Cleveland County herald., 1919-12-04

in his room over his mistreatment of her!
 "Oh, my !" he whispered; then, with great effort addressed her in a reasonable tone: Look here, Aunt Fanny; don't see what you're making all this fuss about. Of course I know I've leased you sometimes, but"
 "Teased me?' she walled.
 'Teased' me Oh, it does seem too hard sometimes-this mean old life of mine does seem too hard I don't think I can stand iti Honestly, don't think 1 cani I came in here just to show you I sympathized with you Just to say something pleasant to you, and you treat me as if I were-oh, no, you wouldn't treat servant the way you treat me! You wouldn't treat any body in the world like this except old l Fanny!"
 "Oh, my Lord p George groaned.
 Fanny spread out her small, soaked handkerchief, and shook it in the air to dry it a little, crying as damply and as wretchedly during this operation as l u curious shock to add to his other agi- tations, 1t seemed so strange.
 You're so proud" she quavered, land so hard! tell you I didn't mean 1 to speak of it to you, and I never, never in the world would have told you about 1t, nor have made the faint est reference to it, if I hadn't seen that | nhn 40l l found out for yourself some way. T."
 In despair of her intelligence, and in some doubt of his own, George struck the palms of his hands together. Somebody else had told me what? I'd found what out for myself?" | "How people are talking about your 1 mother"
 Except for the incidental teariness of her voice, her tone was casual, as though she mentioned a subject pre- viously discussed and understood; l; | for Fanny had no doubt that George had only pretended to be mystified be- cause, in his pride, he would not in words admit that he knew what he knew.
 "What did you say?" he asked in- credulously.
 "Of course I understood what you were doing" Fanny went on, drying her handkerchief again. Tt puzzled other people when you began to be rude to Eugene, because they couldn't see how you could treat him as you did when you were so interested in Lucy. But 1 remembered how you came to me, that other time when there was so much talk about Isabel; and I l-new you'd give Lucy up in minute, if it came to a question of your mothers reputation, because you said then | that"
 Look here," George interrupted in a shaking voice. Look here, I'd like" He stopped, unable to go on, his agitation was so great. His chest heaved as from hard running, and his l complexion, pallid at first, had be- come mottled; fiery splotches appear ing at his temples and cheeks. What do you mean by telling me-telling me there's talk about-about-" He gulped, and began again: What do you mean by using such words as reputation?' What do you mean, speaking of a question of my-my mothers reputation?"
 Fanny looked up at him woefully over the handkerchief which she now applied to her reddened nose. God knows I am sorry for you, George y she murmured. "I wanted to say SO, but it's only old Fanny, so whatever she says-even when it's sympathy pick on her for !" She sobbed. Its only poor old lonely Fanny!"
 You look here !" George said harsh ly. "When I spoke to my Uncle George after that rotten thing I heard Aunt Amelia say about my mother, he said if there was any gossip it was about you! He said people might be laughing about the way you ran after Morgan, but that was all." Fanny lifted her hands, clenched them and struck them upon her knees. Yes; it's always Fanny!" she sobbed. "Ridiculous old Fanny-always, al- ways!"
 "You listen!" George said. "After I'd talked to Uncle George saw you l and you said I had mean little mind ) fer thinking there might be truth in