Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1919-12-05

ner!
"Oh, my Lord I" he whispered thc>,
with great effort, addressed her in
reasonable tone: "Look here, Aunt
Fanny; l don't see what you're making
all this fuss about. OF course l know
I've leased you sometimes, but"
Teased' met" she walled.
'Teased' me! Oh, 1t does seem too
hard sometimes-tEis mean old life of
mine does seem too hardl l don't
think can stand it! Honestly, don't
think ] can! came in here just to
show you l sympathized with you
just to say something pleasant to you.
and you treat me as if l were-oh, no,
you wouldn't treat q servant the way
you treat mel You wouldn't treat any
body in the world like this except old
Fanny"
"Oh, my Lordl" George groaned.
Fanny spread out her small, soaked
handkerchief, and shook 1t In the air
to dry it 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
"and so hard 1 tell you didn't mean
to speak of it to you, and 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.
+"
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"
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. 1T puzzled other
people when you began to be rude to
Eugene, because they couldn't see how
vfu1 Gould fraot hin, nc Won did u,han
you were so interested in Lucy. But
remembered how you came to me,
that other time when there was SO
much talk about Isabel; and knew
you'd give Lucy up in minute, If it
came to question of your mothers
reputation, because you said then
that"
Look here" George interrupted in
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
'reputationY What do you mean,
speaking of q question Of my-my
mothers reputationY
Fanny looked up at him woefully
over the handkerchief which she now
applied to her REDEEMED nose. "God
knows am sorry for you, George
she murmured. II wanted to say SO
put it's only old Fanny, SO whatever
she says-even when it's sympathy
pick on her for it r She sobbed. "It's
only poor old lonely Fanny"
"You look here!' George said harsh
~. "when spoke TO my Uncle
George after that rotten thing heard
Aunt Amelia say about my mother, HI
said If there was any gossip 1t wal
about you! He said people might b.
laughing about the way you ran afte
Morgan, but that was ALL
i Fanny lifted her hands, clenche,
them and struck them upon her knees
Eyes: it's always Fannyi" she sobbed
Ridiculous old Fnnny-always. al
waysl"
4 "You listen !" George said. "Afte
lrd talked to Uncle George saw you
and you said had mean little min
j for thinking there might be truth !