The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1919-09-25

oNc1 SAS RPS huiis III u III
robe stage Of preparation for the eve
ning's gayeties. when he encountered
his Aunt Fanny. He stopped her.
Look here! !" he said.
What in the world Is the matter
with you?" she demanded, regarding
him with little amiability. "You look
as If you were rehearsing for a villain
in a play"
His expression gave no sign of
yielding to the request; on the o
trary, its somberness deepened. Il
suppose you don't know why father
doesn't want to go tonight" he said
solemnly.
HE never wants to 60 anywhere
that I ever heard Of" said Fanny.
What is the matter with your"
He doesn't want to go because he
doesn't like this man Morgan. Look
here, what makes you and-and ev-
erybody so excited over him?"
Excited =" she jeered. Cant
people be glad to see an old friend
without silly children like you having
to make a TODD about It? I've just
been in your mothers room suggest
ing that she might give a little dinner
for them"
For who?"
For whom. George! For Mr..
Morgan and his daughter"
"Look here" George ssid quickly.
Don't do that! Mother mustn't do
that. 1t wouldn't look WELL"
Wouldn't look wellv" Fanny
Knocked him and her suppressed We
hemence betrayed a surprising acerb-
ity. "See here, George Minafer, I
suggest that you just march straight
on into your room and finish your
dressing! Sometimes you say things
that show you have a pretty mean
little mind
George al so astounded by this
outburst that his indignation was de-
layed by his curiosity. "Why, what
upsets you this waya" he inquired.
81 know what you mean" she said,
her voice still lowered, but not de-
creasing in sharpness. you're trying
to insinuate that I'd get your mother
to invite Eugene Morgan here on my
account because he's a widowerl"
81 ann" George gasped, nonplused.
I'm trying to i%nsinuate that you're
setting your cap at him and getting
mother to help you? Is that what you
mean?"
Beyond a doubt that was what Miss
Fanny meant. She gave him q white
hot look. "You attend to your own
affairs" she whispered fiercely, and
swept away.
George, dumfounded, returned to
his room for meditation.
He had lived for years in the same
house with his Aunt Fanny, and 1t
now appeared that during all those
years he had been thus intimately as
sociating 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 widoweri
"Well, l will be shot !" he muttered
aloud. 81 well-I certainly will be
shot" And he began to laugh.
Lord mighty"
But presently, Mt the thought Of the
horseless-carriage 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
IoCcly uhan hn arct COW, ha~. md
after that he would notice her no
more: he would not dance with her !;
he would not favor her in the cotil-
Homie would not go near her!
. He descended to dinner upon
the third urgent of the COL
ored butler, having spent two hours
dre~ssing-and rehearsing.
The Hon. George ANDERSON was a
congressman who led cotillions-the
would be. He did 1t 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, / 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 a "wonder-
full time!"
An ~unbearable soreness accumulat-
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 q braZen-faced
group clustering about the doorway
youths with no partners, get eligible
to be "called out" and favored. -
mprka6 hat bis upola pIapad tho in