The Elbert County tribune., 1919-11-14

in his room over his mistreatment of
herl
"Oh, my Lord /" he whispered then,
with a great effort, addressed her in
reasonable tone: Look here, Aunt
Fanny; don't see what you're making
all this fuss about. or course 1 know
I've teased you sometimes. but"
"'Teased' me?" she walled.
Teased' me Oh. 1t does seem too
hard sometimes-this mean old life of
mine does seem too hardi 1 don't
think can stand 1t Honestly. don't
think canl 1 came in here just to
show you I sympathized with you
just to say something pleasant to you.
and you treat me as If were-oh, no,
you wouldn't treat servant the way
you treat me! You wouldn't treat any
body in the world like this except cid
Fannyw
"Oh. my Lord !" George groaned.
Fanny spread out her small, soaked
handkerchief, and shook 1t in the air
to dry 1t 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 hardl tell you didn't mean
to speak of it to you, and 1 never.
never In the world would have told
you about 1t, nor have made the faint
est reference to 1t, II hadn't seen that
somebody else had told you, or you'd
found out for yourself some way.
IL
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 what7
I'd found what out for myself7"
"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 sayr' he asked In
credulously.
"Of course I understood what you
were doing" Fanny went on. drying her
handkerchief again. "It puzzled other
people when you began to be rude to
Eugene, because they couldn't see how
you could treat him as you did when
you were so interested In Lucy. But
l remembered how you came to me,
that other time when there was so
much talk about Isabel; and i-new
you'd give Lucy up In q minute, II 1t
came to a question of your mothers
reputation. because you said then
that"
Look here" George interrupted in
a 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 mottled; 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
'reputation? What do you mean,
speaking of a question of my-my
mothers reputation
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.
Dut it's only old Fanny, so whatever
she says-even when It's sympathy
pick on her for itr' She sobbed. Its
only poor old lonely Fannyi''
"You look herew George said harsh
ly. "when 1 spoke to my Uncle
George after that rotten thing I heard
Aunt Amelia say about my mother, he
said If there was any gossip 1t was
about you He said people might be
laughing about the way you ran after
Morgan, but that was ALL"
Fanny lifted her hands. clenched
them and struck them upon her knees.
"Yes; it's always Fannyl" she sobbed.
ridiculous old Fanny-always, al
ways ~
you listenl" George said. after
I'd talked to Uncle George 1 saw you !;
and you said had mean little mind
for thinking there might be truth In