The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1919-11-28
CHAPTER XIV.
10


He went 10 his room. threw on his
coat. waistcoat. collar and tie, letting
them lie where they CHANGED TO fall.
and then. having violently enveloped
himself I'm a black velvet dressing
gown, continued this action by lying
down with a yehemence that brought
n wheeze of protest from his bed. His
repose wa3 only momentary sem
blance, however, for Ii lasted no long
er than the time II took him 10 groan
"RlffraYw between his teeth. Then he
sat up, swung his feet TO the floor, rose
and began to pace up and down the
large ROOM
He had just been consciously rude
to his mother for the first time In his
life; for, with all his riding down OF
populace and riffrafr. he had never be-
fore been either deliberately or i'm
pulsively disregardful of her. But
now he had done rough thing TO her;
and he did not repent; the rather he
was the more irritated with her. And
when he heard her presently go by his
door with a light step, singing cheer
fully TO herself as she went to her
room. he perceived that she had mis-
taken his intention altogether. or. in
deed, had failed to perceive that he
had any intention at oil.
There came a delicate. eager tap
ping at his door. not done with a
knuckle but with the tip of a finger
nail. which was instantly clarified to
Georges minds eye as plainly as If he
saw IT: the long and polished white
mooned pink shield on the end of his
Aunt Fanny's right fOreflnger. But
George was in no mood for human
communications. and even when things
went we'll he had little pleasure In
Fanny's society. Therefore 1t Is not
surprising that ut the sound of her
tapping. instead of bidding her enter.
he Immediately crossed the room with
the intention of locking the door to
keep her out.
Fanny was too eager and. opening
the door before he reached 1t. came
quickly in, and closed 1t behind her.
Her look was that OF a person who
had just seen something extraordinary
or heard thrilling news.
Now. what on earth do you want?"
her chilling nephew demanded.
George" she said hurriedly, IT saw
what you did when you couldn't speak
TO them. / was sitting with Mrs. John
son at her front window. across the
street. and / saw 1t ALL"
swell, what of it7'
you did righti'' Fanny said with a
vehemence not the less spirited be-
cause she suppressed her voice almost
TO whisper. You did exactly
right You're behaving splendidly
about the whole thing. and I want TO
tell you / know your father would
than,- you # he could see what you're
doing
MY Lord 7" George broke out at her
You make me dizzy For heavens
sake quit the mysterious detective
business-at least do quit ii around
mel Go and try II on somebody else.
IL you like; but / don't want to hear
it,"
She began TO tremble. regarding him
with a fixed gaze. You don't care to
hear, then" she said huskily. that
approve OF what you're doing?'
Certainly not Since 1 haven't the
faintest idea what you think I'm do
Ing. QOn Ndlt WltllcE
you approve OF 1t or not All To like.
If you please. Is TO be alone. I'm not
giving a tea here. this afternoon. IL
you'll permit me to mention 1t -
Fanny's gaze wavered; she began
to blink; then suddenly she sank into
n chair and wept silently. but with
terrible desolation.
~Oh, for the Lords sakew he
moaned. what In the world Is wrong
with yonT
You're always picking on me-" she
quavered wretchedly, her voice indis-
tnct with the wetness that dubbed in
TO 1t from her tears. you do-you
always pick on me. You've always
done it-always-ever since you were
q little boyl Whenever anything goes
wrong with you. you take 1t out on
mel You do. You always"
George flung to heaven a gesture OF
despair; II seemed to him the last
straw that Fanny should have chosen
this particular time to come and sob
in his room over his mistreatnent OF
heri
"Oh. my Lord !" he whispered: then.
with a great effort. addressed her In q
reasonable tone: Look here, Aunt
Fanny: l don't see what you're making
sll this fuss about. OF course 1 know
I've leased you sometimes. but"
~Teased meT' she walled
leased me! Oh, 1t does seem too
hard sometimes-this mean old life OF
mine does seem too hard! don't
think car stand IL! Honestly. I don't
think canI l came In here Just to
show you I sympathised with you
- u ~ aDething pleasant 20 yoa.