The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1919-11-28

in his room over his mistreatment Of
herl
"Oh, my Lord :" he whispered; then,
with great effort, addressed her in a
reasonable tone: "Look here, ,Aunt
Fanny; don't see what you're making
all this fuss about. OF course I know
I've teased you sometimes. but"
'Teased' met" she walled.
Teased' me! Oh. it does seem too
hard sometimes this mean Did life of
mine does seem too hard! I don't
think I can stand It! Honestly, don't
think can! came in here just to
show you / sympathized with you
just to say something pleasant to you,
and you treat me as II were-oh, no,
you wouldn't treat servant the way
you treat me! You wouldn't treat any
body In the world like this except old
Fanny !"
''Oh. my Lord" George groaned.
Fanny spread out her small, soaked
handkerchief. and shook it in the air
to dry 1t a little, crying as damply and
as wretchedly during this operation as
before-a sight which gave George a
curious shock to add to his other agi-
tations, it seemed SO strange.
"You're SO proud" she quavered,
land SO hard! I tell you didn't mean
to speak of 1t to you, and I never,
never in the world would have told
you about it, nor have made the faint
est reference to it, If hadn't seen that
somebody else had told you. or you'd
found out for yourself some way.
T."
In despair of her intelligence, and
in some doubt Of his own, George
struck the palms of his hands together.
Somebody else had told me what?
I'd found what out for myself?"
"How people are talking about your
mother" S H
Except for the incidental teariness
Of her voice. her tone was casual. as
though she mentioned a subject pre-
viously discussed and understood |;
for Fanny had no doubt that George
had only pretended to be mystified be-
cause, in his pride, he would not In
words admit that he knew what he
knew.
"What did you say?' he asked In
credulously.
"Of course I understood what you
were doing" Fanny went on, drying her
handkerchief again. "It puzzled other
people when you began to be rude to
Eugene, because they couldn't see how
you could treat him as you did when
you were so interested In Lucy. But
remembered how you came to me,
that other time when there was 80
much talk about Isabel; and I knew
you'd give Lucy up In a minute. If it
came to question Of your mothers
reputation. because you said then
| that"
"Look here" George interrupted in
a shaking voice. "Look here, I'd
like He stopped. unable to go on,
his agitation was so great His chest
heaved as from hard running. and his
complexion. pallid at first. had be-
come notified; fiery splotches appear
ing at his temples and cheeks. what
do you mean by telling me-telling me
there's talk about-about-" He
| gulped, and began again: 'What do
you mean by using such words as
reputation? What do you mean.
speaking of a question Of my-my
mothers reputation"
| nj y
over the handkerchief which she now
applied to her Redeemed nose. God
knows / am sorry for you. George"
she murmured. ~ wanted to say so.
but it's only old Fanny. so whatever
she says-even when it's sympathy
pick on her for IT." She sobbed. "It's
only poor old lonely Fanny"
"You look here |" George said harsh
iy. 'When / spoke to my Uncle
George after that rotten thing heard
Aunt Amelia say about my mother. he
said If there was any gossip it was
about you! He said people might be
laughing about the way you ran after
| Morgan, but that was ALL"
Fanny lifted her hands, clenched
them and struck them upon her knees.
Eyes; it's always Fannyt" she sobhed.
ridiculous old Fanny-always, al
ways !"
you listenl" George said. "After
I'd talked to Uncle George saw You ;
and you said had mean little mind
for thinking there might be truth In