The Tomahawk., 1919-11-06
his room over his mistreatment of

in his room over his mistreatment of
her!
>"Oh, my Lord - he whispered; then.
with great effort, addressed her in a
reasonable tone: "Look here, Aunt
Fanny; I don't see what you're making
all this fuss about. OF course I know
I've teased you sometimes, but"
"Teased' me?" she walled
" Teased' mel Oh. it does seem too
hard sometimes-thism mean old life of
mine does seem too hard! I don't
think can stand it! Honestly, I don't
think I can! 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 a servant the way
you treat me! You wouldn't treat any
body in the world like this except old
Fannyw
"Oh, my Lord!" 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
befUe-a sight which gave George a
curious shock to add to his other agi-
tations, it seemed so strange.
"Youfe so proud" she quavered,
':and so hardl I tell you I didn't mean
to speak of it to you, and never.
never in the world would have told
you about it, nor have made the faint
est reference to itA If hadn't seen that
somebody else had told you, or you'd
found out for yourself some way.
II"
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
mother"
Except for the incidental teariness
of her voice, her tone was casual, as
though she mentioned subject pre-
viously discussed and understood :
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 say7' he asked in
credulously.
"Of course I understood what you
were doing" Fanny went on, drying her
handkerchief again. 1T 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
I remembered how you came to me,
that other time when there was 50
much talk about Isabel; and knew
you'd give Lucy up in a minute, II 1t
came to a question of your mothers
reputation, because you said then
that"
"Look here" George interrupted in
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
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 Redeemed nose. "God
knows I am sorry for you, George y
she murmured. II wanted to say So
but it's only old Fanny, so whatever
she says-even when It's sympathy
pick on her for it!" She sobbed. Its
only poor old lonely Fanny!"
"You look here!" George said harsh
". 'when 1 spoke to my Uncle
George after that rotten thing I heard
Aunt Amelia say about my mother, he
said n there was any gossip 1t val
about you'll He said people might be
Laughing about the way you run aftc1
Morgan, but that was an"
Fanny lifted her hands, clenched
them and struck them upon her knees
'sYes; it's always Fannyr she sobbed
ridiculous old Fanny-always, ai
waysw
"You listen!" George said. .Aftes
I'd talked to Uncle George 1 saw you
and You said I had q mean little mind
for thinking there might be truth ID