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ONLY NEWSPAPER IN TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY
J. MINER, OWNER AND MANAGER
A HOME r*AJPER FOR HO]S^ ^EOPIwE—AlLJj HOME PRINT
yqlume*xv
BREVARD. NaRTH CAROLINA, DECEMBER 23.1910-
NUMBER»5l
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A Christmas Morning Courtship
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“What would you like, pretty maid?” he saia.
“Wtxy, I’d like to coast on your Christmas sled.
I
M
STACY E.B,
ICopyrigrht, 1910, by American Press Asso
ciation.]
IT was Christmas eve. Holme, a
stranger in his own land, strolled
lonesomely through the streets of
his own city nor knew one of the
shoving, impatient shoppers who el
bowed him from the points of vantage
in front of the gift laden windows.
It was seven years since he had
been home His mind mused over his
many adventures in foreign lauds as
he almost affectionately gave shove
for sliove and forced his way up
crov/ded Broadway. These people
were his people—kin of him, fellow
citizens. The spirit of the night per
meated his whole being.
He thought about Jessly and won
dered what had become of him. Prob
ably he had mar
ried pretty Beth
Allen, and as this
thouj^ht occurred
to Holme a curi
ous little tremor
thrilled up from
his heart, saying
as plainly as a
heart -can say,
“We remember
Beth, you and 1,
my master, and
that is the rea
son why we are
come back — to
find out.”
Once Holme
had asked Beth
Allen to marry
him, and—
“Dick!”
Pale as a stat
ue, the man turn
ed. There at the
curb, both hands “DICK I
held out to him, was Beth.
“You!” he gasped as h© strode to
ward her.
“Even so,” laughed the girl. “Me!
And this is the best Christmas present
of all!” Two hands closed convulsive
ly tight over his, and her low voice
whispered: “Don’t be surprised at any
thing. I will explain later. And so,’
she said aloud, “you thought you
Would surprise me, you naughty boy,
and come tonight. I didn’t expect yon
nntil tomorrow.”
She turned quickly, and Holme now
noticed _ that she_ stood just_ beade.^^
tubbjT little middle aged one merely
nodded In response to the other’s po
lite acknouledgmei?t
And meanwhile Beth Allen, tall, slim
and handsome as ever, was babbling
of things beyond the ken of the youth—
“his handsome present,” “his letter”
and other allusions too subtle for the
comprehension of Holme.
He eyed the girl keenly. She seemed
sane, and there, were in those clear.
automobile in which ^as seated a
stranger.
“Mr. Crenton.” wife said, “this is Mr.
Richard Holme, my fiance.”
Stone faced, without as much as a
flicker of an eyelash. Holme acknowl
edged the introduction.
Crenton was eying him grimly. Evi
dently this broad shouldered youth
with the bronze of warm climes oz; his
beardless cheeks did not appeal to him.
well deep eyes only a boundless delight “guriy brute,” thought Holme as the
and enthusiasm over the wanderer’s re
turn.
PMance! Beth Allen had refused to
marry him seven years before, and this
had resulted in the man’s voluntary
exile. Now she referred to him as her
fiance!
Truly explanations were needed.
His old love of the girl had pulsed
Instantly into life again as her warm
hands met his. His travels had been
useless.
“You must get in,” Beth was chatter
ing on. “I am done with my shopping,
and we will return to the house. Boy-
ton, home.” This last to the chauffeur.
Not a word of explanation came from
Beth as the machine silently sped over
the frost jeweled streets, but she talked
continually of ev
erything — every
thing but what
Holme wanted
most to know. In
due time they
drove up in front
of her home, and
the three dis
mounted and en
tered.
“Ha, Holme!”
There was gen
uine pleasure in
the voice of old
Major Allen as he
strode forward to
clasp the hand of
the errant in
his warm grasp.
“Quite a surprise!
We didn’t expect
you until tomor
row. Gad, sir, it
seems good to see
you!”
The eyes of the
youth were on the maid, and he knew
In his heart that he wanted her more
than he had ever wanted her before.
