The San Francisco call., 1905-06-04

been a lady if she'd married the son or
some folks she worked for over in the
old country, but she didn't love the fell
low Maybe she wouldn't have been any
happier. If she had. though, than she
was with me. amt a gentleman, but l
was good to her and the girl. She had
taste of the high life ana-it killed her.
Mary died when the girl. George, was
1f-just old enough to take care of the.
house some and cook Her mother taught
her that, besides the manners and other
things that made her seem sort of
strange to me.
II noticed she didn't like the way l
eat, and it used to make me .uncomfort-
able-just like her mother did some
times. though we was happy enough to-
gether 1t wasn't either of their faults;
it was just the way they was raised
lone day she said. Dad, / wish you'd
use the fork to put things into your
mouth with
'I tried il for while, because loved
the child, for all her high and might
ness. and wanted to make her happy.
But IT was kind of awkward-with pota-
toes especially-so I dropped back into
the old way without harry noticin'.
Another time-one night 1t was. when
I was tired and kind of cross-she said to
me, sort of harp-like-though, maybe.
she didn't mean it that way" L wish
you wouldn't pour your coffee in the
saucer to drink; it amt NICE
"Well that made me mad, and 1 said,
4 don't want any more lessons in eti-
quette from you. girl; do you heari I'm
<s~,t he fofk hofo mo
and what's good enough for him is good
enough for me.
And 1 says, If it amt good enough
for you, you'll have to go somewhere
else
"Of course 1 wouldn't have said that
last if my tongue hadn't give way, for
George and her mother was both mighty
sensitive. know it must have hurt her
considerable, for she colored up like a
flash and then got white. But she never
said a word back. That was when
Georgie was seventeen and big for her
age Most people thought she was grown
up.
''She cleared UP the dishes and then
she went off to her room. She most al
ways stayed in her room, nights, readin'
used to read aloud to me- But l always
went to sleep. And 1 never could under
stand the books she read. Shakespeare's
plays! Why she had that by heart,
guess, for she used to go over 1t in her
room in front of the glass. / come in
one day and saw her with her hair all
down leanin' over the foot of the bed.
She had sheet sort of trimmed around
her. like a ghost, and she was stretehin'
out her hands, like there was somebody
below. 1t give me little turn just at
first and I watched to see what she'd do.
Romeo she says, just like her heart
was broke. Wherefore art tfou, Romeo?'
81 remembered the words, for the way
she said them, though they haven't got
any more sense TO them than a lot
more of that play talk She gave start
when she saw me. and begun to put UP
her hair.
~ wizh you'd knock when you come
in she says, angry-like.
What was You doin'. chiidg asked
her.
'Rehearsin'.' she answers. short and
sharp; and that was all I could get out
of her.
The morning after that night at the
supper table George came into the shop
with telescope bag in her hands.
I'm goin' to leave you. father she
says. A kind Of scared look come into
her eyes. I'm goin' on the stage she
says. I've got a position in the chorus.
II dropped my hammer and locked hard
at her. She didn't finch though. George
had one of these spirits you couldn't
down. She 3ust looked back at me and
says. calm as could be-like she'd
reasoned It all out before
I know I'm not of age, but will be
in year, so it won't DO you much good
to stop me. I've been plannin to do this
ever since mother died. You can get
Mrs. Smith to keep house for you (that
was a neighbor woman). never was
good at 1t. anyhow.
IF you stop me now she says, III
run away the first chance get-and it
won't do you much good
well. that made me pretty mad and
aroused my spirit, too. co on says,
and good riddance to you for an un-