Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1919-10-21
CHAPTER XII.

CHAPTER XII.
almost" was Lucy's last word on
the last night of Georges vacation
that vital evening which she had half
things" between them. almost en-
gagged" she meant. And George, dis
contented with the almost" but con-
tented that she seemed glad to wear
sapphire locket with tiny photograph
of George ANDERSON Minafer inside it,
found himself wonderful in a new
world at the final instant of their part
ing. For, after declining to let him
kiss her ''good-by," as if his desire for
such a ceremony were the most pre-
poSterOus absurdity in the world, she
had leaned suddenly close to him and
left upon his cheek the veriest feather
from fairy's wing
She wrote him a month later:
mo. 1t must keep on being almost.
isn't almost pretty pleasant? You
know well enough that l care for you.
| did from the first minute l saw you.
and I'm pretty sure you knew it-rm
afraid you did. I'm afraid you always
knew it. But it's such solemn thing
it scares me. 1t means good deal to
a lot of people besides you and me,
and that scares me, too. l shouldn't
be a bit surprised 10 find myself an
old lady, some day, still thinking of
you-while you'd be away and away
with somebody else perhaps, and me
forgotten ages ago! Lucy Morgan
you'd say, when you saw my obituary.
Lucy Morgan? Let me see: l seem
to remember the name. Didn't l know
some Lucy Morgan or other, once upon
a timer Then you'd shake your big
white head and stroke your long white
beard-yOu'd have such distinguished
long white beard and you'd say, No.
l don't seem to remember any Lucy
Morgan; wonder what made me think
/ didT And poor mel I'd be deep in
the ground, wondering if you'd heard
about it and what you were saying
Good-by for today. Don't work too
hard-dearw
SSlLCu pen anu
paper, plaintively but vigorously re-
questing Lucy not to imagine him with
a beard, distinguished or otherwise,
even in the extremities of age Then,
after mscribipg his protest in The mat
ter of this visionec beard be con-
cluded his missive in tone molnned
to tenderness, and proceeded to read
letter from his mother which had
reached him simultaneously with
Lucy's. Isabel wrote from ASheville,
where she had just arrived with her
husband:
81 think your father looks better al
ready, darling, though we've been here
only a few hours. 1t may be we've
found just the place to build him up.
The doctors said they hoped it would
prove to be, and if it is, il would be
worth the long struggle we had with
him 20 get him to give up and come.
I'm afraid that in my anxiety to get
him to do what the doctors wanted
him to, wasn't able TO back up Broth
er George as 1 should in his difficulty
with Sydney and Amelia. I'm so sorry
George is more upset than I've ever
seen him-they've got what they want
ed, and they're sailing before long. i
hear, to live in Florence. Father said
he couldn't stand the constant per-
suading-Tm afraid the word he used
was 'nagging' l can't understand peo-
pie behaving like that. George says
they may be Ambersons, but they're
vulgar I'm afraid l almost agree with
him. AT least, l think they were in
considerate.
I'VE plan to stay six weeks If the
place agrees with him. 1t does really
seem to already! He's just called in
the door to say he's waiting. Don't
smoke too much, darling boy.
"Devotediy, your mother,
ISABEL"
But she did not keep her husband
there for the six weeks she ANTICIPATED.
She did not keep him anywhere that
long. Three weeks after writing this
letter. she telegraphed suddenly TO
George that they were leaving for
home at once; and four days later,
when he and friend came whistling
into his study, from lunch at the club.
he found another telegram upon his
desk.
He read it twice before he compre-
hended its import.
Papa left Us at ten this morning.
dearest.
ssATOTuEp -
The friend saw the change in his
face. %Not bad news?"
George lifted utterly dumfounded
eyes from the yellow paper.
My father" he said weakly. "She
says-she says he's dead. I've got to
go home"
His Uncle George and the
Major met him at the station when he
arrived-the first time the Major had
ever come TO meet his grandson. The
old gentleman sat in his closed car
rage (Which still needed paint) at the
entrance 10 the station. but he got out
and advanced TO grasp Georges hand
TREMENDOUSLY. when the latter appeared.
Poor fellowl'' he said, and patted him
repeatedly upon the shoulder. Poor
fellow, Poor Georgie!"
George noticed that the Majors
tremulousness did not disappear, as
they drove up the street. and that he
seemed much feebier than during the
summer. Principally. however, George