Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1919-10-10

doorway with her hand upon MS
shoulder and her eyes thoughtfully
lowered, so that her wish to say some-
thing more than goodnight was evil
dent. Not less obvious was her per.
plexity about the manner Of saying
it; and George, divinlng her thought,
amiably made an opening for her.
"Well, old lady," he said, indulgent.
ly, "you needn't look so worried l
won't be tactless with Morgan again.
After this I'll just keep out Of his
way"
Dear" she said 81 wish you'd tell
me something: Why don't you like Eu'
gene"
"Oh, I like him we'll enough" George
returned, with a short laugh, as he sat
down and began to unlace his shoes,
81 like him well enough-in his place"
mo, dear" she said hurriedly. "Tve
had a feeling from the very first that
you didn't really like him-that you
really never liked him. can't under
stand 1t, dear; I don't see what can be
the matter"
"Nothing's the matter"
This easy declaration naturally
failed to carry great weight, and Isa'
bel went on, in her troubled voice: 1T
seems so queer, especially when you
feel as you do about his daughter"
At this, George stopped unlacing his
shoes abruptly, and sat up. "How do
I feel about his daughter?" he de-
handed
"Well it's seemed-as if-as if"
Isabel began timidly. 1T did seem
At least, you haven't looked at any
other girl ever since they came here
and-certainly you've seemed very
much interested in her. Certainly
you've been very great friends|
"Well, what of that?"
cts only that I'm like your grand
father: l can't see how you could be
so much interested in a girl and-and
not feel very pleasantly toward her
father"
"Well, I'll tell you something,
George said slowly, and a frown OF
concentration could be seen upon his
brow, as from a profound effort at
self-eXaminatiOn. 1.-THE truth is,
don't believe I've ever thought of the
two together, eXactly-at least not
until lately. I've always thought Of
Lucy Just as Lucy, and of Morgan just
as Morgan. I've always thought Of
her MS a person herself, not as any
body's daughter. If have friend,
don't see that it's incumbent upon me
to like my friends relatives. Now,
suppose | have certain ideas or ideals
which | have chosen for the regulation
of my own conduct in life, Suppose
some friend of mine has a relative
with ideals directly the opposite Oh
mine and my friend believes more in
the relatives ideals than in mine: Do
you think I ought to give up my own
Just to please a person who's taken UP
ideals that l really despiseY
"No, dear; of course people can't
give up their ideals; but don't see
what this has to do with dear little
Lucy and"
81 didn't say it had anything to dc
with them he interrupted. 81 was
merely putting a case to show how d
person would be justified in being q
friend of one member of a family and
feeling anything but friendly toward
another | don't say, though, that
feel unfrlendly to Mr.. Morgan. dom
say that | feel friendly to him, and
don't say that l feel unfriendly; but
if you really think that l was rude tC
him tonight
"Just thoughtless, dear. You didn't
see that what you said tonight
"Well, I'll not say anything Of that
sort again where he can hear it
There, isn't that enough?'
"But. George she said earnestly
you would like him, if you'd just lei
yourself You say you don't dislike
him. Why don't you like him? | can't
understand at all. What is it that you
don't
There. therel" he said It's all
right, and you toddle along
"But, George"
"Now, now! really do want to get
INTO bed. Goodnight, old lady
but, George, dear"
I'm going to bed, old lady so good
night"
Thus the interview closed perforce.
She kissed him again before going
slowly to her own room, her porpleX-
ity evidently not dispersed; but the
subject was not renewed between
them tie next day or subsequently
Nor did Fanny make any allusiOn to the
cryptic appreciation she had bestowed
upon her nephew after the Majors
mot very successful little dinner,
though she annoyed George by looking
at him oftener and longer than he
cared to be looked at by an aunt.
Ha successfully avoided contact