The St. Johns herald., 1922-11-30
MISS LULU BET

straight hair Tapping over her face She landed flat-footed on the porch.
 She began to speak, using a ridiculous perversion of words, scarcely articu-
 late, then in vogue in her group. And,
 "WhOse dog?" she shrieked.
 Ninian looked over his shoulder, held out his hand, finished something
 that he was saying to Lulu. Monona came to him readily enough, staring, loOse-lipped.
 "I'll bet I'm your uncle," said Ninian.
 Relationship being her highest known form of romance, Monona was thrilled by this intelligence.
 "Give us a kiss," said Ninian, find ing in the plural some Tague mitiga- tiOn for some vague offense.
 Monona, looking silly, complied. And her uncle said, my stars, such a great big tall girl-they would have to put board on her head.
 What's that?" inquired Monona. She had spied his great diamond ring.
 'This," said her uncle, twas brought to me by Santa Claus, who keeps a jewelry shop in heaven"
 The precision and speed of his im- provisation revealed him. He had twenty other diamonds like this one. He kept them for those Sundays when the sun comes up in the west. Of course-oftenI Some day he was go- ing to melt diamond and eat it. Then you sparkled all over in the dark. ever after. Another diamond he was going to plant. They say He did it all gravely, historically. About 1t he was as conscienceless as a savage. This was no fancy spun to pleasure child. This was like lying, for its own sake.
 He went on talking with Lulu, and now again he was the tease, the brag- gart, the unbridled, unmodifed male.
 Monona stood in the circle of his arm. The little being was attentive, softened, subdued. Some pretty, faint light visited her. In her listening look, she showed herself a charming child.
 "lt strikes me-" said Ninian to Lulu, that you're going to do something mighty interesting before you die"
 It was the clear conversational im- pulse, born of the need to keep some thing going. but Lulu was all faith.
 She closed the oven door on her pies and stood brushing flour from her fin gers. He was looking away from her, and she looked at him. He was con- pletely like his picture. She felt as If she were looking at his picture and she was abashed and turned away.
 "Well, I hope so," she said, which had certainly never been true, for her old formless dreams were no intention nothing but a mush of discontent. T hope can do something that's nice before quit" she said. Nor was this hope now independently true, but only longing to appear interest Ing in his eyes. To dance before him. What would the folks think of me, going on so?" she suddenly said. Her mild sense of disIOyalty was delicious. So was his understanding glance.
 You're the stuff," he remarked ab- l sently.
 She laughed happily.
 The door opened. Ina appeared.
 We'll" said Ina. It was her re- notest tone She took this man to be | l peddler, beheld her child in his | ,lasp. made quick forward step, chin fitted. She had time for a very javelin )f look at Lulu.
 "HellO!" said Ninian. He had the me formula. "I believe I'm your hus- Oand's brother. Amt this Ina?"
 It had not crossed the mind of Lulu o present him.
 Beautiful it was to see Ina relax, often, warm, transform, humanize. It ave one hope for the whole species.
 ''Ninianl" she cried. She lent a aint impression of the double e to the initial vowel. She slurred the rest, lntil the sound squinted in. Not Seenyun, but nearly Neenyun.
 He kissed her.
 "Since Dwight isn't herei" she cried nd shook her finger at him. Ina's conception of hostess-ship was def Iite: A volley of Questions-was his rain on time? He had found the Ouse all right? Of course! Anyone ould direct him, she should hope. And e hadn't seen Dwight? She must telephone him. But then she arrested erself with sharp, curved fling of er starched skirts. No! They would urprise him at tea-she stood taut. ps compressed. Oh, the Flows were oming to tea. How unfortunate, she bought. How fortunate, she said.
 The child Monona made her knees nd elbows stiff ard danced up and own. She must, she must participate. Aunt Lulu made three pies p she creamed. and shook her straight hair. Gracious sakes," said Ninian. T rought her pup, and if didn't for ct to give it to her." They adjourned to the porch-Nin-