SSSS1 IPS! By- Booth TarMngtpn i wwww , T rrrrcrf g g "WILL YOU BE ENGAGED TO ME?" . Major Amberson had made a fortune in 1873 when other people - Synops !';7 eg the magnificence of the Ambersons beeran then. ,osinf-n iaid out a 200-acre "development." with roads and statuarv. Maior A0."ei" nf o four-acre tract, on Amhemnn were losing J nf a fnnr-acre tract, on AmhRrsnn vtnn Vt-ill v....i n the cemci - : U""K"J - . maenificeni mans.uu mimauu jlT.y naa ever seen. When the major's the most w b fl young Wilbur Minafer the neighbors predicted that as rmi f i rould never really love Wilbur all her love would be bestowed upon the lnJ,r. There is only one child, however, George Amberson Minafer, and children. hlg youthful accomplishments as a mschief maker are h J I keeping with the most pessimistic predictions. By the time George I,v to college he does not attempt to conceal his belief that the TeLrons are about the most Important family in the world. At a ball given m! honor when he returns from college, George monopolizes Lucy Morgan." lit his 11""" - --.rpttlftSt Ctrl tiresent and cots nn fomnnol,, 1 otmncpr ana ttji.ii jhji uiiui v.1i rnthlta W J- 0 . " uvvm (JViviug II1UVU iUO, he leainS UWL , ,;f,v,.r TTA 1b RllPPno Ifnrmin a fniim.. J j , ... larv ? i - a - - Mvthuui at luimci irnniHii n T t-v I v. Is tne youiia ..rning' to erect a factory and to build hrgpUao ai4-Aa invention. Eugene had been an old admirer of Isabel's and they OI nia U r- .Vion TsnhAl throw htm nvor Wanna n v. i ji naa oecu -n'iihur Minafer. George makes ranlri nrnn-ooi in ki.. x.,.- iati q n (i marricu ... 0.w vv f.lP.Jri-wn" continues during his absences at college. -.! A.. - . -uey uiu. xi s an nnisnea, ana i "We aon t actually know there i "Tt's it's rpn-n' onnn-h cj, vcj c ueeu m ii u mouiu. us smaii, isn't, miss anny insisted, giggling, faintly. uui on, sucn a pretty little house J" "We've never asked Lucy." "At that he rnnpht nn- nf w h,n tended to leave them a certain amount iv.u. 4 l m . . . I . . .: . . 1 ' " I . V lutiLs . . lux-iuuaie. : vieorgei "i wouiani ask.ner anytninsf so at and shi tnmni wm.'tii0-.' ir-. in ms win and won't run again o there" 3d ney's idea of a big diplomatic position gone for good. Well, Sydney and yoa Aunt Amelia, are terribly disappoint ed, and they say they've been thinking for years that this toVn isn't really fit to live in'for a gentleman,' Sydney says and it is getting rather big and dirty. So they've sold their house and decided to go abroad to live perma nently ; there's a villa near Florence they've often talked of buying. And they want father, to let them have their share of the estate now, instead of waiting for him to leave it to them in his will." "Well, I suppose that's fair enough," George said. "That is, in case he In- tears in her eyes, tears which he did not understand at all. "Lucy, you little dear!" he cried. "I knew you " . "No, no!" she said, and she pushed him away, withdrawing her hand. George, let's not talk of solemn CHAPTER VIII Continued. 6 T h mutter -of coolness George L t noon her own predeter mined ground; in fact, he was there Lt and at their next encounter Woved loftier and more formal than Ihe dId Their estrangement lasted three weeks, and then disappeared without any preliminary treaty: It ad worn itself out and they forgot, it. I The Major had taken a great fancy o her, insisting upon her presence and her father's at the Amberson fam ily dinner at 5 the Mansion every Sun day evening.: She knew how to flirt "with old people, he said, as' she, sat next hiin at the Jable on one of these Sunday occasions; and he had always liked her, father, even when Eugene vas a Vterror" long-ago. "Oh, yes, he was!'