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


H.
I'm not sure, George. When was
-FOUR age was like you In many ways,
especially In not being very cool
headed, so can't say. Youth can't be
trusted for much, except asserting
itself and fighting and making love-"
"Indeed!" George snorted. May l
ask what you think I ought to have
done?"
Nothing"
'Nothingf" George echoed, mock
Ing bitterly. II suppose you think
mean to let my mothers good name"
Your mothers good name!" Am
berson cut him on impatiently. mo
body has good name in a bad mouth
Nobody has good name in a silly
mouth, either. Well. your mothers
name was in some silly mouths, and
al you've done was to go and have
I scene with the worst old woman Cos
zip In the tOwn-a scene that's going
to make her into a partisan against
your mother, whereas she was q mere
prattler before. Don't you suppose
she'll be all over town with this to-
morrow And she'll see to 1t that
everybody who's limited anything
about poor Isabel will know that
you're on the warpath; and that will
put them on the defensive and make
them vicious. The story will grow as
it spreads and"
George unfolded his arms to strike
his right fist into his left palm. But
do you suppose Pm going to tolerate
such things?" he shouted "What do
you suppose I'll be doing7"
you can do absolutely nothing"
said Anderson. Nothing Of any use.
The more you do the more harm you'll
do"
You'll see! I'm going to stop this
thing II have to force my way into
every house on National avenue and
Anderson boulevard"
His uncle laughed rather sourly but
made no other comment.
"Well. what do you propose to dor
George demanded. do you propose
to sit there"
Eyes"
and let this riffraff handy my
mothers good name back and forth
among them7 Is that what you pro-
pose to DOR
ITS all l can do" Anderson re
turned. ITS all any of us can dc
now: just sit still and hope that the
thing may die down in time in spite
OF your stirring up that awful ole
woman"
George drew long breath, then ad
vanced and stood close before his
uncle didn't you understand ms
when l told you that people are say
ing my mother means to marry this
man3"
Yes. 1 understood you"
"You say that my going over there
has made matters worse" George wen
on How about 1t II such a-such al
upspeakable marriage did take place
Do you think that would make peopl,
believe they'd been wrong In saying
you know what they say"
no." said Anderson deliberately
II don't believe it would. But
wouldn't hurt Isabel and Eugene, 1
they never heard Of 1t; and If they dit
hear of it, then they could take thei
choice between placating gossip or liv
ing for their own happiness. II the.
have decided to marry"
George almost staggered. Goot
heaven !" he gasped. "You speak Of |
calmlyl"
Anderson looked up at him inQuir
ingly. "Why shouldn't they marry |
they want tor" he asked. tits thei
own affair. I don't see anything pre-
cisely monstrous about two people get
ting married when they're both fire.
and care about each other. What
the matter with their marrying?"
1T would be monstrous Georg
shouted. "Monstrous even II this hor
rible thing hadn't happened, but nov
in the face OF this-oh, that you GU
sit there and even speak Of it You
own sister, Oh" He became incC
herent. swinging away from Amberso
and making for the door, wildly ges
turing.
"FOr heavens sake don't be so the
atricall" said his uncle, and then, see
ing that George was leaving the room
Come back here. You mustn't spea
to your mother Of this II
Don't tend to-" George said indi'
tinctly, and he plunged into the BIZ
dimly lit hall. He went home and &C
hat and overcoat without seem
either his mother or Fanny. Then h
left word that he would be out fc
dinner and hurried away from tn
house.
He walked the dark streets Of An
bersOn addition for an hour, then wer
downtown and got coffee at a resta'
rant. After that he walked throug
the lighted parts Of the town until te
o'clock, when he turned north an
came back to the purlieus OF the Add
ton. He walked fiercely, though h
feet ached, but by and by he turne
homeward, and, when he reached IL
Majors, went In and sat upon II
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