OCR Text |
Show Till JT oErnr'T THE SLY ONE SYNOPSIS. General factotum In the houpe of her Bister Ina, wife of Herbert Deacon, In the small town of Warbleton, Lulu Belt leads a dull, cramped existence, with which she Is constantly at enmity, though apparently satisfied with her lot Bobby Larkin, recently graduated high-school youth, is secretly enamored en-amored of Deacon's elder daughter, Diana. The family Is excited over the news of an approaching visit from Deacon's brother Nlni&n, whom he had not seen for many years. Unexpectedly, Nlnlan arrives. ar-rives. Thus he becomes acquainted with Lulu first and understands her position in the house. To Lulu, Nlnlan la a much-traveled man of the world, and even the slight Interest In-terest which he takes In her is appreciated, because It is something new In her life. At an outing which the family takes, Nlnlan and Lulu become confidential. He expresses ex-presses his disapproval of her treatment as a sort of dependent In the Deacon home. Diana and Bobby, In the course of "soft nothings," noth-ings," discuss the possibility of eloping and "surprising the whole school." Lulu has awakened to pleasant possibilities concerning NLnlan's Intentions toward herself. Nlnlan takes the family for a "good time" in the adjacent city. At supper, after the theater, as part of a Joke Lulu repeats the words of the civil marriage ceremony, cere-mony, with Ninian. Herbert remembers re-members that a civil wedding Is binding In the state, and Inasmuch as he Is a magistrate, Nlnlan and Lulu are legally married. They go honeymooning. Lulu returns. She says Nlnlan married eighteen years - ago and wasn't sure that the woman wom-an was dead; so sha came back. V Continued. 10 Lulu went on : "He was very good to me. This dress and my shoes and my hat. And another dress, too." She found the pins and took off her hat. "He liked the red wing," she said. "I wanted black oh, Dwlght! He did tell me the truth I" It was as if the red wing had abruptly borne mute witness. Dwlght's tone now mounted. His manner, it mounted too. "Even If It is true," said he, "I desire de-sire that you should keep silent and protect my family from this scandal. I merely mention my doubts to you for your own profit. "My own profit !" She said- no more, but rose and moved to the door. "Lulu you see l With Di and all !" Ina begged. "We Just couldn't have this known even if it was so." "You have It in your hands," said Dwlght, "to repay me. Lulu, for anything any-thing that you feel I may have done for you In the past. You also have It In your " hands to decide whether your home here continues. That is not a pleasant position for me to find myself in. It is distinctly unpleasant, I may say. But you see for yourself." Lulu went on, into the passage. "Wasn't she married when she thought, she was?" Mrs. Bett cried shrilly. "Mamma," said Ina. "Do, please, remember Monona. Yes Dwlght thinks she's married all right now nnd that It's all right, all the time." "Well, I hope so, for pity sakes," said Mrs. Bett, and left the room with her daughter. Hearing the stir, Monona upstairs lifted her voice: "Mamma! Come on and hear my prayers, why don't your" When they came downstairs next morning, Lulu had breakfast ready. Well I" cried Ina in her curving tones, "If this Isn't like old times." Lulu said yes, it wns like old times, and brought the bacon to the table. "Lulu's the only one In this house can cook the bacon so's It'll chew." Under These Prohibitions, Which l-eosed a Thousand Speculations, Dl Was Very Nearly Paralyzed. Mrs. Bett volunteered. She was wholly affable, and held contentedly to Ina'i last word that Dwlght thought now It was all right. "Ho!" said Dwlght. "The happy family, once more about the festive ! toaster." He gauged the moment to call for goo cheer. Ina, too. became breezy, blithe. Monona caught their tplrtt and laughed, head thrown well back and gently shaken. By ZONA GALE ' Copyright by D. Appleton A Company DI came In. She had been told that Auntie Lulu was at home, and that she, Dl, wasn't to say anything to her about anything, nor anything to anybody any-body else about Auntie Lulu being back. Under these prohibitions, which loosed a thousand speculations, DI was very nearly paralyzed. She stared at her Aunt Lulu Incessantly. Not one of them had even a talent for the casual, save Lulu herself. Lulu was amazingly herself. She took her old place, assumed her old offices. When Monona declared against bacon. It was Lulu who suggested sug-gested milk toast and went to make it. "Mamma," Di whispered then, like escaping steam, "Isn't Uncle Nlnlan coming too?" "Hush. No. Now don't ask any more questions." "Well, can't I tell Bobby and Jenny she's here?" "No. Don't say anything at all about her." "But, mamma. What has she done?" "Di! Do as mamma tells you. Don't you think mamma knows best?" DI of course did not think so, had not thought so for a long time. But now Dwlght said: "Daughter! Are yon a little girl or are you our grown-up young lady?" "I don't know," said Di reasonably, "but I think you're treating me like a little girl now." "Shame, .Dl," said Ina, unabashed by the accident of reason being on the side of Di. "I'm eighteen," Di reminded them forlornly, "and through high schooL" "Then act bo," boombed her father. Baffled, thwarted, bewildered, Di went over to Jenny Plow's and there imparted understanding by the simple process of letting Jenny guess, to questions skillfully shaped. When Dwight said, "Look at my beautiful handkerchief," displayed a hole, sent his Ina. for a better, Lulu, with a manner of haste, addressed him: "Dwlght, It's a funny thing, but I haven't Ninlan's Oregon address." "Well?" "Well, I wish you'd give It