OCR Text |
Show THE TIMES-NEW- S. Miss Lulu Bett By ZONA GALE Copyright by D. Appleton V Continued. 11 Dwight mulled this. Lulu might have told every one of these women that story with which he had come home. It might be all over town. Of course, in that case he could turn Lulu out should do so. In fact. Still the story would be all over town. g "Dwlght," said Lulu, "I want address." "Going to write to him!" Ina cried Incredulously. "I want to ask him for the proofs that Dwlght wanted." "My dear Lulu," Dwlght said Impatiently, "you are not the one to write. Have you no delicacy?" Lulu smiled a strange smile, originating and dying In one corner of her mouth. "Yes," she said. "So much delicacy that I want to be sure whether I'm married or not." Dwlght cleared his throat with a movement which seemed to use his shoulders for the purpose. "I myself will take this up with my brother." he said. "I will write to him about It." Lulu sprang to her feet. "Write to him now I" she cried. "Really," said Dwlght, lifting his brows. "Now now!" Lulu said. She moved about, collecting writing materials from their casual lodgments on shelf and table. She set all before him and stood by him. "Write him now." shn snld again. "My dear Lulu, don't be nbsurd." She said: "Ina, help me. If It was Dwlght and they didn't know whether he had another wife, or not, and you wanted to ask him oh, don't you see? Help me." Ina was not yet the woman to cry for Justice for Its own sake, nor even to stand by another woman. She was primitive, and her Instinct was to look to her own male merely. "Well," she said, "of course. But why not let Dwlght do It in his own wuyf wouiuni mat De Detterr She put It to her sister fairly: Now; no matter what Dwlght's way was, wouldn't that be better? "Mother!" said Lulu. She looked Irresolutely toward her mother. But Mrs. Bett was eating caradmom seeds with exceeding gusto, end Lulu looked way. Caught by the gesture, Mrs. Bett Tolced her grievance. "Lnlle," she said. "Set down. Take off your hat, why don't you?" Lulu turned upon Dwlght a. quiet face which he had never seen before. "Too write that letter to Ninlan." she snld. "and you make him tell you so youll understand. I know he spoke the truth. But I want you to know." "M m," said Dwlght "And then I suppose you're going to tell It all ever town as soon as you have the proofs." "I'm rolng to tell It all over town," aid Lulu, "Just as It la unless yon write to him now." "Lulu!" cried Ina. "Oh, you wouldn't." "I would," said Lulu. "I will." sobered. This Dwlght wa Lulu looked capable of it But then he sneered. "And get turned out of this house, ea yon would be?" "Dwlght!" cried his Ina. "Oh, you wouldn't I" "I would." said Dwlght "I will. Lulu knows It." "I shall tell what I know and then leave your house anyway." snld Lulu, "unless you get Nlnlnn's word. And I want you should write him now." "Leave your mother? And Ina?" he cock-and-bu- ll Nin-tun'- , j , i I I uked. "Leave everything." tnld Lulu. "Oh. Dwlght," said Ina, "we can't fet along without Lulu." She did not ay lit what particulars, but Dwlght knew. Dwlght looked at Lulu, an upward. Mewls look, with manner of peering otil to see If she meant It. And he saw. He nhrnpged. pursed Ms lips crookedly, rolled his head to signify the Inexpressible. "Isn't that like a wom-i- r he demsnded. He rose, "Rnther thaa let you In for a show of temper." lie mid grandly, Td do anything." n wrote the letter, addressed It. his hand elflhorntely curved In secrecy bout the envelope, pocketed It "Ina and I'll walk down with yea to mall It" said Lulu. Dwlght hesitated, frowned. Ills Ina watched him with consulting brows. "I was going," snld Dwlght. "to prolittle stroll before bedtime." pose lie roved about the room. "Where's my beautiful straw hat? There's nothing like a brisk walk to Induce sound, restful sleep," he told them. He bummed a bar. "TouTl be all right mother?" Lula "Why, but Dwlght" "Brazen," he said. "Oh, It was brazen." "It was Just fun, la the first place." "But no really nice woman " he shook his head. "Dwlght! Lulu la nice. The Ideal" He regarded her. "Would you have done that?" he would know. Under his fond look, she softened, took his homage, accepted everything, was silent. "Certainly not" he said. "Lulu's tastes are not fine like yours. I should never think of you as sisters." "She's awfully good," Ina said, feebly. Fifteen years of married life behind her but this was sweet and she could not resist. "She has excellent qualities." He admitted It. "But look at the position she's In married to a man who tells her he has another wife In order to get free. Now, no really nice wo- man" "No really nice man " Ina did say much. "Ah." said Dwlght, "but you could never be In such a