The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1919-10-17

been alleviated by the clr.uluslanca
that neither Of the seats of the old
sewing machine was designed for
three people, but when his neighbor
spoke. thus gratefully he no longer
minded the crowding-in fact, it
pleased him so much that he began to
wish the old sewing machine would go
even slower. George presently ad.
dressed Lucy. hurriedly, almost trem-
ulously, speaking close to her ear:
II forgot to tell you something:
you're pretty nice! I thought so the
first second saw you last night. I'll
come for you tonight and take you to
the Assembly at the Anderson hotel.
You're going, aren't your"
eyes. but I'm going with papa and
the Sharons. I'll see you there"
swell, We'll dance the cotillion to-
gether, anyhow"
"rm afraid not. 1 promised Mr..
Kinney"
'sWhatr' Georges tone was
shocked, as at incredible news. "Well,
yOu COuiu DICdh tt1dL ClSdSCihChI
guess, if you wanted TO! Girls always
can get out of things when they want
to. Won't yOu?"
81 don't think So"
"Why not?"
Because promised him. Several
days ago."
"See here" said the stricken George.
,,v,o f0 dnSIinn m damon
that cotillion with me simply because
you've promised a-a-a miserable
red-headed outsider like Fred Kinney,
why we might as well quit !"
"Quit what?"
.'You know perfectly well what I
mean," he said huskily.
81 don't"
swell, you ought tor
"But don't at all !"
George, thoroughly hurt, and not
little embittered, expressed himself
in short outburst of laughter: swell,
1 ought to have seen it!'
"Seen what?"
'"That you might turn out to be a
girl who'd like fellow of the red
hCduCu AAihLlCy Vu5AI " nav
seen it from the first!"
Lucy bore her disgrace lightly. "Oh,
dancing a cotillion with a person
doesn't mean that you like him-but
don't see anything in particular the
matter with Mr.. Kinney. What ISL"
81 prefer not to discuss it," said
George CURLY. "He's an enemy Of
nine"
"Why?''
81 prefer not to discuss it,
"Well, but"
II prefer not to discuss itr'
every WELL" She began to hum the
air of the song which Mr.. George AM
berson was now discoursing, 20 moon
of my delight that knows no wane"-
and there was no further conversation
on the back seat.
The continuance stopped with a
heart-shaking jerk before Isabel's
house. The. gentlemen jumped down,
helping Isabel and Fanny to descend;
there were friendly acknowledgement
one that was not precisely friendly.
"It's 'au revoir' till tonight, isn't it?''
Lucy asked, laughing.
"Good afternoon !" said George, and
he did not wait, as his relatives did, to
see the old sewing machine start brisk
ly down the street, toward the Shar-
ons'; its lighter load consisting now
of only Mr.. Morgan and his daughter.
George went into the house at once.
He found his father reading the
evening paper in the library. "Where
are your mother and your Aunt Fan
ny?" Mr.. Minafer inquired, not look.
ing up.
"They're coming" said his son; and,
casting himself heavily into chair,
stared at the fire.
His prediction was verified a few
moments later; the two ladies' came
in cheerfully, unfastening their fur
cloaks. 'It's all right, Georgia" said
Isabel. "Your Uncle George called to
us that Pendennis got home safely.
Put your shoes close to the fire, dear,
or else go and change them"
'Look here, said George abruptly.
"How about this man Morgan and his
old sewing machine? Doesn't he want
to get grandfather to put money into
it? Isn't he trying to work Uncle
George for that? Isn't that what he's
up to?"
1t was Miss Fanny who responded.
"You little silly!" she cried. with sur
prising sharpness. "What on earth
are you talking about? Eugene Nor
gan's perfectly able to finance his own
inventions these days."
"He strikes me as that sort Of
man." George answered doggedly.
isn't he, father?"
Minafer set down his paper for the
moment. "He was fairly wild young
fellow twenty years ago." he said,
glancing at his wife absently. HE
WAS like Won in one thing Ganrpia. he