But now she was silent. As her fa
ther continued talking one littie hand
patted a dusky strand back into the
ebon mass of her hair,
tiful. She
than ever.
“And to think,” the major was say
ing his fine old face alight, “that you
and my little girl here have been en
gaged all these years and we knew
nothing about it. Well, I am glad,
Bolme; extremely glad. There is no
“HA, holme!”
one in the world whom I would rather
Bhe would have.”
The gray veteran had a most sin
cere admiration for Holme that had
manifested itself directly after the
youth had “done things” at the battle
of San Juan Hill.
Through all the conversation follow
ing Crenton was almost boorishly
quiet. He responded to questions In
throaty monosyllables. His brow wore
a heavy frown. All in all. Holme
thought Crenton a clog to the joyous
ness of the evening. He wished that
he would go, and finally this is just
what Crenton did. After making his
adieus to the girl and her father the
sullen one turned to Holme. “I sup
pose I will see you again?” he drawled,
a sneer in his voice.
“I doubt it.” returned Holme, ex
tending his hand, “at least not right
away. I have been gone for some
time, and—er—I shall devote the most
of my time to my fiancee, and after
our marriage we have planned an ex
tended trip.”
He looked across at the girl to see
how she accepted this Munchausen
flight. She smiled.
After the departure of the discomfit
ed Crenton the old major left the room.
Holme turned curiously to the girl.
She was gazing at him, shame in her
eyes and the bright red spots coming
and going high on her cheeks.
“I—I can explain,” she began eager
ly. “Honestly, Dick, I can explain.”
“Take it easy, Beth,” soothed the
young man, half afraid the girl would
become hysterical. “There are really
no explanations needed unless you
want to tell. I am only too glad to
let the matter continue just as it is.”
The girl gazed at him with eloquent
eyes.
“Do you really mean that—after
this? After this brazen thing I have
done can you marry me?”
“Can I?” exclaimed Holme. “Try
me and see!”
“Listen!” began the girl. “I am go-
Years ago, Dick.
ate toward him since my mother died
—poor old man—but he looked upon
my continued—er—coldness toward
matrimony with distress, and to allevi
ate this 1 told him that I was engaged
to you; that we were to be married
I upon your return from India.
“I didn’t think that he would men
tion it to a soul. I thought I had cau
tioned him that it was a secret engage
ment, but it seems I did not, aid I
verily believe that he has told it a
dozen times to every one who has
called here during your absence.
“It was terribly embarrassing to me,
but I knew you, and I hoped in the
event of your returning single—this
was the biggest bogy—you would ac
knowledge the engagement and then
later I would release you.”
“I shall not accept a release,” mur
mured Holme.
The girl continued: “Crenton has
been a most persistent suitor. He has
money—millions—but no manners.”
She shuddered. “Oh, I never could
marry that man,
but — but I be
lieve he guessed
my secret. He
used to smile
whenever your
name was men
tioned and leer—
positively leer—at
me. I hated him,
but I was afraid.
“You can im
agine with what
mingled feelings
I saw you as
we came from
that store. I
waited for you at
the curb. I—I
couldn’t do other-
w i s e. Besides,
I wished to show
that persistent
Crenton that at
least I knew you.
“Then I became
bolder, and I in
troduced you as my fiance.” The
face was crimson. “And now,” sh
ished sadly, “we must cancel the en
gagement. I—I can’t literally throw
myself at your head, you know, and
then accept your whole souled offer to
let the farce continue.”
“But it isn’t a farce,” protested the
man. “I love you, and I want you to
marry me if you will. Why, dearest,
that is why I came home.”
He strode over to the girl and lifted
her chin until her eyes were level with
his.
“Thank God!” he said and kissed her.
was more to be desired tag to tell you all.
when I refused you, I fully expected
to marry you later. I thought you would
ask me again, and you—didn’t.
“Since you went away father some
how came to the belief that I had re
fused you in order to sacrifice myself
to him.. 1. have been doubly_ afPectioB-
County Govemmoit». ..
Representative—G. *W. Wilson.
Clerk Superior Court—^T. T. Loftis,
Sheriff and Tax Collector—C. C. Kilpat
rick.
