Miss Lulu Bett

ccupied by one unlucky tenant after another, and had suffered long periods of vacancy when ladies' aid societies served lunches there, under great white signs, bad

cks or kissed their hands on the music covers. While he was still moving in, Dwight Herbert Deacon wandered downstairs and stood

e said. "Can I se

th, you can," Dwight replied. "Or," said

h, when business was dull, the idle hours

sked him once. "Now, my father was a dentist, so I came by it

he knew. All up and down the Warbleton main street, the chances are that the answer would sound the same.

ht, respectfully d

me by a little inheritance some day-not much, but some

Dwight heartily

nd he never compared Warbleton save to its advant

Neil Cornish up for supp

Ina. "If there's a man

rought him u

's eyebrows

t loaf and sauce and bread a

ght's informal halloo on his way upstairs. She herself was in white muslin, now much too snug, and a blue ribbon. To her greeting

en. He liked the people-they seemed different. He was sure to like the place, already liked it. Lulu came to the door in Ninian's thin black-and-white gown. She shook hands with the stranger, no

"I declare that daughter

ng a generic appeal to bless this food, forgive all our sins and finally save us. And there was something tremendous, in this ancie

k dress turned up at the hem. She met Cornish, crimsoned, fluttered to her seat, jo

ed profoundly that before coming he had looked up some more stories in the back of the Musical Gazettes. Lulu surreptitiously pinched off an ant that was running at large upon the cloth and thereafter kept her eyes steadfastly on the sugar-bowl to see if it could be from that. Dwight p

na asked Cornish, in an unrelated eff

man, "I can't play a thing. Don't

," said Di's mother. "But then how can

ut won't he bring up some songs some evening, for them to try over? Her and Di? At this Di laughed and said that she was out of practice and lifted her glass of water. In the presence of adults Di made one weep, she was so

it: "Miss Lulu Bett," he explained with loud emphasis, and Lulu burned her slow red. This question Lulu had usually answered by telling how a felon had interrupted her lesson

of it. I went to a lovel

to think of Lulu as having had exp

the different instruments they played, but there were a good many." She laughed pleasantly as a part of her sentence. "They had some lovely tunes," she said. She knew

t he had been waiting to say: That

etty city?" she asked. And Cornish assented with the intense heartiness of the provincial. He, too, it seemed, had a conversatio

ek." Lulu's superiori

ther?" Cornish

e flushed and was silenced. She was colouring and breathing quickly.

e to humour her, you know how it is. Or no! You don't know! But you will"-and more of the same sort, everybody laughing heartily, save Lulu, who looked uncomfortable and wished that Dwight wouldn't, an

ctions of her parents with all the batteries of her coquetry, set for both Bobby and Cornish and, bold in the presence of "company," at last went laughing away. And in the minute areas of her consciousness she said to

ch she should have outgrown with white muslin and bl

she said. "I'm vexed. Now

st have been lingering among the

y a game,

rhood into the functions of the lecture platform. Ina was a fountain of admonition. Her idea of a daughter, step or not, was that of a manufactured product, strictly, which you constantly pinched and moulded. She thought that a moral preceptor had the right to secrete precepts. Di got them all. But of course the crest of Ina's responsibilit

"if this Mr. Cornish comes here

t?" demanded Dwigh

ther hand, did not even play her games when he knew perfectly what she meant, but pretended not to understand, made her repeat, made her explain. It was as if Ina had to please him for

n love with D

ter will have many a man fall i

ht, what do you

? My dear Ina, I have o

nything about him, D

Dwight with dignity, "I kn

s stranger before bringing him into the home, Dwight now related a n

tance coming to him-sho

e-really? How

at like a wom

s from a good fa

nary litt

really accept him. A young girl is awfully flattered when a good

left all such matters to her. Being married to Dwight was like

as if, conceivably, children might come within the confines of his life as he imagined it. A preposterous little man. And a preposterous store, empty, echoing, bare of wall, the three pianos near the front, the remainder of the floor stretching away like the corridors of the lost. He w

," he always added,

ing. Bobby was there. They were, Dwig

ional life, the feat of remaining to Bobby Larkin the lure, the beloved lure,

lamp, everybody!" D

tartled, Dwightish instrument, standing in its a

ed this?"

