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

caller unbonnded astonishmentand
no little fear.
yes, I'll do it, she gasped, 1but
my voice will shake awfully. and how
will Irene darea j should he SO
scared I'd faint right away, She
must be brave. No, I'll not open my
mouth about It." and she departed.
smiling.
A few days later Mrs. Mclean ran
ACROSS the road after a bag of sugar,
and to her Miss Mehitable presented
a paper the contents Of which caused
her customer to scowl.
"a present for Mrs. Cox! OF all
things! No, I don't want to give
toward 1t, but I suppose I must.
Whoever started such a thing?" Mrs.
Mclean ungraciously added her name
to the list already on the paper.
Miss Mehitable smiled and eYaded
the question.
on the first Tuesday in August
there assembled in Mrs. Cox's parlcr
an unusually large number of ladies.
Mrs. Cramer changed her mind and
was there, led on by an unbelievable
report which had been whispered
about. That same report had drawn
half a dozen Of the old members back,
among them the two who had been
l. the postofice the morning Of July
9Th.
Miss Mehttable was there, calm as
usual, but little Mrs. Boltwood looked
unaccountably frightened. Irene
Hazlitt came late, and on the spare
bed where the hats were laid, she
placed a large, heavy bundle.
Mrs. Cox few round a>hot kitchen,
her face expressing WEAKNESS and
patient martyrdom. She made a spe-
cial point of not sitting down once
! during the afternoon until she sank
into a chair in the parlor after tea
and called the meeting to order-and
also made a special point of letting
every one present know how long she
had been on her feet.
There were two important matters
of business to come before the meet
ing, the arrangements for the Harvest
Home supper in September and the
election of officers. :
The latter, ~accorSing to Mrs. Cox,
was of more Importance, especially
the choice of a president. She drew
down the corners of her mouth and
fguratively donned her halo of mar
tyrdom. ats an office beset with
difficulties and work." she said, sol
EMMY, "and I trust that during the
ensuing year you will have a presi'
dent able to do more and act more
wisely and be more efficient than
your president of this year"
1t was her usual speech for election
occasions, but it did not meet the
usual response. Before she had
ceased to speak, Irene Hazlitt vas or
her feet. Mrs. Cox acknowledged hel
coldly, Irene being still in disgrace.
"This year" Irene began, pleasant
Iy, "it seems to me only fair that I'VE
put aside the question of efficiency
and consider only the express wishes
of one who has served this society al
its president so many years. / fee
that it is our duty to respect the firm
decision which Mrs. Cox announced a
our last meeting, and which she hai
been repeating to individuals eve,
since. AS she has just said, the ofic,
she now holds is beset with dificultie
and work. That we know, and W,
know also that Mrs Cox has born,
these burdens for ten years"
Irene stopped, reached behind he
chair, and raising a beautiful silve
pitcher, addressed the stupefed Mrs
Cox directly: And now as you re
tire from Office to enjoy the period O
rest for which you have so often ex
pressed a longing, the ladies Of tn
; aid society beg you to accept thi
pitcher as a token Of their apprecia
, ton for your long service"
Stepping forward, Mrs. Hazlitt lai
the pitcher in Mrs. Cox's lap, addin
quietly, II nominate Miss Mehitabl
Winthrop for president during tn
ensuing year"
, Mrs. Boltwood looked at the blan
face of Mrs. Cox and raised her voic
fearfully, but promptly: "I secon
, the nomination"
Then followed a deep silence, dul
D ing which Mrs. Cox sought in vain I
overtake her scattered senses. Sh
| STdSQ6Q -nST plICuCT anu elOOhO0 {
+ Miss Mehitable. Miss MehitabIe di
not withdraw her name. Mrs. &C
i moistened her lips and looked roun
the room. There were no turtle
n nominations, because Irene's tactfl
speech had made Mrs. Cox's Ion
meditated retirement a certainty.
Mrs. Cox rose, trembling. She trie
: to thank the ladies, but emotion u
;. connected with the silver pitcht
~overcame her. She haltingly put Mi
Mehitable's name to vote. She shoe
as she forsook the chair. With h
senses still in confusion, she behel
M%ehitable presiding as ably as 81
could do. She listened to the a
rangements for the Harvest Hon
> supper, in which the old membe
= took a new interest. She heard MI
Cramer asked to take charge of Il
decoration Of the supper room. 81
listened to Mrs. McLean's lively a
ceptance of the sandwich maxim
She noted that TMehitable offered
make the coffee, at the same time a
: suring the ladies that she intended
do nothing else.
: Finally, the new president turnt
. to her predecessor with q smil
- "And for the first time in ten year
!. Mrs. Cox shall have the happiness
going to the supper as a guest wi