Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1920-01-22

Don't strike my life down twice, dear
this time I've not deserved it.
EUGENE"
Concluding this missive George
tossed 1t abruptly from him so ones
sheet fell upon his bed and the others
upon the floor; and at the faint noise
Of their falling Isabel came, and, kneel-
ing, began to gather them up.
did you read 1t, dear?"
Georges face was pale no longer,
but pink with fury. "Yes, did"
"All of it?" she asked gently as she
rose.
"Certainlyp
She did not look at him, but kept her
eyes downcast upon the letter in her
hands, TREMENDOUSLY rearranging the
sheets in order as She spOke-and
though she smiled, her smile was as
tremulous as her hands. Nervousness
and an Irresistible timidity possessed
her. IL wanted to say, George" she
faltered. Il felt that if-if some day
it should happen-I mean, if you came
to feel differently about it, and Eu-
gene and THAT is if we found that it
seemed the most sensible thing to do
was afraid you might think it would
be little queer abOut-Lucy. / mean
if-if she were your step-sister. or
course, she'd not be even legally re-
lated to you, and If yOu--if you cared
for her"
Thus far she got stumblingly with
what she wanted to say, while George
watched her with a gaze that grew
harder and hotter; but here he cut her
off. II have already given up all idea
of Lucy" he said. Naturally, l
couldn't have treated her father as l
deliberately did treat him-I could
| hardly have done that and expected his
daughter ever to speak to me again"
Isabel gave quick cry Of compass
sion, but he allowed her no opportunity
to speak. ''You needn't think I'm
making any particular sacrifice" he
said sharply, Though I would, quickly
enough, if l thought it necessary in
matter of honor like this. was inter-
ested in her, and / could even say |
did care for her; but she proved pretty
satisfactorily that she cared> little
enough about me! The truth is, we're
not cOngenial and we'd found that
much out, at least, before she left. We
should never have been happy; she
was superior all the time, and critical
of me-not very pleasant, that! l
don't think she has the very deepest
nature in the world, and"
But Isabel put her hand timidly on
his arm. George, dear, this is only Il
quarrel; all young people have them
before they get adjusted, and you
mustn't let"
''If you please" he said emphatical-
ly, moving back from her. "This isn't
that kind. It's all over, and I don't
care to speak of it again. It's settled.
DOu't you understand r..
"But, dear"
mo. I want to talk to you about
this letter of her fathers"
Eyes, dear, that's why"
ITS simply the most offensive piece
of writing that I've ever held in my
hands!"
She stepped back from him, startled.
'But, dear, thought"
Il can't understand your even show
ing me such a thingw he cried. "How
did you happen to bring it to me?"
''Your uncle thought I'd better. He
thought it was the simplest thing to
do, and he said that he'd suggested 1t 10
Eugene, and Eugene had agreed. They
thought"
Eyes" George said bitterly. II
should like to hear what they thought"
"They thought it would be the most
straightforward thing"
George drew a long breath. swell,
what do you think, mother?"
II thought it would be the simplest
and most Straightforward thing; /
thought they were right"
every we'll Well agree it was sim
pie and straightforward. Now, what
do you think of that letter itself?"
She hesitated, looking away. "I-of
course l don't agree with him in the
way he speaks of you, dear-except
about the angel I don't agree with
some of the things he implies. You've
always been unselfsh-nobOdy knows
that better than your mother.
"And yet" George broke in, "you
see what he implies about me. Don't
you think, really, that this was pref
ty insulting letter for that man to be
asking you to hand your SOM"
"Oh, mol" she oiled. "You see how
fair he means to be, and he didn't ask
for me to give it to you. 1t was brother
George who"
"Never mind that now! You say
he tries to be fair and yet do you sup
pose it ever occurs to him that I'm
doing my simple duty? That Pm doing
what my father would do if he were
alive? That I'm doing what my father
would ask me to do if he could speak
from his grave out yOnder? Do you
suppose it ever occurs to that man for
one minute that Pm protecting my
mother" George raised his voice adj