The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1908-11-12
CHAPTER II.
Continued.

been q cook; that she had first en-
tered her present husbands service
by means of an advertisement, in
which she described herself as pro-
fessiOnal cook equal to- any emer-
Eency. Before her arrival, Mr.. Dem
stone had been the prey Of his SER
wants: he had never known any COM
fort or security But her az, ent Sc
cured these. She made him COM
Portable, she fed him admirably, she
nursed him kindly through bad
attack of govt. and finally, when,
moved by these excellent consid era
lions, he proposed to her, she accept
ed himWith her usual stately courtesy,
and she had never for one moment
caused him to repent having done so.
Mr. Denstone had one sister, mar
~fed to a clergyman in Westmoreland,
a Mr.. Discount This lady, in hopes
OF stopping so degrading marriage,
arrived in Liverpool by express, and
poured out the walls of her wrath
ON poor ;Betsy's head. Her words
we're unj1stif1able, and it was much
to Betsy's credit that she held her
tongue and never told her husband.
I'M contrast to this was the conduct
OF Mrs Denstone, of Denstone Court.
She and her husband even came to
the wedding. She was very kind to
Betsy, even aiding her in selecting
the dark color of her wedding gown,
in preference to the brilliant mauve
which made her healthy apple cheeks
magenta in hue. To this gentle,
little, careworn woman Betsy owed
much useful advice and much help,
and she looked upon her with an
amount OF gratitude that was almost
woTzhip- She it was who persuaded
her husband to send Reginald to OK
ford She 1onged to do something for
her HepheBss bat Mr.. Denstone would
not hear of adopting one straight of,
which was the desire of her heart
He knew his brothers weak and help
Less character; he wished to test the
SOUS, determined that only to one
that possessed his own qualities of
strength and perseverance would he
extend bis patronage. From this de-
termination arose the offer of the
clerEship in the Liverpool house, and
when it was announced that Reginald
was coming to Queen Anne's Square
on a visit, good Mrs. Alfred Den
stones heart beat high with hope
and expectation.
The disappointment was proper
6O1ate1y great. Reggie was too
1Hnch Of a gentleman not to be per-
EEzFIy courteous to her, but he treat
ed aREr with overmuch ceremony.
To his uncle he was lofty, clearly
showing that he considered the
offered post as unworthy of his
mightiness-
TIE visit was altogether failure.
Reggie was not pressed to stay on,
Ran hrs return home was speedily fol-
1Izwed by the letter to his father,
which had so changed the course of
events,
Both uncle and aunt came forward
ITO meet Arthur, and both were aston
ished- They had formed no great
expectations, but this tall, handsome,
fair, blue-eyed young man was
great surprise to them.
Not Arthur Denstone?" said Mr..
Denstone, with emphasis.
Yes, Uncle Alfred, myself" he
answered, b1ushing ingenuously;
Aand is this my Aunt Betsy?" And
coming forward, he stopped to kiss
her
She was so astonished she quite
frembIed with pleasure and surprise,
but answered his kiss warmly. "My
dear boy!" she said
She would never have said that to
Reginald, and he never called her
Aunt Betsy" only with polite care,
~Mrs- Alfred Denstone.
Mr.. Denstone brought his nephew
forward and introduced him to the
other guest
my Nephew Arthur-Monsieur
Rigaud, :" and Arthur bowed rather
ahyly-
Dinner was announced. He was
desired not to dress, and obtaining
permission merely to wash his hands
they went in to dinner without wait
ing for him.
The soup had just been removed
when Arthur glided into his place
and allowed himself to look round
ON the company in which he found
himself. His heart warmed to hi!
uncle at once. There was something
honest and strong and straightfor
ward in his look and manner of bear
ing himself. Aunt Betsy dressed il
black velvet, and wearing a cap o
old point lace, looked very comforta
BILE and prosperous, and Arthur like
her apple cheeks and did not thinl
them bit vulgar.
At dinner AIR. Denstone hartll,
spoke to Arthur. He belonged to til
old-fashioned school, and held be
Lief firmly enough that youth wa
made to listen, not to talk, but t
learn; and Arthur was interested i
listening to the conversation of tn
two elders. Monsieur Rigaud excite
his curiosity. He was an old mar
or at all events he looked old, e.
Gaordinarily thin, so thin that tn
skin stretched over his forehea
looked like firmly drawn, yello
parchment. His face was small an