The Elbert County tribune., 1919-11-21

him, but, after glance toward the
front of the house. turned back. and
withdrew. Evidently Isabel had gone
to the door. Then murmur was
heard. and George Amberson's voice.
quick and serious: "I want to talk
to you, IsabeI' and another
murmur; then Isabel and her brother
passed the foot of the broad. dark
remained unconscious of the watchful
presence above them.
For time all that George could
hear was the indistinct sound of his
uncle's voice: what he was saying
could not be surmised. though the
troubled brotherllness of his tone was
evident He seemed to be explaining
something at considerable length, and
there were moments when he paused,
and George guessed that his mother
was speaking. but her voice must have
been very low, for II was entirely in
audible to him.
Suddenly he did hear her. Through
the heavy doors her outcry came,
clear and loud:
"Oh. nor
1t was cry of protest, as II some
thing her brother told her must be un-
true, or, If 1t were true, the fact he
stated must be undone; and 1t was a
sound of sheer pain.
Another sound of pain. close to
George, followed 1t this was yehe-
ment smiling which broke out Just
above him, and, looking up, he saw
Fanny Minafer on the landing. lean
Ing over the banisters and applying
her handkerchief to her eyes and
nose.
II can guess what that was about"
she whispered huskily. Hes Just
told her what you did to Eugenew
George gave her dark look over
his shoulder. ''You go on back to
your !" he said and he began to
descend the stairs but Fanny, guess
Ing his purpose, rushed down and
caught his arm, detalning him.
you're not going in there2" she
whispered huskily: "You don't"
Let go of mei'
But she clung to him savagely. mo.
you don't, George Minaferl You'll
keep away from therel You Wilt"
| Ou let go Or
| 'T won'ti You come back here
You'll come upstairs and let them
nlone; that's what you'll dol" And
with such passionate determination
did she clutch and tug. never losing
grip of him somewhere. though
George tried as much as he could,
without hurting her, to wrench away
with such utter forgetfulness of her
maiden dignity did she assault him.
that she forced him, stumbling up
ward, to the landing.
"Of all the ridiculous" he began
furiously; but she spared one hand
from its grasp of his sleeve ana
clapped 1t over his mouth.
flush upl" Never for an instant in
this grotesque struggle did Fanny
raise her voice above husky whisper.
Hush upl It's indecent-llke squab-
bling outside the door of an operating
room Go on to the top of the stairs
20 on"
And when George had most unwill-
ingly obeyed, she planted herself in
his way, on the top step. "There !"
she said. THE idea of your going In
there now! 1 never heard of such n
thlngw And with the sudden depart
ure of the nervous vigor she had
shown so amazingly. she began to cry
again. II was an awful fool. Do you
suppose / dreamed you'd go making
everything into such a tragedy? Do
you?"
81 don't care what you dreamed"
George muttered.
| But Fanny went on, always taking
care to keep her voice from getting
too loud, in spite of her most grievous
agitation. "Do you dream thought
you'd go making such a fool of your
self at Mrs. Johnson's? Oh, saw her
this morning She wouldn't talk to
me, but / met George Anderson on my
way back, and he told me what you'd
done over there And do you dream
thought you'd do what you've done
here this afternoon to Eugene? Oh,
/ knew that, too or course he went
to George Anderson about 1t, and
that's why George is here. He's got
to tell Isabel the whole thing now.
and you wanted to go in there inter
fering-God knows what You stay
here and let her brother tell her he's
got some consideration for herr
81 suppose you think i haven't |"
George said. and Mt that Fanny laugh
ed wltheringly.
you! Considerate of anybody"
I'm considerate of her good name !"
he said hotly. 1T seems to me that's
about the first thing to be considerate
of, in being considerate Of a person
And look here; 1t strikes me you're
taking pretty different tack from
what you did yesterday afternoon /"
Fanny wrung her hands. 81 did f.
terrible thingl" she lamented. Now