The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1919-09-11

mother to help you? Is that what you
mean?"
Beyond a doubt that vas what Miss
Fanny meant. She gave him a white
hot look. "You attend to your own
affairs" she whispered fercely, and
swept away.
George, d%umfounded, returned to
his room for meditation.
He had lived for years in the same
house with his Aunt Fanny, and it
now appeared that during all those
years he had been thus intimately as
s~ociating with a total stranger. Never
before had he met the passionate
lady with whom he had just held a
conversation in the hall. So she want
ed to get married! And wanted
Georges mother to help her with this
horseless-carriage widower!
We'll, l will be shot!" he muttered
aloud. II WE'LL certainly will be
shot," And he began to laugh.
Lord 'lmighty"
But presently, at the thought Of the
Understandings widower's daugh-
ter, his grimness returned, and he re-
solved upon a line of conduct for the
evening. He would nod to her care
lessly when he first saw her; and
after that he would notice her no
more: he would not dance with her;
he would not favor her in the cotil-
lion-he would not 60 near her!
90. He descended to dinner upon
the third urgent summons of the COL
ored butler. having spent two hours
dressing-and rehearsing.
The Hon. George ANDERSON was a
congressman who led cotillions-the
sort Of congressman an Anderson
would be. He did it negligently to-
night, yet with infallible dexterity,
now and then glancing humorously at
the spectators, people of his W age.
George. had carried out his re-
hearsed projects with precision. He
had given Miss Morgan a nod studied
into perfection during his lengthy tot
let before dinner. "Oh, yes. I do
seem to remember that curious little
Outsider!" this nod seemed to say.
Thereafter all cognizance Of her evap-
Grated: the curious little outsider was
permitted no further existence worth
the struggle. Nevertheless she flashed
in the corner Of his eyes too often.
She seemed to be having q wonder
full tlme!"
An unbearable soreness a%ccumulat-
ed in his chest: his dislike Of the girl
and her conduct increased until he
thought of leaving this sickening AS
sembly and going home to bed. That
would show her! But just then he
heard her laughing and decided that
1t wouldn't show her. So he remained
When the young couples seated
themselves In chairs against the walls
round three sides Of the room for the
cotillion George Joined a brazen-faced
group clustering about the doorway
youths with nc partners, yet eligible
to be "called out" and favored. He
marked that his uncle placed the in
fernal Kinney and Miss Morgan, as
the leading couple, in the first chairs
at the head of the line upon the lead
er's right; and this d~isloyalty on the
part Of Uncle George was ~inexcusable,
for in the family circle the nephew
had often expressed his opinion of
Fred Kinney. In his bitterness George
uttered a significant monosyllable.
The music flourished. %whereupon
Mr.. Kinney, Miss Morgan and six OF
their neighbors rose and waltzed
knowingly. Mr.. Amberson's whistle
blew; then the eight young people
went to the favor table and were
given toys and trinkets wherewith to
delight the new partners it was now
their privilege to select.
George strolled with a bored air to
the tropical grove, where sat his ED
ers. and seated himself beside his
Uncle Sydney. His mother leaned
across Miss Fanny, raising her voice
over the music to speak to him.
George, nobody will be able to see
you here. You'll not be favored. You
ought to be where you can dance"
Don't care to-" he returned.
"Borew
But you ought" She stopped
and laughed. waving her fan to direct
his attention behind him. "L00k-
Over your shoulder"
He turned and discovered Miss
Lucy Morgan in the act of offering
him a purple toy balloon.
II found your she laughed.
George was startled. "Well-" he
said.