The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1911-07-13
1NWOOD'S LESSON.
Ry James Marshall.

r., cav you Mdhtn6
! S cha growled Bert LinWood,
yty q SnT YOU, Betty, I amt going to
ten wife flirting with a lot OF
pave w Tho are only laughing at her"
iudes not your wife yet" snapped
"lh and I'm never going to be.
Betty to Mr.. Mines, but | didn't
go" ewes at him."
MAKES did So" insisted Bert. II
you You don't have to grin like
paw Every pyery time you bow"
ha nottv's eyes began to fill with tears.
pei loved Bert; she ha dloyed MIN
Phe lars, but this new unreason1ng
Or ! was spelling her life. She
eaiouC eff the ring and handed it to
pin' better take that she said.
n,ioht use it in Turkey Men
lUu +bpir wives up owe there. That's
Och ,ort Of place you want to live in"
ne e. $40 Jon,t want the ring,"/he demur-
u lust want you tn behave your
Fel IL CHESS I can't BEHAVE the way
ant me too," she said. "You
"a ~ want me to be civil to any other
Look how you wanted to thrash
clown at the circus last month,
~ because he pretended to admire
He was only joking, but you de
rIorod must have given him en-
F H"ro cement. 1 was laughing at him
bocause he was funny"
~ don't see where he was funny,
Lronned Bert, still smarting at the
Collection of the cleverness with
r,bich the clown had turned his OBJ
Eoctions into comedy. eff you feel
hal way about it, I guess l might
Is we'll take the old ring"
He tucked it into his vest pocket
md with an elaborate assumption OF
Indifference, sauntered away. Bet
" sought a quiet cornor n sat down
for a good cry.
II was always like this. Bert's I'M
reasoning jealousy spoiled every mer-
rrmaking. but she had hoped that
fhe Sunday school picnic might pass
off pleasantly.
Had il not been for Martha Spriggs,
Betty would have enjoyed her cry
Ia solitude, but that energetic spin
Eter seemed to scent trouble, and she
Ehortlv appeared upon the scene.
hit by bit she drew the story from
Betty and administered comfort. Ten
she hustled about the boat.
Most of the excursiOnists BELONGED
n the same church. The rest were
kn old friends and before the steam
Or came in sight of Portage island
anding every one knew of the trou-
Bile. Bert was sensible of a change
n the attitude of most of the crowd,
hut he pretended Indifference and told
himself that eff that little cry baby
wanted to tell her troubles he was
well rid of her."
After landing he stood on the dock,
Watching the steamer continue her
WAY down to the end of the lake, and
then strolled owe to the grove where
most of the shady spots under the
trees were occupied by basket par
lies.
| He strolled about in the hope that
some one might invite him to sit down
Ind have a bite with them. AS a rule
b dozen invitations would have beer
hurled at him upon his appearance
but nov all seemed engrossed witt
kneir own parties, and though he wen:
the whole length of the grove nom
asked him to share the feast.
Bert went miserably bacA 10 tn,
dock. Here at least he did not nav,
Ito look at Betty and the city cha
|(who was Martha Spriggs' nephew
chatting gaily over a bOuntiful lunch
1t was the final touch of misery. TIL
island was state land well out in tn
lake. 1t was deserted except whel
picnic parties came, and there wa
mo chance of obtaining food, neithe
were there small boats by the al
of which he might gain the main
land.
He had breakfast early on accom-
of the picnic and now he was down
right hungry. He would not give Mis-
lSpriggs the satisfaction of KNOWN
that he had been forced to ask 70
food, and he could see clearly that
was she who had put the entire ez
cursiOn party up to ignoring his fam
ished condition.
But pride is a poor substitute fo
provender, and the sight of the 20
or 300 Dicnickers all eating was NOR
than he could stand. He sought OF
the little place where he and Bett
had lunched the year before. 1t wa
a little cove well sheltered from tn
rest of the shore and here he la
down under the shade and sought I
take a nap.
Even sleep appeared to have d.
serted him. He tossed restlessl
about on the grass, but no sleep can
and he was just about to return
the grove when a light football a.
rested his attention.
He lay back on the grass in II
hope that his presence might pass III
noticed, but whoever it was was con
ing straight toward his retreat, an
presently he heard his name spoke
and looked up to encounter Betty
plying gaze.
1T was a mean trick" she sal
penitently, "but I could not help m,
self. Anyhow I kept two sandwich
for you, Bert. I'm sorry that the.
is not more, but it was all I could
to hide these. Miss Spriggs wou
never forgive me if she knew
brought them. I saw you going aero
the grove and knew where to I'll