Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1920-01-08

MoAAu"! Anu smell see to 1T that
everybody who's limited anything
about poor Isabel will know that
you're on the warpath; and that will
put them On the defensive and make
them vicious. The story will grow as
it spreads and"
George unfolded his arms to strike
his right fist into his left palm. "But
do you suppose I'm going to tolerate
such things?" he shouted. "What do
you suppose I'll be doingY
you a do absolutely nothing"
said Anderson. Nothing Of any use.
The more you do the more harm you'll
do"
"You'n see! I'm going to stop this
thing If l have to force my way into
every house on National avenue and
Anderson boulevardW
His uncle laughed rather sourly but
made no other comment.
swell, what do you propose to do?"
George demanded. DO you D
to sit there"
Eyes"
"-and let this riffraff handy my
mothers good name back and forth
among them? Is that what you pro.
pose to doY"
cts all 1 can do" Anderson re-
turned. "It's all any of us can do
now: just sit still and hope that the
thing may die down in time in spite
Of your stirring up that awful old
woman"
George drew a long breath, then adj
vanced and stood close before his
uncle. Didn't you understand me
when l told you that people are say
ing my mother means to marry this
MANI"
Eyes, I understood you"
"You say that my going over there
has made matters worse" George went
on. "How about it If such a-such an
u~nspeakable marriage did take place?
Do you think that would make people
believe they'd been wrong in saying
you know what they say"
"No," said Anderson deliberately
Il don't believe it would. But 1t
wouldn't hurt Isabel and Eugene, If
they never heard of it and if they did
hear of it, then they could take their
choice between placating gossip or liv-
ing for their own happiness. If they
have decided to marry"
George almost staggered. Good
heaven" he gasped. -"You speak of 1t
calmly"
Anderson looked up at him inquir-
ingly. "Why shouldn't they marry If
they want too" he asked. "It's their
own affair. I don't see anything pre-
cisely monstrous about two people get
ting married when they're both free
and care about each other. What's
the matter with their marrying?"
1T would be monstrous !" George
shouted. "Monstrous even if this hor.
rible thing hadn't happened, but now
in the face of this-oh, that you can
sit there and even speak of it! Your
W sister! Oh" He became inco.
herent, swinging away from Anderson
and making for the door, wildly ges.
turing.
"For heavens sake don't be so the.
atrical !" said his uncle, and then, see.
ing that George was leaving the roo
"Ceme back here. You mustn't speak
to your mother of this"
Don't tend to-" George said indis-
tinctly, and he plunged into the big,
dimly lit hall. He went home and got
a hat and o%vercoat without seeing
either his mother O 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
bersop addition for an hour, then went
downtown and got coffee at a restau-
rant. After that he walked through
the lighted parts of the towa until ten
O'Clock, when he turned north and
came back to the purlieus of the Add
ton. He walked tiercely, 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
out st the Majors, and finally, after
twelve, he saw his mothers window
darken at 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 hall
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 fin
gers were still upon the key when
there was a quick football in the hall
outside. .,sa
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
%fD,;I1v. NyTko.o.-- .