The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1919-10-31

l ~
but oh, such pretty little house,"
swell, that's fortunate" George
said. "One thing I've always felt they
didn't know great deal about is ar
chitecture."
'Dpn't they?" asked Isabel, sur
prised. anyhow, their house is
charming. It's way out beyond the
end of Anderson boulevard; it's quite
near that big white house with gray
| green roof somebody built out there
a year or so ago. suppose you'll be
driving out to see Lucy tomorrow"
II thought" George hesitated. II
thought perhaps I'd go after dinner
this evening""
I At this his mother laughed, not as
tonished. "It was only my feeble
| joke about tomorrow George! 1
was pretty sure you couldn't wait that
long. Did Lucy write you about the
factory?"
"No. What factory?"
"The automobile shops. This spring
they've finished eight automobiles and
sold them all, and they've got twelve
more almost finished, and they're sold
already! Eugene is SO gay over it !!
They're very interesting to look at !;
behind the drivers seat there's sort
Of box where four people can sit, with
a step and a little door in the rear,
| and"
II know all about it." said George.
"Tve seen any number like that, east.
You can See all you want Of 'em If
you stand on Fifth avenue half an
hour any afternoon. I've seen half
a dozen go by almost at the same
time-within few minutes, anyhow ;
and of course electric hansoms are a
common sight there any day. I hired
one myself the last time was there.
How fast do Mr.. Morgan's machines
go?"
"Much too fast! It's very exhila-
rating-but rather frightening; and
they do make fearful uproar. He
says, though, he thinks he sees way
to get around the noisiness in time"
81 don't mind the noise" said
George. "Give me horse for mine,
though, any day. Unjust get up race
with one Of these things; Pendennis'll
leave it one mile behind in two-mile
run. How's grandfather"
"He looks well, but he complains
sometimes Of his heart"
George had taken off his coat. II
don't like to hint to a lady," he said,
'but I do want to dress before din
ner."
Don't be long; I've got to do a
lot of looking at you, dear!' She
kissed him and ran away, singing.
But his Aunt Fanny was not so
fond; and at the dinner table there
came a spark Of liveliness into her
eyes when George patronizingly asked
her what was the news in her own
particular line of sport"
"Well. what's the gossip? You
usually hear pretty much everything
that goes on around the hooks and
crannies in this town, hear. What's
the last from the gossips' corner.
| auntie?'
Fanny dropped her eyes, but a
movement of her lower lip betokened
a tendency to laugh as she replied,
"There hasn't been much gossip lately
except the report that Lucy Morgan
and Fred Kinney are engaged-and
that's quite old by this time"
There was a clatter upon Georges
plate. "What-what do you think
you're talking about?" he gasped.
Miss Fanny looked up innocently.
"About the report of Lucy Morgan's
engagement to Fred Kinney"
George turned dumbly to his mother
and Isabel shook her head reassur-
| ingly. "People are always starting
rumors," she said 81 haven't paid
| any attention to this one"
But you-you've heard It'll" he
| stammered.
"Oh, one hears all sorts Of nonsense,
dear. haven't the slightest idea
that it's true"
'Then you have heard It'll"
George turned pale.
Sat your dinner, George" his
| aunt Sdlu SWeetly. FOOu VIII 10 you
good. / didn't say knew this rumor
was true. only said I'd heard it."
Fanny, you're hard-hearted crea-
ture," Isabel said gently. "You really
are. Don't pay any attention to her,
George. Fred Kinney's only a clerk
in his uncle's hardware place: he
couldn't marry for ages-even if any
body would accept him! ~
George breathed unanimously. 81
don't care anything about ages r
What's that got to do with it?" he
said. his thoughts appearing to be
somewhat disconnected. lagos don't
mean anything! 1 only want to know
Il want to know I want" He
stopped.
"You must finish your dinner, DEAR"
his mother urged. Don't"
II have finished. I've eaten all /
want. don't want any more than 1
wanted. don't want-I-" He rose,