The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1909-03-18
~
HS
rs

aft was urged against me that 1
vas not a native of this State, but
that fact does not imply that / shall
o~dn7inister its affairs less jealousy
than one of her own sons would have
dome. The State of my adoption is
~rnspeakably dear to me, its welfare a
sacred trust. The humblest blossom
of its broad prairies is as beautiful in
nv eyes as the richest rose of my own
Florida"
A jangle, a clang, a whistle and
huff cut short the speech, and as the
train pulled out of the country sta
tion. the newly elected Governor
bowed and smiled with the inimitablea
grace that always caught the popular
fancy. He turned with q little boyish
swing that told of youth and strength
and happiness, and as the little knot
of men filed from the rear platform
hack into the car, he looked down
into the eyes of the friend at his
elbow with a quizzical look, which
seemed to say, Il don't take myself
half as seriously as all this sounds"
The friendly reporters exchanged
nIeased chances, and those for the OPP
~nosition papers confided one to an
other that Perriton was playing to
the grand stand for all he was worth.
A tail, handsome woman, who had
SAT looking out at the crowd about
the train, smiled proudly up at him
as he resumed his seat beside her;
and the train sped on to the capital,
where the next day he would take
his place as Chief Executive.
A little eager-faced old woman
stood gazing after the train, her eyes
shining and her cheeks flushed with
excitement.
"Oh, l like that great, big, fine
Young man, Hebby!" she exclaimed
70 the girl beside her. He is the
first Governor I've ever set eyes upon,
and l wouldn't take anything for get
ting to see him to-day. My, that was
a pretty speech! Human nature will
poke out, Hebby, and it showed up
when he said what he did about the
fowers-talking about humble
prairie blossoms and rich Florida
roses, I don't think one mite nor
grain the less of him for that, but 1
do wish he could get one look at
some of my red Irish roses before he
talks about humble prairie blossoms
too much, don't you, Hebby?"
why, yes, l guess So, Miss Patty"
assented Hepzibah Hay, absently.
You know my aunt planted the
first che of those bushes on the
prairie forty-fve years ago, when we
were the only white people in the set
tlement, my dear"
Hebby managed adroitly to get the
old woman started toward the dry
goods emporium, and heard the rest
of that familiar story as they walked
slowly in that direction. She had
been willing enough to crowd up for
n curious look at the Governor, but
he and his speech and future career
were all alike of minor Importance
to her, for Hebby had come to town
to buy her wedding finery, and her
thoughts were occupied with mental
calculations of means anC measures.
Miss Patty's presence was a neces-
sity upon this expedition, Cor it was
her wiry little fingers that were to
fashion the new frocks, and Hebby
well knew that the sharp blue eyes
of the little dressmaker were the ones
to distinguish in a trice the bridal
grays that would pink up" with
wear, the blacks that would crock,
the goods that would pull in the
seams, and fabrics that would fray
easily.
Hepzibah was most eminently prac-
ucal, and in view of certain ambitions
that she held, as we'll as of the fact
that Rufus Ponder was a young man
OF great promise, but small income,
she meant to provide for her trous-
seau such dresses as would wear
well and not show dirt" for years to
A troubled look that she did not
at all understand had clouded her
lovers eyes when she refused that
little wedding trip that he had
planned, assuring him that it would
De better for them not to incur that
expenditure, especially as the wed
ulng was to take place just at a crit
zeal time of the poultry season, when
the young chickens and turkeys she
would be carrying to her new home
would be just at an age to need daily
attention.
Miss Patty surely makes me
tired" Hobby confded to Rufus, the
evening before the wedding. you
know I've had to be at her house a
great deal since she has been max
ing my dresses, and she hasn't been
able to talk about a single thing ex-
eept the Governor since she saw him
mat day at Rumbleton. She reads
every word the papers say about him.
and just let her get me helpless and
at her mercy while she fits me, and
she tells it all over to me-"
Well, he is a big man." said
Rufus. IF the cat doesn't jump the
wrong way in this veto business, he
Is going to make the cleanest aud best
governor this State has had for years
! don't blame Miss Patty! l wish
! mad been in Rumbleton, too, that
aay' 50 1 could have had a look al
hin. had thought we'd go up to the
capital on our trip" He hesitated
a moment, and then resumed, 81
think he will decide pretty soon about
mat veto. You read the papers, DOM
you, Hebby?"
A little" she admitted, guardedly
ana then her native candor compelled
uVF TO d that she always skipped