! the; Major laughed when she remonstrated. "He came up here jwith my son George and some others for a serenade one night, and Eugene 'stepped Into a bass fiddle, and the poor musicians just gave up! That . serenade was Just before Isabel was married and don't you fret, Miss Lucy: your father remembers it well enough!" The old gentleman burst into laughter, and shook his finger at Eueene across the table. "The fact tsr" the Major went on hilariously. believe if 'Eugene hadn't broken that bass fiddle and given himself away Isabel would never have taken Wll bur! I shouldn't be surprised if that was about all the reason that Wilbur sot herl What do you think, Wll bur?" j. "I shouldn't be surprised," said 1V11 bur placldy "If your notion is right I'm glad ''Gene broke the fiddle. He was giving me a hard run !" - The Major always drank three glasses of champagne at his Sunday dinner, and he was finishing the third. "What dp you say about it, Isabel? By Jove !". he cried, pounding the table, "she's, blushing!" Eugene was as pink as Isabel, but he laughed jwithout any sign of embar rassment other than his heightened color. "There's another Important thing that is, for me," he said. "It's the only thing that makes, me forgive that bass viol for getting In my way." "What Is it?" the Major asked. "Lucy," said Morgan gently. Isabel gave him a quick glance, all warm approval, and there was a mur mur of friendliness round the table. Summer glided by evenly and quick ly enough, for the most part, and at the end seemed to fly. On the last uight before George went back to be a junior his mother asked him confi dently if it had not been a happy summer. He hadn't thought about it, he an swered. "Oh, I suppose so. Why?" just thought it would be nice to bear you say so."' en, no- w s seemed to me that it must have een a naPPy summer for vmi n real summer of roses and wine' without tne wino . "aps. -Gather ye roses -p, Z I may'--or was it primroses? l me does really fly, 0r perhaps It's vnns. g was Puzzled. "It strikes me , .J wire getting h l blance between time and iXT1 thlngs and smoKe tike T ee one reaS0Q yu talk, frl Morgan so m&' She moonv at Snme kind of wistful, .moony tvnw c . . . ' tt col ' J ""iiienmes i don't mean tin not- .in,,. i,. tid vriT ilsten lo " mother ilg0t a Very g00d voIce' r kL S nice t0 listen to, no 'mat si on Z much smoke and sky, and S6's Lucy's, for that aiher to iuut way io uer 'he and he's rISht there with ri,ht of guff. Well, it's all xL f ! . Mil i 1 - oam. une imug l ve aiways ten tney sural ' : , . dldnt know a great deal about is ar-1 "George would," George's father re chitecture. . marked. 4That's whnt "Don't they?" asked Isabel, sur- do." prised. "Anyhow, their house is Mr. Minafer wns nnt Charming. Htfsr way out beyond the was what his son had gone to do. end of Amberson boulevard ; it's quite Lucy and her father were just rising near that big white house with a gray- from their' dinner table when the thint?q " green roof somebody built out there stirred youth arrived at . the front "'Solemn things Llk whntr a year or so ago. I suppose you'll be doOr of the new house. It was a eot- t..v.h0w on. -lJ.W t ,, . . . . " 1 " . ivtiiis uut iu e uuvy lomorrow. tage, nowever, rather than -a house : Rut Gnr Wnmn .nQtw "T thmio-yif flnrr V,f,,ltf.,l .IT x.. l-J . , . . , . . " m. , '"-bv 4feC Co.ltttCv.. x unu.uucy. iiau iuKen a iree nana witn jubilant, and he laughed triumphant thought perhaps I d go after dinner the architect, achieving results in ly. "Good gracious. tht isa't sol i,o cituiut, .1 wnirt? ana erpen nnrsinp nnri whitP At this his mother laughed, not as- and blue Inside to such effect of vouth tonished. r"It was only my feeble and daintiness that her father; com- joke about tomorrow,' . Georgie ! I plained of "too much springtime!" was pretty sure you couldn't wait that The whole place, including his own long, uia L.ucy write you about the bedroom, was a young damsel's bou factory?" , doir. he said, so that nowhere could iNo. wnat factory?" he smoke a cigar without feeline like orni uivuUUUC ouvua. xma opiiuf; i a ruuian. nowever. ne was smoKinsr i "xr.v" tmi t.w u they've finished eight automobiles and when George arrived, and he. encour- that once again this summer-the v.v u.CiU u, ouvi iucjr vc feuu iweive agea weorge to join mm in tne pas-1 night before you eo away" mitt oltvfAof An.fiA 4-V. w nAU I a. a n ' . I to J r auva, aiuiuaL xj.ui.BAi.rriA. nun 11 1- v it-" kiiiii i Tima tiiii' rna i ni ttt hacia myw nrnfl' i cimi. a. . , . m mndA lflst wr.' T fWnV'Wo amt i. ' v,.,vow "mat wui nave to ao, tnen," ne fr;;Mc , "i.r:- ' rea"yi ' g?ne .over both tense and preoccupied, decllnedj laughed, "so long as I know we're en j-iicj ie veiy luieiesuug 10 iook at ; witn sometning like agitation. jr iraired" uuuu iuc u.id a arm iiirit! m 71 Min .. 