The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-09-21

'tHe's z7t a. cUfuL statc o. mind, Mrs.
Bucllcy"
flushed and his hair dishevelled over
his brow. Just then Mrs. Buckley came
into the Office. She took off her bon
net, showing smooth, gray hair and
q deeply wrinkled brow ard cheeks,
and stood for moment behind her son.
Hillyer fancied that their conversation
might be Of a private nature, and, TAX
Ing up a grain sampler, be left the
room. The sound Of his heavy boots
drew George Buckley's attention, and
looking round he saw his mother. Her
sympathetic eyes fell beneath his wild
glare.
"I reckon Mr.. Hillyer's already told
you," she began.
Eyes, he's told me-
"Well, thar amt but one thing fer
sensible folks to do,'' faltered the wom-
an, "an' that's to make the best Of 1t
an so on tryin' to do our own duty.
Eyes," he nodded racantly, "you'are
right, mother Are you going home
tonight?"
"No. I lowed it I'D look more re-
spectful to stay till they tuck I'm OF IN
the mornin'. The sherif's wife axed
me to spend the night with her in the
Jail house, so I could be nigh i'm"
George Buckley shuddered vlsibly,
but he said nothing. 1t gave Mrs.
Buckley the opportunity she was look
ing for.
George, reckon bein' young as you
are an'-an' mixin' with folks here In
Darley that hain't never been In seen
a mess, 1t goes harder with you than 1t
does with me, away out thar in the
mountains, but I wish you wouldn't
take It so hard. You cayn't help yore
pas doin's. No, you cayn't, an no
right minded folks amt a-goin' to blame
you. AS fer me''-she paused an in
slant as she began to roll her sunbon-
net in her fat, red hands-'why, my
boy, feel. jest like awful load was
tuck off'n me. cayn't help it. 1t may
not be human-I don't know-but
feel jest that away. You think yore
cross is hard to bear, but fer fifteen
year I've hardly slept sound nights
sleep, expectin' an expectin' the OIL
GERS O. the law to ride up an hello at
the fence. An keepin' his secrets
law, that's the wust of it, fer he would
tell me every blessed bit O. devilment
he ever was in 1t all began away
back fifteen year ago, when be fell off
his wagon an struck his head agin a
rock. He never got over that; it made
i'm as i'll as snake an mad at ever
body, even his best friends. George,
I want to tell you how lie did once
when
Don't, don't, DON'T the young man
cried. I know enough. / don't want
you ever to speak to me Of his crimes"
"Well, won't, them promised the
woman. 81 reckon I've heard so much
Of his doin's that it don't horrify NE
as much as it would you. Well, I'll
20 on back. I'm goin to Weber &
Lands an kly him a change O under
clothes an some socks"
When she had reached the big en-
trance Of the warehouse she saw Hill
yer in the center Of the building, walk
ing back and forth, his gray head hang
ing low, as if in troubled meditation.
Turning as if from a sudden impulse,
she went and Joined him. The two
faced each 1her.
81 smelt liquor on i'm she said
tersely. Il stood nigh to i'm; he's had
i'm dram, Mr.. Hillyer."
Eyes, he's had a drink or two, Mrs.
Buckley"
Wizard he git his whisky"
Jake followed i'm an seed i'm at
Hillhouses bar. I hain't said a word
about it. 1t don't do one bit o good
to preach to man all upset in mind,
an half full at that"
mo, yo're plumb right, an nobody
kin drive George. I'm powerfully
afraid this Is goin' to be his downward
start, Mr.. Hillyer.'
Don't say that" The words were
spoken almost in Z sroan, and the
merchants sympathetic face seemed
wrung with inward pain. Don't say
that he repeated, under his breath.
"We mustn't lose hope-we mustn't do
that
The old woman stared ut the working
oil
asked abruptly. Mr.. Hillyer, who is
that family O. Cranstons that's come
here from Virginia:
"Oh. you've heard O. them:" said
Hillycr. taking breath. Major
Cranston'S member Of fine old
family. regular T. +. v; he owns
six or seven farms in this county an
has 4 lot O. investments all over the
country &c moved here about six
months ago beca'sc the climate agrees
with i'm, an lie hain't very strong.
George got acquainted with his daugh-
ter, a pretty, likely gal, but as proud
as q queen. an they've been good
friends ever since. She's we'll educated,
an SOS he, an they get along power
full we'll together. Have you ever seed
'er, Mrs. Buckley"'
"Yes. once" answered the woman,
"an' 1 never shall forget it, fer it show
ed me palmer what a fine character
George has than anything he ever
done. Thar's a lot O meddlin' folks
out at the Cove, Mr., Hillyer. an the