n. But Dwight found a place. He swept Ninian's photograph from the marble shelf of the mir

nly to those who-presumably-loved him. His old attitude toward Lulu

an had bought for her, and held Ninian's photograph and looked hel

ren't you go

ed the falsetto.

bring, and now she struck the opening chords of "Bonny Eloise." Lulu stood still, looking rather piteously at Cornish. Dwight offered his arm, absurdly crooked. The Plows and Ina and Di began to

ulu the mocking bird!" Dwi

. "Why, Miss Lulu, yo

he mocking ba-ird!

of faint power. She turned to him now,

hen surprisingly said,

of conscious repartee

as bendin

do you say?

m. "There's such a lovely, lovely sacred s

e sacred

rofile, her eyelids flutteri

hing like a nice sacred

d of the piano, looked

fect of bursting out of somewhere. "Don't y

im, her smile was a smile for him alone, all t

ge,'" Cornish suggested. "Th

oice saying that this was the very on

for "My Rock

er, "I'm having such a perfectly beautiful time

dded softly to Lulu: "She don

g them all. Everybody must have understood-excepting the Plows. These two gentle souls sang placidly through the Album of Old Favourites, and at the melodies smiled happily upon each other with a

e overtaken by some one who ran badly, a

" this one called, and

at I could get me? I mean that I'd know how

nate crying. They dre

the telephone ring. She heard Dwight's concerned

d how Dwight had sat for hours that night, holding Grandma Gates so that her back would rest easily and sh

card-she had often written a few lines on a postal card to say that she had sent the maple sugar, or could Ina get her some samples. Now she wrote a few line

y the kitchen clock to read over from time to time, and before they left,

said: "Dwight-you can't te

not. How sh

ter might come wh

tters do come wh

if you wouldn't mi

ned

, it'll be ab

that it'll be abou

mean. You wouldn't mi

you know what

you-I've got to see

it to you. My dear Lulu, you know how

t of that." She said nothing. She watched them set o

sing, of course you ask him. You might ask him to supper. And don't let mother overdo. And, Lulu, now

ctions to the very

Dwight lea

rely, Lulu!" he called, and threw b

turned tragic

ma. And she's going to

ng to help her, Dwight, j

ring a kind of fresh life to that worn frame. Tact an

r week's absence the l

rough the streets. She passed those who were surmising what her story might be, who were telling one another what they had heard. But she knew hardly more than they. She passed Corni

ped down and

. I've got a n

row night-could you-" It was as if Lulu were

h pleasure, said th

supper,"

that be.... Well, say!

She had gone off in the country with Jenny

nights, her alive and lucid nights. She was there. She sat in Dwight's chair and Lulu sat in Ina's chair. Lulu had picked flowers for the table-a task coveted

aid. "It seems like asking you under false-" She

ng beef pie, with sage. "Oh

e her gone," said Mrs. Bett, from

u said, twist

" Mrs. Bett explained, "bu

t, at any time, to keep a straight fac

ught: "He doesn't know anything about the letter. He thinks Ninian got tire

on the drop-leaf side-table, among the shells. Lulu had carried it there, where she need not see it at her work. The lett

said sharply, "

t up quite attractive," he said-it wa

over," Lulu said, "

know I left that Album of Old Favourit

," she said, "there's some of these I

e!" said

nt-but she had not dared to try it so until to-night, when Dwight was gone. Her long wrist was curved high, her thin hand pressed and fingered awkwardly, and at her mistakes her head dipped and strove to make all right. Her foot continuously touched the loud pedal-the blurred sound seemed to accompli

nd then, in the formal village p

ing. "I've never done this in front of anybody," she owned

red and quickened, as if the crippled, halting melody had som

ost anything you set you

" Lulu s

d play a

arn something." But this she had not mean

you have it fine

gives me what I have.

