Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1914-01-22

and opposed every young idea, particu-
larly to every young idea which
CHANGED to have originated in his
nephew's brain;
well, Jackson" said his uncle sour
ly.
We'll, Uncle Abner."
Ready to settle down in ~Jonesville,
are you2.
Nov. uncle" said the youth protest
ingly.
"Your father settled down here, I
settled down here, and you'll have to
settle down here" said the grim, un-
lovable old man. "You have obliga-
tions here. The Jones Gum factory
has built this town, and is responsible
for it. You will have charge of the
factory before long"
jackson writhed. He didn't wish to
have charge of the factory.
'It's not good business, uncle" he
had once told the man who now sat
staring at him modify. They'll think
it was the gum that made him bald.
Poor grandfather was too bareheaded
to be a good advertisement for any
thing, except-an Indian"
why an Indian?" his uncle inquired
without suspicion.
CAS- an Alternating adj of the best
'scalper in the tribe"
This ~irreverence had abruptly end
ed that days interview.
But this evening Abner Jones was
busy with more serious thoughts.
when are you going to work2' he
crabbedly demanded.
81 don't see"
Jackson, every Jones for two gen.
erations has learned the gum business
before he was as old as you; but you,
foolishly INDUCED by your father-I
have cen such madness as the
way he brought you up-have come to
manhood knowing nothing of it. Don't
you ever wish to settle DOWN."
Not yet" said jackson, boldly. I'm
too young"
You're twenty-one."
"Tm twenty-one; but I've livkd most
of the time in Jonesville. Th&1 makes
me just fifteen so far as actual age
goes-and yet the time seems longer
than it is" said the %irreverent Jack
son.
I'm almost discouraged. I'm free to
tell you, Jackson, that, if your fathers
will had left me any opportunity for
doing so, I should see to it that, when
II pass to my reward, you would have
no share Of the great business which
you hold in such contempt"
Pass on to your-er-yes, SIR" Jack
son murmured.
81 have had tales brought to me of
some things you have said about Jones
yille," said the old man bitterly. you
have compared it most unfavorably
with that modern Babylon, New York .
"Well-er-uncle, you know New
York is-wellJ more metropolitan"
"Jonesville is metropolitan enough.
~Jonesville is a pleasant little town,
built blythe industry and brains of the
members Of your family, sir-in both
of which you seem to be most singular
ly lacking; and, while it has fewer
people than New York, it has more vir-
tues. You will be the only Jones re
naming after I have gone. I am far
from well. l."
Instantly the young man was con-
trite. He had no wish to hurt his
uncle's feelings.
I'm sorry. sir, if you are feeling ill.,
he said, respectfully, "but, you see,
you've always lived in Jonesville-a
great drain on a mans vitality. 1
didn't mean to say a word to bother
you"
But the old man was not to be paci-
fed; his face continued stern. ct is
less your words than what seems to be
your disposition which annoys me-" he
burst forth. SIS there nothing serious
in your"
IT guess I'm pretty young to settle
down. Perhaps that's what's the mat
ter"
II had settled down and had CON-
plete charge of the bookkeeping depart
ment of this great enterprise before
I was eighteen. You might begin to
take life seriously"
you can't take it any other way in
kJonesviIle."
I feel that / should tell you vari-
Gus details of the business, for my
days here may be numbered"
The youth looked deprecatingly
around the dull old library, feeling, in
the earnestness of his revolt, that if
his own days in ~Jonesville were but
numbered it would give him great re-
lief. Even death, he thought
I'm sorry you're not well, sire
I'VE are but shadows cast upon the
stream of life. Mere shadows, Jack
son."
Jackson gazed at him with careful
eyes; that his mouth was also careful
was entirely proven by the fact that
it said nothing. A careless mouth
might have remarked that his old
uncle was a pretty solid shadow. for
he weighed close upon two hundred
pounds.
Your father" said this very robust
invalid, had some tendencies which I