1 wawa tiwtAi.. v. n A- M 1 1 rt l 1 .T . 1 ... . , - mnndpd 4TTa hncn't imiia tntn Hf. - , . " . I UCf suiuxve tuuu , is. iiu bw- : ,;uui were not J sne protestea. - J0 of box where four people can sit, with dom-I mean, no. thanks," he said. "And we never will be if vou don't 0 " uw irar, i mean not at alL I'd rather not M Tiromissft not to smpnfc of It Drain mer. He isnt much different from the way he's looked all his life, that I can see. What's the matter with himH "He never talks much about his business to me, but I think he's been worrying about some investments he "It Is too !" she said, wiping her eyes. "It's too solemn . for us." "No it isn't! I" "Let's sit down and be snsible, dear," she said. "You sit over iL "I will if you'll call me 'dear' 'Of course that's understood. Georgie. Father explained his will .to us long ago; a third to them, and a third to Brother George, and a third- to us." ' .. Her son made a simple calculation in his mind. Uncle George was a bachelor, and probably would never marry; Sydney and Amelia were child less. The Major's only grandchild ap peared to remain the eventual heir of the entire property, no matter If the Major did turn over to Sydney a third of it now. ' "Well, I suppose it's. grand father's own affar. He can do it or not, just as he likes. I don't see why he'd mind much." "He seemed rather confused and pained about it," Isabel said. "I think they oughtn't to urge it. George says that the estate won't stand taking out automobile concern, has Morgan's he?" "No," Isabel smiled. "The 'auto mobile concern is all Eugene's, and it's so small I understand it's taken and" "Aren't yon well, George?" Eugene until I tell you to !'? I know all about It," said George. asked iooking at him in perplexity. "I won't promise that," said , the 'Have you been overworking at col- I happy George. "I'll only promise not I've seen' any number-dike that, east. You can see all you want . of 'em if hardly anything. No ; your father has you stand on Fifth avenue half an always prided himself, on making only hour any afternoon. I've seen half the most absolutely sate Investments, a dozen eo bv almost at the same but two or three years ago he and time within a few minutes, anyhow; your Uncle George both put a great and of course electric hansoms are a deal pretty much everything they common sight there any day. I hired could get together, I think Into the one Wself the last time I was there. stock or rolling mills some friends How fast do Mr. Morgan's machines of theirs owned, and I'm afraid the E0?" - "Much too fast! It's very exhila rating but rather frightening; and they do make a fearful uproar. He says, though, he thinks he sees a way to get around the noisiness in time." "I don't mind the noise," said George. "Give me a horse for mine. though, any day. I must get up a race mills haven't been doing well.' "What of that? Father needn't worry. You and I can take care of him the rest of his life on-what grand father" "Of course," she agreed. "But your father's always lived so for his bus! ness and taken such pride in his sound investments ; . it's with him. I" ( "Pshaw I He needn't , worry 1 You lege? You.: do look rather pa" "I don't work," said George. "I mean I don't work. , I think, , but I don't work. " I only work at the end of Jhe term. There isn't much to do." Eugene's . perplexity was ; little de creased, and a tinkle of the doorbell afforded him. obvious relief, "It's my foreman," he said, looking at his watch. "I'll take him out in the yard to talk. This is no place for- a f ore- to speak of it till the next time you call me 'dear ; and you've promised to call me that the night before I leave for my senior year." "Oh, but I didn't '." she said ear nestly, then hesitated. "Did I?' "Didn't you?" ; "I don't think I meant it," she mur mured, her wet lashes flickering above troubled eyes. I "I know one thing about you," he man." And he departed, leaving the saId gayly, his triumph increasing. a PaSSlOn I xrrUU nnn ft? Ti aqo thine. PAnannl c11 leave it one mile behind in a two-mile run. How's grandfather?" "He looks well, but he complains tell him we'll look after him," He kissed her. "Good night; I'm going to sometImes of nl8 heart." teljn Lucy .goodby. Don't, sit np for meu- "Yes, I will, she laughed. "You won't be very late." "Well It's my last night. "But I know Lucy, and . she knows ,-George had taken, off his coat. "I don't like to hint to a lady, he said, "but I do want to dress before din ner." , '.