Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-07-20

~ ing the week following his fla
Tiers conviction was blessing to
George Buckley. Indeed, the first Sun
day afterward was sort of critical
period, for every citizen of the place
who had any claim TO responsibility
put on his best clothes and attended
one of the six white churches; and our
hero knew that IL he was to continue
to hold the position he had made for
himself In the social life of the village,
he must not appear to falter or to stink
+ into retirement on account OF what had
happened.
1t was bright. balmy day. and
when he went down to the postofiice
after breakfast at the Hillyers' be
found the usual group OF idlers whiting
for the mail. There was a barber shop
next door and it was thronged with
churchgoers being shaved and having
their boots polished. George bowed to
several of his friends and acquaint-
ances, but there was something within
him that made Linn shrink from q
closer contact with any of them. par
ticulariy as he fancied he noted on
their faces expressions of a sympathy
that was calling to his sensitive spirit,
SO when he had taken his mail from
the little, glass faced lock box, instead
OF pausing to speak to them he busted
himself with looking over the letters
and turned down toward the ware
house. One communication was from
q confidential broker, informing Hill
yer that wheat had risen to $1.0S a
bushel and advising him to hold on.
as the market showed decided up
ward tendency. Meeting the negro
porter Jake on corner, Buckley gave
him the letters and told him to take
them up to Hil.yer, and then, for lack
OF anything else to do, be entered the
warehouse, shut the door after him
and went back to his room. Here he
sat down at the window In the sun
shine, and almost before he was aware
of 1t he had allowed feeling Of utter
dependency to descend upon him.
What is the use?" he asked himself.
How am to fight 1t through" For
half an hour he sat thus in the very
dregs of despair, and then suddenly
picture rose before his mental vision
a picture OF old man Hillyer as he sat
there on the bed in the vagDe lamp
light, recount!ng the one mistake of his
life and the grim fight he was still
making to overcome the consequences,
and a flush of shame stole over the
young man. I've promised him." he
said aloud-'I've promised him to be
q man, and shall shall!
Just then the church bells began to
ring. They were all harsh in tone. being
cheap cast iron, except one which had
been struggled into the village during
the war from Il lnrger town after the
church to which it belonged was de-
stroyed by fire. Its tone was sweet
and mellow and rose out of the general
clangor like promise OF peace to suf-
fering souls. 1t was ringing in the lit
tie belfry Of the church Lydia Cranston
attended. She yas an Episcopalian,
but as there was no church of that de-
nomination at barley, and her father
was partial to the rather progressive
young minister of the Methodist church,
she and her mother went there regular
ly. And 1t must be confessed that
George Buckley had on many Sun
day since forming her acquaintance at
tended that particular place of wor-
ship, and chiefly for the opportunity
of seeing her. He, knew that 1t would
be difficult thing for him to face
the little congregation, divining the
thoughts that would rise In the minds
of all, and yet he met the matter cour-
ageously and went.
He was vaguely glad that the first /
hymn had been sung and that there
were no ioiterers, as was frequently !
the case on the steps. Reaching the T
door and looking in, his heart set up a
lively beating as be saw Lydia Gran
ston with her parents in their pew.
The major was the only man In OAR
ley who sat on the ladies' side Of the
house. He seemed never to have re-
marked that he wis acting in an excep-
tional manner in this regard. In an
other thing he was different from 9TH
er men, He was, perhaps, the only
male individual in the village who
wore kid gloves. His silk hat was on
the floor at the end Of the pew, and
across It's top lay his gold headed cane,
upon which was engraved respectful
tribute from his regiment Indeed, the
Cranston family had decided air of
the old regime about them, and 1t was
oil the more noticeable because of the
few families of quite their own rank
at barley. Lydia, tall, graceful and
fair, was really a pretty girl, and, what
was better, che was very well informed.
Mrs. Dugan had often remarked that
nearly all the young men-and those of
the best barley blood toc--were actual
" afraid of the Virginia girl, and, while
she thought it most peculiar and de-
olored the condition of things, she at
Iributed the lowtorn George Buckley's
standing in Lydia's estimation to the
fact that he "coild talk to her about
books an the like an Iad the natu-
-al cheek OF his class"
The central aisle was carpeted, and
George stepped softly to one OF the
seats in the real. and sat down. He
was glad that bis arrival was noted
,nly by few. The young minister
would have teen conspicuous in lar
ger place than barley. He was SIX
feet four In height, very dark and re-