Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1919-11-21
CHAPTER xv-contlnued.


sour age was like you in many ways,
especially IN not being very cool
headed. SO can't say. Youth can't be
trusted for much. except asserting
itself and fighting and making love-"
aIndeedi~ George snorted. "May L
ask what you think ought to have
done7"
Nothing"
NothlngY~ aeczge echoed, mock.
ing bitterly. Il suppose you think
mean to let ~ mothers good name
"focr Mothers good manner" Am
bvson e8t him off impatiently. 'No-
bCIY mas good name in a bad mouth.
Moody has a good name in silly
mouth, either. Well, your mothers
mare was in some silly mouths, and
all you've done was to go and have
a scene with the worst old woman Cos
sip In the town-a scene that's going
to make her into a partisan against
yOar mother, whereas she was a mere
pFattler before. Don't you suppose
she'll be all over town with this to-
morrow? And she'll see to it thar
everybody who's limited anything
about poor Isabel will know that
you're on the warpath; and that will
put them on the defensive and make
them vicious. The story will grow as
it spreads and"
George unfolded his arms to strike
bis right fist into his left palm. "But
do you suppose I'm going to tolerate
such thiDgs?" he shouted. "What do
you suppose I'll be doing?"
"You can do absolutely nothing"
said Anderson. Nothing of any use.
The more you do the more harm you'll
do"
you'll sect I'm going to stop this
thing IL have to force my way into
every house on National avenue and
Anderson boulevardI"
His uncle laughed rather sourly but
made no other comment.
swell, what do you propose to do?"
George demanded. do you propose
to sit there"
eyes"
"-and let this riffraff handy my
mothers good name back and forth
among them? Is that what you pro-
pose to do2"
ats all / can do" Anderson re
turned. "It's all any of us can do
now: just sit still and hope that the
thing may die down in time in spite
Of your stirring up that awful old
woman"
George drew long breath, then adj
vanced and stood close before his
uncle. didn't you understand me
when told you that people are say
ing my mother means to marry this
MANI"
Eyes, I understood you."
''You say that my going over there
has made matters worse" George went
on. slow about 1t If such a-such an
Uaspeakable marriage did take place?
Do you think that would make people
believe they'd been wrong in saying
you know what they say"
"No," said ANDERSON deliberately;
Il don't believe 1t would. But it
wouldn't hurt Isabel and Eugene, if
they never heard of it; and if they did
hear Of it, then they could take their
choice between placating gossip or siv-
ing for their own happiness. If they
have decided to marry"
George almost staggered. Good
heaven" he gasped. "You speak of 1t
calmlyl"
Anderson looked up at him inqulr-
ingly. "Why shouldn't they marry if
they want tor he asked. ''It's their
own affair. don't see anything pre-
cisely monstrous about two people get
ting married when they're both free
and care about each other. What's
the matter with their marrying?"
1T would be monstrous George
shouted. "Monstrous even if this hor-
rible thing hadn't happened, but now
In the face Of this-oh, that you can
SIT there and even speak OF it! Your
own sister, Oh" He became inco-
herent. swinging away from Anderson
and making for the door, wildly ges-
turing.
For heavens sake don't be so the
Ruical - said his uncle, and then, See
Ing that George was leaving the room
Come back here. You mustn't speak
% your mother of this I"
Don't 'telld to-" George said indis-
unetly, and he plunged into the big,
dlmly lit hall. He went home and got
hat and overccat without seeing
either his mother or Fanny. Then he
left word that he would be out for
dinner and hurried away from the
house.
Re walked the dark streets Of Am
oerson addition for an hour. then went
downtown aid got coffee at a restau-
rant. After that he walked through
tae lighted parts Of the town until ten
o'clock. when he turned north and
came back to the purlieus of the Add
uon. He walked fercely, though his
.eet ached, but by and by he turned
homeward, and, when he reached the
Aa10rsG xrnvk - TrTaou the