Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1919-12-18

think that being things is rather better
than doing things7"
We said "rahthuh bettuh" for "ratheI
better" and seemed to do it deliberate
ly, with perfect knowledge of what he
was doing. Later, Lucy Knocked him
TO George, and George refused to
smile: he somewhat inclined to such
pronunclatiOns, himself. This incIina-
ton was one of the things that he had
acquired In the four years.
What else he had acquired, it might
have puzzled him to state, had any
body asked him and required direct
reply within a reasonable space of
time. He had learned how to pass ex-
aminatiOnS by "cramming;" that Is, in
three or four days and nights he could
get into his head enough of selected
| fragment of some scientific of philo-
sophical or literary or linguistic sub
ject to reply plausibly to six questions
out Of ten. He could retain the infor-
nation necessary for such feat just
long enough to give a successful per-
Torrance; then it would evapOrate ut
terly from his brain, and leave him I'M
disturbed. George, like his crowd"
not only preferred "being things" to
"doing things" but had cOntented him
self with four years of "being things"
as a preparation for going on "being
things" And when Lucy rather shyly
pressed him for his friends probable
definition of the "things" it seemed so
superior and beautiful to be, George
raised his eyebrows slightly, meaning
that she should have understood with
out explanation; but he did explain:
ooh, family and all that-being a gen.
tleman, l suppose"
Lucy gave the horizon a long look,
but offered no comment.
"Aunt Fanny doesn't look much bet
ter" George said to his mother, few
minutes after their arrival, on the
night they got home. Doesn't she get
over it at all? thought she'd feel
better when we turned over the insur-
ance to her-gave it to her absolutely,
without any strings to 1t. She looks
about thousand years oldw
"She looks quite girllsh, sometimes,
though" his mother said.
"Has she looked that way much
since father"
'Not so muCh," Isabel said thought
fully. "But she will. as time goes on"
"Time'll have to hurry, then, it seems
to me-" George observed, returning to
his own room.
When they went down to the dining
room, he pronounced acceptable the
salmon salad, cold beef, cheese and
cake which Fanny made ready for
them without disturbing the servants
The journey had fatigued Isabel, she
ate nothing, but sat to observe with
tired pleasure the manifestations of
her sons appetite, meanwhile giving
her sister-in-law a brief summary of
the events of commencement. But
presently she kissed them both good
night and left aunt and nephew alone
together
ut never was becoming to her to look
pale" Fanny said absently, few mo-
Sments after Isabel's departure. II
suppose your mothers been being
pretty gay? Going LOTT"
"How could she" George asked
cheerfully. I'm mourning, of course
all she could do was just sit around
and look on. That's all Lucy could do
either, for the matter Of that"
II suppose So" his aunt assented.
"How did Lucy get home? Did you
drive out to their house with her be-
fore you came here?"
mo. She drove home with her IA
Their, of course"
"Oh, see. So Eugene came to the
station to meet you"
ITO meet us?" George echoed, re-
newing his attack upon the salmon
salad. "How could heT"
II don't know what you mean,"
Fanny said drearily, in the desolate
voice that had become her habit. II
haven't seen him while your mothers
been away"
Naturally" said George. "He's
been East himself"
At this Fanny's dropping eyelids
opened wide.
''Did you see him?"
swell, naturally, since he made the
trip home with u.s."
Fanny's eyelids dropped, and she
sat silent until George pushed back his
chair and lit cigarette, declaring his
satisfaction with what she had pro-
vided. you're a fine housekeeper"
he said benevolently. 81 don't believe
you'd stay single very long if some of
the bachelors and widowers around
town could just once see"
She did not hear him. ITS a little
odd" she said.
whats odd?"
"Your mothers not mentioning that
Mr.. Morgan had been with you"
didn't think of 1t, l suppose" said
George carelessly; and, his benevolent
mood increasing, he conceived the idea
that a little harmless rallying might
serve to elevate his aunt's droOping