The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-01-01

! own nuSDaHQ. lncy WOulQ turn Nlm out
Of the Church if it wuz found out, and
that would jest be the ruin of poor JIM"
"Don't you be afraid, Marthy. Jim is
too good fellow fur the Lord ter let 20
Of"
"This is how it wuz. The day before
Christmas Jim went ter town to get some
things. There wuz shoes fur Phil, an
cap fur the baby, an calico frock fur
me, an a new hat fur himself, an a
roast of meat, an pint of cranberries,
an pound of fine cut tobackker, an
box of snuff, an some candy fur the chill.
dren's stockin's. Looks like good deal
fur poor folks to be a buyin', but Jim had
been SO good about not drinkin' that we
had more Christmas money than we have
ever had sence I've been married. Jim
wuz in fine spirits, an I hadn't shadder
of mistrust Of him. went about nv
work siugin'-you know how woman
feels when great load has been lifted
from her sboulders"--an' Leila nodded
very sympathetic.
ut wuz the day old Mother Burridge
got her dreadful fall, and they sent fur
me ter come over. wuz lookin' out fur
jim, an about moon be passed by with
old man Bobberts."
"Wi,h Mr.. Bobberts?" 2" cried Leila,
starting up.
"Yes; an I run out ter the gate ter
meet them. Jim wuz ez sober man ez
ever drew breath. told him where he
would find his dinner, an that wouldn't
he home until late; that mebbe I would
have to stay all night, an that, consider
ing the uncertainty,i he needn't come
after me, ez one of the boys would see me
home. Howsomever, got home about
suniown, an what dye think wuz the
sight that met my eyes, Leila Raney?
There wuz the room in a mess, the fire
burned out, the smell of whiskey every.
where, broken jug on the floor, two
glasses on the table, an my husband
stretched out on the sofa a.sleepin' the
sleep of drunkenness I flung the jug
out,'of-doors, but not before I saw that it
had John Raney's name on it. I wuz
that overcome that I Just sat down an
cried myself SICK. knew that he must
have got the liquor on credit, fur there,
in little pile, wuz everything had sent
fur, even to the candy; an buyin' them
must a took the last nickel. Icalled my
little boy, an asked him if he could tell
me who had been with his pa; an he
said that before be went to school, Phil
Oglesby had been hangin' round, mighty
anxious to see jim; so l s'pose he an
Jim got drunk together, for, you know,
Phil is the most drinkin' man on the
perarer. I taxed Jim with it when be
came ter himself, but not word could l
get out Iof him; an sorry Christmas
broke fur us, all because somebody let my
poor weak husband have jug of whis.
key"
of it, for the world !" cries Leila. "This
must be cleared up"
She wuz so excited she could hardly
speak Her cheeks wuz On fire, an
curious triumphant sort Of look was a.
glitterin' in her eyes.
"May | see your husband, Marthy?
Don't be afraid. I'll not let out word
of what you've told me- But must have
talk with Jim. Where is he 2"
"He is fxin' the fence behind the barn,
an of course you can see him if you're
mind ter. But Dear sakes! Do look
at herr'
For Leila had tore out of the house
without waitin ter hear the end of what
Marthy wuz a.sayin'.
She found Mr.. Hatfield nailin' IN old
plank acrost broken place in the fence.
"Good mornin', Jim," says she, COL
lectin' herself, and smilin' very friendly.
Leila had pretty coaxin' way when
she liked and Jim wuz in good humor
before she said another word. Not that
he wuE hard man to deal with. He
wuz good-lookin' young fellow, with
weak mouth, an bright open face that
made him only too poppeler with the
wild chaps in town.
"Mr. Hatfield" says Leila, "you know
my husband is in trouble, an I'm tryin'
my best ter help him out of it. AM I
think anybody that's his friend or mine
ought ter be willin' ter help me-"
"Ter be sure," says Jim; "ter be
sure"
"You see, it's this way" says Leila,
speakin' very rapid. "Old Mr.. Bobberts
bought half gallon of whiskey the day
before Christmas, an few hours later
came inter town with what you men
would call cock and bull story, of havin'
been SET on by tramps an robbed of it.
So, pleadin' his poverty, he persuaded my
husband to let him have quart, an
seein' ez the two purchases wuz only
few hours apart, John didn't consider
that he broke the law in putin them
down ez one. But, 10 an behold! Mr..
Bobberts' conscience wuz so very tender
that he informed on John, an unless we
can see some way out of it, he will have
to pay big 6ne."
at WIZ q mean trick" said Mr.. Hat.
field, with slow shake of the head "a
powerful mean trick"
$50 it wuz," says Leila; can I'll tell
you my opinion. Mr.. Hatfield. 1t is that
Mr.. Bobterts never saw so much ez the
back of tramp. 1 believe that half:
gallon whiskey wentin quite another way,
an I've reason to think that you can tell
me how it went"
"Stop!' cries Mr.. Hatfield, very ner.
vous; II can't give you no information,
an if I could, l don't see how it would
bear on the CASE"
"Just this way. Mr.. Bobberts pretends
it wuz his conscience made him inform on
John. Now if could prove that he told
a lie-not to mince words with you-and
threaten to expose him to the community,
l might force him to withdraw his charge
against John, and that would end the
matter"
"Who said soe" cries Hatfield, very
much startled. "Who said 500"
"Judge Wimbledon said so, and oh,
Jim, if you could help me in any way to
turn the tables on that wicked old man,
do beg and pray and beseech you not to
hold your tongue"
Tears were streamin' down Lsila's face,
an she had caught Jim Hat6eld's arm
between her little brown hands,
II can't stand this, Leila" said be.
"I'll tell YOU what know, though it's
| -