Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1908-02-08
Betty'S
Decision.
By LULU JOHNSON.
Copyright. 1907. by c. II. su,clifrc.

MOuTUIuliI the SOIlDeT HlelOuy VI
the dead march from Saul came
through the double sashed windows OF
The Eagle House. The music gained
In mournfuness what II lacked In Inn
prcssiveness. for Dan Hicks struggles
with the unfamiliar clarinet added n
waillng note not intended by the COM
poser Not one Of the members OF the
Granville Cornet band was 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 aud the Granville
Hook and Ladder. The long. light
truck of the latter was stripped Of its
ladders, and In their place was plat
form. Oh which rested flag draped
casket. Behind this were two closed
carriages and then long string OF We
hicles OF all descriptions.
Hank F'lagler Joined his guests at the
window
There goes good man." he said in
the hollow tones that seemed most ap.
propriate TO the occasion. Il tell you.
there wasn't better man In all SEQ
vile county. He was always doing
something. First II was the engine
company. He got II the steamer. Just
kept at Il until II 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 II there
hadn't been IL steamer
zone OF the leading cltizens?" asked
Beyan as he proffered cigar. Flag
Ter nodded.
zone of the best" he declared. I'VE
We're all sorry when lie went to the
Philippines. guess he stirred them
islands up. Only out there four years,
and he came home with cool hundred
thousand. Yes sir"
But why go to the Philippines"
questioned Beyan. 1T would seem
that so clever man should have nc
difficulty In getting ahead nearer
home
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. lie left 1t
all TO her too. | bet she must be all
broken up. That's her in the second
rriu I \ II
In with her.
"9f course the family Is In the first
iack. rode in that hack the night
/ got married. Lem Spriggs he says
there's been enough varnish on that
old hack to pay for new one, and !
guess he's right. Old man Hardness
had II when he set up In business as a
livery back in 1875. Every t'other year
they slap on some more varnish, and
II looks as good as new again"
Flagler ratified on with bits OF infor-
nation as the various carriages passed.
The first heavy fall OF snow was upon
the ground. and few sleighs were in
the long procession. Bevan heard
little of the running comment. The
mention OF Betty Harvey had reused
chain OF thought. He had run up
from the city to argue with her and
has, 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
Ia. IN. o.. hal
decided TO wait until after the funeral.
He wanted to make one 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
not for an instant believe that Bevan
cared for her money. but she was too
proud of him 10 be willing that he
should so lie classified by others.
Much the same feeling had led Bes-
sic Brewster 10 refuse TO marry Fred
Greyson until his fortune should match
her own. Greyson had gone to the
Philippines. where he believed that
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 In
a metallic Casket.
The last of the carriages had passed.
The dead march still sounded clear
ly 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