Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1922-09-06
April.

the middle OF the table was a small.
appealing tulip plant, looking as any
thing would look whose sun was a
gas jet. This gas Jet was high above
the table and fiared with a sound.
Better turn down the gas Jest a
little" Mr.. Deacon said, and stretched
up to do so. He made this joke almost
every night He seldom spoke as a
man speaks who has something to say.
but as man who makes something
to say.
"Weli, what have we on the festive
board tonight" he questioned. cycling
ii. "Festive" was his favorite adjec-
tive. Beautiful" too. In October he
might be heard asking: "Where's my
beautiful fall coatT
I'VE have creamed salmon" replied
Mira Deacon gently. ION toast" she
added, with scrupulous regard for
the whole truth. Why she should say
this 20 gently no one can tell. She
says everything gently. Her Gould
you leave me another bottle of milk
this morningr would wiring a milk
mans heart.
swell, now, let US see" said Mr..
Deacon, and attacked the principal
dish benignly. Let US see." he added,
as he served.
II don't want any," said Monona.
The child Monona was seated upon
a book and cushion, so that her
little triangle Of nose rose adultly
above her plate. Her remark pro-
duced precisely the effect for which
she had passionately hoped.
whats thisf" cried Mr.. Deacon
mo salmonT
@No," said Monona, infected up,
chin pertly pointed. She felt hei
power. discarded her ~sfr."
"Oh now, Petr from Mrs. Deacon,
on three notes. "You liked it before"
II don't want any" said Monona, IN
| precisely her original tone.
"Just little? A very little7" Mr..
Deacon persuaded, spoon dripping.
The child Monona made her lips thin
and straight and shook her head until
her straight hair tapped In her eyes
on either side. Mr.. Deacon's eyes anx-
| i0usly consulted his wifes eyes What
is this? Their progeny will not eatf
What can be suppliedf
"Some bread and milki" cried Mrs.
Deacon brightly, exploding on dread"
| One wondered how she thought OF IL.
NO" said Monona, infection up.
chin the same. She was affecting In
difference to this scene, In which her
soul delighted. She twisted her head,
bit her lips unconcernedly, and turned
her eyes to the remote.
| There emerged from the fringe Of
things, where she perpetually lowered
/ Mrs. Deacon's older sister, Lulu Bett,
who was making her home with U.S.
And that was precisely the case. They
were not making her home, good
ness knows. Lulu was the family
beast of burden.
Cant I make her a little milk
toast7" she asked Mrs. Deacon.
Mrs. Deacon hesitated, not with
conjunction at accepting Lulu's offer,
not automatically to lure Monona.
But she hesitated habitually. by ma
ture, as another is by nature yiyacious
or brunette.
i @Yesf" shouted the child Monona-
! The tension relaxed. Mrs. Deacon
assented. Lulu went to the kitchen.
Mr.. Deacon served on. Something of
this scene was enacted every day. For
Monona the drama never lost its zest.
II never occurred to the others TO let
her sit without eating, once. as cure
i all The Deacons were devoted par
ents and the child Monona was deli
cate. She had white. grave face,
white hair, white eyebrows, white
lashes. She was sullen, anemic They
let her wear rings. She ''toed in.s
The poor child was the late birth Of
| a late marriage and the principal JOY
which she had provided for them thus
far was the pleased reflection that
they had produced her at all.
| where's your mother. Ina7" Mr..
Deacon inquired. Isn't she coming
to her supperr
'sTantrim," said Mrs. Deacon softly.
"Oh, ho." said he, and said no more.
| The temper of Mrs. Bett, who also
lived with them. had days Of high vi
| bration when she absented herself
| from the table as kind of self
indulgence, and no one could persuade
her to food "Tantrims," they called
these occasions.
Baked potatoes, said Mr.. Deacon.
THAT'S good--that's good. The baked
| potato contains more nourishment
than potatoes prepared In any other
way. The nourishment IL next to the
skin. Roasting retains It."
that's what / always think" said
his wife pleasantly.
For fifteen years they had agreed
about this.
They ate, In the indecent silence Of
first savoring food A delicate crunch
ing Of crusts, an odor OF baked-potato
shells, the slip and touch Of the
| silver
Mum, mum, nummy-num !" sang the
child Monona loudly. and was hushed
By both parents in simultaneous =6cla-
nation which rivaled this lyric out
burst. They were alone at table. Di,
daughter of a wife early lost to Mr..
Deacon, was not there. Di was hardly
ever there. She was at that age.
That age, in Warbleton.
A clock struck the half hour.
Its curious" Mr. Deacon observed,
how that clock loses. II must be fully
| quarter to-" He consulted his watch
"It Is quarter tor he exclaimed with
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