to me." Dwlght tightened and lifted his lips. "It would seem," he said, "that you have no real use for that particular address, Lulu." "Yes, I have. I want It. You have It, haven't you, Dwight?" "Certainly I have it." "Won't you please write it down for me?" She had ready a bit of paper and a pencil stump. "My dear Lulu, now why revive anything? Why not be sensible and leave this alone? No good can come by" "But why shouldn't I have his address?" ad-dress?" "If everything Is over between you, why should you?" "But you say he's still my husband." hus-band." Dwlght flushed. "If my brother has shown his inclination as plainly ns I Judge that he has, It Is certainly not my place to put you in touch with htm again." "You won't give It to me?" "My dear -Lnlu, In all kindness no." v His Ina came running back, bearing handkerchiefs with different colored borders for him to choose from. He chose the lnltlnl that she had embroidered, em-broidered, and had not the good taste not to kiss her. They were all on the porch that evening, when Lulu came downstairs. "Where are you going?" Ina demanded, de-manded, sisterly. And on hearing that Lulu had an errand, added still more sisterly : "Well, but mercy, what you so dressed up for?" Lulu was in a thin black and white gown which they had never seen, nnd wore the tilting hnt with the red wing. "Ninian bought me this," Lulu only said. "But, Lulu, don't you think it might be better to keep, well out of sight for a few days?" Ina's lifted look besought her. "Why?" Lulu asked. "Why set people wondering till we have to?" "They don't hnve to wonder, fur as I'm concerned." said Lulu, and went down the walk. Ina looked at Dwlght "She never spoke to me like that In her life before," be-fore," she said. She watched her sister's black and 1 white figure going directly down the street "That gives me the funniest feeling," feel-ing," said Ina, "hs If Lulu had on clothes bought for her by some one that wasn't that was " "By her husband who bas left her," said Dwlght sadly. "Is that what It Is. papa?" Dl asked alertly. Per a wonder, she wss thsjre; had been there the greater part of the day most of the time staring, fascinated, at ber Aunt Lulu. "That's what It Is. my little girl." said Dwight, and shook his head. "Well. I think It's a shame," said Dl stoutly. "And I think Uncle, Nlnlan "Dl !" "I do. And I'd be ashamed to think anything else. Td like to tell everybody." every-body." "There Is." said Dwlght, "no need for secrecy now." "Dwlght !" said Ina Ina's eyes always al-ways remained expressionless, but It must have been her lashes that looked startled "No need whutever for secrecy," he replaced with firmness. "The truth is Lulu's husband has tired of her and sent her home. We must face It-" "But. Dwlght how awful for Lulu "Lulu," said Dwlght, "has us to stand by her." Lulu, walking down the main street, thought : "Now Mis' Chambers Is seeing me. Now Mis' Curtis. There's somebody behind the vices at Mis' Martin's. Here comes Mis' Grove and I've got to speak to her . . ." One and another and another met her, and every one cried out at her 6ome version of: "Lulu Bett!" Or, "W-well, it isn't Lulu Bett any more, is It? Well, what are you doing here? I thought . . ." "I'm back to stay," she said. "The idea ! Well, where you hiding that handsome husband of yours? Say, but we were surprised I You'rr. the sly one " "My Mr. Deacon lsn". hem" "Oh." "No. He's West." "Oh, I see." Having no arts, she must needs let the conversation die like this, could Invent nothing concealing or gracious on which to move away. She went to the post office. It was early, there were few at the post of- "Well," Shs Thought, Almost in Ina'n Own Manner. flee with only one or two there had she to go through her examination. Then she went to the general delivery window, tense for a new ordeal. To her relief, the face which wa shown there was one strange to her, a slim youth, reading a letter of his own, and smiling. "Excuse me," said Lulu faintly. The youth looked up, with eyes warmed by the words on the pink paper pa-per which he held. "Could you give Be the address of Mr. Nlnlan DeacoT "Let's see you nan Dwlght Deacon, Dea-con, I guess?" "No. It's hlB brother. He's been here. From Oregon. I thought he might have given yoti his address " she dwindled away. "Walt a mInutT said the youth. "Nope. No addresl here. Say, why don't you send It to bis brother? He'd know. Dwlght Deacon, the dentist." "I'll do that." Lulu said absurdly, and turned away. She went bnck up the street, walking walk-ing fast now to get sway from them all. Once or twice she pretended not to see a familiar face. But when she passed the mirror in an Insurance office of-fice window, she saw her reflection and at Its nppearance she felt surprise sur-prise and pleasure. "Well !" she thought, almost In Ina's own manner. Abruptly her confidence rose. Something of this confidence was still upon her when she returned. They were In the dining room now, all save Di, who was on the porch with Bobby, and Monona, who was In bed and might be heard extravagant-ly extravagant-ly singing. Lulu sat down with her hat on. When Dwlght inquired playfully, "Don't we look like company?" she did not reply. He looked at her speculatively. specu-latively. Where had she gone, with whom had she talked, what had she told? Ina looked at her rather fearfully. fear-fully. But Mrs. Bett rocked contentedly content-edly and ate cardamom seeds. "Whom did you see?" Ina ssked. Lulu named them. "See them to talk to T" from Dwlght Oh. yes. They had all stopped. "What did they say?" Ina bnrst out They had inquired for Nlnlan, Lnln said: and said no more "You write that lefts to Nlnlan!' she said." (TO HI CONTINUED.) |