. She caught his speculative look-he had heard a tale or t

d recklessly. This was no less than wrung from her, but

disclaimed, and co

e town's wondering. Well, I'd like 'em

ned, trying

peated. "I should say th

Dwight gives m

d Cornish. "Tha

u see what it does to me. They thin

ord-tentatively, deprecatingly, like some o

d feebly: "

led it, she wa

passion. "He had another wife." Incredibly it wa

es!" said

me one, to share her news of her state where

. I was sitting the same as there. He opened the door again-the same as here. I saw he looked different-and he said quick: 'There's something you'd ought to know before we go.' And of course I said, 'What?'

stly. "But Lord sakes-" he said again. He rose to

s it isn't true. He thinks-he didn't have any othe

d, "Dwight thinks

, why doesn't he write to Mr. Deacon here,

she relaxed and into her fa

" she said. "The

look, scowled at

'd he

ouch his mail. I'll have t

es!" said

nted it with passion. He paused beside Lulu and stammered: "You-you-

filled with tears, and she could not spea

ornish sorrowfully, "ther

it was so fine and alive and near, by comparison with Ninian's loose-lipped, ruddy, impersonal look and Dwight's thin, high-boned

d if I just could know for sure that the other

mission Cornish se

ould," he s

Waters, of San Diego, Californ

They stared at each ot

way Mrs. Be

ng," she remarked, "an

ma," Lulu said. "C

eisurely air of doing the

in' and singin'," she remar

knew how to play

" Mrs. Bett volunteered, and spr

said C

th far eyes. She laughed at old delights, drooped at old fears. She told about her little daughter who had died at sixteen-a tragedy such as once would h

e more piec

" Cornis

en I Read That Sweet St

ticket!" c

t, to Lulu'

ut when you was a little gir

now as she must h

ot returned. But nobody thou

m?" Mrs. Be

. You mustn't touch them

oice. "If there was anything I could do at

ctives, unconsciously called

aid. "You don't know h

is," said Co

. The night was one of low clamour f

ulu, "of course you

. "Not for dollars. Not,"

ou wouldn't,"

ce time singing and listening to you talk-well, of course-I me

o," sh

came int

uess you didn't notice-

the

of course I did.

nvelope, the unfolded letter, a

s, music hall singer-married last night to Nin

ew out h

hantly. "He was married t

anted to see them about something. Then she said nothing, but sat looking with a troubled frown at Jenny. Jenny's hair was about her nec

u," Mrs. Plow said. "Is

to ask-quite a lot of places. I guess t

when she herself had gone after the cakes. But she kept on looking about the room. It was so bright an

she did not know what she wished. Certainly it wa

w asked, and he was bright

t much. But I wanted Jenny

t ni

as her only way of apology. "Wher

fashion: "We went across the river and

e did you

light. Long befo

d to be home early on account of Mr. Cornish, so that she and Bobby had not stayed at all. To which Lulu said an "o

d Mrs. Plow, catchi

he was." But she said nothing more, and went home. There she put it

'clock. Where were you?" Lulu spoke fo

amma comes home,

merely looked at her helplessly. Mrs. Bett,

Bobby were out in the side yard si

her furious flush, a

ft, but I didn't say a word. Thinks I, 'She's wiggl

ed. "You didn't even te

finding Ninian's letter and all-

irm of flesh and erect before

'll say," said Lulu, "and I do

are tired of each other, anywa

folly, her irritating independence-"and there," Lulu thought, "just the other day I was teaching her to sew." Her mind dwelt too on Dwight's furious anger at the opening of Ninian's letter. But when all this had spent itself,

gs. And it was strange: Lulu bore no physical appearance of one in distress or any anxiety. Her head was erect, her movements were strong and swift

e night before. The sun surged through the kitchen door and east window, a returned oriole swung

Mrs. Bett remarked at intervals,

ubled, her ethical refinements

d shame the devil,"

le earlier Lulu had heard her moving about her room, and

and for a time said nothing. But at length she did say: "W

t was eating a baked potato, holding her fork close to th

went off,

nt

alk. Down t

" said Lulu. "I wish she wouldn

straight hair. "She'll catch it!"

om the kitchen and was seated at

'd want her to take

sat

take it north hers

Di went away just now, wa

s. Bett demanded, aggrieved.