Ti^S^urer—Z, W. Nicholls.
Deeds—B. A. Gillespie.
.€?droner—^r. W. J. Wallis.
Surveyorj^A. L. Hardin.
Commissioners—W. M. Henry, Ch’n; G*
\ Lyday; yf, E. Galloway.
Su|)i(ir^|^ndent of Schools—T. C. Hen-
Physician—Dr. Goode Cheatham.
Attorney—R. L. Gash.
Town Covemment«.
Mayor—W. E. Breese, jr.
Board of Aldermen—T. H. Shipman. J
M. Kilpatrick, T. M. Mitchell, F. L. De-
Vane, E. W. Carter.
Marshal—J. A. Galloway.
Clerk and Tax Collector—T. H. Gallo
way.
Treasurer—T. H. Shipman.
Health Officer—Dr. C. W. Hunt.
Regular meetings—First Monday night
in each month.
•thank god I
One Week to
Christmas
I*-
Profesdonol Cards.
R. li. GASH.
LAWYER.
11 and 12 McMinn Building
Notary Public.
H. G. BAILEY
Civ3 and Consulting Engineer
and Surveyor
EN6IHEER - ^DERSOfflHtLt
NOTICE OF EXECUTRIX.
Having qualified as executrix of
the last will and testament of Wash
ington E. Galloway, late of the coun
ty of Transylvania, this is tv) notify
all persons having claims asrainst the
estate of the said testator, to present
their claims to the undersigned on or
before the 9th day of July, 1911, or
this notice will be plead In bar of
their recovery. All persons indebted
to said estate will make immediate
settlement. This July 9th, 1910.
SARAH LUCINDA GALLOWAY,
W3lch Galloway, atty. *Executrix.
ADMINISTRATOR’S. NOTICE.
Having qualified as administrator of the
estate of J. C. McGaha, deceased, late of
Transylvania county, North Carolina, this
is to notify all persons having claims
against the estate of said deceased to ex
hibit them to the undersigned at office of
R. L. Gash, Esq., Brevard, N. C., on or be
fore the 27th day of May, 1911, or this
notice will be pleaded in bar of their re
covery. All persons indebted to said estate
will please make immediate payment.
This 20th day of May, 1910.
V. B. McGAHA,
Adm’r estate of J. C. McGaha, deceased
And WISE ONES Surely
Won’t Delay
Christmas Shopping Another
Day
Christmas-New Year Holiday
Rates.
The Southern Railway announce
the sale of Christmas Holiday round
trip tickets at reduced rates, to be
sold on the following days: Dec.
15th, 16th, 17th. 21st, 22nd, 23d,
24th, 25th and 31st and Jan. 1st,
1911. Tickets good returning to
reach orig.nal starting point not
lat«r than midnight of January 8,
1911. For further information call
on the undersigned.
J. H. Wood, D. P. A.,
Asheville, N. C.
E. W. Carter, T. A., Breyard, N. C.
Entry No. 2568.
W. J. Owen enters and claims six hun
dred and forty (640) acres of land, lying in
Hogback Township, on the waters of In
dian creek. Beginning on a white oak, E.
D. dweh’s corner, and runs thence north
66 deg. east sixty (60) poles to a hickory
stump on top of the Blue Ridge; thence
south 24 degrees east with S. A. Owen's
line to a stone, S. A Owen's comer, on top
of the Blue Ridge; thence south with th^
top of the Blue Ridge to a black oak, John
Kizer’s comer; thence west, running so as
to include all the vacant land on Indian
ercek. B. A GILLESPIE,
* Entry Taker,
The Rev. Irl R. Hicks 1911
Almanac
*1
The Rey. Irl R. Hicks Almanac
for 1911, that guardian Angel in a
hundred thousand homes, is now
ready. Not many are now willing
to be without it and the Rey. Irl R.
Hicks Magazine, Word and Works.
The two are only One Dollar a
year. The Almanac is 35c prepaid.
No home or ofiace should fail to
send for them to Word and Works
Publishing Company, St. Lonis,
Mo.