The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1919-12-12

doing my simple duty? That I'm doing
what my father would do II he were
alive? That I'm doing what my father
would ask me TO do il he could speak
from his grave out yonderI DO you
suppose it ever occurs TO that man for
one minute that I'm protecting my
mother?" George raised his voice adj
vancing upon the helpless lady fierce
ly; and she could only bend her head
before him. 'He talks about my VIII
how it must be beaten down: yes,
and he asks my mother to do that lii
tie thing TO please himi What for?
Why does he want me beaten by my
mother? Because I'm trying to pro-
tect her name He's got my mothers
name banded up and down the streets
of this town till / can't step in those
streets without wonderii. what every
soul I meet is thinking of me and of
my family, and now he wants You 70
marry him SO that every gossip in
town will say 'Therei What did l tell
YOU? | guess that proves it's trueI
You can't get away from ii; that's ex-
actly what they'd say. and this man
pretends he cares for you. and yet
asks you 10 marry him and give them
] the right TO say il. He says he and
! YOU don't care what they say, but l
/ know better! He may not care-prob-
| ably he's that l;.nd-hut you DO. There
4 never WAS an Anderson yet thar would
/ let the Anderson name 20 trailing in
! the dust Ike that It's the proudeSr
name in this town, and it's going 10
J -, nd toll TINT :,
! the deepest thing in my nature-not
that I'd expect Eugene Morgan to UNI
derstand-the very deepest thing in my
nature is to protect that name and TO
| fight for II to the last breath when
danger threatens it as ii does now
through my motheri" He turned from
her striding up and down and tossing
his arms about in tumult of gesture.
i can't believe 1t OF you that you'd
think Of such a sacriiegei That 9
what it would be-sacrilege When he
talks about your unselfishneSs toward
! me he's right-you have been unselfish
and you have been perfect mother.
But what about him? Is 1t unselfish
of him TO want you TO throw away
your good name just to please him !
being my motherl Do you think can
believe yod really care for him?
don't, You are my mother and you're
an Amberson-and believe you're toe
proud. You're too proud to care for
man who could write such letter
as that - He stopped. faced her. and
| spoke with more self-control: "Well
what are you going to do about It,
mother?"
George was right about his mothers
being proud. And even when She
laughed with a negro gardener, or even
those few times in her life when peo-
pie saw her weep. Isabel had q proud
look-something that WAS Independent
and graceful and strong. But she die
not have 1t now: She leaned against
seemed beset with humility and with
weakness. Her head dropped.
what answer are you going t.
make to such q letter. George de
manded, like judge on the bench.
I'll don't quite know. dear" she
murmured.
you don'tf" he cried. You"
"Wait," she begged him. I'm So
} confused"
II want to know what you're goinf
to write him. Do you think IL yor
did what he wants You to coult
bear to stay another day In this town
!, mother? Do you think l could evel
bear even to see you again il yos
|, married him? I'd want to, but yol
surely know / just-couldn't!"
. She made a futile gesture. ant
seemed to breathe with difficulty. =
IL wasn't-Qufte sure" she faltered
.about-about it's being wise for u
! to be married-even before knowing
how YOU feel about 1t. wasn't ever
, sure It was quite fair toto Eugene
J. have-I seem to have that famii'
trouble-lfke father's--that spoke
to Won about once" She managed I