hich way d

poon. "She went that way,

railway station. The twelve-thirty train, which every one

ou go out of the yard while I

, her old shoes, she was hatless and without money. When she was still two

at her sides. So she came down the platform, and to the ticket window. The contained ticket

i Deacon take

did," sa

Lulu cared nothing

ocal," said Lenny, a

he

gh. "Millton," he said. "Yes,

till anoth

k, if you was goin' too. Seventeen was late this

ticket to Millton, without me paying till

h a manner of laying the enti

nal was law on the time card, and the magnificent yellow express slowed

d anybody? Why had she not stayed in Warbleton and asked the sheriff or somebody-no, not the sheriff. Cornish, perhaps. Oh, and Dwight and

one in any unfamiliar town. She put her hands to her hair and for the first time realized her

d timidly, "the name of the

his as they neared

r looked cur

"Wasn't you expecting anybody

m going to find my folks

onductor, using his utilit

no consternation. Nobody paid any attention to her. Sh

angrily at the lobby entrance. "Ain't you b

r to the rear basement door. She obeyed meekly, but she lost a good deal of time before she

ut. "See if Di Deacon has

to her, showed her where to look in the register. When only stra

the p

umb, and in the other hand a pen divorc

look. But now the idlers in the Hess House lobby did not exist. In time she found the door of the intensely rose

up, started up, frowned, Lulu felt as if she herself were

ma'll like your taki

at home. And superadded: "My goodness!" An

"You-you-you'd ought

at to you?

're just a li

she said, "if you and Bobby want to get married, why not let us get you up a nice wed

e wanted to

he's

id he's

n't

e said, "you're a funny perso

you just the same as if I w

i cruelly, "and I'm going t

e tried to find something to say. "What do people

r your whole life," wa

't," Di fla

ntment in her. She must deal with this right-that was

ck with me-and wait till

ay I'm not to be marri

how young

s to

is wrong-i

about getting married

an't be wrong to

me stay at home. And I won't stay at home-I won'

ace there came a lig

aid, "do you fee

this. Sh

they do. And I'm not allowed to do a thing

t that part,

suffered? She had not thought of that. There Di had seemed so young, so dependent, so-asquirm. Here, by herself, w

d, "to be hushed up and laughed at and p

said Lulu

d looking at Di. If this was

ried, "do you lo

e got to marry somebody," she sa

is it

, not in her own right, but either she had picked it up somewhere and adopted it, or else the terrible modernity and honesty o

she

." She waited for a moment. "You d

as stupefied. For she be

uess," Di muttered, as if to t

Lulu felt that she and Di actually shared some unsuspected sisterhood. It was not only that they were both bad

ust said is true, I guess. Don't you think I

r kinship with Di by virtue of that which ha

s. And goodness, look

" she said, "but I guess yo

. These two women had outdressed their occasion. In their presence Di kept silence, turned away her head, gave them to know that she had noth

going to sta

ellious child. "I guess Bobby'll have somet

t you in

a baby-the id

om her, through that bright lobby and into the street. She thought miserably that she must follow. And then h

nd looked out of the window. For her life Lulu could think of no

ilence when Bobby Lark

there were, in im

came hurrying, now and then turned to the left when he met folk, gla

assumed for the crisis of threading the lobby-a Bobby who wished it to be

y who was no less than overwhelmed with the stupendous

e with Lulu was the real Bobby into whose

umed all the pretty agitatio

Is it al

ked over

id fatuously. "If

Di, and did not take i

to stop us getting married, bu

p us," quoth Bobby glo

e hand flatly along her cheek,

brows, set his hand

inors,"

you didn't have t

ey knew

didn't you tell

t I

s," she said, "don't you

ndignantly, with his head held very stiff,

ook it. We know we're responsible-that's al

d me to li

e out you neve

this-" he s

such a thing," D

o now. The cat's out. I've told our ages

u can think of?

t el

r Holt, and tell them we're o

y, "why, that'd

ted to marry her. Di stuck out her little hand. She was at a disadvantage. She could use no art

and laughed awkwardly. "I've told Di," she said to Bobby, "that wherever you two go, I'm going too. Di's folks le

ably at the carpet. His whole manner was a mute testimony to

are you going to le

t not in the manner on which D

or Holt or any town and lie,

him. "You're about as much like a man

rose room, this time to stay. They inspected Lul

he four-thirty to Warbleton

wants to back

t," Bobby contended furi

nt Lulu," sa

ht up the rear. She walked awkwardly, eyes down, her hands stiff

," said Lulu, "so

and did not know where to look,

had, he said, something to see to there in Millton. Di did not

k I'm going to sit with you. You look a

Di," said

ved at the Deacons'. Mrs. Bett stood on

you!" she ca

hed the door, Ina bo

rli

her loudly, drew back from

ried. "Di! What hav

was hearty laughter. She now laughed heartily,

her sister, and

are, I never saw such a family. Mamma don't know

-plenty," snap

g a sticky gift, jump

atch it!" she sent out he

g," she complained. "There I knew about the bag the hull time, but I wasn't going to tell her and spoil her ge

