The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1904-08-19

49, rlVal more fortunate in the es
timation of the world. George was
IKE sensitive, high spirited dwarf
trying to avoid seeing tall men. The
whole town was going to hear the gov.
ernor's address the next Sunday; the
whole town was talking Of his admira-
tion Tor the belle of the place. For the
remainder of the week George was un.
certain what he should do, but when
the eventful morning arrived he went
TO livery stable, engaged horse and
buggy and drove out to his mothers.
he might have chosen better, for the
sordid surroundings of the farmhouse,
which had never seemed like home to
him in the highest sense, only made
him feel more depressed.
'The Lord knows I'm astonished to
see you," Mrs. Buckley said as she
came to the door wiping her fat hands
on her apron. "Why, all the settle
ment, 1t seems to me, has gone in town
to see the governor, but somehow 1
didn't care to go. I'm too old to ride
ten miles In joltin' wagon to see jest
q man. How do-you come on?'
II feel all right" George replied "I
didn't care to hear the speech"
You say you didn't2" Mrs. Buck
ley's heavy brows ran together. She
stood for moment eying her son with
sympathetic fixity. She had heard the
| rumor of the governors attentions to
| Lydia Cranston. They were now in
the sitting room, and he stood warm.
Ing himself before the fire.
"Oh, George" she suddenly got out.
Il wish you'd let me talk to you an
not git mad"
"Mad?' Why, MOTHER" he exclaimed.
now could get mad at your
The old woman sat down in her low
chair In the chimney corner. "You are
my boy" she said, tremor in her gen.
tie voice, ''an' some things hurt-cut
me to the quick. Oh, George. wish
you would sort O. be content with com.
mon folks like we all are. You are as |
good, every bit an grain, as that Yir- |
glnla gal, but somehow she's situated
oiIerent. Now, fer instance, they say
snes got chance, an a good one, to |
marry the governor"
asipk Rps sFAf Aghhqashneee hqsh neeqFBgs FBst said gold
that, mother?" & I
"Oh, 1t nearly kills me to have folks
think you-you want to get some'n' an
cayn't," replied the old woman plain
lively. can, George, as things go In !
this world, Lydia Cranston will have I
to take that offer She cayn't git !
around 1t. Gals kin have Their choice, |
an'-mind you, don't know a thing
she may, down in her heart, like you
the best on account o. you bein' youn-
ger an better lookin', but folks In her !
walk o life, 1 reckon, have to sorter !
look to the future. Her folks will |
make her, eff she draws back. George,
II hope you don't feel bad about it."
Mother, I'm all right" He sat down :
before the fire. He looked out through /
the small paned window upon a wide !
stretch Of cotton land where he had |
toiled through his boyhood. To the !
left. inside the garden fence, was the !
log smokehouse, the barn and stables; !
to the right, the yard where the chick |
ems and ducks were scratching the !
earth for food. The old woman said !
nothing-there was nothing she could !
say, for his reply had not reassured
her.
"Why do you think anything is wrong
with me" he suddenly asked. HAS
anybody
"You cayn't keep folks mouths shet,"
Mrs. Buckley said. you've got more
friends AN any boy in all this noun
tain country, but even body's best
friends Will git jealous when he begins
to rise i'll the world. Most of 'em
thought you was fyin' too high, George, |
all along-in visitin' the best in Dar-
ley-an' they are tickled to be able to
circulate the report that she's goin' to
marry the governor of the state. You
see, they kin say that an not seem to
be talkin' agin you, but they are
chucklin' all the same"
IL can't help their talking nor their
thinking" Buckley said, with a sigh.
"But 1 believe I'd put a bold face
on 1t an laugh at the idea O. marryin'
anybody right now. Then I'd sorter
slack off from goin' to the Cranstons'.
George, kin stand anything better, 1t
seems to me, than havin' 'em all think
| you are miserable over it, an when the
wedding takes place.
"Then you count on 1t as q certainty,
| do your His face clouded over, and,
In spite of his self control, his voice
| rang harshly.
| She stared at him pityingly. "Thar's
no use talkin' about It," she said soft.
ly. George, you hain't ready to ad-
| NIT 1t, an that's the wust sign of all.
You Jest cayn't see it like other folks,
| an thar's Jest one reason fer that
you cayn't stand to think it possible"
| He voiced no denial. What was the
useY The old woman, crude as she
| was, had known him from the first pull
II A.
like mad torrent within him. In his