The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1919-10-23

IhCe LOT u lew SJTdlueu moihSheS, tIieu,
regaining her nerve, looked away and
shrugged her shoulders.
"You weren't intended to hear what
I've been saying. George" she said
quietly. But since you seem"
yes, / did"
"So!" She shrugged her shoulders
again. after all, l don't know but
it's just as well, In the long run"
He walked up to where she sat. "You
YOU" he said thickly. 1T seems
II seems to me you're-you're pretty
common! J"
Old Bronson had risen from his
chair In great distress. "Your aunt
was talking nonsense because she's
piQued over a business matter.
George" he said. "She doesn't mean
what she said, and neither she nor
anyone else gives the slightest credit
to such foolishness-no one In the
world! !"
George gulped, and wet lines shone
suddenly along his lower eyeiids.
"They-they'd better noti" he said.
then stalked out Of the room, and out
OF the house.
Ten minutes later, George Amber
son, somewhat In the semblance of an
angry person plunging out of the Man
sion. found a pale nephew waiting to
accos him.
81 haven't time to talk, George
"Yes, you have. You'd better 7"
oNIhat's thn mattar than r
His namesake drew him away from
the vicinity of the house. Il want to
tell you something l just heard Aunt
Amelia say. in there. She says my
mothers on your side about this divi-
sion Of the property because you're
Eugene Morgan's best friend. She
said" George paused to swallow.
''She said" He faltered.
you look SICK" said his uncle, and
laughed shortly. IF it's because of
anything Amelia's been saying, l don't
blame you! What else did she say?"
George swallowed again, as with
nausea, but under his uncle's encour-
agement he was able to be explicit.
oAt Sdlu IL hotiISf WahtCu yOu W Uc
friendly to her about Eugene Morgan.
She said my mother had been using
Aunt Fanny as a chaperOne."
Anderson emitted a laugh Of dis
gust. Its wonderful what tommy-rot
a woman In a state of spite can think
Of! / suppose you don't doubt that
Amelia ANDERSON created this speci-
men of tommy-rot herself7 OF all the
damn nonsense !"
George looked at him haggardly.
you're sure people are not talking?"
Rubbish! Your mothers on my
side about this division because she
knows Sydney's a pig and always has
been a pig, and 10 has his spiteful
wife. I'm trying to keep them from
getting the better Of your mother as
well as from getting the better Of me.
don't you suppose7 Well, they're In a
rage because Sydney always could do
what he liked with father unless your
mother interfered, and they know ! got
Isabel to ask him not to do what they
wanted. That's all there is to it."
"But she said." George persisted
wretchedly: "she said there was talk.
She said"
'Look here. young fellow" Amber
son laughed good-naturedly. There
probably Is some harmless talk about
the way your Aunt Fanny goes after
poor Eugene, and I've no doubt I've
abetted 1t myself. Fanny was always
languishing at him. twenty-odd years
ago. before he left here. Well, we
can't blame the poor thing If she's got
her hopes up again, and / don't know
that I blame her, myself, for using
your mother the way she does"
"How do you meanf"
Anderson put his hand on Georges
shoulder. you like to tease Fanny"
he said, 'but / wouldn't tease her
about this, II l were you. Fanny hasn't
got much in her life. In fact, / don't
know Of anything much that Fanny
has got. except her feeling about Eu-
gene. She's always had it--and what's
funny to us Is pretty much life-and-
death to her, / suspect. Now. I'll not
deny that Eugene Morgan is attracted
to your mother. He Is; and that's an
other ease of always was;' but l know
him, and he's a knight, Georgia
crazy one, perhaps, IL you've read Don
Quixote.' And I think your mother
likes him better than she likes any
man outside her own family, and that
he interests her more than anybody
else-and always has And that's all
there is to IT. except"
Except what?" George asked quick
iy, as he paused.
Except that / suspect" Anderson
chuckled. and began over: "Tll tell
you in confidence. Fanny uses your
mother for a decoy duck. She does
everything In the world she can to
keep your mothers friendship with
Eugene going. because she thinks
that's what keeps Eugene about the
place, so to speak. Fanny's always
with our mother, you see and when
eve he sees Isabel he sees Fanny.
Fanny thinks he'll get used to the idea
Of her being around. and some day her
chance may comet Therel D'you
sect"
~weli-I suppose So" Georges