Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-08-11

yer seriously. T don't think she is woman that ud handle a mans afeec- tions lightly jest fer the fun O the thing. An sometimes I think she is doin' jest like you say George is-jest a-lettin' the thing pull Ter along, knowin', as she does, that he hain't the man Ter folks ud accept. So you think George rally is interested in 'er?''
 tsThat hain't the word fer It." said Kenner. "As fer her bein' above i'm in station, what does that matter to him? I've never seed his equal fer pride an self respect believe eff a , rally refined young man is put in low surroundin's he'll make a finer creature sometimes than eff he was put among the best, Mo- George cayn't hide his feelfn's. I think maybe he had some hope before his fathers disgrace, but he hafn't now. Thar was a tobacco drummer from Virginia in the office t'other day, an he got to runnin' on, like them sort O men will, to me an Hanks. George was writtin' letters at the desk. The drummer begun tellin' US about bein' astonished to see folks like the Cranstons in this out of the way place. He said Miss Lydia was the belle O Richmond society an had big public men runnin' after 'er He said our governor-you know Governor TeIfare is widower about my age we'll he met 'er at some military en- campment down south an is dead bent on marvin her. wanted to stop the feller, fer knowed George was listen in, but I couldn't take the liberty. seed George had quit writin' an was lookin' out O the window with his jaw set, like he was sufferin'.
 Then the drummer begun to tell about how she had squelched feller up in Richmond. He was rich Tan. kee that was bein' entertained up thar, an met her at some big dinner. 1t seems she set right acrost the table from him, an some'n' he said agin the southern soldiers made Ger fire up. You know two of her uncles was killed at Gettysburg. We'll instead O apologiz- ing like he ort, he seemed to think it was mighty funny, an he spent the rest O the dinner hittin' at the dead Confederate soldiers--jest think O. that, the dead ones!-said they had no right to have flowers strewed on t1er graves an the like. The drummer said she tuck 1t like born lady, as mild as she could, out O politeness, an beca'se she saw that the lady that give the party was worried by his conduct, but she give the feller a cold stare after din- ner, an ordered her carriage to take 'er home. The whole thing, 1t seems, along with her good looks an high position, literally turned the Yankees head. He made dozen attempts after that to meet Ter, but she refused to have anything to do with i'm. He found out whar she attended church, an went thar one Sunday, an after meetin' was over he waited at the foot O the steps outside. Seems like he counted on his smile doin' the work, fer when she appeared at the top O. the steps he jest tuck off his hat an made a low bow, an stood grinnin', to show how sorry he was. The drum mer said she happened to have some pennies In her hand, an that she jest trapped lem in the feller's hat as eff he was beggar, an' without lookin' at i'm, passed on down the steps. They say it got out, an so much fun was made of 1t that the feller left Rich mond She's jest like a queen, any way, Mrs. Hillyer, but I'll tell you believe she likes George Buckley-I believe she likes an respects i'm. An sometimes when I see her an him to- gether jest feel like the two of lem is doin right to feel that away, even of it never comes to anything. It's the prettiest sight on earth-that sort O thing is, Mrs. Hillyer. An some times it seems to me that it's jest be- ca'se they are helt apart that they are drawed so close together. She's at the top, Mrs. Hillyer, an his daddy has put up wall betwixt the two, but they are a-loolzin' over it into each others eyes an a-wonderin' - jest a-wonderin'."
 Mrs. Hillyer gazed at the cotton buy CT steadily, and her eyes filled. "Mr. Kenner," she said unsteadily, I've listened to some sermons once in awhile an been blessed, but it was a rare thing. But give you my word you've made me feel good this mornin'. Huh, never lowed it was in youl An jest think, you hain't married. Thar's oodiins O deservin' gals in the world, lettin' the'r good hearts wither up without speck O love, an yore rich soul is dryin' up year by year in this musty warehouse. I tell you, Pm goin' to find you wife"
 q wish you would" Kenner laughed. "T've got faith in yore judgment an I'd take any you picked out an be thank ful. An this affair of Georges makes me wish I'd made better use O my time fore it was too late"
 Too late nothin'," laughed Mrs. Hill yer as she turned away. You are a sight younger now than half O these beardless dudes that have already danced their youth away.''
 Arriving at home, the merchants wife hustled into the warm sitting room, where her niece sat sewing at a window, and, throwing her shawl on chair, she stood before the wood fire.
 stHOrtonse'' '' she said s11ddonlv stI