Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1920-01-01
PAGE sEvEN

-. = s:sa : anvw now mur1l-
talk there was, and it wouldn't have
amounted to much If Wilbur had
lived" And Fanny completed this
with a fatal admission: II didn't want.
you to interfere"
George overlooked the admission:
his mind was not now occupied with
analysis. "What do you mean," he
asked, when you say that if father
had lived, the talk wouldn't have
amounted to anything?"
"Things might have been-they
might nave been different"
"You mean Morgan might have a
ried you?'
Fanny gulped. mo. Because I
don't know that I'd have accepted
him." She had ceased to weep, and
now she sat up stitt1y. 81 certainly
didn't care enough about him to
ry him; 1 wouldn't have let myself
care that much until he showed that
he wished to marry me. I'm not that
sort of persona" The poor lady paid
her vanity this piteous little tribute.
"What I mean is, if Wilbur hadn't died
people wouldn't have had it proved.
before their very eyes that what
they'd been talking about was truer'
"You say-you say that people be-
lieve-" George shuddered, then
forced himself to continue, in a sick
voice: "They believe my mother is
is In love with that man."
"Of course"
"And because he comes here-and
they see her with him driving-and all
that-they think they were right when
they said she was in-in love with him
before-before my father died?"
She looked at him gravely with her
eyes now dry between their Redeemed
lids. "Why, George" she said, gently,
don't you know that's what they sayf
You must know that everybody in.
town thinks they're going to be mar
ried very soon."
George uttered an incoherent cry;
and sections Of him appeared to
writhe. He was upon the verge of.
actual nausea.
"You know it," Fanny cried, getting,
up. AOu uOu I l1luh L 1AdSCO pOhC0
of it to you unless I was sure you
knew it?" Her voice was wholly
genuine, as it had been throughout the
wretched interview. Somebody must
have told you?"
"Who told you?" he said. ii
"What?"
"Who told you there was talkf
Where is this talk? Where does It
come from? Who does it."
"Why, I suppose pretty much every
body" she said. II know it must be-
pretty general"
"Who said SOL"
"What?"
George stepped close to her. "You
say people don't speak to a person Of
gossip about that persons family.
Well, how did you hear it, then? How
did you get hold of it? Answer mel"
"Why-" Fanny hesitated.
"You answer me"
q" hardly think it would be fair to
give Names"
"Look here" said George. zone of
your most intimate friends is that
mother of Charlie J%ohnson's, for in
stance. Has she ever mentioned this
to you? You say everybody is talking.
Is she one?"
ooh, she may have intimated-'
"Tm asking you: Has she ever
spoken of it to you?"
"She's a very kind, discreet woman,
George; but she may have intimat-
ed"
George had a sudden intuition, as
there f7ickered into his mind the pic
ture of a street-crossing and two alb
sorbed ladies almost run down by a
fast horse. "You and she have been
talking about it today !" he cried. "You
were talking about it with her not two
hours ago. Do you deny it,"
e."
do you deny it"
"No!"
Cali right said George. "That's
enough"
She caught at his arm as he turned
away. what are you going to do,
George?"
I'LL not ak about it, now" he said,
heavily. Il think you've lone a good
deal for n day, Aunt Fanny"
And Fanny, seeing the passion in
his face, began to be alarmed. George,
you know I'm sorry for you, whether
you care or not" she whimpered. 81
never in the world would have
spoken of it if I hadn't thought you
knew all about it. I wouldn't have"
But he had opened the door with his
free hand. 'Never mind" he said,
and she was obliged to pass out into
the hall, the door closing quickly be-
hind her.
CONTINUED next week)