The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1911-05-25

kO0 oAN Il OS-AO
titious look into the c~apacious oven
where the pies were sizzling comfor-
tably.
Il met Judge Caswell at the gate
as i was coming in, mother" began
Mary abruptly. Seems to me he
comes here pretty often"
A slight flush rose to the Older
woman's cheek, which was still fair
and smooth in spite of her sixty years.
ooh, / don't know" she said apo
logetically.
"He was here yesterday"
"Yes'
"And the day before"
"Why, l guess So"
"And the day before that"
"Now, Mary, I don't really remem-
ber."
Perhaps you can remember SOM
day for the past month that he hasn't
been here?"
Mrs. Benner was silent but visibly
disturbed.
Really, mother, such goings-on
are absurd at our age. Why don't
you tell the Judge that you don't want
him here. If you don't 1 shall"
"Don't you say a word to the
Judge, Mary. 1 can take care OF my
own affairs"
at looks like it. 1 call it scandal
Gus. The Judge will be asking you
to marry him next"
Something in the expression of her
mother eyes startled Mary. Mother"
she almost shrieked. "You don't
mean-He hasn't Oh, what have /
been thinking of that l haven't put
a stop to this before!"
Whats the use of all this fuss,
Mary? The Judge is the straightest
man in Sanderstown. There's not q
man anywhere more highly thought Of
It's an honor"
Honor fiddlesticks!'' Mary inter-
rupted her mother. "At his age and
at your age to be thinking of mar
riage! Mother, really! / gave you
credit for some sense." 8
Mrs. Benner tried to remember
some Of the arguments that the Judge
had used in pleading his case, but the
sharp gaze of her daughter confused
her and she sat silent, like a child
caught in mischief. Mary's master
full manner always frightened and
distressed her, though it seldom had
any definite influence upon her. After
the storm had subsidized, Mrs. Benner
usually continued on the ven of her
way, while Mary stood aside and
look on in vain anger.
This was a different matter, how
ever. Mrs. Bener was by no means
convinced of the wisdom of accept
ing the Judge and Mary's objections
found an echo in her heart. When
therefore Mary said more diploma
tically than she had yet spoken: "You
don't want a man fussing around
your clean kitchen, mother. You're
used to doing as you please and ii
would come hard to you to change
your ways to suit anyone else now
she answered meekly, 81 don't know
but you're right, Mary"
With that concession Mary was
forced to be content. But several
times that day she traversed the
short distance from her own house to
bring some new argument to bear
on Mrs. Benner's .wavering resolu-
ton; and by night the victory seem
ed hers.
4 hate to tell the Judge, though
said Mrs. Benner, The has seemed to
count on it so much and he's terri
bly, lonely now with only a house
keeper to do for him."
Mother, / have an ideal" Mrs
Benner visibly quailed.. Mary's ideas
were some times so radical. "Why
dont you go way for a little visit
Aunt Eunice has been begging you
to go and see her for months anG
you'll never have a better oppor-
tunity. You can leave a little notS
for the Judge and III be here wher
he comes tomorrow to give it to him
I'll tell him-oh, you needn't worry
mother! I'll be so nice to him tina,
he'll wish he could marry me"
She rushed her mother along in {
whirl of preparation. After all, per
haps this would be the easiest wa!
out of it, Mrs. Benner thought as she
,, watched Mary pack her suit case.
"Ill stay with you tonight, mother
to be sure you get off alright in tho
morning. I'll just run over and tel
Abner that 1 won't be home and thai
he must be here with the spring
buggy tomorrow at seven o'clock tC
take you to the station"
Early the next day Mrs. Bennel
and her sedate son-in-law arrived a
the station in good time for the morn.
ing train. Mrs. Benner's serene
c~ountenance showed nothing of thu
storm through which she had passed
Nov, you needn't, wait, Abner,
she said. "The train won't be here
for half an hour yet, the station
agent says; there's no need of you
getting home so late"
"All right, mother, if you're quit
sure you'll not mind staying alone
GOOd-hv homo vOT'11 havn-a goo,
visit" and he went away, little think
ing of the fateful results that Nigh
have been averted had he waited TO
the coming Of the train.
Mrs. Benenr sat in a obscure cor
ner of the little waiting -0om an
watched the cassing in and out OF ia