Gunnison news-champion., 1922-08-04

uucrfiiiu 2uAt 10 10. Sue toOkc0
from one to another bit hopelessly,
somehow foiled in her dignity. She
brushed at her skirt. the veins Of her
long. wHnkied hands catching an In
tenser blue from the dark cloth. She
put her hair behind her ears.
I'VE put a potato In the oven for
you.- said Ina She had never learned
quite how to treat these periodic re-
fusals OF her mother to eat. but she
never had ceased to resent them.
''No. thank you" said Mrs. Bett
Evtslently she rather enjoyed the situ-
ntion. creating for herself spotlight
much In the manner OF Monona-
Mother" said Lulu. let me make
you some toast and tea"
Mrs. Bett tusned her gentle. blood
less face toward her daughter. and
her eyes warmed
After a little. maybe" she said. II
think III run over to see Grandma
Gates now" sheI added. and went
toward the door,
Tell her." cried Dwight. .tell her
she's my best girl"
Orhuuuia outeb Wus u IHcuu1tiC
cripple who lived next door. and when
ever the Deacons or Mrs. Belts were
angry or hurt or wished TO escape the
house for some reason. they stalked
over to Grandma Gates-in lieu OF.
say. slamming . door. These visits
radiated an almost daily friendliness
which lifted and tempered the old In
vaiid's lot and life.
Di flashed out at the door again, on
some trivial permission.
"A good many OF mammals stitches
In that dress to keep clean" Ina called
after.
early. darling. early r. her father
reminded her. A faint regurg!tation
Of his was somehow invested with the
paternal.
whats thar cried Dwight Her.
bert Deacon abruptly.
On the clock shelf lay q letter.
-Oh, Dwight |" Ina was all compunc-
tion. ut came this morning. I for
got"
II forgot II too! And I laid Il up
there" Lulu was eager for her share
OF the blame.
"Isn't Il understood that my mail
can't walt like thisl"
Dwight's sense Of Importance was
now being fed In gulps.
II know. I'm awfully sorry" Lulu
said. ''but you hardly ever get Z let
ter"
This might have made things worse.
but II provided Dwight with greater
Importance.
"Of course. pressing matter goes to
my ONCE" he admitted II. "Still. my
mail should have more careful"
He read, frowning. He replaced the
letter. and they hung upon his mo-
tions as he tapped the envelope and
regarded them.
"Now!'' said he. "what do you
think have to tell your"
Something NICE" Ina was sure.
Something surprising" " Dwight said
portentiously.
But, Dwight-is II nIcel" from his
Ina.
'"That depends. like It. SOIL
Lulu" He leered at her. ITS COM
pany."
'Oh. Dwight" said Ina. "whor'
"From Oregon" he said. toying with
his suspense.
"your brotherw cried Ina. us he
cOmingT
-Yes. Nlnian's coming. 30 he says.~
"Nlnian!" !" cried Ina again. She was
excited, round-eyed. her moist lips
parted. Dwight's brother Nlnian. How
long was 1T Nineteen years. South
America. Central America. Mexico,
Panama "and all" When was he
coming and what was ha cominR for,
TO see me-" said Dwight. ITO meet
you. Some day next week. He don't
know what q charmef Lulu 10, or he'd
come quicker
Lulu flushed terribly. Not from the
implication. But from the knowledge
that she was not charmer.
The clock Ttruck. The child No
mona uttered a cutting shrek. Her
bert's eyes few not only to the child
but to his wife. What was this, was
their progeny hurti
"Bedtime." his wife elucidated. and
added: Lulu. will you take her to
bedf I'm pretty tired"
Lulu rose. and took Nonona BY the
hand. the child hanging back and
shaking her straight hair In an I'M
convincing negative.
Az they crossed tho room. Dwight
Herbert Deacon, strolling about and
swapping his fingers. halted and cried
out sharply:
Lulu. One moment !"
He approached her. A finger was ex.
tended. his lips were parted. on his
forehead was fr0wn.
you picked the flower ON the
plant1'' he asked, incredulously.
Lulu made no reply. But the child
Monona felt herself lifted and borne to
the stairway and the door was shyt
with violence. On the dark stairway
Lulu's arms closed about her In an
embrace which left her breathleSs and