Mower County transcript., 1904-08-31
Co pYrish,. 1908. by> HARPER q BROTHERS

,FT- \
George smiled beca use she did, more
than at what she was saying, for the
Cranstons were passing. The major
and his wife bowed with q, their usual
cold dignity, but Lydia Sgave him one
Of her sweetest smiles. "Do you feel
hit?" she laughed referring to the
preachers talk. 25:S g
"Not exactly" he replied, coloringftns
spite Of himself ;H#t.but it was strong,
wasn't it?'' Fs*:#S@sSS
"You bet he wasn't hit, Miss LYDIA
spoke up Mrs. Hillyer. EFF everybody
paid Their debts like this young man
to say nothin' Of the debts Of other
folks-Brother Mayhem idqssSbe out O
somen' to preach about ''hs}sf
"Oh, 1 know that. Mrs. Hillye
Lydia said, with "a laugh, and she went
on to her father, who wasslookingI back l'S
and frowning i1npatiently, sss f5Ss 5Sa
Outside the church, George and Mrs
Hlllyer walked s;homeward together.
She was in taIkative mood, as usual.
1T amt any oK.ny business. George
Buckley" she said, but when it comes
to KNOWN how to treat women folks
you take the rag:o the bush. was
tickled back thar You treated that
gal jest right-jest right, TO- g gpat',sI
heel" &&|% &C. sasS I I -
"Why, what do5you mean, Mrs. Hill
yer? asked George, quite at sea as to
her meaning. ~ +
"Well, eff you. don't know what I
mean let it Alone I've often wondered
what makes the women take to y0p r. g, sao, !,
an I've about concluded it,s cease q rs g
they cayn't run over you rough shod:'
Nv Lord. George Buckley, this is the
er, an acknowledge I'd heard so drat-
fust time 1 ever seed you two togeth-
ted much about the high standin' O.
the Cranstons that l. almost Yowed
you was plumb fool to be go1n' thar,
but-well, 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 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 Pm any Judge reck-
on tai TX too much"
"Oh, Mrs. Hillyer, you are surely
"You know" the little woman ran
on. II was a-settin' jest two benches
f.katl Ind or1 r
seeAser switch 'er head a little to one
sideaan' 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 a 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.
1t was an old fashioned victoria, driv-
en- by a sleek looking negro on the
front seat. The occupants did not turn
their heads.
II wonder how they got on to that?'
asked Mrs. Hillyer. with snigger.
ION to whatY' Buckley asked.
"Why, on to that way O. settin' like
they had boards under Their clothes
again Their backs. I'd rather do
days washin' an to go a mile that
away. I always want to loll back
when I'm ridin'-why, that's what rid
ms fer, I always flowed - but them
three an the nigger look like so many
bean poles"
George laughed heartily. She had the
knack of making people cheerful, and
since his recent trouble she had done
much to relieve his gloom; and, be-
sides, had she not encouraged him to
hope that But his heart sank under
these reflections. Lydia Cranston, for
many reasons was out of the question.
and he was mad to allow his hopes to
be stirred - "s.~ :.
"Of course" Mrs. Hillyer went on,
as if reading his mind, thar amt no
use blindin' ourselves to the truth
Them Cranstons hain't yore sort nur
mine, an body ought to use ordi-
nary sense in sech matters, but all the
ancestry an family trees an blue
blood royal on earth cayn't keep a
woman's heart from foppin' Jest the
way it wants to flop. sorter like Lyd-
Ia Cranston. She. could brag, on 'er an
tecedents, but she DON'T She knows
she's some pumpkins an amt a-worry-
In. Bein' afeard you hain't as good
as other folks is the biggest drawback
on earth. Thar's one o. yore best cards.
George. You always hold yore. head
up. Sometimes l think it'll have a.
crown o. some sort on it before you
die. You've got nerve, an plenty Of
it. though / did think you was a-goin'
to flicker under yore burden last week.
but yore eye an skin Is clear as ever
today. You've ret me"a goodqexample.:
Some time you may know all I'VE suf-
fered while: keepin' I up my . eternal
laugh an chatter -----,5
'Thars Mrs. Dugan bending over
I.xs = f.>Aa l. ~ -