The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1910-12-15

water rather than not to have her
letters as soon as they arrived. It
was nearly two years before she
came back. Billy was right, she
was no longer a child. I hardly
knew, the stylish, pretty young
lady, who threw her arms around
my neck, and almost squeezed me
to death But for all her sight
seeing and advantages she was
the same loving disposition and
perfectly happy to be home again.
Of course she had beaux, plenty
of them, and though Billy did not
say word, it seemed like some
times it was more than he could
stand.
Her allowed her to spend money as.
she pleased. Her income had near
~ doubled, and she was consider
ed very rich. I certainly was sor-
~ for Billy. You know there s.
two things you cannot hide. love
and ascough, and Billy's case was
getting very bad. When Mary
would give him a little touch of
her hand. or stroke his hair, he
would turn crimson, but not for
the reason he used to. She did
not realize the difference, and
even Evelyn did not suspect. AZ
ter awhile he seemed to be actual
~ afraid to be with her by him
self, and then Mary began to no.
.tice it, It hurt her dreadfuIly, ).
for she did not understand. The
lowing February Mrs. Olcott wrote
to say that she would like to have
| " Mary visit her in Italy, and that
IN the summer she would take her
to France, Germany, England,
and other foreign countries. AZ
ter. much discussion she went, and
was gone seven months. It was
Oct, when she returned, just the
same inspoiled girl as ever She
had K0El Ids Of attention One.
young man came all the way from
New York to see her, but he was
not what she wanted, then there
were several from town coming out
here continually There was Mr..
Blake from Savannah, and Charlie
Draughn from Charleston, but not
one of them did she fancy. I
could not tell whether she cared
for Billy or not. women are more.
| clever about hiding such things
than men, but Billy was about as
miserable as folks get to be. She
used to come to see me quite Of
i ten, but it was case where 6
couldn't NEEDLE. Christmas Eve
she came over to bring Calvin and.
me our Christmas gifts the dear
child never forgot us. After talk
ing awhile she said, Aunt Sally,
I'm going away, Good gracious I
said, where in creation do you
want to go now. I do not want to
go anywhere, she answered, but
I must. love this place, the only
home I've ever known, but I can
! not stay here where I am not want
ed In the name of common sense
tell me what has happened, who
has been unkind to you? She went
on In a trembling voice, It is not
Ma, she is always lovely, / cannot
bear to leave her, but Billy, I'm
sure. he wants me to go. He does
not love me any more, I do not
know why, but he avoids me all
the time, and is forever advising
me to marry. / do not have to
marry, but I will have to leave a
house where I am not wanted. I
was twenty several months ago.
Billy may think that he has to-
keep me until I am twenty -one,-
but I had rather go now, Child,
I said do not be hasty, there's a
big mistake somewhere. I did not
Ike to tell her just what I thought
but I went on, Billy would be per
fectly wretched If You went. He's
been worried lately. but I think
= m ~