The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1908-01-09
Betty's
Decision
By LULU JOHNSON.
Copyright, 1901. by c. H. sutclire.

through the double sashed windows OF
the Eagle House. The music gained
In m~ournfulness what 1t lacked In I'M
pressiveness, for Dan Hicks struggles
with the unfamiliar clarinet added a
wailtng note not Intended by the COM
poser. Not one of the members OF the
Granville Cornet band was a skilled
musician.
Vance Bevan moved over to the win
dow to watch the passing of the cor
tege. First came the band, shivering
In their gaudy uniforms, which they
would not hide beneath their over
coats. Then followed the Niagara
Hose company and the Granville
Hook and Ladder. The long, light
truck of the latter vas stripped of its
ladders. and In their place was a plat
form. on which rested a flag draped.
casket. Behind this were two closed
carriages and then a long string Of We
hicles OF all descriptions.
Hank Flag,er Joined his guests at the
window.
There goes a good man." he said in
the hollow tones that seemed most ap-
propriate to the occasion. 81 tell you,
there wasn't a better man in all SEQ
vile county. He was always doing
something. First it vas the engine
company. He got it the steamer. Just
kept al it until it had to come. He
said Granville was getting too big
for the old hand engine. He was
right. What chance would there have
been Of saving the Vail block If there
hadn't been a steamer
"One of the leading c~itizens?" asked
Bevan as he proffered a cigar. Flag
Ter nodded.
"OHe Of the best" he declared. I'VE
were all sorry when he went to the
Philippines. 1 guess he stirred them
islands up. Only out there four years,
thousand. Yes, sir"
But why go to the PhilippinesY"
questioned Bevan. 'It would seem
that SO clever a man should have no
difficulty in getting ahead nearer
home"
But Fred was in a hurry" explain
ed the hotel man. you see, he had
always been In love with Bessie Brew
ster. Bessie loved him, too, but she
was an ambitious little thing. She
wanted Fred to get ahead faster, and
that meant the Philippines. He left it
all to her too. l bet she must be all
broken up. That's her in the second
carriage, 1 guess. 1 see Betty Harvey
In with her.
"Of course the family Is in the first
hack. / rode in that hack the night
1 got married. Lem Spriggs he says
there's been enough varnish on that
old hack to pay for a new one, and /
guess he's right. Old man Hardness
had 1t when he set up In business as a
livery back in 1875. Every tother year
they slap on some more varnish, and
1t looks as good az new again"
FlagIer ratified on with bits of infor-
nation as the various carriages passed.
The first heavy fall of was upon
the ground, and a few sleighs were in
the long procession. Bevan heard a
little Of the running comment. The
mention Of Betty Harvey had reused
a chain Of thought. He had run up
from the city to argue with her and
had found the whole town upset by
the arrival of Fred Greyson's body
Betty was busy comforting her friend,
Bessie Brewster, and would not even
see him.
There was small hope that he would
be able to get speech with her, but he
decided to wait until after the funeral.
He wanted to make n last appeal.
The two had met at the shore during
the summer. Betty had given her love
to the clean young engineer, but when
he had asked that they might be mar
ried soon she had shaken her head.
Stumblingly she had explained her
reasons for refusal. She was an heir
ess, and in the little town in which
she lived she feared that the people
might despise her sutton as a fortune
hunter.
Ever since she had come into the
money at the death of her father her
friends had warned her against the
wiles Of the fortune hunters. She did
for an instant believe that Bevan
cared for her money, but she was too
proud Of him to be willing hat he
should so be classified by others.
Much the same feeling had led Bes-
sic Brewster to refuse to marry Fred
Greyson until his fortune should match
her own. Greyson had gone to the
where he believed that a
fortune might be acquired quickly. He
had made his pile" but on his way
home the fever had taken him. From
Manila the journey had been made ia
metallic casket.
The last of the carriages had passed.
The dead march still sounded clear
~ on the crisp, frosty air, and Bevan
fell in with the crowd that escorted |
the procession on foot. The road
wound up the side Of the hill to Gods
acre, where the yellowed headstones
cleaned darkly against the freshly
fallen snow.
The fire companies made a hollow
within which the Masons form
ed for the funeral service. Betty Har-
vey stood with the chief mourners, ,
her friend, but before the
short service vas concluded she had
lead the bereaved girl back to the
carriage. Rapidly the hack drove !
back to the village. Vance Bevan had
been there to help Betty lift the girl
INTO the carriage, and he had sprune
to the drivers box to be Of service
when they should have reached home.
1t was he who bore the fainting girl
MO the house, he who summoned the
md - -. 1