The Connecticut labor press., 1919-11-08
CHAPTER XIV.

CHAPTER XIV.
George took off his dressing-gown
and put on a collar and tie, his fingers
shaking so that the tie was not his
usual success; then he picked up his
coat and waistcOat, and left the room
while still in process of donning them.
fastening the buttons as he ran down
the front stairs to the door. 1t was
not until he reached the middle of the
street that he realized that he had for
| gotten his hat; and he paused for an
| irresolute moment then he decided
that he needed no hat for the sort OF
call he intended to make, and went
| forward hurriedly. Mrs. Johnson
was at home, the Irish girl who came
to the door informed him, and he was
left to await the lady, in room like
an elegant well-the Johnsons' ere
ception ROOM"
Mrs. Johnson came in, breathing no.
| ticeably; and her round head, smooth
ly but economically decorated with
the hair of an honest woman, seemed
to be lingering far in the background
| of the Alpine bosom which took pre-
| cedence of the rest of her everywhere;
but when she was all in the room, it
was to be seen that her breathing was
the result Of hospitable haste to greet
the visitor, and her hand suggested
that she had paused for only the brief
est ablutions. George accepted this
| cold, damp lump mechanically.
| "Mr. Amberson-I mean Mr.. Nina
fer!" she exclaimed. "Pm really de-
lighted; I understood you asked for
me. Mr.. Johnson's out of the city,
but Charles downtown and I'm look
ing for him at any minute, now, and
he'll be so pleased that you"
II didn't want to see Charlie"
George said. II want
| do sit down." the hOspitable lady
urged him, seating herself upon the
sofa. do sit down."
mo, thank you. I wish"
Surely you're not going to run
away again, when you've just come?
Do sit down, Mr.. Minafer. I hope
you're all well at your house and at
| the dear old Majors, too. He's look
| ing"
Mrs. Johnson" George said, in
strained loud voice which arrested her
attention Immediately, so that she was
abruptly silenced, leaving her sur
prised mouth open. Mrs. Johnson, I
have come to ask you few questions
which I would like you to answer. if
you please"
She became grave at once. Ger
tainly, Mr.. Minafer. Anything I can"
He interrupted sternly, yet his
voice shook in spite of its sternness.
You were talking with my Aunt Fan
ny about my mother this afternoon"
At this Mrs. Johnson uttered an in
voluntary gasp, but she recovered
herself "Then I'm sure our CONVEX
SatiOn was very pleasant one, if we
We're talking Of your mother, be-
| cause
Again he interrupted. "My aunt
has told me what the conversation vir-
tually was, and l don't mean to waste
any time, Mrs. Johnson. You were
talking about a" Georges shoulders
suddenly heaved uncontrollebly but
he went f1ercely on: You were discuss
ing a scandal that involved my moth
er's name"
"Mr. Minafer!''
ISL IIldC Tue
81 don't feel called upon to answer
Mr.. Minafer." she said with visible
agitation. Il do not consider that you
have any right"
MY aunt told me you repeated this
scandal to her.
Il don't think your aunt can have
said that" Mrs. Johnson returned
sharply. Il did not repeat a scandal
of any kind to your aunt and l think
you are mistaken in saying she told
you l did. We may have discussed
some matters that have been topic
| of comment about TOWN."
"Yesv' George cried. 81 think you
may have! That's what I'm here
about. and what intend to"
Don't tell me what you intend.
please" Mrs. Johnson interrupted
crisply. "And should prefer that you
would not make your voice quite so
loud in this house, which l happen to
own. Your aunt may have told you
| though think it would have been very
unwise in her if she did, and not very
| considerate of me-She may have told
you that we discussed some topic as I
have mentioned, and possibly that
would have been true. If ! talked it
over with her, you may be sure 1 spoke
in the most charitable spirit, and
without sharing in other peoples dis
position to put an evil Interpretation