River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1919-12-18

thing more than goodnight was evil
dent. Not less obvious was her per-
plexity about the manner of saying
! it; and George, divining her thought,
amiably made an opening for her.
well, old lady, he said, indulgent-
| ly, ayou needn't look so worried. I
won't be tactless with Morgan again.
After this I'll just keep out of his
way"
Dear" she said, 81 wish you'd tell
me something: Why don't you like Eu-
/ gene?''
"Oh, like him well enough George
returned, with a short laugh as he sat
down and began to unlace his shoes.
II like him well enough-in his place."
mo, DEAR" she said hurriedly. sI've
had feeling from the very first that
you didn't really like him-that you
really never liked him. I can't under
stand it, dear; don't see what can be
/ the natter"
''Nothing's the matter"
This easy declaration naturally
failed to carry great weight, and Isa-
bel went on, in her troubled voice: 1T
seems so queer, especially when you
feel as you do about his daughter
At this, George stopped unlacing his
| shoes abruptly. and sat up. "How do
/ feel about his daughter?" he de-
| handed.
swell, it's seemed-as if-as if
Isabel began timidly. 1T did seem
/ At least you haven't looked at any
other girl ever since they came here,
and-certainly you've seemed very
much Interested in her. Certainly
/ you've been very great friends?"
/ swell, what of that? %
'Tt's only that I'm like your grand
! father: can't see how you could be
so much interested in a girl and-and
| not feel. very pleasantly toward her
/ father
"Well, I'll tell you something"
| George said slowly, and a frown Of
/ concentration could be seen upon his
| brow, as from a profound effort at
| self-eXaminatiOn. ''The truth is, I
! don't believe I've ever thought Of the
/ two together, exactly-at least, not
/
/ Lucy just as Lucy, and of Morgan just
as Morgan. I've always thought Of
/ her as person herself not as any,
| body's daughter. If I have a friend, I
/ don't see that it's incumbent upon me
to like my friends relatives. Now,
| suppose have certain ideas or ideals
which I have chosen for the regulation
I Of INV IN,
some friend of mine has a relative
| with ideals directly the opposite of
/ mine, and my friend believes more in
the relatives ideals than in mine: Do
you think I ought to give up my own
! just TO please person who's taken up
ideals that really despise?"
mo, dear; of course people can't
give up their ideals; but I don't see
what this has to do with dear little
Lucy and"
Il didn't say it had anything to do
with Them" he interrupted. 81 was
merely putting case to show how
person would be justified in being
friend Of one member of a family and
| feeling anything but friendly toward
another. don't say, though, that I
feel unfriendly to Mr.. Morgan. don't
say that | feel friendly to him, and I
don't say that feel unfriendly; but
if you really think that I was rude to-
him tonight
/ "Just thoughtless, dear. You didn't
see that what you said tonight
swell, I'll not say anything Of that
sort again where he can hear it.
There, isn't that enough?"
"But, George" she said earnestly,
"you would like him, if you'd just let
/ yourself. You say you don't dislike
him. Why don't you like him? I can't
understand at all. What is it that you
don't"
There, there!" he said. ''It's all
right, and you toddle along"
But, George"
Nov, now! really do want to get
into bed. Goodnight, old lady,"
'But, George, dear"
I'm going to bed, old lady; so good.
night
Thus the interview closed perforce
She kissed him again before going
slowly to her own room, her perplex,
! ity evidently not dispersed; but the
subject was not renewed between
them the next day or subsequently.
Nor did Fanny make any allusion to the
| cryptic appreciation she had bestowed
upon her nephew after the Majors
mot very successful little dinner"
though she annoyed George by looking
| at him oftener and longer than he
cared to be looked at by an aunt.
He successfully avoided contact
| Nth Lucy's father, though Eugene.
came frequently to the house, ssnd
spent several evenings with Isabel and
Fanny; and sometimes persuaded them
and the Major to go for an afternoons
motoring. He did not, however, come
again to the Majors Sunday evening
dinner, even when George Anderson
returned. Sunday evening was the
| time, he explained, for going over the
i weeks work with his factory man.