The Glenwood post., 1920-01-10

"YOu did right p Fanny said with
vehemence not the less spirited be-
cause she suppressed her voice almost
to whisper. "You did exactly
right! You're behaving splendidly
about the whole thing, and 1 want to
tell you 1 know your father would
thank you If he could see what you're
doing"
my Lord !" George broke out at her.
"You make me dizzy! For heavens
sake quit the mysterious detective
business-at least do quit 1t around
me! Go and try it on somebody else.
If you like; but don't want to hear
itp
She began to tremble, regarding him
with fixed gaze. "You don't care to
hear. then" she said huskily, that /
approve of what you're doing?"
Certainly not! Since l haven't the
faintest idea what you think I'm do
ing naturally 1 don't care whether
you approve Of it or not. All I'd like,
If you please, is to be alone. I'm not
giving a tea here, this afternoon, II
you'll permit me to mention it!'
Fanny's gaze wavered; she began
to blink; then suddenly she sank into
a chair and wept silently, but with a
terrible desolation.
"Oh, for the Lords sakew he
moaned. "What in the world is wrong
with you?"
you're always picking on me-" she
quavered wretchedly, her voice indis-
tinct with the wetness that bubbled in
to 1t from her tears. you do-you
always pick on mel You've always
done it-always-ever since you were
little boy! Whenever anything goes
wrong with you, you take it out on
me! You do! You always"
George flung to heaven a gesture CT
straw that Fanny should have chosen
this particular time to come and sob
In his room over his mistreatment of
her!
"Oh. my Lord |" he whispered; then,
with a great effort, addressed her in
reasonable tone: Look here, Aunt
Fanny; don't see what you're making
all this fuss about. OF course know
I've teased you sometimes, but"
~Teased' me?" she walled.
Teased' me! Oh, 1t does seem too
hard sometimes-this mean old life of
mine does seem too hardl don't
think can stand 1t! Honestly, don't
think can! 1 came In here just to
show you sympathized with you
Just to say something pleasant to you,
and you treat me as If were-oh, no,
you wouldn't treat a servant the way
you treat mel You wouldn't treat any
body in the world like this except old
Fannyl"
"Oh, my Lord I" George groaned.
Fanny spread out her small, soaked
handkerchief, and shook it in. the air
to dry 1t little, crying as damply and
as wretchedly during this operation as
befOre-a sight which gave George a
curious shock to add to his other agi-
tations, 1t seemed 80 strange.
you're 50 proud" she quavered.
land SO hardl I tell you didn't mean
to speak Of 1t to you, and I never.
never in the world would have told
you about 1t, nor have made the faint
est reference to II. II I hadn't seen that
somebody else had told you, or you'd
found out for yourself some way.
~
In despair Of her intelligence, and
In some doubt of his own, George
struck the palms Of his hands together.
Somebody else had told me what3
I'd found what out for myself7"
'How people are talking about your
mother" ~
Except for the incidental teariness
Of her voice. her tone was casual, a
though she mentioned subject pre-
vlously discussed and understood;
for Fanny had no doubt that George
had only pretended to be mystified be-
cause, in his pride. he would not in
words admit that he knew what he
knew. rr u' .. lad.
"What did you sayf' he asked in
credulously. 4t-.f ...a.r
"Of course I understood what you
we're doing" Fanny went on. drying her
handkerchief again. 1T puzzled other
people when you began to be rude to
Eugene. because they couldn't see how
you could treat him a. you did when
you were so interested in Lucy. But
I remembered how you came to me,
that other time when there was so
much talk about Isabel; and knew
you'd give Lucy up in minute. II 1t
came to question Of your mothers
reputation, because you said then
that"
Look here" George interrupted in
a shaking voice. "LoOk here, I'd
like" He stopped, unable to 20 on,
his agitation was so great His chest
heaved as from hard running, and his
complexion. pnllid at first, had be-
come mottled; fiery splotches appear
ing at his temples and cheeks. What
do you mean by telling me-telling me
there's talk about-about-" He
UlIInp1 and hppOn pyu in "NVhnt do