The Glenwood post., 1922-11-02
Miss
Lulu
Bett
Zona Gale
illustrations by Irwin Myers
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Copyright by D. Appleton and Company

IpAb ElhNo SaiN NOlAlSh.
This time he did rise and walk
about. He wanted to say something,
wanted 1t with passion. He paused
beside Lulu and stammered:
"You-you-you're too nice a girl to
get deal like this. Darned if you
aren't"
To her own complete surprise Lulu's
eyes filed with tears, and she could
not speak. She was by no means
above self-sympathy.
"And there amt" said Cornish sor-
rowfully, there amt thing / can
do"
And yet he was doing much. He
was gentle, he was listening. and on
his face frown of concern. His face
continually surprised her, it was so
tine and alive and near, by comparison
with Ninian's loose-lipped, ruddy, i'm
personal look and Dwight's thin, high
boned hardness, All the time Cornish
gave her something, instead OF draw
ing upon her. Above all, he was there,
and she could talk to him.
''Its-it's funny" Lulu said. I'D
be awful glad if / just could know for
sure that the other woman was alive
If l couldn't know she's dead"
This surprising admission Cornish
seemed to understand
"Sure you would" he said briefly.
Cora Waters" Lulu said. Cora
Waters, of San Diego, California. And
she never heard of me-"
NO" Cornish admitted. They
stared at each other as across some
abyss.
In the doorway Mrs. Bett appeared.
II scraped up everything" she re.
marked "and left the dishes SET"
That's right, mamma Lulu said.
"Come and sit down"
Mrs Bett entered with a le,surelv
air Of doing the thing next expected
Of her.
u don't hear any more playin' and
singin',' she remarked. at sounded
real nice
We've sung all knew how to
play, | guess. mamma"
Il use to play on the melodeon."
Mrs. Bett volunteered, and spread and
examined her right band.
WE'LL" said Cornish.
she now told them about her log.
house In New England clearing.
when she was bride. All her store
OF drama and life came from her.
she rehearsed ii with far eyes. She
laughed at old delights, drooped at
OLD fears. She told about her little
oaughter who had died at sixteen-a
tragedy such as once would have been
renewed In vital ballad. At the end |
she yawned frankly as If, in some fer
rlble sophisticatlon, she had been tell.
ing the story Of some one else.
"Glve us one more piece" she said
"Can WEI" Cornish asked
II can play I Think When 1 Read
That Sweet Story of Old" Lulu said.
That's the ticket" said Cornish.
They sang it. to Lulu's right hand.
That's the one you picked out
when you was little girl, Lulie."
cried Mrs. Bett.
!Lplu had played 1t now as she must
nave played 1t then.
Half after nine and Di had not re-
Iurned. But nobody thought of DI.
Cornish rose to go.
"What's them?" Mrs. Beu da.
handed.
"Dwight's letters, mamma you
mustn't touch them !" Lulu's voice was
sharp
"Say!" Cornish, at the door. dropped
lis voice IF there was anything /
'ouid do at any time, you'd let me
NOW, wouldn't you?"
Ihat past tense, those subjunctives
nconscicusly called upon her to feel
10 Intrusion.
"Oh, thank you," she said. "you
ont know how good it is to feel"
Of course 1t is" said Cornish
edrtlly.
They stood for moment on the
orch. The night was one of low
lamor from the grass, tiny voices. in.
Isting.
"of course said Lulu, "of course
w .-Aa-yoU wouldn't"
"say nnything2' he OWNED. Not
Or dollars. Not" he repeated. "for
ollars."
But knew you wouldn't" she told
i'm.
He took her hand "Good.night,"
Ie said. "I've had an awful nice time
inging and listening to you talk
veil of course-I mean," he cried
the supper was Just fine. And so
vas the music"
"Oh, no." she said.
Mrs. Bett came into the hall.
"Lulie," she said. ~ guess you
didn't notice-this ones from NInian."
"Mother-"
~ opened it--why. of course ! did
IT'S from Ninian."
Mrs. Bett held out the opened en-
yelope, the unfolded letter, and yell
lowed newspaper clipping.
"See," said the old woman. Says,
Ccrie Winters, music hall singer
married Inst night to Nininn Dea-
con- Say, Lulie. that m"-' he