Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1922-09-13
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Lulu was busting the parlor. The
parlor was rarely used. but every
morning it was busted. By Lulu.
She busted the black walnut center
table which was Of Ina's choosing, and
looked like Ina, shining, cemplacent,
abundantly curved. The leather rocker,
too, looked like Ina, brown, plumply
upholstered, tipping back bit. Real
~, the davenport looked like Ina, for
its chintz pattern seemed to bear de
sign of lifted eyebrows and arch, re-
proachful eyes.
Lulu busted the upright piano, and
that was like Dwight-in a perpet-
ual attitude of rearing back. with paws
out, playful, but capable, too, of roar
ing ready bass.
And the black fireplace-there was
Mrs. Bett to the life. Colorless, fire.
less, and with a dust Of ashes.
In the midst of all was Lulu herself
reflected in the narrow pier glass,
Notwithstanding in her blue gingham
gown, but somehow alive-natural.
This pier glass Lulu approached
with expectation, not because of her.
self but because of the photograph on
its low marble shelf. A large photo
graph on little shelf-easel. A photo
graph of man with evident eyes, evil
dent lips, evident cheeks-and each of
the six were rounded and convex. You
could construct the rest of him. Down
there under the glass you could imagine
him extending, rounded and convex,
with plump hands and curly thumbs
and snug clothes. 1t was Ninian
Deacon, Dwight's brother.
Every day since his coming had
been announced Lulu, busting the par
Tor, had seen the photograph looking
at her with its eyes somehow new. Or
were her own eyes new? She busted
this photograph with difference, lift
ed, busted, set it back, less as process
than as an experience. As she busted
the mirror and saw his trim sem
blance over against her own bodiless
reflection, she hurried away. But the
eyes OF the picture followed her, and
she liked 1t.
She busted the south window sill
and saw Bobby Larkin come round the
house and go to the woodshed for the
lawn mower. She heard the smooth
blur of the cutter. Not six times had
Bobby traversed the lawn when Lulu
saw Di emerge from the house. Di
had been caring for her canary and
she carried her bird bath and went to
the well, and Lulu OWNED that Di had
deliberately disregarded the handy
kitchen taps. Lulu busted the south
window and watched, and In her
watching was no quality or spying OF
of criticism. Rather, she looked out
on something in which she had never
shared, could not by any chance i'm
agine herself sharing.
The south windows were open. Airs
Of May bore the soft talking.
"0h, Bobby, will you pump while |
hold this?" And again: Now wait
till / rinse" And again: you needn't
be so glum the village salutation sig
nifying kindly attention.
Bobby now first spoke: who's
glum?" he countered, gloomily.
The iron of those days when she had
laughed at him was deep within him,
and this she now OWNED, and said alb
sently:
81 used to think you were pretty
nice. But don't like you any more"
Eyes. you used to" Bobby repeat
ed derisively as that why you made
fun of me all the timer"
At this Di colored and tapped her
foot on the well-curb. He seemed to
have her now, md enjoyed his tri-
umph. But Di locked up at him shyly
and looked down. 81 had TO-" she ad-
mitted. "They were all teasing me
about you"
"They wereY' This was a new
thought to him. Teasing her about
him, were they7 He Strengthened.
"Huh" he said. in magnificent eva
sion.
81 had to make them stop, so l
ledSeu yOu' - never Wdbteu w.
Again the upward look.
"Welll'' Bobby stared at her. Il
never thought it was anything like
that"
"of course you didn't" She tossed
back her bright hair, met his eyes full
"And you never came where / could
tell you. wanted to tell you"
She ran into the house.
Lulu lowered her eyes. 1t was as
IL she had witnessed the exercise Of
some secret gift, had seen a cocoon
open or an egg hatch. She was think
ing:
How easy she done IL Got him
right over. But how did she do that?"
busting the Dwight-llke piano, Lulu
looked over-shoulder, with manner of