The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1919-11-21

ihiii, uuts ulteE kiduCe toWuEu tne |
front OF the house, turned back. and |
withdrew. Evidently Isabel had gone
to the door. Then murnur was
heard, and George Amberson's voice,
quick and serious: II want to talk
to you, lsaber and another
murmur; then Isabel and her brother
| passed the foot Of the broad, dark
stairway, but did not look up. and
remained unconscious Of the watchful
presence above them.
| For a 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 brotherliness 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 1t was entirely In
audible to him.
Suddenly he did hear her.. Through
the heavy doors her outcry came,
clear and loud:
"Oh, mol"
1t was a cry Of protest, as II some
thing her brother told her must be I'M
true, or. II 1t were true. the fact he
stated must be undone; and 1t was
sound Of sheer pain.
Another sound Of pain. close to
George, followed 1t; this was vehe-
ment smiling which broke out just
above him, and, looking up. he saw
Fanny Mlnafer 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
J your room" he said; and he began to
} descend the stairs; but Fanny, guess
: ing his purpose, rushed down and
! caught his arm, OBTAINING him.
"You're not going in there?" she
whispered huskily: you don't"
LET go of mel"
But she chung to him savagely. mo,
: you don't, George Minafer! You'll
! keep away from therel You will r.
) "You let go Of
7 II won't! You come back here
] You'll come upstairs and let them
alone; that's what you'll dol" And
t with such passionate determination
r did she clutch and tug, never losing
t a grip Of him somewhere, though
r George tried as much as he could
without hurting her, to wrench away
with such utter forgetfulness OF hel
d maiden dignity did she assault him
e that she forced him. stumbling up
$ ward, to the landing.
II "Of all the ridiculous" he begal
], furiously; but she spared one han
h from its grasp of his sleeve an
clapped 1t over his mouth.
O Hush up!" Never for an instant Il
this grotesque struggle did Fam
raise her voice above husky whisper
Hush up! It's indecent-like SQUAD
o bling outside the door Of an operating
!. room Go on to the top Of the stairs
,, so Onl"
q And when George had most unwill
h ingly obeyed. she planted herself II
/. his way, on the top step. There !
y she said. '"rhe idea Of your going II
there now! never heard Of such I
thing!" And with the sudden depart
> ure Of the nervous vigor she hat
shown so amazingly, she began to CT.
again. Il was an awful fool. Do yOl
: suppose l dreamed you'd go making
everything into such a tragedy? d.
your"
!, II don't care what you dreamed,
George muttered.
But Fanny went on. always takin
;. care to keep her voice from gettIn
too loud, in spite Of her most grievou
agitation. do you dream l though
>, you'd go making such fool Of your
self at Mrs. Johnson's? Oh, saw he
. this morning She wouldn't talk t
. me, but met George ANDERSON on m
= way back, and he told me what you
= done over there! And do you dream
!. thought you'd do what you've don
- here this afternoon to Eugene? OF
- l knew that, too or course he wen
to George ANDERSON about 1t, an
= that's why George is here. He's &C
- to tell Isabel the whole thing nov
and you wanted to go In there intel
fering-God knows what! You sta
~ here and let her brother tell her; he
II got some consideration for her"
: II suppose you think i haven't
George said, and at that Fanny laugi
q ed witheringly.
n "Youl Considerable of anybody"
h. I'm considerable of her good name
n he said holly. ut seems to me that
Il about the first thing to be considerat
ia OF. In being considerate Of a person
f. And look here; it strikes me your
or taking pretty different tack frol
se what you did yesterday afternoon
g. Fanny wrung her hands. II did
n terrible thing" she lamented. "No
10 that it's done and too late, / kno
w what 1t was l didn't have sens
rs enough Just to let things go on.
a | didn't have anv huSineSS tO interior