Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1914-02-05


dissipate his life away BY staying up
at night. that way
He promised to be here at ten-hf-
teen," she ventured.
Yes; that's what brought me over
He asked me to tell you that he'd be a
little late. / guess he didn't sleep very
well. He says he had a lot OF horrible
dreams. What sort Of a talk did you
have with him last night, anyhow
Didn't he tell your"
NO; he left the house soon after
you did. You must have said some
thing that upset him. He acted dread
fully worried"
Josie bent above her work. She
could not tell even the Judge OF the
intensity of feeling which she had put
into that long conversation with Broad
way.
She had not slept SO very well her
self. She had wondered If he thought
her bold, of1cious, to have given him
advice so freely, to have told him what
she had about what she believed to
be his duty. She knew that, now and
then, she had been almost ~impassioned
in her plea for J~onesviIIe and its
people. She wondered If he thought
her silly, over-earnest But she told
the judge non of these things. They
were hidden in her heart. That heart
had known a lot of turmoil since
Broadway had come back.
II simply told him the true state of
affairs and explained to him what the
plant meant to sthe town." she said
and bent above her papers on the
desk.
What did he say2' asked the persis-
tent judge.
Much as she loved the Judge, she
wished that he would go away and
question her no further. There was a
little feeling in her heart that she must
file that talk with Broadway among
the things which she held sacred. ALI
women have a secret file Of memories
OF that sort. She could not talk about
1t.
HE said nothing very much"
Then a1detail OF his talk which had
intensely puzzled her came back to
her, and she decided to discuss it with
the Judge.
He kept inquiring how much cash
we had" She smiled, not critically.
He doesn't seem to be much of a
business man."
HE struck me that way, too" the
judge said grayely. did he say the
trust made him an ofer?"
She sighed. eyes" All, IL she had
failed to move him! He might al
ready have accepted it, and then what
would be the fate of JonesviIle! This
thought made her very nervous.
The judge nodded wisely. That's
what I thought"
She sighed again. There was q long
silence, full OF troubled thoughts.
did he talk as If he intended to
sell?" the judge asked finally.
She worked at her papers nervously
a moment before she framed the words
of her reply. I'm afraid that's what
he's thinking of. judge" After a 81
lent moment she Strengthened out
more papers, and then looked up again.
I'VE must do all we can to influence
him against it."
The judge nodded, then rose, and
after q worried turn about the great,
bare room, approached her and stood
facing her with eyes intently on her
face. you have influence with him,
JOSIE"
She could not meet his eyes, yet was
not certain why. She hoped that what
he said was true, yet scarcely dared to
think it. do you think so?" she asked
somewhat weakly.
The judge answered In a hearty
voice, full Of real confidence. II know
it. You made a great impression on
him. He likes you, josie"
This was entirely unexpected. It
confused her, even in the Office where