Cheyenne record., 1919-12-25
CHAPTER xv-continued,

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-"
Indeed" George snorted. MAY l
ask what you think ought to have
done?"
Nothing"
"'NothingT" George echoed. mock
ing bitterly. II suppose you think !
mean to let my mother's good name"
Your mothers good name!" Am
bersOn cut him off impatiently. mo
body has good name in bad mouth.
Nobody has a good name In silly
mouth. either. Well. your mothers
name was in some silly mouths, and
all you've done was to go and have
a scene with the worst old woman gos-
Sip In the town-a scene that's going
to make her into a partisan against
your mother, whereas she was q mere
prattler before. Don't you suppose
she'll be all over town with this to-
morrow And she'll see to 1t that
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
tbs right fist into his left palm. "But
do you suppose I'm going to tolerate
such things?" he shouted. "What do
you suppose I'll be doing2"
"YOu can do absolutely nothing"
said Anderson. Nothing of any use.
The more you do the more harm you'll
do"
you'll seel I'm going to stop this
thing II I have to force my way into
every house on National avenue and
Anderson boulevard!"
His uncle laughed rather sourly but
made no other comment.
swell. what do you propose to do7"
George demanded. "Do you propose
to sit there"
ayes"
and let this riffraft handy my
mothers good name back and forth
among them? Ia that what you pro-
pose to do?"
tits all can do" Anderson re-
SuiuCu. IL uii uhy VI uS Cuu uO
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 a long breath. then ad-
vanced and stood close before his
uncle. Didn't you understand me
when I told you that people are say
Ing my mother means to marry this
mani"
"Yes. understood you"
"YOu sny that my going over there
has made matters WORSE" George went
on. "HOw about 1t IL such n-such an
unspeakable 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;
II don't believe 1t would. But 1t
wouldn't hurt Isabel and Eugene, II
they never heard Of 1t; and II they did
hear Of 1t. then they could take their
choice between placating gossip or llv-
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 inquir-
'ngiy. "Why shouldn't they marry II
they want to?" he asked. "It's their
own affair. ! don't see anything pre-
:isely menstrous about two people get
:ing married when they're both free
cod care about each other. What's
the matter with their mnrrying?"
"It would be monstrous!" George
shouted. "Monstrous even II this hOr-
rlble thing hadn't happened. but now
In the face of this-Oh. that you can
sit there and even speak of It'll Your
own sisterl Oh" He became inco-
hcrent. swinging away from ANDERSON
md making for the door. wildly ges-
uring.
"FOr heavens sake don't be so the
stricalw said his uncle. and then. see
.ng that George was leaving the room
Come back here. You mustn't speak
- your mother of this |"
Don't tend to-" George said indis-
Nnctiy. and he plunged into the big.
SImiy lit hall. He went home and got
hat and OvercOat without seeing
hlther his mother or Fanny. Then he
III word that he would be out for
dinner and hurried away from the
hOuse.
He walked the dark streets Of Am
serson addition for an hour, then went
downtown and got coffee at a restau-
can't. After that he walked through
the lighted parts Of the town until ten
o'clock. when he turned north and
tame back to the puriieus Of the Addi-
ION. He walked nercely. though his
feet ached. but by and BY he turned
lomeward, and, when he reached the
Majors. went In and sat upon the
steps Of the huge stone veranda in
Srout-an obscure figure IN that lonely
a Na-A