position. No, no. Lulu Is sadly lacking somewhere." Ina sighed, threw back her head, caught her lower lip with her upper, as might be In a hem. "What If It was that Dl?" she supposed. "Dtl" Dwlght's look rebuked his wife. "Dl," he said, "was born with ladylike feelings." It was not yet ten o'clock. Bobby Larkln was permitted to stay until The Green Christmas v m : Chrlstoroher Company lously his Ina. "You know that, don't you?" he sharply Inquired. "But I really think you ought to have written to Ninlan about It," she now dared to say. "It's not a nice position for Lulu." "Nice? Well, but whom has she got to blame for it?" "Why, Ninlan," said Ina. Dwlght threw out his bands. "Herself," he said. "To tell you the truth, I was perfectly amazed at the way she snapped him up there In that restaurant." NEPHI. UTAH d TTnrcml "How the dickens did you think of JWT WA8 not a very cheerful pianos for a line?" Dwlght asked him boy that was looking out of once. "Now, my father was a dentist, the window at what little so I came by it natural never entered V lh JUL dirty ice the winter thaw my head to be anything else. But pihad left upon the hill In anos " front of the house. Through The music manhis name was Nell the fine ceasting days he Cornish threw up his chin In a boyish fashlou, and said he'd be Jiggered had heard the happy noise of the if he knew. All up and down the War- sledding while the doctor had said bleton niuin street, the chances are that be could not go out and Join in that the answer would sound the it and now, though he might soon be same. "I'm studying law when I get out of doors again, there was no surety the chance," said Cornish, as one who of as good a hill again and small pros makes a bid to be thought of more pect of sport ' It wasn't a very cheerful house, highly. "I see," said Dwlght, respectfully either. Mr. Bondage was a chainraak er, and when he came home from his dwelling on the verb. Later on, Cornish confided more to iron works he always seemed to bring Dwlght: He was to come by a little his business with him. The bouse of Inheritance some day not much, but Bondage was big and strong, but it something. Yes, It made a man feel a was hard, and still, and dark, and too certain confidence. . . . orderly. From the outside It looked "Don't It?" suld Dwlght heartily, as Ilka a fort, and Inside, the chairs stood If he knew. at attention, like soldiers. The par Me told lor was a solemn place, where the Every one liked Cornish. funny stories, and he never compared stiff furniture was seldom prevented Warbleton save to Its advantage. So from looking at itself in the gilded at lust Dwlght suld tentatively at mirror. The dining room didn't get lunch: the sun antll towards evening, when "What If I brought that Nell Cor- the motto, "Be Good and You Will Be nish up for supper one of these Happy" could be as plainly seen as nights?" the one on the opposite wall, "Chll "Oh, Dwlghtle, do," said Ina. "If lrea Should Be Seen but Not Heard.' there's a man In town, let's know It." When the boy put on his hated bib "What If I brought him up tonight?" here, it exhorted him with, "Don't Eat Up went Ina's eyebrows. Tonight? Too Much." " 'Scalloped potatoes and meat louf Chained to the front porch was an and sauce and bread and butter," iroa dog, whose fixed and ferocious Lulu contributed. snarl was a standing Insult to all the Cornish came to supper. He was tillage dogs that could get through what is known In Wurbleton as dap- the iron fence to dispute with him per. This Ina saw as she emerged on Pbere was some fun about the place; the veranda in response to Dwlght's t was when a surprised dog retired informal halloo on his way upstairs. from the attack with a new respect for She herself was in white muslin, now the tough guardian of the Bondage In much too snug, and a blue ribbon. To rercsts. Even the iron-cla- d knight In her greeting their guest replied in that he front hall seemed to laugh through engaging shyness which Is not awk- his visor then. wardness. He moved In some pleasant Besides all this, Ishmael had had no web of gentleness and friendliness. Christinas. Mr. Bondage did not beThey asked him the usual questions to him Santa lieve In and he replied, rocking all the time Clans wasChristmas; a foolish Imagination and with a faint undulating motion ol i hurtful superstition. He had Joined head and shoulders: Warbleton wat "The Society for the Prevention of one of the prettiest little towns thai Pseless Giving," and was glad to be he had ever seen. He liked the people ailed a Spug. On December 25th he tbey seemed different. He was sure had presented to his son a picture of to like the place, already liked It. himself, standing la front of his office Lulu came to the door In