The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1919-12-12

AAA4a-f ANssA " III fffH pa $780, 80 -
your way. or Georges way? I'm going
n little further. because Il would be
fatal not to be wholly frank now.
George VIII act toward you only as
your long worship OF him. your SIC
rificeS-all the unseen little ones every
day since he was born--will maze him
act Dear. IL breaks ny heart for you,
but what you have to oppose now IS
The history Of your own selfiesS anu
perfect motherhood. 1 remember say
ing once that what you worshiped ~
your son Was the angel Won saw in him
and / sdll believe TINT ia true OF
every mother But IN mothers wor-
ship she may not see that the viii in
her son should not always be offered in
cense along with the angel. grow sick
with fear for ycu-for both you ana
me-when I think how tie viii against
us two has grown strong through the
love you have given the angel-and
how long your own sweet will has
served tllat other Are you strong
enough, Isabel? Can You make the
fight? I promise you thar If you viii
take heart for IT. You will find so quick
~ That il has all amounted to nothing.
You shall have happiness, and, In a
little while. only happiness. You need
only to write me linc-I can't come
TO your house-and tell nc where you
VIII meet me We win come back In
a month. and the angel in your son
VIII bring him to you: : promise il.
What is good in him viii grow so fine.
( once you have beaten tire turbulent
/ wiil-but Il must be beaten
/ Your brother, that good friend. is
waiting with such patience; I should
/ not keep him loncer-and / am saying
! too much for wisdom, l fear. But. oh.
my dear. won't you be st-ong-such
i little short strength it would need.
Don't strike my life down twice. dear
this time I've not deserved it.
EUGENE"
| Concluding this missive. George
tossed It abruptly from him so one
sheet fell EpOn his bed and the others
upon the floor: and at the faint noise
Of their falling Isabel came. and, kneel-
ing. began to gather them up.
Did you read It. dear?"
Georges face was pale no longer,
but pink with fury. ICES, l did"
'.All of it?'' she asked gently. as she
rose.
Certainly"
She did not look at him, but kept her
eyes downcast upon the letter in her
hands. TREMENDOUSLY rearranging the
sheets in order us she spoke-and
though she smiled, her smile was as
tremulous ms her hands. Nervousness
and an irresistible timidity possessed
her. Il wanted TO say. George" she
faltered ST felt that Tiff some day
il should happen-I mean. If you came
TO feel differently about ii, and Eu-
gene and THAT is IL we found that 1t
seemed the riost sensible thing to do
/ was AFRAID you might think it would
he Il little queer about-Lucy. mean
if-lf She were your step-sister. OF
course, she'd not be even legally re-
lated 20 you, and If you-f you cared
for her
Thus far she got stumhlingly with
what She wanted TO say. while George
watched kcr with a gaze that grew
harder and hotter: but here he cut her
Off 81 have already given up nil idea
Of Lucy" he said Naturally.
couldn't have treated her father as
deliberately did treat him-I could
hardly have done that and expected his
daughter ever TO speak to me again.
Isabel gave quick cry OF compass
sion. bar he allowed her no opportunity
To speak You needn't think I'm
making any particular sacrifice" he
said sharply. though l would. quickly
enough. II | thought 1t necessary in a
matter OF honor like this. was inter
csted in her, and l could even say
did care for her: but she proved pretty
satisfactorily that she cared little
enough about me, The truth is, were
not congenial and we'd found thai
much out ut least. before she left. We
should never have been happy; she
! was superior all the time. and critical
OF me-nc& very pleasant. that
don't think she has the very deepest
nature in the world, and"
But Isabel put her hand timidly or
his arm. George, dear. this is only s
quarrel; al young people have then
before they get adjusted, and you
. mustn't let"
IF you please - he said emphatical
. ly. moving back from her. This ISM
! that kind. It's all over. and / dom
care to speak of IL again. It's settled
: Don't you understand
: But, dear"
NO. / want to talk to you abou
: this letter Of her fathers"
Yes, dear, that's why"
> Its simply the most offensive piece
Of writing that I've ever held in M
, hands,"
I She stepped back from him. startled
| but. dear, i thought"
!. II can't understand your even show
, | ing me such a thing" he cried. "Hov
: did you happen to bring 1t to mel"
+ your uncle thought I'd better. Ri
thought It was the simplest thing t
do, and he said that he'd suggested 1t t.
! Eugene, and Eugene had agreed. The,
thought
|, "YesY George said bitterly. =
; should like to hear what they thought |!
} .sThey thought it would be the mos
, | straightforward thing"
= George drew long breath. "Well
what do you think, mOtherT'