The Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 191?-19??, 1919-08-13


shall take pleasure in calling at some
other time when a more courteous
sort of people may be present"
Look here the hot-headed Fred
burst out. fDon't you try to make me
out beor, George Mlhafer! wasn't
limiting anything at yOus simply for
got all about your grandfather own
ing this old building. Don't you try
to put me in the light of a boOr l
WON'T"
But George walked out in the very
course of his vehement protest, and
it was necessarily left unfinished.
Mr. Kinney remained only few
moments after Georges departure I;
and as the door closed upon him the
distressed Lucy turned to her father.
She was plaintively surprised to find
him in condition of immoderate
laughter.
ut brings things back sol" he
managed to explain. "This very Fred
Kinneys father and young Georges
father, Wilbur Minafer used to do
just such things when they were at
that age-and, for that matter, so did
George Anderson and l. and all the
rest of Hs!" And in spite of his ex-
haustion, he began to initiate: "'Don't
you try to put me In the light of
boor! shall take pleasure in call
Ing at some time when more cour-
teous sort of people" He was I'm.
able to go on.
Papa, l think they were shocking,
Weren't they awful /"
"Just-just boysr' he moaned, wip-
ing his eyes.
But Lucy could not smile at all; she
was beginning to look indignant. 81
can forgive that poor Fred Kinney"
she said. Hes just laundering
George-Oh, George behaved out
rageouslyp
She came and sat upon the arm of
his chair. Papa, why should George
behave like that?"
Hes sensitive"
"Rather! But why is he? He does
anything he likes to, without any re-
gard for what people think. Then
why should he mind so furiously when
the least little thing reflects upon
him, or on anything or anybody con-
nected with him?"
Eugene patted her hand. "That's
one of the greatest puzzles of human
vanity, dear; and don't pretend to
know the answer In all my life the
most arrogant people that I've known
have been the most sensitive. The
people who have done the most in
contempt Of other peoples opinion,
and who consider themselves the
highest above it have been the most
furious If 1t went against them. Ar
rogant and domineering people can't
stand the least lightest, faintest
breath Of criticism. 1t just kills
them"
Papa, do you think George is ter
ribly arrogant and domineering?"
"Oh, he's still only a boy" said Eu.
gene cOnsOlingly. There's plenty of
fine stuff in him-can't help but be,
because he's Isabel Amberson's SON.
Lucy stroked his hair, which was
still almost as dark as her own. "You
liked her pretty well once, guess,
papa"
81 do STILL" he said quietly.
"She's lovely-lovely Papa"
she paused, then continued-'I won
der sometimes"
"WhatT
81 wonder just how she happened
to marry Mr.. Minafer."
"Oh, Minafer's all right" said Eu-
gene. "He's quiet sort Of man, but
he's good man and a kind man. He
always was, and those things count"
81 don't think should have called
George bad tempered" Lucy said
thoughtfully. mo. l don't think he
Is"
"Only wher he's cross about some
thing?" Morgan suggested, with a
semblance of sympathetic gravity.
Eyes" she said brightly, not per-
ceiving that his intention was humor-
GUS. "All the rest Of the time he's
really very amiable. OF course he's
much more a perfect child the whole
time than he realizes! He certainly
behaved awfully tonight" She
jumped up her indignation returning,
"He did, indeed, and 1t won't do to en-
courage him in 1t. think he'll find
me pretty cool-for week or sol'
Whereupon her father suffered re-
newal of his attack of uproarious
laughter.
In the matter Of GOODNESS George
met Lucy upon her own predeter-
mined ground; in fact, he was there
first. and at their next encounter