Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1919-10-17

you mean Morgan might have mar
rled you?"
Fanny gulped. mo, Because
don't know that I'd have accepted
him" She had ceased to weep, and
now she sat up stlfIly. 81 certainly
didn't care enough about him to mar
ry him; l wouldn't have let myself
care that much until he showed that
he wished to marry me. I'm not that
sort of person!" The poor lady paid
her vanity this piteous little tribute.
''Nhat mean Is, If Wilbur hadn't died
people wouldn't have had 1t proved
before their very eyes that what
they'd been talking about was true"
"You say-you say that people be-
lieve-" George shuddered, then
forced himself to continue, in sick
voice: "They believe my mother is
is In love with that man."
"Of coursew
"And because he comes here-and
they see her with him drivlng-and all
that-they think they were right when
they said she was in-in love with him
before-before my father died?"
She looked at him gravely with her
eyes now dry between their REDEEMED
lids. "Why, George" she said, gently,
don't you know that's what they say?
You must know that everybody In
town thinks they're going to be mar
, ried very soon"
George uttered an incoherent cry;
and sections of him appeared to
writhe. He was upon the verge Of
actual nausea.
"You know ltw Fanny cried, getting
up you don't think I'd have spoken
of it to you unless I was sure you
knew it2" Her voice was wholly
genuine, as it had been throughout the
wretched interview. Somebody must
have told your"
"Who told your" he said.
"What2"
"Who told you there was talk?
Where is this talk? Where does it
come from? Who does it?"
"Why, 1 suppose pretty much every
body" she said. 81 know it must be
pretty general"
"Who said SOP"
"What?"
George stepped close to her. you
say people don't speak to a person Of
gossip about that persons family.
Well, how did you hear it, then? How
did you get hold of it? Answer mel"
"Why-" Fanny hesitated.
"You answer me-"
81 hardly think it would be fair to
give names"
Look here" said George. "One Of
your most intimate friends IS that
mother of Charlie Johnson's, for in
stance Has she ever mentioned this
to you? You say everybody is talking.
Is she One?'
ooh. she may have intimated-"
"I'm asking you: Has she ever
spoken of it to you?'
"Shes very kind, discreet woman,
George; but she may have intimat-
ed"
George had a sudden intuition, as
there fickered into his mind the pic
ture of a Street-croSsng and two alb
sorbed ladies almost run down by a
fast horse. "YGu and she have been
talking about it today" he cried "YOu
were talking about it with her not two
hours ago. Do you deny it?"
Il"
"Do you deny it?'
"Now
"All right" said George. "That'S
enoughw
She caught at his arm as he turned
away. "What are you going to do
GeCrge?"
9TH not talk about it, now" he said
heavily. 81 think you've done a goot
deal for one day, Aunt Fanny"
ANU l. duHN' SNHiHS tilS P"'9l'H -
his face, began to be alarmed. George
you know I'm sorry for you, whether
you care or not" she whimpered. ="
never in the world would have
spoken of it if I hadn't thought yol
knew all about it, | wouldn't have
But Ne had opened the door with his
free hand Never mind' he said
and she was obliged to pass out into
the hall, the door closing quickly be
hind her.
(Con+;,ued Next Week.