nately. "Stay here. Help me. I've

f the casual with which he always received the excitement of another, and especially of his Ina. Then she heard Ina's feet padding up

hange the blue cotton dress. In that dress Lulu wa

. "Our festiv

eetness of expression-almost as if she were

cried. "You dress for me; Ina, aren

moving stiffly, as in all her indignations. Mrs. Bett had thought b

ally? Can't you run up a

. "No," she said. "I'm too

to me-"

ant any,"

er even to Dwight. She, who measured delicate,

bout it. Where had you and Aunt

A-ha! So Aunt Lulu was along

?" asked his

a jaunt," said Dwight Herbe

let's hear,

an't we hear something abo

, the lines of his face dropped, its muscles se

e said. "I know we've said good

ght!" sa

e me my start-she took all the care of me-taught me to read-she's the only mother

ourney. These details Dwight interrupted: Couldn't Lulu remember that he liked sage on the chops? He could hardly taste it. He had, he s

at him. "Now, Di," she went on, keeping the thread

id Di, "let me

n way. Tell us first what you've done since we

, and flashed

new black bag. And Di would say nothing. She l

d had you been? Why, but you couldn't have been with her-i

brows. "You certainly did not so far forget u

a good dress. Lulie wore it on the street-of course she did. She was

heard anything like this be

d been born again, identified with each one. Nothing

commanded. "Where were you two-

was now clear to Lulu. And Lulu feared him too. Abruptly she hea

little secret. Can't we hav

"she has a beautiful secret. I don

s, that fleet, lifted look

n that they all rose. Lulu stayed in the kitchen and did her best to mak

d. "Come in there-come. I can't

u. "Tell your mother

talking about it. I know him-every day he'll keep it going. After h

re you two whispering about? I declare, mam

Ina drew her with them, and handled the situation in the only way that s

e shawl about her

"How's that, Lulu-what are you

ngry, she reflected, before she must. He had not yet

er, a touch at a piano, a chiming clock. Lights starred and quickened in the blurred ho

ain of the time broken by him was like hearing, on a l

ight low, "your

idal shawl takes off

s time his voice broke. Di was curiously silent. When Cornish addressed her, she replied simply and directly-the

obby. In the besetting fear that he was leavin

in fact, hardly less than glum. It was Dwight, the irrepressible fellow, who kept the talk going. And it was no less than deft, his continuously displayed ability playfully to

is to have somebody one loves keep secrets from one. No w

from her room. "Come and

e always rose, unabashed, and went, motherly and dutiful, to hear devotions,

ett crossed the lawn from Grandma Gates's, where the old lad

arned them away sharply. "I gues

ill in her momentary rule of

Di and Bobby Larkin eloped off together to-day. He!"

ilenc

" Dwight Herber

Haven't I been trying and trying to fin

se, but it sound

t, Bobby," she

voice trembled, she was frantic with loving and authentic anxiety, but she was w

y, and stood up, very straig

requiring him to act. So the father set his face like a mask and brought down his han

errible, demanded a resp

" said Di,

swer me. Is there anyth

" said Di,

ng wha

ng wha

ow such a ridiculo

, p

e are. If anyone hears this rep

na, to whom an idea manifested l

"Lulu will of course veri

o her as his cruelty to Di; she saw Ina, herself a child in maternity, as ignorant of how to deal with the moment as was Dwight. She saw Di's falseness partly pa

with Di," said Lulu, "you

"You have a genius at misrepre

y something," said

id Bobby, low. "I hav

ed with him to the gate. It was as if, the worst

you hate a lie. But

ld see only the little mo

"it wasn't a lie. We

k I came for to-n

came gruffly. But she saw nothing, softened to him, yielde

lie to-day. Why, Di-I hate a lie. And now to-night-" He spoke his code almost beautifully. "I'd rath

ob

We mustn't t

go back and t

said Bobby. "Not out

d some one coming and she turned towa

're going to elope with anyb

aughter rang out so that th

wly in the lamplight, a little white thing

ever elope with Bobby Larkin, let it rest. I shal

darling?"

