The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1910-02-03

nOlQ1QE- OuS4ACSS ~OuCCS1ASs u
group numbered aebare two dozen.
Time had been when the houses at
Mecca Summit could hardly hold the
members.
No one ever asked for an explana-
ton of the change except the new
ministers, and they did not inquire
loEg.
Its only the unwilling workers
and Givers who have dropped by the
wayside, " the president of the society
often remarked, resignedly; but there
were those-among whom was Me-
hitable Winthrop-that held to an
other opinion.
The subject under discussion at
this business meeting was the annual
Fourth of July dinner given in the
church vestry, and largely attended
by the summer people down at the
lake.
The president, Mrs. Cox, sat in an
armchair facing the group of ladies.
It was difficult to remember the time
when Mrs. Cox had not been presi-
dent. She was a tall, thin woman,
coIorless ard wiry, a bundle of nerves
under good control, but not in perfect
repair. Mrs. Cox was the most capa-
BILE woman in the church, at least so
every one Observation-Disclosures Mrs.
Cox herself!
What would we do without herr"
sighed little Mrs. Boltwood thank
fully, to Miss Mehitable; but her
t~hankfulness was of the same variety
which she felt when her youngest
child came down with tie measles at
exactly the right age.
Miss Mehitable, tanning herself, ap-
peared not to hear, and there was no
time for the other to repeat her re-
mark. The president was speaking,
and when Mrs. Cox spoke every one
listened. 1t was understood at the
Summit that Mrs. Cox had no su-
perior as chairman of a meeting.
"Who will donate chickens?" she
asked.
For an instant no one spoke. Then
with an air OF patient martyrdom
Mrs. Cox made a note on the paper
she held in her nand, and said, "I will
give three" She drew her lips down
at the corners and added, with low
but significant emphasis, And if il
proves necessary 1 can give more
although I had hoped to sell of
enough hens next month to get me {
new hat" Mrs. Cox glanced Over
the head of Mrs. Boltwood, adorned
as it was with a pretty iower-trimmeC
gray chip.
Mrs. Boltwood turned scarlet. g
II will give two" She raised he,
voice ~rebelliously, with a sound o
tears just under the surface. "Iti
the first all-o:er new hat I've had il
four years." she whispered to Mis-
two hens"
Irene Hazlitt sat next to Mrs. Bolt
wood. Mrs. Hazlitt was a youni
matron who had lived only n yea
at the Summit, and was possessed O
excellent ideas, which she had bee
called upon to use in connection wit
the Ladies' Aid. she spoke out wit
a fearlessness Supplying t. the faith
full members: mot a single chicke
will I donate to a t~wenty-cent dinner
Sliced lam is good enough and niue
uSdpS i Will give AdA1, Jul "
chicken"
twenty-five ladies secretly agree
with Irene Hazlitt. The twenty
fourth, in the armchair, drew dow
the orner of her mouth and mad
another note on her paper.
I'VE always have had chickens.
Mrs. Cox looked fxedly at her pape.
And always before they have bee
~cheerfully donated"
Irene Hazlitt, despite her commo
sense, felt vaguely and uncomfortable
disgraced. She bit her lips and locke
at Miss Mehitab1e, but the latter We
staring at the grass in deep though
Miss M%ehitable had bestowed muc
thought and few words on the cond
ton of the aid society during the pa
year.
The president waited an instan
enVeloped in a peculiarly chilling a
mosphere, which ~deepened every one
of Irene's disgrace, and the
added, II will make up the defcient
i will give four instead of three"
Every one save Miss Mehitab
moved uneasily and glanced at Nh
Cox's head. In their minds eye thu
saw the old hat adjoining the secor
pew from the front the remainder
the summer, and knew also that eve,
person between the Summit al
Patchunk City would know why, f
Mrs. Cox invariably allowed her lie
hand-and her neighbors also
know what her right hand was dol
in the matter OF giving and working
After the chickens and other fo'
for the dinner had been pledged, Nj
Cox appointed the committees. mi
Boltwood, will you make the coffee
The little womaR gasped. An
expert coffee drinker could not
ways detect the difference betwe
her tea and coffee, but If she refus
to act 5R the coffee committee I
chilling shadow OF the presidents d
pleasure would fall on her; thereto
she falte7ed:
81 will work hard, Mrs. CC
but every oae-knows-I-make
such"
Mrs: Hazlitt. being practical, a
having enjoyed only a years
q~uaintance with Mrs. Cox, recover
from her disgrace, and suggest
briskly, why not ask Miss WinthI