The Tomahawk., 1919-11-27
CHAPTER XVlII-Continued,
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But a moment later, as he turned
from the shelves Of glass jars against
the wall, with the potion she had ask
ed for in his hand, he uttered an ex-
clamation: "For goshes' sake, Miss!"
And, describing this adventure to his
fellow boarders, that evening, "Saggel
pretty near to the counter, she was,"
he said "'F I hadn't been bright,
quick, ready-for-anything young fella
she'd "a flummixed plum! I was
watchin' her out the window-talkin'
to some young s'iety fella, and she
was all right then; She was all right
when she came in the store, too. Yes
sir; the prettiest girl that ever walk
ed in our place and took one good look
at me. I reckon it must be the truth
what some you town wags say about
my facet"
= At that hour the heroine of the
susceptible clerks romance was en-
gagged in Frightening the rosy little
coal fire under the white mantelpiece
in her pretty white and blue boudoir.
Four photographs all framed in decor
Gus plain silver went to the anthra-
cites fierce observation-disclosures and
all-and three packets of letters and
notes in a charming Florentine treas
ure box of painted wood; nor was the
box, any more than the silver frames,
spared this rousing finish. Thrown
heartily upon live coal, the fine wood
sparkled forth in stars, then burst in
to an alarming blaze which scorched
the white mantelpiece, but Lucy stood
and looked on without moving.
It was not Eugene who told her
what had happened at Isabel's door.
When she got home, she found Fanny
Minafer waiting for her-a secret ex-
'cursion Of Fanny's for the purpose, pre-
.sumably, Of 'letttng out" again; be-
cause that was what she did. She told
Lucy everything Except her own Ia
.mentable p1lrt in the production of the
recent mi;s'sries) and concluded with
a tribute to George; 1.-THE worst of it
Is, he thinks he's been such q hero,
and Isabel does, too. and that makes
him more than twice as awful. It's
been the slime all his life; everything
he did was noble and perfect. He had
a domineWring nature to begin with,
and she let it 60 on, and f0stered it
till it absolutely ruled her. never
saw pla:saer case Of q persons fault
making tflm pay for having it! She
goes abou;, overseeing the packing
and praisla George and pretending to
be Derfectl7 cheerful about what he's
done. She :,retends he did such fine
thing-so manly and protective-go-
ing to Mrl. johnson. And so heroic
doing what his principles made him
even thUlgh he knew what 1t would
cost him with you! And all the while
it's almost killing her-what he said
to your fatherl She's always been
lofty enouih, so to speak, and had the
greatest idea of the Ambersons being
auperior t. the rest of the world, ano
all that, but rudeness, or anything like
a ;scene.' pr any bad manners-they
always juat made her sick! But she
could nevsr see what Georges man
ners were -oh, it's been terrible
adulationj It's going to be a task
for me, living in that big house, all
alone: yov must come and see NE
mean after they've gone, OF course.
ri 20 crazy If don't see something
of neople. I'm sure you'll come as
often as yeN can. know you too well
to think you'll be sensitive about com.
ing there. or being rem1ndeo OF
George. Thsnk heaven you're too we'll
balanced." Miss Fanny concluded
with a profound fervor, "you're too
well-balanSed to let anything affect
ycu deeply about that-that monkey!
The four photographs and the paint
ed Florenttae box went to their crema'
ton within the same hour that MISS
Fanny spite; and little later Lucy
called her Gather in, as he passed her
door. and lointed to the blackened area
on the uneerside of the mantelplece'
and to the burnt heap upon the COAL
where some metallic shapes still re-
tained outline. She flung her arms
about his necN in passionate sym
nathy. telEag him that she knew what
had happ4s,ed to him; and presently
he began t. comfort fher and managed
IN embarrassed laugh.
"Well, well" he said. II was too
o,d for su: III foolishness to be getting
into my htad, anyhow.
"No. no." she sobbed. "And II you
knew how I despise myself for-fol
ever having thought one instant abou.
-oh, Miss Fanny called him the r'sn'
name: : that monkey! He Is!
'There, I think I agree with yoa'
Eugene ss:id grimly, and In his eyes
there was a Uteady light OF anger tna'
was to last. ''Yes I think I agree witt
you about that"
.There's only one thing to do Will
such a person." she said vehementiy
':That's to put him out of our thought'
forever-f,re.er!"
And yet. the next day, at SIX O'CLOCK
-h;ch ,,o,, +h, hour Fanny had toll