The Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 191?-19??, 1919-08-23
cAAprER xlII.

Following Sunday evening, though
4 both we're hidden to attend that feast,
/ which was already reduced in mum
bers and gayety by the absence Of
George Anderson. Eugene explained
to his host that Lucy had gone away
TO visit school friend.
The information, delivered in the
library, just before old Sans appear
ance to announce dinner, set Miss
Minafer in quite a fiutter. "Why.
GeOrgel" she said, turning to her
nephew, "H0w does it happen you
didn't tell us?" And with both hands
opening as If to express her innocence
Of some conspiracy, she exclaimed to
the others: "He's never szid one word
to US about Luey's planning to go
awayp
Probably afraid to-" the Major sug
gested. didn't know but he might
break down and cry if he tried to
speak ofit" He clapped his grandson
on the shoulder, inquiring jocularly:
"rhat it, Georgle?p
George made no reply, but he was
red enough to justify the Majors de
eeloping chuckle into laughter;
though Miss Fanny, observing her
nephew keenly, got an impression thar
bis fiery blush was in truth more fiery
than tender.
After the arrival Of coffee the Ma
for was rallying Eugene upon some
rival automobile shops lately built IN
0 suburb, and already promising to
flourish. .
81 suppose they'll either drive you
ont Of the business" said the old gen
tleman, ''or else the two Of your drive
all the rest Of us off the Streets
''If we do wen even things UP by
making the streets five or ten times
as long .as they are now" Eugene re-
turned.
::How do you propose to do that?'
at isn't the distance from the cen
ter of town that counts" said Eu.
gene; sits the time it takes to get
there. This towns already spreading;
bicycles and trolleys have been doing
their share, but the automobile is
going to carry city streets clear out to
the county line"
The Major was skeptical. "Dream
on, fair son!" he said. Its lucky for
us that you're only dreaming; because
If people go to moving that far, real
estate values In the old residence part
of town are going 10 be stretched pref
ty thin"
"I'm afraid So" Eugene assented.
"Unless you keep things so bright and
clean that the old section will stay
more attractive than the new ones"
mot very likeIyI How are things
going to be kept bright and clean
with soft coal and our kind Of city
government
"They aren't" Eugene replied quick
". "There's no hope of it, and al
ready the boarding house is marching
up National avenue. My relatives, the
have sold their house and are
in the country-at least, they
,all it the country 1t will be city
N two or three years."
"Good gracious p the Major ex-
affecting dismay. $50 your
little shops are going to ruin all your
Did friends, Eugenep
"Unless my old friends take warn.
ng in time, or abolish smoke and get
! new kind of city government"
'Well, wellw the Major laughed
You have enough faith in miracles
granting that trolleys and BIZ
ycles and automobiles are miracles.
20 you think they're. to change the
ace Of the land, do your
They're already doing it, Major;
md 1t can't be stopped. AutomO-
lies"
At this point he was interrupted.
ieorge was the interrupter. He had
aid nothing since entering the dining
Dom, but now he spoke In a lond and
eremptOry voice, using the tone of
ne In authority who checks idle pratt
lie and settles a matter forever.
Automobiles are a useless nuis-
nee" he said.
There fell moments silence.
Isabel gazed lncredulously at
ieorge, color slowly frightening upon
er cheeks and temples, while Fanny
him with a quick eagerness,
er eyes alert and bright. But Eugene
eemed merely quizzical, as II not tax
1g this brusquerie to himself. The
Iajor was seriously disturbed.
what did you say, George?" he
sked, though George had spoken but
DO distinctly.
Il said all automobiles were a
uisance," George answered, repeating
OF only the words but the tone in
hitch he had uttered them. And he
dded: They'll never amount to any
hing but nuisance. They had no
usiness to be invented"