The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-10-19

and that he'd rather die than narm you
| in any way. He would have come to
see you, he said, but he thought you
might not want to be reminded CT the
mast. He actually cried when told
him of your sufferings. He said 1t was
your influence that had made him try
to lead q better life. he said his
protection Of you in that case was
the one thing in all his life that he
was proud of. He declared he would
do it over again. Hes got into some
new religion. i don't know what it
IS, but it is not exactly orthodox. He
says it would have been wrong to pun
ish a man for thing he regretted
as much as you did that act, and that
he was glad he yielded to the impulse
to help you
"Oh, George, you don't mean''-
A great sob rose in Hillyer's breast
and burst; his red eyes were full OF
tears.
"He says he is proud Of what he did
to save you from further trouble"
George went on tenderly. "He says II
YOU had gone to prison for life it would
have wrecked your career. but that his
testimony spared you to go on better
ing the world. He's heard lot about
YOU. He says he runs across somebody
every day that you've helped IN one
way and another, and when / came
right out and told him-yes, told him
how near I was to the brink not long
ago and how you saved me-Then ne
heard that he actually sobbed and said,
Bully old man; bully, bully old man! !"
The merchant caught the name Of
the horse in his quiyering fingers and
leaned Sorward till his face touched
the neck Of the animal.
Goods good. George: Gods good"
be sobbed.
Buckley put his arm on the old mans
shoulder caressingly.
"Now get on the horse and ride
home" he said. "I want to stretch
my legs. They are stiff"
"Now Hillyer looked up, his face
radiant "You ride. l want . 80 back
In the woods an pray an shout I
don't want to go home now. I want
to thank my Maker. I may not come
to dinner. I'll fast Nay God bless
you, my boy
George mounted the horse, and as he
rode away he saw the old man plunge
into the woods at the roadside. his
hands clasped before him. his lips IN
motion.
Buckley did not. see his employer
again until about 2 o'clcck In. the aft
ernoon. Then he came in slowly and
sank into his chair at his desk and
took up the letters George had left
there for him. There was general
droop of dependency on him, and he
handled the letters with listless mat
tention.
'Nheat's still ;-climbin'," he said, a
little note of qualification in his voice
as he allowed thin market report to
futter from his hand to wastebas-
ket. I'm glad O that. George, fer it
backs yore judgment I wonder what
kcnncr thinks now
Both he and Hanks are urging me
to get you, to SELL" replied the young
man.
We'll, you kin bet won't till you
tell me to on yore judgment"
Well. l can't do that yet, Mr.. Hill
yer"
Then George saw the old man push
back the letters on his desk, half Of
which he had not opened, and low,
stifled groan escaped his lips. Buckley
got down from his high stool and went
and leaned over him.
Has anything happened since I left
you, Mr.. Hillyer-anythins to-upset
you?'
The merchant gave him steady
look. "No, cayn't say anything has
happened-anything. at least, like you
mean-but my thoughts have happen
ed, George Fer about hour after
you left me out in the woods I was
jest too happy fer anything. but after
awhile I got to thinkin'. I got to Won
derin' what was so happy about, any
way, an the thought come to me Ike
q lick from a club in the dark that it
was jest beca'se I lowed was goin'
to escape the consequences o my deed
without undoin' it. George, cayn't
never-neyer-never give back that
boys life. an he had as much right to
1t as I have to the content I'm prayin'
fer right now. Huh! What difference
does it make toto the dead how much
good Hank Williams an other folks
believe I'm a-doin': How do I know
Lynn Hambright hadn't ruther be
alive than fer NE to be doin' any
thing"
Buckley found himself unable to
make any reply adequate to the situa-
ton. Different thoughts suggested
themselves. but lie discarded them one
by one Something made him think
that the old man would like to be
alone, and he took his hat and went
out. AS he did so Kenner came into
the Office with some samples Of cotton
in his hands and threw them into a
huge pile that lay like snowdrift in
one corner of the room.
'I've Jest dropped on to some'n' I
don't exactly like" he said, standing
behind the merchant.