Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1914-01-29

urged ~You dont expect me to be
lieve that You"
She was thoroughly indignant. How
dare you. sir! Do you know what
you're saying?"
II know what I'd like to say" he
confessed, looking steadfaatly At her.
"Abput What2"
About your engagement to young
Mr.. Jones. Why, you're not taking the
chap seriously, + your"
Her anger grew. What do you
mean?"
.Just what I say" he answered firm
~ That it's all wrong. It's mpos-
sible: The idea of a woman OF your
age imagining for a moment that this
boy is fool enough to think Of such a.
thingi Do you stop to think what peo-
pie will say? Don't you realize that It
can't be? That it's simply preposter-
Gus? Why
"Are you trying to insult me, sir?
"No,s he answered earnestly, "Tm
trying to save you from being humili-
ated and laughed at. Deny the story
at once. Say IL was all q joke. Say
anything, but for heavens sake don't
let it go any further!'
She gazed at him in s~peechless
wrath while he nervousiy paced the
room.
Surely" he said whirling, "you
don't think he seriously considers mar
rying your"
"And why not?p Her icy tone was
full OF outraged dignity.
because it would be a ridiculous
match. Give it serious thought. You're
a sensible woman, figure it out for
yourself. Why, you're more than twice
his age!"
"Sir!"
why, he's only twenty-hve-not
that, yet"
She gazed at him in speechless rage
for twenty seconds, then said, explo-
sively: "You-brute!"
I'm your friend" he urged. 'T'm
trying to help you. I'm trying to save
you from being made the laughing
stock of the town."
do you mean to insinuate that
Jackson doesn't love me?"
Jackson doesn't love anyone except
q good time. Why, he doesn't take
anything seriously, especially women.
To my knowledge he's been engaged
to thirty since he's been here in New
York"
"T-dont-believe you'll"
He shrugged his shoulders. VERY
well; go ahead; it's no affair of mine"
She agreed with this. You'll do
well to remember that. Attend to
your own business, Mr.. Wallace"
Excuse me-" he said apologetically,
Tn sorry I spoke"
AS he thus apologized, disguised,
worried, even frightened by the mud
die in which his friend had SO involved
himself, entirely ignorant Of the sorry
cause which had led Broadway to the
fatal step, that young man entered
from the hall, having effaced as many
traces as he could OF the wild night,
and rightly clothed himself for morn
ing callers. As he advanced he
hummed a stanza from some cabaret
favorite which ran, monotonousIy: 81
love you; oh, l love you'll"
At sight of Mrs. Gerard he bright
ened and sprang toward her eagerly.
He was not the one to go back on a
bargain, or to make a wry face over
necessary medicine.
Beatrice; My Beatrice!" he cried.
Wallace eyed them with disgust as
they few into each others arms.
Having released his Beatrice, my
Beatrice" Returned to Wallace with a
calm which Wallace could not but ad-
mire. The y~oungster certainly was
game! Good morning, Bob"
Wallace scorned him.
Broadway did not even vince, but
turned back to his Beatrice. "And how
is my little banquet queen this morn
mgr"
81 came here happy as a lark" she
said co~mplainingly, "but now I'm ter
ribly upset"
why what has happened to my lit
tie round of pl~easure?" He smiled
s%erenely, worshipfully into her scarce
ly hidden wrinkles.
"This man has been saying terrible
things to me-"
Jackson whfrled r~eproachfully upon
his friend. "Why, Bob! What have
you been saying to my little Beatrice %
"Oh, don't!" implored the utterly
Disguised Wallace.
"Tell me" Jackson begged in com
forting tones of the excited widow;
what has he been saying to your"
Calling it q ridiculous match, say
ing that l shouldn't take you serious
~, intimating that you didn't really
love me, and"
She wa very close to tears, but
fought them back for the sake of a
complexion which she feared might
not be waterproof.
Broadway went with an accusing
mien to Wallace. 'FYou said these
things!"
Yes" said that young person, un-
ashamed, those and a great many
more"
"Bob WalIacai Pm surnrisedi