- V; "Don't be long; I've got to do a lot of looking at you, dear!" ! She I want to see you too. your last night kIssed hlm and ran away, singing. uui ui auui n iiiiuj was uui du you promptly at eleven I" But she was mistaken: Lucy sent him home promptly at ten. CHAPTER IX. fond ; and at the dinner table there came a spark of liveliness into her eyes when George patronizingly asked her what was the news in her1 own "particular line of sport." "Well, what's the gossip?. You Isabel's uneasiness about her hus- UailU o UCatLll DUUUClliXICO iCiXCtCVl I J l,.UH. . I,. 4 tic. oo hPrlottPrs to fior dnrine-the win- that goes on around the nooks and B"iUU t tt uo "caicu ter that followed had not been alle viated when the accredited Senior re turned for his next summer vacation, ' tMnk about . lve , got plenty t0 She Jp.i.y?? P.ePle droo along!" and a ton. nis haud to her cneek - v. a uuy warm sireaK across one of , y v "For Lf.hI!kckles. "What's t i s saker he saId Mil right?" latter? Ist everything var t0re!pfIng awayI I never can f it. 1 mU Ko that's the most or, too " Ue bothered about your "Why?" ' - "It 8eem rt 'Weryhody th 1 Iooks 80 bad "What I Dk8 S0-M "For Heaven's Sake!" He Said, "What's the Matter?" and she confided to him in his room, ftpr his arrival, that "some- OVVU " thine" the doctor had said to her late ly had made her more uneasy than ever. '.."' . "Doctor Rainey says we ought to get him away." j. "Well, let's do It, then." "He won't CO." . . nwfullv set in his wyr : that's true" said George. 4 don't think there's anything much the matter, with him, though. Have you seen Lucy lately? How Is sher "Sh a looks Dretty !" said Isabel "I suDDose she : wrote , you ? they've xr.. . iwm Mt hr address She ii n. t crannies in this town, I hear What's wc" u tt the last from the gossips' corner, George seemed to find himself at a auntie?" loss. "Why shouldn't .Well, he Fanny dropped her eyes, but a shouldn't, because a man has a right movement of her lower Hp betokened to certain explanations.' a tendency to laugh as she replied, "What in the world do you want me "There hasn't been much gossip lately t0 explain?" , , w , PTcent the renort that Lucv Morean "Your conduct with Fred Kinney!" and Fred Kinney are engaged and George shouted that's quite old by this time." Tere was a clatter upon George's plate. "What what do you think you're talking about?" he gasped. Miss Fanny looked up innocently. About the report of Lucy Morgan's engagement to Fred Kinney." George turned dumbly to his mother and Isabel shook her head reassur ingly. "People are always starting I niel rumors," she said. "I haven't paid "Stop that.' George commanded any attention to this one." nerceiy. x want to Know just on But you you've heard It?" he tning, ana i mean to-Know it, too; Stammered. I wuemei: i enjoyeu me circus i , "fth. one hears all sorts of nonsense. "I want to know if ypn're engaged Hear T ; hnvpn't the Rlitrhtest Idea to him!" "you never went back on anything you said yet, and.Ifm not afraid of this being the first time!" "But we mustn't let" she fal tered ; then went on tremulously,! "George, we've got on so well together we won't let this make a difference between us, will we?" And she Joined in his laughter. "It will all depend on what you tell me the night before I go away. You agree we're going to settle things then, don't you Lucy?" "I don't promise." "Yes, you do! Don't you? "Well" - j: CHAPTER X. That night George began a jubilant warfare upon his Aunt Fanny, .open ing the campaign upon 1 his return