The Glenwood post., 1919-11-15

George breatf,ed tumultuously. II
don't care anything about 'agesP
What's that got to do with itf' he
said his thoughts appearing to be
somewhat disconnected. ".Ages,' DON'T
mean anything! only want to know
Il want to know I want" He
stopped.
you must finish your dinner. dear"
his mother urged. "Don't-"a
II have flushed. I've eaten all I
want. 1 don't want any more than
wanted. I don't want-I@" He rose,
still incoherent. II prefer-I want
please excuse mel" .Is
He left the room, and a moment
later the screens outside the open
front door were heard to slam.
"Fannyi You shouldn't"
isabel, don't reproach me. He did
have plenty Of dinner, and I only told
the truth: everybody has been say
ing"
1--WE don't actually know there
isn't" Miss Fanny insisted, giggling.
"We've never asked Lucy"
II wouldn't ask her anything so alb
surdl"
"George would" Georges father re-
marked. "That's what he's gone to
do"
Mr.. Minafer was not mistaken: that
was what his son had gone to do.
Lucy and her father were just rising
from their dinner table when the
stirred youth arrived at the front
door Of the new house. 1t was a cot
tage, however, rather than a house !;
and Lucy had taken a free hand with
the architect. achieving results In
white and green outside and white
and blue inside to such effect of youth
and daintiness that her father COM
planned Of "too much springtime I"
The whole place, including his own
bedroom, was a young damsel's bou-
dOfr, he said, 30 that nowhere could
he smoke q cigar without feeling like
a ruffian. However, he was smoking
when George arrived. and he encour-
aged George to Join him In the pas
time, but the caller, whose air was
both tense and preoccupied, declined
with something like agitation.
II never smoke-that Is. I'm sel-
DOM mean, no, thanks" he said.
II mean not at all. I'd rather not"
-"Aren't YOU well, Georger Eugene
asked. looking at him in perplexity.
Have you been overworking at col
lege? You do look rather pa"
II don't work." said George. II
mean don't work. I think, but I
don't work. only work at the end
of the term. There isn't much to do"
Eugene's perplexity was little de-
creased. and tinkle of the doorbell
afforded him obvious relief. "It's my
foreman he said, looking at his
watch. "I'll take him out in the yard
to talk. This is no place for a fore
man." And he departed. leaving the
Giving room" to Lucy and George.
whats wrong. GeOrge?' she asked
softly. W
"What do you mean: What's
wrongY What makes you think any.
:hIng's wrong with me?"
"iou do look pale, as papa said,
and it seemed to me that the way you
talked sounded-well a little con-
fused"
See here!' George stepped close
to her. "Are you glad to see meT
You needn't be so fierce about It'll"
Lucy protested, laughing at his dra-
matte intensity. "Of course I ami
Do tell me what's the matter with
you, George!"
II Will" he exclaimed. II was a
boy when l saw you last. l see that
now, though l didn't then. Well, I'm
not boy any longer. I'm a man. and
man has right to demand a totally
different treatment"
II don't seem to be able to under
stand you at all. George. Why
shouldn't a boy be treated Just as
well as a manf 1e
loss. why shouldn't Well, he
shouldn't. because man has a right
to certain explanations" YuT
what In the world do you want me
to explainr
'Your conduct with Fred Kinney 7"
George shouted.
Lucy uttered a sudden cry Of
laughter; she was delighted. TITS
been awful |" she said. II don't know
that l ever head of worse misbe-
havior! Papa and l have been twice
to dinner with his family, and I've
been three times to church with Fred
and once to the circusl I don't
know when they'll be here to arrest
mel"
"StOp that" George commanded
hercely. II want to know just one
thing. and / mean to know it, tool"
whether enjoyed the circus?"
II want to know II you're engaged
to him"
"No!" she cried. and lifting her
face close to his for the shortest In
slant possible, she gave him a look
half merry, half defiant, but all fond.
1t was an adorable look.