," said Di, "and

ened and

ndered if you wouldn't see that Bobby i

Ina said to Lulu in a man

led her that, "why did you

o hear Dwight ask casually: "By the way, Lu

ur table," Lulu answered. To Ina sh

unted stairs she stooped her shoulders, bunched her extremities, and bent her head. L

ter turn down the gas jest a

the advertisement of dental furniture, his Ina reading over his shoulder. "A-ha!" he said again, and with designed delibe

urious calm for high occasions. All had been used on small occasions. "You opened the l

dignantly at some one who is not looking at you, Dwight turn

been opening my

t, if it's

"She had asked me if she might o

practically, "w

es." His self-control was perfect, ridiculous, devilish. He was self-controlled because

she said-not defiantly, or ingratia

id you

aintly and s

ably, "she knows what's in

t, after a pause, "a

saw the clipping, the

absent with my brother for a month, you

her exceedi

e told the truth. He had anothe

s seems to me to make you consid

came about. He-he was used to thinking of his wife as dead. If he hadn

"That your apo

aid n

business. The less you say about it the bett

him so I could tell the truth. You said I mus

ll

ody. I want

hing for our feeli

t him now. "

that we have a brot

's me-i

ut of it. Just let it res

le to know the t

ut our business! I take it yo

him?

ur sakes, let's

ard, her hands awkwardly placed, her feet twisted. She k

Our interests are the same in this thing-only Ninian

said Lulu i

ll this disgraceful fact broadcast. Mine is, least said, s

up with bigamy, we'll never get away from i

up at her. Her straying hair, her parted lip

: What have I done-what have we done that I should have a good, kind, loving husband-be so protected, so lov

awl slipped to the floor. H

ing I've got-that's my pride. My pride

d to her, as across great distances. "Do you think I wa

help that,"

u to promise me that you won't shame

me to prom

h an effort, "to promise me that you wi

I won't do it! I won'

ay for my keep.... But there wasn't anything about it I liked. Nothing about being here that I liked.... Well, then I got a little something, same as other folks. I thought I was married and I went off on the train and he bought me things and I saw the different towns. And then it was all a mistake. I didn't have any of it. I came back here and

e fooled you, when he had a

e only just because he was lonesome, the way I was. I don't

wight, "is a w

Well, why can't t

disgrace

dualism strove against that terribl

s!" Dwight boo

had Lulu'

Di's account that I'm

uld it

in the family? Well, can't

Ina? Would

people wonder what kind of stock she came

course," said Dwight.

it would,"

and stepped about the floor, her broken

lked about for any reason--

lked ab

he got tired of you, you couldn't h

help that. And I couldn't h

d Dwight, "th

no crime,

ght, "disgraces ev

i," Lul

count will you promise us to let

o," said Lu

u w

'pos

thank you, Lulu. This

ugh time as it is." Aloud she said: "

at," Dwight gra

he knows. Well, that set

nk you've done this for

e so," s

g, went to her, kissed her, her trim tan

sacrificing sist

that!"

y in his. "I can now," he said, "

er hair behind her ears,

me! I'll have you know I'm gl

was called so in a Chicago paper. When the six copies arrived with a danseuse on the covers h

ught, and fastened the six copies

and sidewalk sprinkled, his red and blue plush piano spreads dusted. H

which always stabbed him anew: Was he really getting anywhere with his law? And where did he r

on the wire. How little else was in there, nobody knew. But those passing in the late evening saw the blu

he faint smell of the extinguished lamp went with him to his bed; or when he waked before any sign of dawn. In the mornings all was cheerful a

im flying. He wanted pas

ed, when he sa

er dark red suit

idea of saying anything else. Her excitemen

cipating in the village chorus of

o," sa

ing to be caught by something pas

ht?" he asked, and wondered why h

thank you,

t the letter

. You'll be sure," she added, "not to sa

I can," said Cornish, "bu

Lulu

eculation in his eyes, dropped them to a piano sc

ll you good-b

od-

. My satchel's in the bakery-I

ly, "then everything wasn

with me," she told him. "O

gave

ed, and

"you come here and sit do

, seated her in the one chair, and for himself brought up a piano stool. But afte

aid only. "But I won't stay th

are you g

, "I saw an advertisement in the

d Cornish, "you must have been coming from Millton yesterday wh

r back!" he ded

Lulu. "Oh,

is morning," he said. "That's just

ll that! You wo

"You tell me this: Do they know?

