The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1920-04-02
his room over his mistreatment NJ

IN his room over his mistreatmcnt of
her!
"0h. my Lori!" he whispered; then,
with great effort, addressed her in a
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"
leased me?" she walled.
Teased' me! oh, 1t does seem too
hard somettmes-this mean old life of
mine does seem too hard! l don't
think can stand it! Honestly, I don't
think l can! came in here lust to
show you I sympathized with YOU
just to say something pleasant to you,
and you treat me as IL I were-Oh, no,
you wouldn't treat servant the way
you treat me! You wouldn't treat any.
body In the world like this except old
Fanny!"
"Oh. my Lord!" George groaned.
Fanny spread out her small, soaked
handkerchief. md shook 1t in the air
to dry 1t little. crying rs damply and
as wretchedly daring this operation as
before-a sight which gave George q
curious shock to add to his other agl-
tations, 1t seemed so strange.
you're SO proud" she quavered,
"and 90 hard I tell you 1 didn't mean
to speak Of it. to you. and I never,
never In the world would have told
you about 1t, nor have made the faint.
est reference to 1t, II I hadn't seen that
somebody else had told you, or you'd
found out for yourself some way.
T."
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 what?
I'd found what out for myself3'
"How people are talking about your
mother"
Except for the Incidental teariness
OF her voice, her tone was casual, as
though she mentioned a subject pre-
viously discussed and understood {;
for Funny 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.
"What did you say7" he asked In.
cretlulously.
"Of course I understood what you
were doing" Fanny went on. drying her
handkerchief again. ut puzzled other
people when you began to be rude to
Eugene. because they couldn't see how
you could treat him as you did when
you were 80 interested in Lucy. Rut
! remembered how you came to me.
that other time when there was 30
much talk about Isabel; and khew
you'd give Lucy up in a minute. II 1t
came to q question Of your mothers
reputation, because You said then
that"
Look here" George interrupted In
Z shaking voice. Look here, I'd
like" He stopped, unable to 20 on,
his agitation was so great. His chest
heaved 40 from hard running. and his
complexion. pallid at FIRST, had be.
come notified; 6ery splotches appear.
ing at his temples and cheeks. 'What
do you mean by telling me-telling me
there's talk about-about-" He
gulped. and began again: ''what do
You mean BY using such words %
'reputationr What do you mean.
speaklng Of q question Ut my-my
mothers reputati0nY'
Fanny looked up at him woefully
over the handkerchief which she now
applied to her redeemed nose. God
knows ! am sorry for you. George
she murmured. II wanted to say 30,
but it's only old Fanny. 30 whatever
she says-even when it's sympathy
pick on her for it!' She sobbed. TITS
only poor old lonely Fanny"
"You look here!" George said harsh.
y. "When I spoke to my Uncle
George after that rotten thing I heard
Aunt Amelia say about my mother. he
said u there was any gossip It was
about you! He said people might be
laughing about the way you ran after
but that was ALL"
Funny lifted her hands, elenched
hem and struck them upon her knees.
Yes; it's always Fanny!" she sobbed.
Ridiculous old Fanny-always, IL
waysl"
"You listen!" George said. sAfter
I'd talked to Uncle George I saw ron !:
md You said I had mean little mind
FOR thtmkln~ HhanA smawA& "a $3.50 a.