The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1919-12-19

nnga Ming the rosy little
e.ef the white mantelpiece
- pretty white and blue boudoir.
ur photographs all framed in decor
IDS plain silver went to the anthra-
cites fierce observation-disclosures and
] all-and three packets of letters and
notes in q charming Florentine treas
ure box Of painted wood; nor was the
box, any more than the silver frames,
spared this rousing finish. Thrown
heartily upon live coal, the fine wood
sparkled forth in stars, then burst in
to an alarming blaze which scorched
the white mantelpieee, but Lucy stood
and looked on without moving.
It was not Eugene who told her
what had happened at Isabel's door.
When she got home, she found Fanny
Minafer waiting for her-a secret ex-
cursion Of Fanny's for the purpose, pre-
sumably, OF letting out" again; be-
cause that was what she did. She told
Lucy everything Except her own la
mentable part in the production Of the
recent miseries) and concluded with
tribute to George; "The worst of it
is, he thinks he's been such a hero,
and Isabel does, too. and that makes
him more than twice as awful. It's
been the same al his life; everything
he did was noble and perfect. He had
a domineering nature to begin with,
and she let 1t go on, and fostered 1t
till it absolutely ruled her. never
saw palmer case of q persons fault
making them pay for having it She
goes about, overseeing the packing
and praising George and pretending to
be perfectly cheerful about what he's
done. She pretends he did such fine
thing--so manly and protective-go
ing to Mrs. johnson. And so heroic
doing what his principles made him
even though he knew what it would
cost him with you! And oil the while
it's almost killing her-what he said
to your father! She's always been
lofty enough, so to speak, and had the
greatest idea Of the Ambersons being
superior to the rest of the world, and
all that, but rudeness, or anything like
scene or any bad manners-they
always just made her sick! But she
Acklld never see what Georges man.
were-oh, it's been terrible
etionl -. It's going to be task
(mess living in that big house, all
ll.5he; tou must come and see me
/ mean pfter they've gone, of course.
I'll go cfazy If don't see something
of people. I'm sure you'll come as
often as you can. know you too well
to think you'll be sensitive about COM
ing there, or being reminded of
George. Thank heaven you're too we'll
balanced" Miss Fanny concluded,
with a profound fervor. "you're too
well-balanced to let anything affect
you deeply about that-that monkey 7"
The four photographs and the paint
ed Florentine box went to their crema-
ton within the same hour that Miss
Fanny spoke; and little later Lucy
rallied her father in, as he passed her
door, and pointed to the blackened area
on the underside of the mantelpiece,
and to the burnt heap upon the coal,
where some metallic shapes stlll re-
tanned outline. She flung her arms
about his neck in passionate SYM
patty, telling him that she knew what
had happened to him; and presently
he began to comfort her and managed
On embarrassed laugh.
swell, we'll" he said. II was too
old for such foolishness to be getting
into my head. anyhow"
"No, mol" she sobbed. "And If you
knew how despise myself for-for
ever having thought one instant about
oh, Miss Fanny called him the right
name: that monkey! He Isl"
'sThere, / think agree with you,"
Eugene said grimly, and in his eyes
there was steady light Of anger that
was to last. "Yes think agree with
you about that !"
"There's only one thing to do with
such a person." she said vehemently.
'That's to put him out of our thoughts
forever-forever
And yet, the next day, at six o'clock,
which was the hour. Fanny had told
her, when George and his mother were
. to leave upon their long journey, Lucy
ouched that scorched place on her
antel with her hand just as the little
pick above II struck. Then. after this
i'd. unconscious gesture. she went to
IA window and stood between the cur
tains. soolsing out into the colS No