The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-12-21
CHAPTER XVIII.

|1HE next morning, after his re-
"A turn from Atlanta, George met
Z Bascom Truitt at the ware
house.
Brought yore mother in with me-"
be said. "I left 'er up at the postot1ce
readin letter She'll be down direct
". missed you at the reunion, but l
heard you was on hand. Lord, missed
the sidewalk, they tell me! I met some
old friends that kept me full to the
neck through the whole business. l
couldn't toot my bugle."
THAT'S one way to celebrate" George
said, with smile, as Truitt was turn
ing away.
A few minutes later Mrs. Buckley
came into the Office. She wore check
ed gingham sunbonnet and 1t was
pulled well down over her face. In
her hand she held letter. By her
silence and agitated manner George
knew she had received unpleasant
news. He placed q chair for her near
bis desk and resumed his own seat
wondering what could have happened.
"You have letter from father" he
said tentatively.
"Not from him, George, but it's from
up thar. It's from the prison doctor"
She was silent a moment, then she
continued: 'Yore pas bad off, George.
The doctor thinks he's haI serious at
tack. It's that old hurt place in his
head that he got when he fell off the
wagon fifteen year ago. The doctor
cayn't tell how it'll come out, but be
says I'd better be up thar. Iore pa
keeps AKIN fer me. cayn't refuse
i'm, George" The speaker suddenly
paused and applied her handkerchief to
her eyes.
"Well, you can go, Of course" said
George.
"Oh, kin II" she exclaimed. Il was
afeard you wouldn't want me to. I'd
rather go, George sorter hardened
my heart agin i'm when he was stout
an we'll, but now he's sufferin, want
to be with i'm" She broke down and
began to cry again.
"There is nothing on earth to hinder
you" said her son, who was deeply
touched by her emotion, "and If you
want me to do so, III go, too, mother.
Hes my father-the only one ever
had, and
lone Of us will be enough" said Mrs.
Buckley. But, George, I've been
studyin' since got this letter. I never
thought Of it before, but [ never
knowed yore pa to do dishonest act
TIL he had that fall an hurt his head.
I read in the Index t'other day whar
good man had got lick in the head
an it made demon out o him till the
doctors operated on him an cured I'm.
Oh, George, It may be that away in
yore pas case, an them twelve men
an the Judge Jest sent pore sick man
of fer what he couldn't help. It wasn't
managed right Somebody ought to
"a fetched up that point. He mighty
nigh made life unbearable fer US all,
but the chain gang wasn't the place fer
a man in his condition"
She had pushed back her bonnet and
her gray eyes were flashing rebellious-
ly. George was deeply moved.
That's right, mother" he said ad-
nir1ngly, his fine face aglow, "sdck to
him. l remember, when I was very
little fellow, that he was kind and gen
tie with me, and although he treated
me pretty badly after grew up never
could forget that period. Yes, you
must 80 to him and do all you can for
his comfort I'll pay for it,
''Oh, George, George" the old woDa-
an cried, standing up. ut don't seem
right fer you to-
II want to do it, mother" he said
simply and firmly. you must take the
night train, and remember, you are to
spare no expense
II said felt relieved to have i'm 60