Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1922-10-12
CONTINUED from last week.

earnest" she said.
81 am in carnest-hOpe TO die" Min
Ian declared. He was on two legs Of
his chair and was slightly fitting. so
that the effect of his earnestness was
impaired. But he was obviously in
earnest.
They were looking at Lulu again.
And now she looked at Ninlan, and
there was something terrible In that
look which tried to ask him, alone,
about this thing.
Dwight exploded. There was fell
low I know there in the theater," he
cried. "Pll get him on the line He
could tell me If there's any way"
and was Off
Ina lnexpllcably began touching
away tears. "Oh," she said, what
will mamma say?"
Lulu hardly heard her Mrs. Bett
was intellectually distant.
you sure?" Lulu said low to
Ninan.
For the first time, something in her
exceeding isolation really touched him.
Say" he said. you come on with
me. Well have it done oyer again
somewhere. If you say So"
"Oh," said Lulu, "if | thought"
He leaned and patted her hand.
Good girl" he said.
They sat silent, Nnian padding on
the cloth with the fiat of his plump
hands.
Dwight returned. IT'S go all
right" he said. He sat down. laughed
weakly, rubbed at his face you two
are tied as tight as the church could
tie you"
Good enough" said Ninian. "Eh,
LuluY
"It's-it's all right, I guess" Lulu
said
well, I'll be dished," said 'Dwight.
SISTER" said Ina.
Ninian meditatcd, his lips set tight
and high. 1t is impossible TO trace
the processes of this man. Perhaps
they were all compact OF the devil
may-care attitude engendered In any
persistent traveller Perhaps the incom-
parable cookery Of Lulu played its
part.
II was going to make q trip south
this month";" he said, ION my way
home from here. Suppose we get
married again by somebody or other,
and start right off. You'd like that
wouldn't you-going south.
YES" said Lulu only.
ITS July" said Ina, with her sense
of fitness, but no one heard.
II was arranged that their trunks
should follow them-lna would see to
that, though she was scandallzed that
they were not first to return TO War
bleton for the blessing of Mrs. Bett.
Mamma won't mind" said Lulu.
Mamma can't stand fuss any more"
They left the table. The men and
women still sitting at the other tables
saw nothing unusual about these four,
indlnferently dressed, indifferently
conditioned The hotel orchestra,
playing ragtime in deafening concord,
made Lulu's wedding march.
II was still early next day-a hot
Sunday - when Ina and Dwight
reached home. Mrs. Bett was stand
ing on the porch.
where's Lulie?" asked Mrs. Bett.
They told.
Mrs. Bett took IL in, bit at time.
Her pale eyes searched their faces
she shook her head, heard ii again,
grasped it. Her first question was:
who's going TO do your work.
Ina had thought of that, and this
was manifest.
"oh," she said, you and I'll have
TO manage"
Mrs. Bett meditated, frowning.
II left the bacon for her to cook for
your breakfasts" she said. II can't
cook bacon fit TO eat. Neither can
you"
We've had our breakfasts" Ina
escaped from this dilemma.
Had 1t up in the city, on expenseF
well. we didn't have much"
In Mrs. Belts eyes tears gathered,
but they were not for Lulu.
II should think" she said, Il should
think Lulie might have had n little
more gratitude TO her than this'
ON their way to church Ina ana
Dwight encountered hi, who had leit
the house some time earlier, step
ping sedately to church in company
with Bobby Larkin. hi was In white
and her face was the face of an angel
so young. so questioning, so utterly
devoid of her sophistication.
'Thnt child" said Ina. must not
see so much Of that Larkin boy. she
just little. little girl"
"Of course she mustn't, sara
Dwight sharply, land If l was her
mother"
"Oh, stop that" said Ina, sotto
voce. at the church steps.