The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-10-12

You bet he wasn't hit, Nj: Lydia"
spoke up Mrs. Hillyer. 'Ef everybody
paid Their debts like this young man
to say nothin' Of the debts Of other
folks-Brother Mayhem d be out o
some'n' to preach about
"Oh, I know that, Mrs allyer,"
Lydia said, with laugh, and she went
on to her father, who was looking back
and frowping impatiently.
Outside the church, George and Mrs.
Hiuyer walked homeward together.
She was in talkatve mood, as usual.
"It amt any o my business, George
Buckley" she said, "but when it comes
to knowin' how to treat women folks
you take the rag of the bush. I was
tckled back thar. You treated that
gal jest right-jest right, to a gnats
heel
"Why, what do you mean, Mrs. Hill
yer" asked George, quite at sea as TO
her meaning.
"Well, ef you don't know what I
mean let it alone I've often wondered
what makes the women take to you so,
an I've about concluded it's beca'se
they cayn't run over you rough shod
Ny Lord, George Buckley, this is the
er, an acknowledge I'd heard so drat-
fust time I ever seed you two togeth-
ted much about the high standin' O.
the Cranstons that I almost lowed
you was a plumb fool to be goin' thar,
but-well, may never know when a
hen will take a notion to set, but ef
you keep on actin with Lydia Gran
ston like you did back thar in meetn'
you kin simply wrap her around yore
little finger. She may hold ont a long
time; but she'll throw up the sponge in
the end. All the kings bosses cayn't
pull a woman away from 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-settn' jest two benches
behind 'em, an when you come IN l
seed''er switch 'er head little to one
side an see you, an then she looked
straight in front Of 'er jest as ef 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 blndin' chicken on the roost
with torch, but she cayn't fool an
other woman. That's why they hate
one another ike snakes. Thar she
comes now"
The Cranston carriage was passing.
It was an old fashioned victoria. driv-
! en- by a sleek looking negro on the
front seat. The occupants did not turn
their heads.
'I wonder how they got on to that:'
asked Mrs. Hillyer, with Singer.
"On to what?" Buckley asked.
"Why, on to that way O. settin' like
they had boards under Their clothe5
again Their backs. I'd rather do a
days washin' AN to so a mile. that
away. I always swant to loll back
when I'm ridin'-why, that's what rid
ms fer, I always lowed but them
three an the niger 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
"Of course" Mrs EIllyer 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 Cranstcn. 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
I'D. Sometimes I think it'll have
crown O. some sort on it before you
die. You've got nerve, an plenty OF
1t, though I 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 set me good example.
Some time you may know all I've suf-
{ fered while keepln' up my eternal
laugh an chatter.
''Thars Mrs. Dugan bending over
the fence by the red fag''-they were
| nearing home shes tryin' her best
to ketch somebody passin' from church
to learn bit o. news. I've been fool
in 'er ever since the doctor Gagged 'er.
hain't got much use fer her either.
When folks run a tale down to her she
mighty nigh always tells 'em started
it an sends 'em over to me-"
George laughed as he opened the
! gate and stood aside for her to pass
| through. ''Bello, Mrs. Dugan," she
called out to the short, stout woman
at the fence about fifty yards away.
| .sHave you heard when they are a-go1n'
to let you out?''
"No, hain't," snapped the gossip as
she drew her red breakfast shawl over
her head and ears to protect them from
the breeze, but I know when the next
court conyenes. Mrs. Hillyer. an I'm
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