Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1903-1917, 1904-08-09

ageously and went.
He was vaguely glad that the first
hymn had been sung and that there
were no loiterers, as was frequently
the case, on the steps. Reaching the
door and looking in, his heart set up a
lively beating as he 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-
markedfhat he was acting in an excep-
tional manner in this regard. In an
other thing he was different from 9TH
err men. He was, perhaps, the only
! male individual in the village who
wore kid gloves. His silk hat was on
the door at the end of the pew, and
across its 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 it was
all the more noticeable because of the
few families Of quite their own rank
at barley. Lydia, TALL graceful and
fair, was really pretty girl, and, what
was better, she was very well informed.
nearly all the young men-and those of
the best barley blood too were actual
" afraid Of the Virginia girl, and, while
she thought it most peculiar and de-
plored the condition of things, she at
tributed the lowborn George Buckley's
standing in Lydia's estimation to the
fact that he could talk to her about
books an the like an had the natu-
raj cheek Of his class"
The central aisle was carpcted, and
George stepped softly to one of the
seats In the rear and sat down. He
was glad that his arrival was noted
only by a few The young minister
would have been conspicuous In a lar
ger place than barley. He was six
feet four In height very dark and re-
markably slight; his eyes were dark
blue, his features sharp, and he wore
his black hair long and was clean
shaven
When the service was over George
stood and waited for Mrs. Hillyer, who
was coming toward him. In her stir
black silk, with welcoming smile.
''Glad to see you out, young man"
she said as she joined him. That
was a rip-you-up-t back, pay-up-or-
git-out sort of a sermon, wasn't it'll
You m Mr.. Hiilyer "a better pass
around yore bad accounts tomorrow.
an maybe you'll git the benefit of it..
I seed old Peter Cashel duckin' his
head time or two"
George smiled because she did, more
than at what she was saying, for the
Cranstons were passing, The major
and his wife bowed with their usual
cold dignity, but Lydia gave him one
Of her sweetest smiles. do you feel
| httT' she laughed, referring to the
/ preachers talk
mot exactly he replied, coloring in
| spite of himself; .sbut it was strong,
wasn't it2"
.sYou bet he wasn't hit. Miss Lydia"
spoke up Mrs. Hillyer IF every body
| paid Their debts like this young man
to say nothin' OF the debts Of other
folksx Brother Mayhem d be out o.
some'n' to preach about"
| sOh, I know that, Mrs. Hillyer, z
Lydia said, with laugh. and she went
on to her father, who was looking back
and frowning impatiently.
Il
Hillyer walked homeward together.
She was in talkative mood, as usual
st amt any o. my business, George
Buckley she said, but when 1t comes
to KNOWN how to treat women folks
you take the rag or the bush. was
| tickled back thar. You treated that
gal jest right-jest right, to a gnat's
heel
why, what do you mean, Mrs, Hill-
! yer?' asked George, quite at sea as to
her meaning
'sWell, eff you don't know what
mean let it alone. I've loften wondered
an I've about concluded it's beca'se
they cayn't run over you rough shod.
| MY Lord. George Buckley this is the
er, an acknowledge I'd heard so drat-
/ fust time ever seed you two togeth-
ted much about the high standin o.
the Cranstons that almost lowed
you was a plumb fool to be goin' thar,
but-well, I may never know when
hen will take notion to set, but eff
you keep on actin with Lydia Gran
ston like you did back thar in meetin'
you kin simply wrap her around yore
little finger She may hold out d long
time, but she'll throw up the sponge in
the end. All the kings hosses cayn't
pull woman away from a man she
respects an is sorry fer at the same
time, an eff I'm any Judge but reck-
on talk too much
''Oh, Mrs. Hillyer. you are surely
you know" the little woman ran
on. Il was a-settin' jest two benches
behind 'em, an when you come in I
seed 'er switch 'er head little to one
side an see you, an. then she looked.
straight in front of 'er Jest as eff moth
in had happened. But some'n' had
happened to her face, fer I seed it
change. A woman kin fool a man as.
easy as blindin' chicken on the roost
with torch, but she cayn't fool an
other woman. That's why they hate
one another like snakes. Thar she
comes now!''
The Cranston carriage was passing.