The Neshoba Democrat., 1922-09-28

May.
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, complacent,
abundantly curved The leather rocker,
too, looked like Ina, brown, plumply
upholstered, tipping back a bit Real
ly, 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 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 dust Of ashes.
In the midst Of all was Lulu herself
reflected in the narrow pier glass,
bodiless-looking 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 a 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
lor, 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 1t back, less as a process
than as an experience. AS she busted
the mirror and saw his trim SEM
OA0n@V NoNCl aSQIllCI slGL O0h UOQtlCS0
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 or
Of criticism. Rather, she looked out
on something in which she had never
shared, could not by any chance Inn
agine herself sharing.
The south windows were open. Airs
Of May bore the soft talking.
oh, Bobby, will you pump while I
hold thisY' And again Nov wait
till ! rinse" And again: "You needn't
be 50 gIum --The village salutation sig
nifying kindly attention.
Bobby now first spoke. "Who's
gluin?n he countered, gloomily.
The iron Of those days when she hac
laughed at him was deep within him
and this she now OWNED, and said alb
sently.
y used to think you were pretty
nice. But ] don't like you any more.
Yes. You nsed tor Bobby repeat
ed derisively rs that why you made
fun Of nie all the timer
At this Di colored and tapped hei
foot on the weIl-curb. He seemed To-.
have her now. and enjoyed his trI
umph. But Di hooked up at him shyl,
and looked down. II had to- she adj
mitted "1'hey were all teasing me
about yon.'
.They wereT' This was 4 new
thought to him. Teasing her about
him. were theys He straightened
"Hupt' be said. in magnificent eva.
sion. N
iiuN w huhE tHrin nlVp, 10 ~
teased you, I'll never wanted to-
Again the upward look I
Well" Bobby stared at her. n
never thought IT vas anything like
that
"Of course you didn't" She tossed
back her bright hair, met his eyes fall.
And you never came where / could
tel gou. wanted to tell YOU
SHE rhn knfo the house.
Lulu lowered her eyes. II wna a.