Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1920-01-15

COh NNhA w. ONOA &c Duln An0Ab-
tinctly, and he plunged into the big,
dImly lit hall. He went home and got
a hat and OvercOat without seeing
either his mother or Fanny. Then he
left word that he would be out for
dinner and hurried away from the
house.
He walked the dark streets Of Am
berson addition for an hour, then went
downtown and got coffee at a restau-
rant. After that he walked through
the lighted parts of the town until ten
O'Clock, when he turned north and
came back to the purlieus of the Addi-
ton. He walked fiercely, though his
feet ached, but by and by he turned
hOmeward, and, when he reached the
Majors, went in and sat upon the
steps of the huge stone veranda in
frOnt-an obscure figure in that lonely
and repellent place. All lights were
cut at the Majors, and finally, after
twelve he saw his mothers window
darken ut home.
He waited half an hour longer, then
crossed the front yards of the new
houses and let himself noiselessly in
the front door. The light in the hail
had been left burning, and another in
his own room, as he discovered when
he got there. He locked the door
quickly and without noise, but his fla
gers We're still upon the key wheE
there was quick football in the hall
outside.
George, dear?"
he went to the other end of the
room before replying.
"Yes?"
I'D been wondering where you were,
dear"
Had you?"
There was a pause; then she said
timldly: Wherever it was, hope you
had pleasant evening"
After a silence, "Thank you," he
said without expression.
Another silence followed before she
spoke again.
"You wouldn't care to be kissed
good night, l suppose?" And with Il
little furry of placative laughter she
added: "At your age of course"
"I'm going to bed now" he said.
"Good night"
Another silence seemed banker
than those which had preceded it, and
finally her voice came-it was blank,
too.
"GoOd night"
-
After he was in bed his thoughts be-
came more -tumultuous than ever;
while among all the inchoate and frag-
mentary sketches of this dreadful day,
now rising before him the clearest waS!l
of his uncle collapsed in big chair
with white tie dangling from his
hand; and one conviction, following
upon that picture, became definite in
Georges mind: that his Uncle George |
ANDERSON was hopeless dreamer,
from whom no help need be expected.
an amiable imbecile lacking in normal
impulses and wholly useless in a
struggle which required honor to be.
defended by man of action,
Then would return a vision of Mrs.
JohnSon's furious round head, set be-
hind her great bosom like the sun far
sunk on the horizon of mountain
plateau and her cracking, asthmatlc
voice. without sharing in
other peoples disposition to put an
evil Interpretation on what may be
nothing more than unfortunate. appear
ance" "Other people may be
less considerate in not combining their
discussion of 1t, as l have, to char
table views" And then George
would get up again-and again-and
pace the floor in his bare feet.
That was what the tOrmented young
man was doing when daylight care
gauutly in at his window-pacing TIL
door, rubbing his head in his hand.
and nuttering:
SIT can't be trIe: this can't be hap
pening to me"