Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1919-11-25

you don't care what they say, but |
know betterI He may not care-prob-
ably he's that kind-but you do. There
never was an Anderson yet that would
let the Anderson name go trailing in
the dust like that! It's the proudest
name in this town, and it's going to
stay the proudest; and tell you that's
the deepest thing in my nature-not
that I'd expect Eugene Morgan to I'M
derstand-the very deepest thing in my
nature is to protect that name and to
fight for it to the last breath when
danger threatens 1t as it does now
through my mother!' He turned from
her striding up and down and tossing
his arms about in tumult of gesture.
81 can't believe it of you that you'd
| think of such a sacrilege! That's
what it would be--sacrilege When he
talks about your unselfishness toward
me he's right-you have been unselfish
and you have been a perfect mother.
But what about him? Is it unselfish
of him to want you to throw away
your good name just to please him?
That's all ne asks Of you-and to quit
being my mother! Do you think 1 can
believe you really care for him? /
don't! You are my mother and you're
an Amberson-and 1 believe you're too
proud! You're too proud to care for
man who could write such a letter
spoke with more self-control: "WelL,
what are you going to do about it,
mother?"
George was right about his mothers
being proud. And even when she
laughed with a negro gardener, or even
those few times in her life when peo-
pie saw her weep, Isabel had a proud
look-something that was Independent
and graceful and strong. But she did
not have it now: She leaned against
the wall, beside his dressing table, and
seemed beset with humility and with
weakness Her head dropped.
what answer are you going to
make to such a letter." George de-
manded, like judge on the bench.
I'll don't quite know, DEAR" she
murmured.
"You don't?" he cried. you"
wait" she begged him. I'm So
confused"
II want to know what you're going
to write him. Do you think If you
did what ne wants you to l could
bear to stay another day in this town,
mother? Do you think 1 could ever
bear even to see you again if you
married him? I'd want to, but you
surely know | just-couldn'tr
She made a futile gesture, and
seemed to breathe with difficulty. at
Il wasnt-quite sure" she faltered.
"about-about it's being wise for US
to be married-even before knowing
how you feel about it. I wasn't even
sure 1t was quite fair toto Eugene.
/ have-I seem to have that family
trouble-like fathers-that l spoke
to you about once" She managed a
deprecatory little dry laugh. mot
that 1t amounts to much, but wasn't
at all sure that 1t would be fair to
after all-not at my age. It's enough
to know that-that people think of
you-and to see them. l thought we
were all-oh, pretty happy the way
thugs were, and don't think it would
mean giving up great deal for him
or me. either, if we just went on as
we have been. II see him almost
every day, and"
"Motherr Georges voice was loud
and stern. do you think you could
go one seeing him after this! !"
She had been talking helplessly
enough before: her tone, was little
more broken now. "Not-not even
see him?"
"How could your" George cried.
Mother. 1t seems to me that If he
ever set foot in this house again
oh! / can't speak of it, Could you
see him. knowing what talk it makes
every time he turns into this street,
9nd knowing what that means to mel
oh, / don't understand all this-I
DON'T If you told me. a year ago,
that such things were going to hap
pen, I'd have thought you were in
sane-and now believe 1 aml'
Then, after preliminary gesture OF
despair, as though he meant harm to
the ceiling. he flung himself heavily,
face downward, upon the bed. His
anguish was none the less real for
its vehemence: and the stricken lady
came 10 him instantly and bent over
him. once more enfoldiRg him in her
arms. She said nothing. but suddenly
her tears fell upon his head; she saw
them. and seemed to be startled.
soh, this won't dor she said. tive
never let you see me cry before, ex-
cept when your father died
mustn't.
And she ran from the room,