Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-08-05

1 knew that, LOO, repH0u LnS ueE- chant, with dark frown. "But George is jest so situated right now, 1 Mrs. Buckley, that he'd sacrifice all he expects to make in the next ten years to avoid the disgrace O the sentence. !, He holds his own with the biggest folks in town, an this is simply awful. 1 You know how some O these blue blooded families look on thing like | this"
 'Jest about as sensible as they look on most things" retorted Mrs. Buck | ley philosophically, ian don't see no l use In humorin' 'em. They may know | a mans thief, but eff he hain't pub- l licly branded they don't care. But I David has broke the law: thar ain't no change to be made in i'm, an I'm agin 1 lettin' 1t hamper George, no matter I what these shallow minded aristocrats l think. What's botherin' me IS another :, thing"
 i s'You say 1t is, Mrs. Buck1eyT' And J the merchant stared expectantly. i Yes, Mr. Hillyer. George hain't got but one weakness, an that Is, once in i a long while, when he is in despair, 1 he will take drink to drown his trou- ] ble reckon he hain't fetched drap but once since he's been with you.'
 "An' that was the time they threat | ened to jail yore husband fer pennin' i up Wilson's hogs, an we succeeded in squashin' the charge"
 'Yes, that was the time"-the old wo- ! man pushed back her gingham poke l bonnet and looked straight into Hill- yer's eyes-'.an' I am anxious to find out of this thing has made him.
 Mot yet, Mrs. Buckley" Hillyer's voice had fallen very low; it was al most husky. But I've been that afeard l 1t would start i'm off that hain't been able to sleep at night. He's in a awful state O mind, Mrs. Buckley, an when go back an tell i'm the judge's de cision I don't know what he'll do. A l fine piece O metal will bend jest so | far an then it'll break"
 The old woman nodded again slowly and then said: .Well, HI go back in side This is new wrinkle on me. It's considered right an proper fer folks to go to the grave with the'r kin, an I reckon thar ud be talk eff shirk- ed hearin' the sentence, but tell George I'll come down to the store after l awhile"
 "All right, Mrs. Buckley, I'll tell 'im"
 As Hillyer turned toward the gate to reach the little street which stretch I ed out, lined with cottages and brick law offices, to the red brick freight de- | pot at the far end, one of the loungers on the grass rose and slouched toward l him.
 .'Have they sentenced Buckley yet?'' l he asked I'm witness on that barn 1 burnin' case, an ef 1t ain't a-goin' to be called tonight I'm a-goin' home" 1 ''It's next on the docket" the mer- chant informed him.
 The man had another question ready. Whats cotton bringin' today?" he asked. i've got big white bale ready l fer the gin.'
 Seven and three-eights," answered Hillyer, and he walked on. On the main thoroughfare of the town he had 1 to pass several brick stores where the clerks and merchants stood amid the X heaps of their wares on the narrow brick sidewalks, and many of them asked about the Buckley trial Hillyer made short but considerate replies and ! hastened past. On a corner of one of \ the streets running back to n railroad ! sidetrack, in the rear, stood his ware I house. Here he found his negro porter busy with rattling floor trucks loading l box car with bags of grain. The of l flee was commodious room cut off in one of the corners of the big brick building next to the street. It con tained long walnut counter full of drawers, with shelves overhead for old ledgers, commercial reports, dusty let I ter files and wired punches of bills, re- l ceipts and cancelled bank checks George Buckley, a handsome, dark eyed young man of twenty y-seyen or l eight, sat, on high stool writing in q I ponderous ledger. Turning his head and seeing who it was, hesremoved his heels from the rung of the stool and turned round. There was steady stare i'll his eyes as he fixed them on Hillyers sympathetic, almost shrink ing face.
 You did not succeed" he said, his lips tightening.
 No; he'd already made up his mind, George" replied the merchant.
 George Buckley turned suddenly and bent over his ledger and took up his pen, but he did not dip it in the ink stand Hillyer could not see his face, but he noted that the hand holding the I pen was quivering. Suddenly Buckley laid the pen down, and Hillyer heard something resembling a sob or a gasp escape him, then the young man stood down on the floor and reached for his coat and pulled it on He was deathly pale, his eyes were flashing strangely.
 George, where are you going?" The old man caught his arm, but Buck ley wrenched it from his grasp.
 ''Let me alone. Mr. Hillyer," said lie. 3'For Gods sake, let me alone"
 ''All right, George; I was jest about But his words fell dead on the air, for Buckley had taken his hat. 1 pulled 1t on, and plunged out at the door, For moment the merchant stood like man turned to stone, and