The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1919-10-16
XIV.

. ~ -
10
He went to his room, threw off his
coat, waistcoat, collar and tie, letting
them lie where they CHANGED to fall,
and then, having violently enveloped
himself in a black velvet : dressing
:gbwn, continued this action by lying
down with a vehemence that brought
a wheeze Of protest from his bed. His
repose was only a momentary SEM
blance, however, for it lasted no long
er than the time it took him to groan
"'Riffraff!" between his teeth. Then he
sat up, swung his feet to the floor, rose
and began to pace up and down the
large room.
He had just been consciously rude
to- his mother for the, first time in his
life; for, with all his riding down Of
populace and riffraff, he had never be-
fore been either deliberately or inn
pulsively disregardful Of her. But
now he had done a rough thing to her;
and he did not repent; the rather he
was the more irritated with her. And
when he heard her presently go by his
door with a light step, singing cheer
fully to herself Is she went to her
room, he perceived that she had mis-
taken his intention altogether, or, in
deed, had failed to perceive that he
had any intention ut all.
There came a delicate, eager tap
ping at his door, not done with a
knuckle but with the tip of a finger
nail, which was instantly clarified to
Georges minds eye as plainly as if he
saw it: the long and polished white.
mooned pink shield on the end Of his
Aunt Fanny's right foreinger. But
George was in no mood for human
communications, and even when things
went we'll he had little pleasure in
Fanny's society. Therefore it is not
surprising that at the sound of her
tapping, instead of bidding her enter,
lie Immediately crossed the room with
the intention of locking the door to
keep her out.
Fanny vas too eager and, opening
the door before he reached it, came
quickly in, and closed it behind her
Her look was that Of a person who
had just seen something extraordinary
or heard thrilling news.
"Now, what on earth do you want?'
her chilling nephew demanded.
GEORGE" she said hurriedly, II saw
what you did when you couldn't speak
to them. 1 was sitting with Mrs. John
son at her front window, across the
street, and I saw it ALL"
"Well, what Of it,"
"You did right" Fanny said with
vehemence not the less spirited be
cause she suppressed her voice almost
to a whisper. "You did exactly
right! You're behaving splendidly
about the whole thing, and I want tt
tell you I know your father would
thank YOU if he could see what you're
doing"
my Lord! I" George broke out at her
"You make me dizzy! For heaven:
sake quit the mysterious detective
business-at least do quit it arount
me! Go and try it on somebody else
if YOU like: but I don't want to heal
it"
She began to tremble, regarding hin
with a fixed gaze. "You don't care t.
hear, then" she said huskily, shat
approve Of what you're doing"
: Certainly not! Since I haven't tn
faintest idea what you think I'm do
ing naturally 1 don't care whethe!
you approve of it or not. All I'd like
If you please, is to be alone. I'm no
giving a tea here, this afternoon, i
you'll permit me to mention it,"
Fanny's gaze wavered; she began
to blink; then suddenly she sank int
chair and wept silently, but with
terrible d%esolation.
ooh, for the Lords sake" h
moaned. "What in the world is wrong
with you?"
you're always picking on me-" sh'
quavered w~retchedly, her voice indis
tinct with the wetness that dubbed In
to it from her tears. "You do-yo,
always pick on me! You've Away
done it-nlways-ever since you wer'
a little boy! Whenever anything goe
wrong with you, you take it out OF
NE! You do: You always"
George flung to heaven a gesture o
despair; It seemed to him the las
straw that Fanny should have chosel
this particular time to come and sol