N

never

't know s

t, "for you not to tell her folks-I m

never let up on that-he'd jok

it se

know what to do. There's no sense in telling t

deal with so much reality. But

ump anyhow,"

said Lul

s. He insis

on't find very many married women

o refer to the truth that she was, after all, not married

e all right," said Cornish. "I be

ooking," Lulu said

n that, I know. I've o

h pleasure as passionate grat

whole place,

mean just t

night when you played croquet.

ver had but one compliment before that wasn't for my cooking." She seemed to feel that she must confess to that one. "He told me I

l," said C

ow. I wanted to say good-bye to you-a

tried to add something. "I hate to have y

ell," was all tha

on "Look here, I wish ..." when Lulu said "good-bye," and paused, wishing intensely to kn

Lulu, and went

d averted. And there settled upon him a depression out of all proportion to

down the store and his pianos looked back at him like strangers. Down there was the green curtain which screened his home life

ore his lawbook. But he sat, chin on chest,

lu, coming toward him, her face unsmiling but

. "At the offic

s hand the singl

ght would tell you that if his pride would let him tell the truth once in a while. But there ain't anything in my life makes me feel as bad as this.... I s'pose you couldn't understand and

ve and in her eyes there was a look of dignity such

-and she was alive, just as he

d," said

n't quite so bad as Dwig

is that Cornish

re free,"

t ..." s

her letter in

" she said. "Good-bye

ay. Cornish had laid

good-bye,

e," she s

u go," sa

ed at hi

could possibly s

Lulu, lik

uess maybe you've heard something about a little something I

face, but she hardly h

now. I went and looked at it the other day, but then I didn't think-" he caught himself on t

by that "we,"

ever think of such a

"You know! Why, do

race?" ask

said, "y

e, if you loved him very much, then I'd ought not

n't thin

o very much-about hi

my own. That's the reason I do

that way,"

brought to bear something whic

some myself. This is no place to live. And I guess living so is

nfession. She acce

rse," s

what you might say pr

too private,

der to tell her. "I-I don't believe I'm ev

said Lulu, "how

a faint laugh. "Sometimes I think," he drew down his

"Lots of m

nt on gently, "that I like as much as I do you. I-I was engaged to a girl once, b

thought it was

"she's a little kid. And," h

oing on th

am

there s

e. Do you

, y

l en

king of," said Lulu.

sh cried, and

must mind if I hurry a little

at dinner. Mrs. Bett was in

bout Lulu?"

"Why should I have anyt

ght-we've got t

sister is of age-I don't know about the sound mind, but she is certain

re has she gone? Where

x," said Dwight playfu

wrist on the oven. She li

iss her if she stays away

cient unto your litt

id Ina, "except when y

t coffee," announ

of the sort," said In

t went on, "I'm in a t

you say what fo

was sufficiently willing to play his games, a

to take Grandma Gates out in

t a wheel-chair,

ul man. "Why I never did it before, I can't imagine. There that chair's been in the depot ever s

said Ina, "how

nse!"

d apple? Monona, you take Grandma Gates a baked

't wan

mamma won't

a piteous face, took

good," said Ina, "but

teaches Monona a life of

always think,

ther to come out?

g dinner onto the table, I

. Bett's voice sounded. "I wa

ers of her mouth drew down. She ate her dinner cold, appeased in vague are

se the front door so comm

Monona. It was

wight, tone cu

aid Ina,

t her dinner, and went to her da

first," Cornish said. "

r more!"

ng to his feet. "You're jo

ried-just now. Methodist parsonage. We

t?" Ina demanded, f

Cornish replie

ng-room part

emotion was hi

it for?" he put it to th

n. Neither of them, they said,

"I'm not surprised, after all," he sa

she said, "why, Lulie. You ain't been and got

cried. "She wasn't married that first ti

tle shrie

have to know that. You'll have to tel

ach about her, Lulu looked across at Ina and Dwight,

ill have to tell now, won't you

to give Grandma Gates her ride in the wheel-chair an

ind, no one saw her. In the pleasant mid-day light under the maples