak. using ridiculous
perversion Of words. scarcely articu-
late. then in vogue in her group. And,
"Whose dog?" she shrIeked.
Ninian 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