Cleveland County herald., 1919-10-16


 and thoughtfully lifted to her face the bouquet of violets and lilies, gesture which George noted without approval.
 Look here! Who sent you those flowers you keep makin such a fuss over?"
 'He did" ;s5~
 "Who's 'heY"
 "The queer-looking duck"
 George feared no such rival; he laughed loudly. q s'pose he's some old widower !" he said, the object thus described seeming ignominious enough to a person of eighteen, with out additional characterization. Lucy became serious at once. ''Yes, he is a widower," she said. T ought to have told you before; he's my fa- ther"
 George stopped laughing abruptly. "Well, that's a horse on me. If I'd known he was your father of course I wouldn't have made fun of him. I'm sorry"
 Nobody could make fun of him." she said quietly.
 "Why couldn't they?"
 ''It wouldn't make him funny: it would only make themselves silly"
 Upon this George had gleam of intelligence. "Well, I'm not going to make myself silly any more, then; don't want to take chances like that with you. But I thought he was the Sharon girls uncle. He came with them--''
 "Yes," she said; "Pm always late to everything: I wouldn't let them wait for me. We're visiting the Sharons."
 About time I knew that! You for get my being so fresh about your ia ther, will you? Of course he's a dis tinguished-looking man, in way"
 Lucy was still serious. "Tn a way?" she repeated You mean, not in your way, don't you?"
 George was perplexed. "How do you mean: not in my way?"
 People often say in a way and rather distinguished looking or rather so-and-so, or rather anything, to show that they're superior, don't they. It's a kind of snob slang, think. Of course people don't always say rather or in a way to be su- perior.n
 T should say not! I use both of 'em great deal myself" said George. "One thing I don't see, though: What's the use of a man being six feet three? Men that size can't handle themselves as well as man about five feet eleven and half can."
 George was a straightforward soul, at least. "See here!" he said. Are you engaged to anybody"
 "No."
 Not wholly notified, he shrugged his shoulders. "You seem to know good many peoplel Do you live in New York?"
 'No. We don't live anywhere"
 "What do you mean: you don't live anywhere?
 We've lived all over," she answered. 'Papa used to live here in this town, but that was before I was born"
 "What do you keep moving around so for? Is he promoter?"
 "No. He's an inventor"
 "What's he invented?"
 "Just lately" said Lucy, "he's been working on a new kind of horseless carriage"
 "Well, I'm sorry for him." George said, in no unkindly spirit. "Those things are never going to amount to anything. People aren't going to spend their lives lying on their backs in the road and letting grease drip in their faces"
 "Papa'd be so grateful" she re- turned, "if he could have your ad- vice."
 Instantly Georges face became flushed. q don't know that I've done anything to be insulted for!" he said. q don't see that what I said was par ticularly fresh"
 "No, indeed !"
 "Then what do you"
 She laughed gayly. "I don't, And I don't mind your being such a lofty person at all. I think it's ever so interesting-but papa's a great manl !"
 'Is he?" George decided to be good-natured. "Well, let us hope so. hope so, I'm sure"
 Looking at him keenly, she saw that the magnificent youth was incredibly sincere in this bit of graciousness. She shook her head in gentle wonder. m just beginning to understand, she said.
 Understand what?"
 What it means to be a real Am- person in this town. Papa told me something about it before we came, but I see he didn't say half enoughi"
 George superbly took this all for tribute. Did your father say he knew the family before he left here?"
 "Yes I believe he was particularly a friend of your Uncle George; and he didn't say so, but l imagine he must have known youI mother very we'll, too. He wasn't an inventor