Ninlan' with the scowl upon his face that rep thin gown. She shook resented his Idea of the expression of hands with the stranger, not lookin; but the only comfort of the at him, and said, "Come to supper lay for the boy had been the sweet all." Monona was already in her place contents of the small package that his under-brentMrs. Bett aftei singing had mother smuggled Into his room hovering In the kitchen door, entered; Inst before daylight but they forgot to Introduce her. But Ishmael Bondage had an Aont "Where's Dl?" asked Ina. "I declare ! And Aunt Snrnh had the that daughter of mine Is never any- Sarah home In the country. It pleasantest where." a was low. wide, rambling old house. A brief silence ensued as they were seated. There being a guest grace was In the midst of the trees and bugged hy the climbing vines that loved It to come, and Dwlght said, unintelligirhere wasn't a place In it too good to bly and like lightning, a generic aphe used and In Its snowy whiteness It to our bless this food, forgive all peal sins and finally save us. And there seemed to shine out upon the fenceless was something tremendous In this grounds with an Invitation to the hosancient form whereby all stages of pitality of Its gardens and the good men bow In some now unrecognized recognition of the ceremonial of taking food to nourish life and more. At "Amen" Dl flushed In, her offices at the mirror fresh upon her perfect hair, silk dress turned up at the hem. She met Corulsh, crimsoned, fluttered to her seat, joggled the .able and, "Oh, dear," she said audibly to her mother, "I forgot my ring." The talk was saved alive by a frank effort Dwlght served, making Jests about everybody coming back for more. They went on with Warbleton happenings. Improvements and openings; and the runaway. Cornish tried hard to make himself agreeable, not ingratiatingly, but good cat uredly. He wished 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. Dwlght pretended that those whom he was helping a second time were getting more than their share and facetiously landed on Dl about eating so much that she would grow up and be married, first thing' she knew. At the word "married" Dl turned scsrlet, laughed heartily and lifted her glass of water. Aunt Sarah Carried Ishmael Off. "And what Instruments do you cheer wt Its friendly owners. That play?" Ina asked Cornish, to an unwas the bright spot for Ivhmael. When related effort to lift the talk to b be went eet there bla aont would han,j levels.. his Fauntlerey suit np In the elottet "Well, do you kaow," said the music man, "I can't play a thing. Don't and give him a leather anit that could know a black note from a white one." not be torn and tell him to go It He "You don't? Why Dl plays very could eat without a bib and there ws prettily," said DCs mother. "But not a motto la sljht By the time thnt then, bow can you tell what songs to vac t Ina was over be was a renl lxiy. order?" Ina cried. The other boys stepped railing him coNTiifuan.) (to "Blsay" and no longer asked him if his Mother know be was out. Indeed, Japanese Paper. he wp and thrashed a bullying boy who A government expert who has been had knocked over one of his companInvestigating the wonderful papers of ion whe was about half his size. AfJapan reports that the Japanese make ter tMs there wss anthlag that be water bags or rice psper, which are could ant have among bis crowd. fo. held to be more durable as well as every vacation sent a prim but Jyful less expensive than similar article hoy to Atrnt Karab and closed wltb mane of rul.ber. Between the layer of paper, which Is soft and flexible more rntrt but rather dejected ewe on resin Is used, and the outside Is cov. his wayA home. But ant Ssrah also had a mind of ered with lacquei. her own. She bad much mind that he tad covirtnded that winter to go Guatemala, wth about S.nOO.Or) In and give Benjamin ftendag a piece habitants, una the largest populatlm It She considered iMhmnel's state of any of the CeutraJ American t and situation and to give h'a publics. ffcther good talkli g to." When she KVil black-and-whi- Later On, Cornish Confided More to Dwlght: He Was to Come by a Little Inheritance Soma Day. ten. From the veranda came the Indistinguishable murmur of those young voices. "Hobby," Dl was saying ulthln that murmur, "Bobby, you don't kiss me as If you really wanted to kiss me, tonight" VI September. The office of Dwlght Herbert Deacon, Dcntlat. Gold Work a Speclnlty (sic) In black lettering, and Justice of the Peace In gold, was above a store which had been occupied by one unlucky tenant after another, and had suffered long periods of vacancy when ladles' aid societies served lunches there. Under great white signs, bsdly lettered. Some months of disuse