Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1919-12-25

every time you get the blues"
mo" Isabel said, what makes M
laugh so much at nothing is Eugene
factory. Wouldn't anybody be delight
ed to see an old friend take an idei
out of the air like that-an idea tina
most people laughed at him for
wouldn't any old friend of his b,
happy to see how he'd made his idei
into such splendid, humming thinl
as that factory-all shiny steel, click
Ing, buzzing away, and with all those
workmen, such muscled-looking meI
and yet so intelligent loOking2 It's
beautiful to see such a thing" SHE
said. ut makes us all happy, dear ole
Eugenew
And with brave gesture she
stretched out her hand to him across
| the small table. He took it quickly
giving her look In which his laughter
tried to remain but vanished before q
gratitude threatening to become emo
tiOnal in spite of him. Isabel, how
ever, turned instantly to Fanny. "Give
him your hand, Fanny" she said gay
ly; and as Fanny mechanically
obeyed, "Therew Isabel cried. 'If
brother George were here, Eugene
would have his three oldest and best
friends congratulating him all at once.
We know what brother George thinks
about it, though. It's just beautifO',
Eugenew
Lucy leaned toward George and
whispered, Did you ever see anything
SO lOvelyY
"As what?" George inquired, not
because he misunderstood but be-
cause he wished to prolong the pleas
ant neighborliness Of whispering.
"As your mother! Think of her DO
ing that! She's a darling! And
papa"-here she imperfectly repressed
tendency to laugh-"papa looks rs
if he were either going to explode or
utter loud sobs! !"
Eugene commanded his features,
however, and they resumed their GUS
tomary apprehensiveness. II used to
write verses" he said-"if you remem-
ber-" %.
YES" Isabel interrupted gently. II
remember"
81 don't recall that I've written any
for twenty years or so," he continued.
"But I'm almost thinking l could do
it again, to thank you for making a
factory visit into such q kind cele-
bratiOn."
"Gracious" Lucy whispered, gig
Cling. Aren't they sentimental !" ,
people that age always are"
George returned. "They get sentimen.
tai over anything at all. Factories or
restaurants, it doesn't matter what T.
And both Of them were seized with
fits Of laughter which they managed
to cover under the general movement
Of departure, as Isabel had risen to go.
Outside upon the crowded street
George helped Lucy into his runabout
and drove off, waving trfumphantly
and laughing at Eugene, who was
struggling with the engine of his car,
AL lAC IOLlhCuu VI WHICH, 1SIlDCl anu
Fanny had established themselves
Looks like hand-organ man grind
ing away for pennies" said George, as
the runabout turned the corner into
National avenue. "Tll still take q
horse, any day."
He was not so cOcksure half an hour
later, on an open road, when a siren
whistle walled behind him, and before
the sound had died away Eugene's car,
coming from behind with what seemed
fairly like one long leap, went by the
runabout and dwirdled almost instan-
taneously in perspective, with a lace
handkerchief in a black-gloved hand
fiuttering sweet derisiOn as it was
swept onward into minuteness-a mere
white speck-and then out of sight.
George was undoubtedly impressed
"Your father does know how to drive
some," the dashing exhibition forced
him to admit. "Of course Pendennis
isn't as young as he was, and l don't
care to push him too hard. Well,
enjoyed part Of that lunch today quite
lot, Lucy"
"The salad?"
mo. Your whispering to me-"
George checked Pendennis to a walk.
Whereupon Lucy protested quickly !:
"Oh, don't !"
"Why"
II know when you make him walk