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

DClOuS " lACs. u
"Ill try to remember" she said,
and thoughtfully lifted to her face
the bouquet of violets and lilies, a
gesture which George noted without
approval.
"Look here! Who sent you those
flowers you keep maxim such a fuss
over?"
"He did"
"Who's hep"
"The queer-looking duck"
George feared no such rival; he
laughed loudly. 81 s'pose he's some
old widowerl'' he said, the object
thus described seeming ignominious
enough to a person of eighteen, with
out additional characterization.
Lucy became serious at once. eyes,
he is a widower," she said. II ought
to have told you before; he's my ia
| ther."
George stopped laughing abruptly.
"Well, that's a horse on me. If I'd
known he was your father of course
1 wouldn't have made fun Of him. I'm
sorry"
Nobody could make fun of him."
she said quietly.
"Why couldn't they?"
sit wouldn't make him funny: it
would only make themselves silly"
Upon this George had CLEAN of
intelligence. swell, I'm not going to
make myself silly any more, then; /
don't want to take chances like that
with you. But l thought he was the
Sharon girls uncle. He came with
| them"
EYES," she said; Sim always late
to everything: I wouldn't let them
wait for me. We're visiting the
Sharons."
"About time I knew that! You for
get my being so fresh about your. IA
Their, will you? OF course he's dis
tinguished-looking man, in a way.P
Lucy was still serious. SIN a
way?'" she repeated. "You mean,
not in your way, don't you?"
George was perplexed. "How do
you mean: not in my way?"
"People often say in way and
rather distinguished looking or
rather so-and7so, or rather anything,
to show that they're superior, don't
they. It's a kind of snob slang, ]
think. Of course people don't always
say rather or sin a way to be SUI
perior."
81 should say not! I use both Of
'em great deal myself" said George.
"One thing 1 don't see, though !:
What's the use of a man being six
feet three? Men that size can't
handle themselves as well as a man
about five feet eleven and half can."
George was a straightforward soul,
at least. "See here" he said. "Are
you engaged to anybody"
"No."
Not wholly Modified, he shrugged
his shoulders. "You seem to know a
good many people! DO you live in
New York;"
mo. We don't live anywhere"
"What do you mean: you don't live
anywhere?"
"We've lived all over" she answered.
Papa used to live here in this town,
but that was before was born"
"What do you keep moving around
so for? Is he a promoter?"
"No. He's an inventor"
s'What's he invented?"
"Just lately" said Lucy, she's been
working on a new kind of .horseless
carriage
swell, I'm sorry for him." George
said, in no unkindly spirit. "Those
things are never going to amount to
anything. People aren't going to
spend their lives lying on their backs
in the road and letting grease drip in
their faces"
"Papa'd be so grateful" she re-
turned, "if he could have your adj
vice."
Instantly Georges face became
flushed. II don't know that I've done
anything to be insulted for!" he said.
II don't see that what said was par
ticularly fresh"
"No, indeed!"
'Then what do yor-"
She laughed gayly. II don't! And
I don't mind your being such lofty
person at all. 7 think it's ever so
interestingly papa's a great mani"
ais he?" George decided to be
good-natured. swell, let US hope so.
hope so, I'm sure"
Looking at him keenly, she saw that
the magnificent youth was incredibly
sincere in this bit of graciousness.
She shook her head in gentle wonder.
sim just beginning to understand"
she said.
Understand what?"
"What it means to be a real Am
berson in this town. Papa told me
something about it before we came,
but see he didn't say half enough !"
George superbly took this all for
tribute. did your father say he
knew the family before he left here"
"Yes. believe he was particularly