Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1922-09-07


closed. Lulu took the lamp from its
bracket, stretching up her long body
and her long arms until her skirt lift
ed 10 show her really slim and pretty
feet. Lulu's feet gave news of some
other Lulu, but slightly incarnate.
Perhaps SO far. incarnate only in her
feet and Fer long hair.
She took the lamp TO the parlor and
stood before the photograph Of Ninlan
Deacon, and looked her fiji. She did
not admire the photograph, but she
wanted 10 look at IL. The house was
still, there was no possibility Of inter
ruption. The occasion became sensa-
ton, which she made no effort 10
quench. she held rendezvous with
she knew not what.
In the early hours of the next after
poon with the sun shining across the
threshold, Lulu was pairing something
at the kitchen table. Mrs. Bett was
asleep. ("I don't blame you a bit,
mother" Lulu had said, as her mother
named the intention.) Ina was asleep.
Out Ina always took off the curse by
calling it her "si-esta," long ID Mo
mona was playing with neighbours
child-yOu heard their shrill yet love
ly laughter as they obeyed the adult
law that motion is Measure. Di was
not there.
A man came round the house and
stood tying a puppy to the porch post.
4 long shadow fell through the west
doorway, the puppy whined.
"Oh" said this man. Il didn't mean
to arrive at the back door, but since
I'm here"
He lifted suitcase TO the porch,
entered and filled the kitchen.
ITS Ina, isn't it," he said.
'I'm her sister," said Lulu, and un-
derstood that he was here at last.
"Well, I'm Bert's brother said
Ninian. $50 | can come in, can't ~
lie aid so, turned round like Il dog
before his chair and sat down heavily,
forcing his fingers through heavy, up
springing brown hair.
"Oh, yes" said Lulu. "Ill call Ina.
She's asleep"
Don't call her, then" said Ninian.
Let's you and get acquainted
He said it absently, hardly looking
at her.
"Tll get the pup a drink If you can
spare me basin,' he added.
Lulu brought the basin and, while
he went to the dog, she ran tlptoeing
To the dining room china closet and
brought a cut-glass tumbler, as heavy,
as unganly as n stone crock. This
she filed with milk.
II thought maybe =" said she,
and offered ii.
"Thank your' said Ninian, and
drained it. Making pies, as l live"
he observed, and brought his chair
nearer to the table. IL didn't know
Ina had sister," he went on. 81 re-
member now Bert said he had two OF
her relatives
Lulu flushed and glanced at him pitt
fully.
lie has" she said. ITS my mother
and me- But we do quite good deal
Of the work"
"Ir bet you do" said Ninian, and
did not perceive that anything had
been violated. whats your name?'
he bethought.
She was in an immense and obscure
excitement. Her manner was serene,
her hands as they went on with the
pecling did not tremble; her replies
we're given with sufficient quiet. But
she told him her name as one tells
something OF another and more re-
mote creature She felt as one may
feel in catastrophe--no sharp under
standing. but merely the sense that the
thing cannot possibly be happening.
You folks expect me?" he went on.
"Oh. yes!" she cried, almost with
vehemence "Why, we've looked for
you every day
"'See." he said, "how long have they
been married?"
Lulu flushed as she answered: Eff
teen years.
and year before that the first one
died-and two years they were mar
ried," he computed. IL never met that
one Then it's close TO twenty years
since Bert and l have seen each
other"
"IIow awful" Lulu said, and flushed
again.
"WhyT
"To be that long away from your
folks"
Suddenly she found herself facing
this honestly, as if the immensely 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 thati" he laughed. "a
man don't know what he's like till he's
roamed around on his own" He liked
the sound Of it. "Roamed around on
his own" he repeated, and laughed
again. Course a woman don't know
that"
"Why don't she?" asked Lulu. She
balanced pie on her hand and carved
the crust. She was stupefied to hear
her own question. "Why don't she?'
"Maybe she does. Do youf"