Chapter 17
"She isn't here." Judge Jones stood firmly in the doorway.
"May I come in?" Jeff Tracy stood just as firmly.
Seeing that Mr. Tracy was alone the judge let him to sit in the living room. The room looked virtually unused. No sign of teenage residents showed. Perhaps it was the difference between girls and boys, Jeff thought. Then again, maybe not.
"She left this morning to go back to Aunt's place in New York. I've already set the papers in motion to have this little adventure annulled. Quietly annulled."
"My son wants to be married to your daughter. I am willing to back up his wishes."
"Mr. Tracy. I have sat on the bench for over thirty years. I know when I am being lied to or when someone is being less than honest. My daughter has no interest in being married to your son."
"I would rather hear that from her."
"I doubt you would like to hear her reasons." Judge Jones sat down heavily. "How is business lately? Have you had problems, someone playing with your stock?"
"I don't see how that has anything to do with Gordon and Charlotte." Jeff began tightly.
"Unfortunately, my daughter has the mistaken opinion that her meddling with your son will affect the stock market. I have put a stop to that. I could get you the proof, but I think that will hardly be necessary under the circumstances."
"I'm not a liar Mr.Tracy." Jones added when the silence grew longer.
"But you are claiming your daughter is."
"Yes. I have seemed to fail in raising any decency in my children." Judge Jones tone was bitter. "You were lucky in having boys. Females are such a disappointment. Even Martha has rebelled against my wishes."
"Perhaps...later." Jeff said with a degree of relief.
"I think your boy will be disappointed even then. But for now it would be best if they went their own ways. I won't press charges for last night's disturbance."
There was the crash of glass and a low wail from upstairs.
"My wife is upset at the loss of her offspring. You will excuse me?" Jones rose to his feet calmly as the wails became louder.
"You were lucky Mr. Tracy." He said showing his visitor to the door. "Your wife died."
"Me? No. I would give anything to have my wife back in any kind of condition. You sir, have thrown away two daughters that is your loss!" Jeff marched out of the house fuming. He didn't doubt that Jones was telling the truth about Charlotte. She wasn't the kind of girl he liked. He just had to break the news as gently as possible to Gordon. He didn't need to know that she had been using him. The sooner they put this all behind them, the better. Water under the bridge.
"She isn't here." Judge Jones stood firmly in the doorway.
"May I come in?" Jeff Tracy stood just as firmly.
Seeing that Mr. Tracy was alone the judge let him to sit in the living room. The room looked virtually unused. No sign of teenage residents showed. Perhaps it was the difference between girls and boys, Jeff thought. Then again, maybe not.
"She left this morning to go back to Aunt's place in New York. I've already set the papers in motion to have this little adventure annulled. Quietly annulled."
"My son wants to be married to your daughter. I am willing to back up his wishes."
"Mr. Tracy. I have sat on the bench for over thirty years. I know when I am being lied to or when someone is being less than honest. My daughter has no interest in being married to your son."
"I would rather hear that from her."
"I doubt you would like to hear her reasons." Judge Jones sat down heavily. "How is business lately? Have you had problems, someone playing with your stock?"
"I don't see how that has anything to do with Gordon and Charlotte." Jeff began tightly.
"Unfortunately, my daughter has the mistaken opinion that her meddling with your son will affect the stock market. I have put a stop to that. I could get you the proof, but I think that will hardly be necessary under the circumstances."
"I'm not a liar Mr.Tracy." Jones added when the silence grew longer.
"But you are claiming your daughter is."
"Yes. I have seemed to fail in raising any decency in my children." Judge Jones tone was bitter. "You were lucky in having boys. Females are such a disappointment. Even Martha has rebelled against my wishes."
"Perhaps...later." Jeff said with a degree of relief.
"I think your boy will be disappointed even then. But for now it would be best if they went their own ways. I won't press charges for last night's disturbance."
There was the crash of glass and a low wail from upstairs.
"My wife is upset at the loss of her offspring. You will excuse me?" Jones rose to his feet calmly as the wails became louder.
"You were lucky Mr. Tracy." He said showing his visitor to the door. "Your wife died."
"Me? No. I would give anything to have my wife back in any kind of condition. You sir, have thrown away two daughters that is your loss!" Jeff marched out of the house fuming. He didn't doubt that Jones was telling the truth about Charlotte. She wasn't the kind of girl he liked. He just had to break the news as gently as possible to Gordon. He didn't need to know that she had been using him. The sooner they put this all behind them, the better. Water under the bridge.