were now broken by the news that the store had been let to a mulc man. A music man, what oa earth was that? Warbleton Inquired. The music man arrived. Installed three planoe, and filled bis window with sheet mnalc, as sung by many ladles who swung In hammocks or kissed their hands oa the munlc rovers. While he was still moving In, Dwlght Herbert Deacon wsndered downatslrs and stood Informally In the door of the new store. The music man, a pleasant-facechap of thirty oM, was rubbing at the face of a piano. tied. Mrs. Bett did not look np. "These "Hello, there 1" be said. "Con I sell cardiimon her got a little Bite too you an upright?" "If I can take It out In pulling your dry." she Mild. teeth, you can," Iwlghf replied. "Or," In the loom, fna snd Dwlil'f dls-ue-d said he, "I might marry you free, Ittipr one." tre Incredible action of Lulu. On this thflr friendship hezan. "I saw." nld Dwlght. "1 aw she waxn't hemi'lf. I'd do anything to Thenceforth, when btwinrss was dii'l, avoid having a scene you know the Idle bourn of both men were be- yhat." His glance swept a little aox- - gulled with Idle gossip. d si rlved appeared Mr. Bondage felt that his time bad probably come. When she had finished he knew it had. She told him that he had forgotten that he was ever a boy, if, Indeed, he had ever been one, that he had made himself into an Iron man, that he was blind-that he seemed eyed and determined to fasten all his chains upon Ishmael and make bis son as still and cold as an Icicle. Mrs. Bondage, behind the door, ex pected her husband to object In loud and angry tones, but, to her astonishment, he was silent. He seemed to remember an old motto, "Discretion Is the Better Tart of Valor," profitably, and did not Interfere, even when Aunt Sarah, flushed, but triumphant carried Ishmael off. There was some winter play left and to come nt Sweetfleld, bat Aunt Sarab wasn't satisfied as easily as that, fot she bad made up the rest of her mind Into an Idea that Ishmael should have the Christmas that he hadn't had, after alt It wasn't much of a Christmas day when the belated Christmas tree blossomed and bore fruit, but It was a fine tree. The snow and Ice had disappeared and a warm wind made the late winter seem like early spring, but Aunt Sarah said that evergreen trees kept Christmas all the year round, and that every day was their day. Oer- - Christmas Violels By TTlary Qraham Bonner hard-hearte- (. Western Nwpper Union.) been told by bla HAROLD had that big cities were full of designing women. Harold did not know whether his mother was right or not. But he did know that In bla city boarding house there was one of the dearest little girls who had ve lived. Harold was not selfish. He was far being a miser. His Idea of a miser was a clmp he had known In bla home town. He had never spent any money which he could possibly avoid spending. He always ate with hie friends and rarely paid for a meal. He was always out of cigarettes and so smoked his friends' cigarettes. He had made a good living and never failed to talk of his poverty. He bad been accused of worshiping money and he had replied : "Not a bit I have of It great respect for money. That is the difference." Harold despised that kind of 8 person. And yet perhnps, wouldn't the "dearest little girl" think be was mean? He had never given her anything and ho had lived at the boarding h o u 8 e for six months now. Did she think he was mean? That was what bothered him. She bad told him of a person she had known whom she considered a miser, and she had told him of a Joke upon thla "miser." For he had bargained with a little shop dealer and had obtained an article marked a dollar for fifty cents, and then had walked down the street a little farther on onO had seen the same article In another window for twenty-fivcents. And finally he bad seen It In a ten-cestore for a dime-w- ell, he had almost considered life useless, while everyone else had rejoiced that It had been a good one oa the "mrser." One of the reasons that made htm feel thnt she thought perhaps, he was mean was because she knew others who were generous. Or, at least one other. Every Saturday she had received-flowe- rs. She had taken a card oat of the box as they had sat at the board ing house table at breakfast The other boarders teased her about her admirer and she seemed to enjoy It Only he felt uncomfortable and could say nothing. And Helen, whom he railed to himself the dearest little girl, hod bees receiving tliese flowers for quite a few weeks now. Finally he could stand It no longer. His mother needn't tell him anything more about the city's designing women. He was not going to lose the dearest little girl. If there was yet a chance, because of his morhers warnings to keep to