The Connecticut labor press., 1919-11-01
There fell a moments silence.

her eyes alert and bright. But Eugene
seemed merely quizzical, as if not TAX
ing this brusquerie to himself The
Major was seriously disturbed.
What did you say, George?" he
asked though George had spoken but
too distinctly.
II said all automobiles were a
nuisance" George answered, repeating
not only the words but the tone in
which he had uttered them. And he
added: They'll never amount to any
thing but a nuisance. They had no
business to be invented"
The Major frowned. t"Of course you
forget that Mr.. Morgan makes them,
and also did his share in inventing
them. If you weren't SO thoughtless
he might think you rather offensive"
THAT would be too bad" said
George COOlly. VI don't think | could
survive it,
Again there was a silence, while the
Major stared at his grandson, aghast.
But Eugene began to laugh cheerfully.
I'm not sure he's wrong about au-
t0mobileS," he said. with all their
backward in civi1ization-that is, in
spiritual civilization. But automobiles
have come, and they bring greater
change in our life than most of US
suspect. They are going to alter war,
and they are going to alter peace. |
think mems minds are going to be
changed in subtle ways because of au-
tomobiles; just how, though, could
q tor fU
years from now, if we can see the in
ward change in men by that time, I
shouldn't be able to defend the gaso-
line engine, but would have to agree
with him that automobiles had no
business to be invented " He laughed
goOd-naturedly and, looking at his
watch, apolOgized for having an en-
gagement which made his departure
necessary when he would much prefer
to linger, and left them at the table.
Isabel turned wondering, hurt eyes
upon her son. George, dear!" she
said, What did you mean?"
"Just what l said," he returned,
lighting one of the Majors cigars.
Isabels hand, pale and slender, up
on the tablecloth, touched one of the
fine silver candlesricks aimlessly; the
fingers were seen to tremb1e. :'Oh, he
was hurt ~ she murmured.
II don't see why he should be-"
George said. II didn't say anything
about him. What made you think he
was hurt?''
81 know him 20 was all of her reply
half-whispered.
No c+o
from under his white eyebrows. you
didn't mean him. you say, George?
suppose if we had a clergyman as a
guest here you'd expect him not to be
offended, and to understand that your
remarks were neither personal nor IN
tactful if you said the church was a
nuisance and ought never to have been
invented. We seem to have a new
kind Of young people these days. It's
a new style Of counting a pretty girl,
certainly, for a young fellow to go de-
1iberateIy out of his way to try and
make an enemy of her father by at
lacking his business! By Jove! That's
new way to win woman"
George flushed angrily and seemed
about to offer a retort, but held his
breath for moment; and then held
his peace. It was Isabel who respond
ed to the Major. "Oh, nor she said.
Eugene would never be anybody's
enemy-he couldn't land last of all
Georges. I'm afraid he was hurt, but
l don't fear his not having understood
what he was sayingI mean, without
realizing it's bearing on Eugene"
"WelI, WELL" said his grandfather,
rising, vt wasn't q very successful lit.
tie dinner!"
Thereupon he offered his arm to his
daughter, who took it fond1y, and they
left the room, Isabel assuring him that
all his little dinners were pleasant,
and that this one was no exception.
George did not move, and Fanny.
following the other two, came round
the table and paused close beside his
chair; but George remained posed in
great imperturbability, cigar between
teeth, eyes upon ceiling, and paid no
attention to her. Fanny waited until
the sound of Isabel's and the Majors
voices became inaudible in the hall.
Then she said quickly, and in a low
voice so eager that it was unsteady:
George, you've struck just the
treatment to adopt; you're doing the
right thing!"
She hurried out, scurrying after the
others with a faint rustling of her
black skirts, leaving George mystified
but injurious.
In truth, however, he was neither so
comfortable nor so imperturbable as
he appeared. He felt some gratif1ca-
ton; he had done a little to put the
man in his place-that man whose in
f1uence upon his daughter was precise
ly the same thing as a contemptuous
criticism of George Anderson Nina
fer, and of George Anderson Nina
fer's ideals of life" Lucy's going
away without a word was intended,
he supposed, as a bit of punishment.
Well, he wasn't the sort of man that
people were allowed to punish; he
could demonstrate that to them
since they started it!
Isabel came to Georges door that
night and, when she had kisesd him
goodnight, she remained in the open
doorway with her hand upon his