The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1919-12-12
CHAPTER XVIII.


tevvn. The next afternoon. George An
berson Minafer was walking UP Nation
81 avenue on his aomewarsl way when
he saw In the distance. coming toward
him. UTfoa the same side of the street
the figure OF young latiy-a hguFe
spst under the middle hs.g'... comedy
indeed and TO be mistaken for none
other in the worid-even at two hum
tlred yards. To his sharp discontinue
his heart Immediately forced upon him
the consciousness Of its acceleration
sudden warmth about his neck maae
him aware that he had turned red.
and then. departing. left him pale tor
n paniclSy moment he thought OF rae
INK about in actual fight: he had little
doubt that Lucy would meet him with
no token Of recognition, and all az
once this probability struck him rs IN
endurahle. And If she d:sl not speak,
was tt the proper part Of cilivairy 70
lift his hat ard take the cut bare
headed? Or should the finer gentle
man acquiesce in the lady's desire for
nc further acquaintance, and pass her
with stoay mien and eyes constrained
forward? George was young man
Hluly mustered.
AS they drew nearer George tried to
prepare himself 70 meet her with some
remnant Of aplomb. lie kept his eyes
from looking full at her, and IS he
saw her thus close N hand. and een-
ing nearer, regret that was dunn
founding took possession of him. For
the first time he had the sense of hay
inc lost something of Overwhelming inn
portance.
Lucy did not keep 10 the right,
but came straight 70 meet him. sInil-
ing. and with her hand offered TO him.
"Why-you--" lie stammered. IS he
took It. Haven't yoK" What he
meant to say was: UavenS YOU heard :"
Haven't I what?' she asked; and he
saw that Eugene had not told her
"Nothing" he gasped. May I
may turn and walk with you little
way?"
yes. indeed!" she said cordially.
He wotid not have altered what had
been done: he was satisfied with nj
that-sati~fed that it was right. and
that his own course was right. But he
began to perceive n striking inaccu-
rncy In some remarks he had made 70
his mother. low when he had put
matters in such shape that even by
the REIMBURSEMENT of his ideals of
life he could not have Lucy. knew
/ that he never. could have her. and
knew that when Eugene told her the
4 history OF yesterday he could not have
a glance or a word even friendly from
her-now when he must in good truth
/ i T In =
amazed that he could have used such
words as mo particular sacrifice. ana
believed them when he said them, She
had looked never IN her life so hewitch-
inCly pretty as she did to-day; and rs
he walked beside her he was Sure that
She was the most exquisite thing in the
world.
Lucy" he said huskily, 81 want 10
tell you something. Something that
matters
Il hope it's lively something. then
she said. and laughed "Papa's been
so elum today he's scarcely spoken to
me. Your Uncle George ANDERSON
came TO see him an hour ago and they
shut themselves up in the library. ana
your uncle looked IS glum as papa.
I'll he glad If youn tell Inc funny
story, George"
We'll. it may seem one TO YOU. he
said bitterly. "JuSt to begin with
when you went away you didn't let
me know; not even word-not a
line"
Her manner persisted in being In
consequent. 'Why, no" she said. II
inst trotted OFT for some visits. Don't
YOU remember, George? We'd had i
grand quarrel. and didn't speak 70
each other all the way home from q
long. long drive So. rs we couldn't
play together like good children. 81
course it was plain that we oushtn'
to play ut al
play he cried
Eyes. What 1 mean is that we'd come
to the point where it was time to Quit
nlaving-well. what we were playing
eat being lovers. you me& n. don't
you?"
something like that" she said light
IL. For us two. playing ut beins
lovers was just the same as playing a
cross-Durposes. I had all the pur
noses. and that gave you all the cross
ness: things weren't getting along al
all It was absurd ~
well. have it your own way, h'
said. "It needn't have been absurd"
mo. 1t couldn't help but be- sh'
informed him cheerfully. 1.-The wa,
I am and the way you are. 1t couidn'
ever be anything else. So what wa
the usef"
"I don't know" he sighed and hi
sigh was abysmal. But what l want
ed to tell you was this: when yol
went away, you didn't let me know
and didn't care how or when / hears
IL. but Tn not like that with you
This time Tn going away. That
what I wanted to tell you I'm goini
away tomorrow night-ndefiniteiy
| Lucy, this Is our last walk to
gether."
| .Evidentiy - she said. IF. you're &c
4 ne away tomorrow night"
sIucy-this may be the last tim
] ia Gee ycu-ever-evef In my life"
| At that she looked up at him quick
| Nv. across her shoulder, but smiled
! brightly rs before, and with tn