himself. And, besides, Christmas was coming, and Christmas was a lime of year when everyone felt happy. He was going to make a tremendous fight to be happy ! And be sent her violets, beautiful deep purple violets, wltb a pink rose tn the center. Never had he seen her so happy as she was over his violets. How differently she acted about his than about the others. And then he asked her If she would take a walk with him. Ro far, they had had all their talks tn the boarding house. "I wonder." he snld, "If you'd think It was awfully sudden If I made a lit tle ui:eKtlon? I was thinking how nice a ring would look on thnt left hnnd of yours as a Christinas present nnd nn engagement present If 1 may be bold, and if roa've not nlreaily promised yonrwlf to the other fellow? Or. maybe yon could Ultrn to llk me better." "What other from 3 e "A Wonderful Pockatknifo " talnly It was the most interesting tree that Ishmael bad ever soen, from the bundle at the bottom, through all the ornaments, lights and gifts, to the mysterious package at the top of It shone with kind and thoughtful love and sparkled with merry wishes and glad promise. They and the children from the neighborhood who had come to hare the Joy end the presents that Aunt Sarah bad prepared were wondering what would be found In that lust parcel at the top, until it was taken down, and then a part of the party, at least, was surprised when the wrapping was taken off and a wonders ful pocketknlfe, beside a football, conveyed merry wishes from Mr. Bondage to his son. Aunt Sarab said afterwards that at this she nearly "went off the handle." When May came it seemed time for Ishmael to go home, but he was noi very happy at the prospect Indeed he was rather unhappy about it U felt something like one on his way to Jail, and even shed tears at the thought of leaving Sweetfleld, so that a squirrel, seeing him wiping his eyes under a tree, exclaimed "Oh, what a rainy boy 1" but the day came and Ishmael went Another surprise awaited him, bow-evefor, as be neared home and entered It everything seemed changed. The house looked sunny and pleasant tn Its new colors, the fence had dlsup peered, the iroa dog bad been moved to the barn, and the mailed knight bad gone down to the ironworks to be turned into plowshares. ' When Mr. Bondage went out to Sweetfleld to visit his sister and to report upon Islimael's progress, A nut Sarah bad her reward. "It is all your "I needed doing, Sarah," said be. someone to show me up to myself." "Well, brother," snld Aunt Sarah, "A Stitch In Time Saves Nine." as the proverb has It, and you certaialy will as proud of be proud of eur boy bin as I am of my big, aew brother." When December came blustering around again and brought Santa Claim aad all bio toad of love and Jollity, there was no place that more warmly welcomed him than Mount Freedom, as Mr. Bondage's home had come te be tailed, and of all the happy Christian parties of that year, none was fuller of mirth and good cheer than the one at Mount Freedom, They danced about the tree and under tl.e uiotta that bung from the top of it wltb Us meimaat of good will to every, body, the football was kicked all over the Doer and tbey situated la their glee. The sneaklng toys, the tooting whistles, tbe happy seags, all made the time ae merry as It eaght always tn few, while the gifts spoke aieeoagi-of lore. Ifdnnnet had prospered enoegh hi his studies to make a pictare of Sweetfleld. It hung ever the mantel shelf In the living room and under It he bat written, "The Home of the Green asked him Christmas" When asy about It he weald tell them hew spring once came In a wintry time; lie wea'd -say thnt while Christmas mthw hut once a year. It sometimes femes twice, and thnt whenever It corr.es It brings grsod cheer; hut he was never able to make a picture of his Annt Sarab thai seemed ta him good enoegb. first-clas- r, yt s I ilk fellow r Helen in ml asked. "The one who has been sending yon flowers all along." "Oh." Helen wild, "I'll have te tell you the truth. I sent theai to myselt You were so shy. you seemed to like me and yet couldn't go shout telling me or asking me out and I thought maybe I'd make you rnrlons or Jealous or something." "And you've cared for me all along as I nave for you?" he queried. She nodded. And then he fold her the warnings he had been given by bla mother. "1 don't know but what's she's right." Il';Vn wild. "I made design for you. she could truthfully say." But neither of them thought of I ha rm-t- . only of the gtnrbm future ahead. And Helen wre more violets on ChrlMi.uis dny and a ting with a stone which sparkled so beautifully. And titcy bud dlpiier by themselves a renl Christmas dinner, for It wns Dot only ChrlMniMS doy It i their wedding day, tool |