home at about eleven o'clock. Fanny had retired, and was presumably asleep, but George, on the way to his own room, paused before her door, and serenaded her in a full baritone: "As I walk along- the Boy do Baton? With my Independent air, The people all declare, C 'He must be a millionaire!' Oh, you hear them sigh, and -wish to die, And see them wink the other eye At the man that broke the bank at Monte Carlo!" After breakfasting in bed, George . tnor. nrv of spt the next morning at his grand laughter; she was delisted. "It's fAathf'f, and did not encounter his been awful !" she said. "I don't know Aunt Fanny until lunch, when she haarl rx nrnrao mlsho. occlucu vccovijr ii xnanK you so mucn ior me sere- "living room" to Lucy and George. "What's wrongi George?" she asked softly. - "What do you -mean: 'What's wrong?' What makes you think any thlngs "wrong' with me?" "You do look pale4 as papa said, and it seemed to me that the way you talked sounded well, a little con-. fUSedV -e .vV" "See here I" George stepped close to her. "Are yon glad to see me?" "You needn't be so fierce about It!" Lucy protested, laughing-at' his dra matic Intensity. "Of course I am 1 Do tell me what's the matter with you,: George I" v ; "I will !" he exclaimed. "I was a boy when I saw you last. I see that now, though I didn't then. Well, I'm not a boy any longer. I'm a man, and a man has a right to demand a totally different treatment." "I don't seem to be able to under stand you at all, George. Why that I ever havlor! Papa and I have been twice to dinner with his family, and I've been three times to church with Fred1 and once to the circus I I don't know when they'll be here to arrest that It's true." "Then you have heard It I George turned pale. "No!" she cried, land lifting her face close to his for the shortest in stant possible, she gave him a look "Eat your dinner, Georgie," his half merry, half defiant, but all fond, aunt said sweetly. "Food will do you It was an adorable look, good. I didn't say I knew this rumor "Lacy !" he said huskily, k was true. I only said I'd heard it" But she turned quickly from him, "Fanny," you're a hard-hearted crea- and ran to the otherr end of the room, tare," Isabel said gently. 'You really He followed awkwardly, stammering : are. Don't pay any attention to her, "Lucy, I want I want to ask you. George. Fred Kinney's only a clerk Will you will you will you be en- in his uncle's hardware place: he gaged to me?" i couldn't marry for ages even if any- She stood at a window, seeming to hodv would accent him!" look out Into the summer darkness, her back to him. "No," she murmured, just audibly. , "Why not?" "You're too young. "Is that" he said, gulping-"is Gebrire breathed tumultuously. "I don't care anything about 'ages!' What's , that got to do with it?" he said, his . thoughts appearing to be somewhat disconnected. " 'Ages,' don't mean anything! I only want to know that the only reason you won't? r wnnt to know I want" He She did not answer. stopped. j "You must finish your dinner, dear," his mother urged. , "Don't", .. "I have finished. ' I've eaten all I As she stood persistently staring out of the window with her back to him she did not see how humble his attitude had become; but his voice want. I don't 'r want any more than I j was low, and it shook so that she wanted. I don't want I He rose, still incoherent. "I prefer I want please excuse me !" ..: He left the room, and a moment later the screens outside the open front door were heard to slam. "Fanny ! You shouldn't' , '"Lsabel, don't reproach me, . . He. did have plenty of dinner, and I only told the' truth: very body ha been say- could have no doubt of his emotion. "Lucy, please forgiveVme for making such a row," he said, thus gently. "I've been I've been terribly upset-- terrlbly ! You know how I feel about you, and always have felt; about you. Don't yon?" . . s j Still le dM nr move or speak. , "Is : . . "you won't be us.' : rluuk . I'm too ln nade, George !" she said. "Yoiir poor ather tells me he'd just got to sleep or the first time In two nights, out after your kind attentions he lay awake the rest of last