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


instant, and then withdrew 1t.
"Lucy!" he said huskily. Dear,
what's the matter? You look as IL
you were going to cry"
Her eyellds flickered, and then she
looked up at him with a sad gravity,
tears seeming just at the pOise. zone
reasons because l have feeling that
it's never going to be-"
"Why?"
"It's just feeling"
"You haven't any reason or"
''It's just feeling"
"Well, if that's ALL" George said,
treasured, and laughing confidently, II
guess won't be very much trOubledw
But at once he became serious again,
adopting the tone of argument. Don't
you care enough about me to marry
meY
She looked down again, pathetically
troubled. Eyes"
'Well, then, why in the world won't
you drop the 'almostT"
Her distress increased. Everything
1S-eVerythlng-
"What about 'everythingT"
Everything is $3.50 unsettled"
And at that he uttered an eXclama-
ton of Impotence. eff you aren't
the queerest grill What Is 'un-
settled?"
"Well, for one thing" she said, able
to smile at his vehemence, "yOu
haven't settled on anything to do. At
least if you have you've never spoken
of it,"
AS she spoke she gave him the
quickest possible side glance of hope
full scrutiny; then looked away, not
happily. Surprise and displeasure
were Intentionally visible upon the
countenance Of her companion; and
he permitted significant period of
silence to elapse before making any
response. "Lucy," he said finally, with
cold dignity, haven't you perfectly
well understood that don't mean to
go into business or adopt a profess
sion"
81 wasn't quite sure" she said
gently. II really didn't know-quite."
"Then Of course it's time I did tell
you. You know yourself there are a
lot of people in the East-in the South
too, for that matter-that don't think
we've got any particular family or pO-
sition or culture in this part of the
country. There were one or two in
my crowd at college; their families
had lived on their income for three
generations, and they never dreamed
there was anybody in their class out
here. had to show them a thing or
two, right at the start, and guess
they won't forget it! Well, think
it's time all their sort found out that
three generations can mean just as
much out here as anywhere else"
'But what are you going to do,
George?" she cried.
Georges earnestness surpassed
hers; he had become flushed and his
breathing was emotional. 81 expect
to live an honorable life" he said. II
expect to contribute my share to chart
ties, and to take part in-in move
ments."
"What kind2"
whatever appeals to me-" he said.
Lucy looked at him with grieved
wonder. 'But you really don't mean
to have any regular business or pro-
fession at all?"
81 certainly do not I" George re-
turned promptly and emphatically.
81 was afraid So" she said in low
voice.
George continued to breathe deep
ly throughout another prOtracted in
terval of silence. Then he said,
your father is a business man"
Hes a mechanical genius" Lucy
interrupted quickly. "Of course he's
both. And he was a lawyer once
he's done all sorts Of things"
"Very well. merely wished TO ask
If it's his influence that makes you
think 1 ought to do something's"
Lucy frowned slightly. "Why,
suppose almost everything think or
say must be owing to his influence
In one way or another. We haven't
had anybody but each other for so
many years, and we always think
about alike, so of course"
81 see!" And Georges brow dark
ened with resentment. $50 that's it,
is it? It's your fathers idea that L
ought to go into business and that
you oughtn't to be engaged to me
until / do"
Lucy gave a start, her denial was
so quick. "Nol I've never once spO-
ken to him about It. NeverI"
George looked at her keenly, and
he jumped to conclusion not far
from the truth. 'But you know with
out talking to him that it's the way
he does feel about it2 see."
She nodded gravely. "Yes."
Georges brow grew darker still.
''DO you think I'd be much Of a man."
ha uald alovvlv aff Inf onv otho.