Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1919-12-16


know doesn't want you-but l knew
you oughtn't to be left all alone In
the world; it isn't good. knew your
mother'd want me to watch over you
and try to have something like home
for you-I knew she'd want me to do
what l tried to dop Fanny's tears
were bitter now. and her voice, hoarse
and wet, was tragically sincere. "Oh !
and now-you don't want-you want
you want to leave me in the lurch
YOU
"Oh, my Lordi' He went to her
anil lifted her. "For Gods sake get
up! Come, let's take the coffee into
the other room and see what's to be
DONE"
He got her to her feet; she leaned
upon him, already somewhat comfort
ed, and, with his arm about her, he
conducted her to the dining room and
seated her in one of the two kitchen
chairs which had been placed at the
rough table. "There!" he said, "get
over it," Fanny's spirits revived ap-
probably: she looked up with a plain
tive eagerness. 81 had bought all my
fall clothes, George" she said; "and l
paid every bill 1 owed. don't owe a
cent for clothes, George"
That's good" he said wanly, and he
had moment of physical dizziness
that decided him to sit down quickly.
For an instant it seemed to him that
he was not Fanny's nephew, but mar
ried to her. He passed his pale hand
over his paler forehead. "Well, let's
see where we stand" he said feebly.
Lets see if we can afford this place
you've selected"
Fanny continued to brighten. "Pm
sure it's the most practical plan we
could possibly have worked out,
George-and it is a comfort to be
among nice people. 1 think We'll both
enjoy it, because the truth is we've
been keeping too much to ourselves
for a long while. 1t isn't good for
people,"
II was thinking about the money,
Aunt Fanny. The rent is thirty-six
dollars a month; the dinner is twenty
two and half for each of us, and
we've got to have some provision for
other food. We won't peed any
clothes for year, perhaps"
"Oh, longer!" she exclaimed. $50
yof see
Il see that forty-f1ve and fthirty-six
make eighty-one," he said. "At the
lowest, we need a hundred dollars a
month-and I'm going to make thirty
two"
81 thought of that. George" she said
confidently, land I'm sure it will be all
right. You'll be earning a great deal
more than that very soon."
81 don't see any prospect of it-not
till I'm admitted to the car, and that
will be two years at the earliest"
"Well, there's the six hundred dol
lars from the sale. Six hundred and
twelve dollars it was.'
at isn't six hundred and twelve
now," said George. Its about one
hundred and sixty"
Fanny showed a momentary dismay.
"Why. how"
Il lent Uncle George two hundred: l
gave fifty apiece to old Sam and those
two other old darkies that worked for
grandfather so long, and ten to each
cf. the servants here"
'And you gave me thirty-six," she
said thoughtfully, ''for the first
months rent, in advance"
did 1? I'd forgotten. Well, with
about a hundred and sixty in bank
and our expenses hundred a month.
it doesn't seem as if this new place"
"Still," she interrupted, tive have
paid the first months rent in advance.
and it does seem to be the most prac-
teal"
George rose. "See here. Aunt Fanny"
he said decisively. you stay here and
look after the moving. Old Frank
doesn't expect me Until afternoon.
this first day, but I'll go and see him
now"
1t was early, and old Frank,
just established at his big, fiat-topped
desk, was surprised when his prospec-
tive assistant and pupil walked In. He
was pleased, as well as surprised, how
ever. and rose, offering a cordial old
hand. 'The real f1areI'' he said. ssThe
real flare for the law That's right
Couldn't wait till afternoon to begin
Pm delighted that you"
Il wanted to say" George began,
but his patron cut him of.
wait just minute, my boy. I've
prepared little speech of welcome,
and even though you're FIVE hours
ahead of time, j mean TO deliver 1t.
First Of all. your grandfather was my
old war comrade and my best client /;
for years / prospered through my con-
nection with his business, and his
grandson is welcome in my Office and
TO my best efforts in bis behalf. But |
want TO confess, George, that during
your earlier youth l may have had
some slight feeling of-well, prejudice,
not altogether in your favor; but what
ever slight feeling IL was, 1t began to
vanish on that afternoon, a good while
ago. when you stood up to your Aunt
Amelia Anderson as you did In the
Majors library, and talked to her as q
man and gentleman should. / saw
then what good stuff was in you-and
l always wanted to mention it. think
you'll find an honest pleasure now in
industry and frugality that wouldn't
have come to you in a more frivolous
career. The law is Jealous mistress
and stern mistress. but a."
George had stood before him In
great and increasing embarrassment
and he was unable TO allow the adj
dress TO proceed TO its conclusion.
Il can't do it," he burst ont. 81
can't take her for my mistress"
"What?"