night.' "Perfectly true," Mr. Minafer said grimly. "Of course, ' I didn't know, sir,' George hastened to assure him. Tm awfully sorry. But Aunt Fanny was so gloomy and excited before I went out, last evening, I thought she needed cheering up." He turned to his mother. "What's the matter with grandfather?" "Didn't you see him this morning?" Isabel asked. "Yes. v He was. glad to see me, and all that, but he seemed pretty .fidgety. Has he been having trouble with his heart again?" "Not lately. No." "Well, he's not himself. What's he upset, over? Isabel looked serious : however, it was her husband who suggested gloom ily, "I suppose the Major's bothered about this Sydney and Amelia busi ness, most likely. "What Sydney and Amelia busi ness?" George asked. "Your mother can tell you, If she wants to," Minafer said., "It's not my side of the family, so I keep off." "It's . rather disagreeable for all of us, Georgie," Isabel began. "You see, your Uncle Sydney wanted a diplo matic position, and he thought Brother George, being in congress, could ar range it. George did get him the offer of a South American ministry, but Sydney wanted a European ambassa dorship, and he got quite indignant with poor George for thinking he'd take anything smaller and he be- "Lucy, 1 Want I Want to Ask You, the third that Sydney wants, and that Sydney and Amelia' are behaving like, t couple of pigs. Tm "on George's sidW whether he's right or wrong ; I always was from the time we were children; and Sydney and Amelia are hurt with . me about it, I'm afraid. They've stopped speaking to George entirely. Poor father! Family rows at his time of life." y ' An hour after lunch, George strolled over to his grandfathers, intending to apply for further information, as a party ngnnuuy inieresteu. He did not Carry out this intention, however. Going into the big house by a side entrance, he was. informed that the Major was upstairs In his bedroom, that his sons Sydney and George were both with - him, and that a serious argument was in progress. ; . ' George went to the foot or the great stairway.. He could hear angry voice overhead those of 1 his1 two uncles- . and a plaintive murmur, as if the Major tried to keep the peace. Such sounds were far from encous J aging to callers, and George decide! not to go upstairs until this interrien -was over. He turned from the stair way, and going quietly into the library; picked up a magazine but he did not open it, for his attention was Instant iy arrestea oy: nis Aunt Amena s voicm speaking in the next, room. The dooi was open and Geart heard her di tinctiy. . "Isabel does? Isabel I" she exclaimed v her tone high and shrewish. . Yoi neean t tea me anytmng aDout isaD Minafer, I guess, my dear old Frank Bronson ! I know; her a little better: than you do, don't you think?"' George heard the voice of Mr. Broo son replying a voice familiar to hiw as that of his grandfather's attorney in-chief and chief, intimate as well. H was a contemporary of the Major's, be ing over seventy, . and they had beei through three years of the war in th "I doubt your knowing Isabel," h said stiffly. 4Tou speak of her as you do because she sides with her brothel George, instead of.with'you and-Syd .ney." '; . ... .v-i ,; . "You little fool! You awfu) little fool!" " ; m T- tti yyTrrT ITTIn . . .W WV W .- . W 9J . - ' 1 I ' -i-: - . . . ; 1 ... - . Reasoning From Kittens.' Little r Edward's twin sisters wert being christened. . All went well until Edward saw the water. In the font Then he anxiously turned to his moth er and exclaimed: "Mai which one ar you going to keep?' Blighty (Loo don). . " Ch1co In some parts of- Cape Provlne lleres George didn't work hard enough South Africa,. chicory fives a yeld d for him. George hud dom? his best, of $250 to' $300 per aer, Jos&eaccfi coursflw nd now he's out nHKZrrxa, bmtnx th chUf V-sityt . . t . esiA thiy wen hulldtow s : ixmi wty u n-

Page Text

This is the computer-generated OCR text representation of this newspaper page. It may be empty, if no text could be automatically recognized. This data is also available in Plain Text and XML formats.

Return to page view