Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1905-09-14
BUTCH"
BRANKIN'S VISIT

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n LLSON in his youth lived in coun-
II try village. Since he has beer
busy with state politics he has found his
early rural acquaintances useful, to say
nothing of his genuine liking for many
of them. Therefore, Gilson's house has
long served altogether too much as q
general hotel and rendezvous for his
"down-state" friends for Mrs. Gilson's
satisfaction. ellison, however, main
tanning that he feels nothing but deep
est contempt for the man who will
climb up by a stool, then kick the stool
over" has always insisted upon I'M
limited and lavish hospitality toward
the out-of-town visitors. The climax
of his generosity and Of Mrs. Gilson's
patience came last week.
Mrs ellison, who is president OF a
fashionable social club, was just start
ing out for an afternoon of bridge, when
the maid ushered in a caller-a long,
lank, sunburned youth of hearty man
ner, but of equally manifest shyness.
He shook hands warmly with Mrs. Gill
son, and explained that good old ST.
Mrs. Gibson calls her husband Simon
and detests nicknames-had urged him
to visit him when next in the city.
He was down our way last fall, 4"
continued the visitor, perspiring with
the strain of conversing with so hand
some and impressive a woman as Mrs.
Gibson, "an' he says to me, says he,
Butch, next time you're in Chicago you
just come right up to the house an
make yourself at home. My house is
the proper stopping place for my old
friends and their folks, says he. So
dad-that's Lew Brankin, of Placer
he says to me this morning, when come
away from home with load of horses,
Butch, says he, just you go up an stop
with ST ellison. I've knowed him for
ages, an he's a good Teller, all right
AN So" was the hurried but cheer
full conclusion, 81 come"
I'm sure Mr. ellison will be glad to
see you," said Mrs. Gibson, sweetly, but
inwardly furious He's always glad to
see his old friends. Won't you take an
easy-chalr while l telephone him at the
Office and see If he can't come straight
home"
"Oh, yes, Butch Brankin, Of course"
responded Mr.. Gibson, promptly. "Old
Lew Brankin's youngest. Well, Mary,
we've got to treat him handsome. The
Brankins control a lot of votes we've
needed before, and we'll need again,
some time. And he's really a decent
young fellow, though l expect he looks
pretty rough.
"No, Mary" with growing firmness-
as Mrs. ellison sweetly suggested that
perhaps he could come home at once
and visit with Mr.. Brankin-'T can't
possibly leave the Office until five
o'clock, anyway. An important COM
mittee meeting comes off in half an
hour, and I've got other work later.
You'll have to give up the bridge for
once, Mary, seems to me, and be good
to the boy little. I'm sorry to ask it,
and Of course you must please yourself
about complying, but it would be a
great favor to me if you'd be pleasant
about it. Take him for a drive"
Mrs. Gibson, conscious that the Wis
itor, restlessly moving about in the
parlor, could hear every word she ut
tered, was compelled to refrain from
the relief of plain speech. She said
good-by with forced sweetness and
hung up the receiver with bang. Then
she telephoned the club member who
was entertaining the group that after
noon that an important happening, to
be explained later, would prevent her
attendance. She was miserably certain
that the disappointed hostess would not
soon forgive her detection half an hour
before time for the playing to begin,
and this certainly added fuel to the heat
of her not unnatural indignation. But
she returned to the parlor, grimly de-
termired to do her duty by her husband
and his friend.
Would you like to take drive in the
park with me?" she inquired but the
youth shook his head promptly.
81 get so much of the trees and the
road out home" he exclaimed, that I'd
rather change off little when come
to the city. Couldn't we go to the the
ayter for awhile?"
Mrs. Gibson, inwardly thanking Provi-
dence that it was too late to comply with
this suggestion. explained the fact to her
visitor. Then she removed her bonnet
and gloves, ordered some iced lem
onade and waters, and endeavored to
make Mr.. Brankin degree less uncom-
Portable than he seemed.
at seems little warm here, don't you
think?" she suggested. Wont you re-
move your coat?"
She meant, of course, the long, old ,
bay" garment that Mr..
Brankin evidently regarded with deep
est pride and affection, but the uncon-
ventional youth read into her words the |
home meaning. He not |
only removed his overcoat, but also the |
shorter coat beneath 1t. Mrs. ellison
crimsoned at the maids irrepressible
glance at his shirt sleeves, but said
Simon had directed her to be
good to Mr.. Brankln; she would make
no halfway sacrifice. !
When Mr.. Brankin, after much nerv- I
BUS perspiration and many strange
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