Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-08-05
Bv WILL N. HARDEN,
Copyright. 1908. by HARPER a BROTHERS


o'clock, but"-Hillyer paused and ut
tered a soft groan-"but I'd have all
that time-to wait, like man goin' to
be hung. George, ef-ef you started
tonight you'd git thar about the time
he was risin', an you could, by ridin
peart, git back here by 10 In the
mornin'."
"Why, yes, can 60 easily" said
Buckley. "But what must say to him,
Mr.. Hillyer?"
The old man stared for moment,
and then he replied:
"Tell i'm I'm a million times sorrier
than l was when-the deed was done,
an that I want i'm not to delay any
longer ef-ef he is goin' to take any
step. Tell i'm I want it over. That
will be enough, George. Now git out
the hoss."
"And your
"Tn stay here the balance o the
night an open up, as usual, an make
Jake put the Office in order"
Don't you think your wife will be
troubled If she should miss you, Mr.
Hillyer"
"She won't miss me; she's got used
to my night prowlin'. I'd keep her
awake eff 1 was at home. I'm goin' to
pace this floor back an forth an try
to git tired. Go ahead, George. Don't
waste any more time. You'll know
what to say. 1 don't want you to plead
fer me. I've plead with higher power
n he is till I'm through. All / want Is
q verdict-the verdict lodged 30 long
ago."
The next day about 10 o'clock, as
George was returning home and was
within a mile Of town, he saw bis en-
ployer emerge from a clump of per-
simmon trees on the edge Of the road
and walk toward him. He was almost
a nervous wreck; his eyes were blood
shot and his gray hair disheveled.
T couldn't wait fer you to git to
town." he said, looking up and down
the road furtively, as If afraid some
one might be coming, land 30 / walked
out. I come away from the warehouse
lest after breakfast an I've been
walkin' through them woods over thar
ever since. Once l fell in deep ditch.
thought it was Gods mercy an that
It was all goin' to be over, but l
didn't git a scratch. You notice l keep
talkin'. It's beca'se I'm afeard to look
o+.yo,, or lot Won sDpakn
"You haven't a thing to fear, Mr.
Hillyer." Buckley dismounted and
stood by his employer. his arm through
the bride.
"You didn't see Williams"
ayes, saw him and had long talk
with him. He said you were the best
man he had ever known in his life
and that he'd rather die than harm you
in any way. He would have come to
see you, he said. but he thought you
might not want to be reminded of the
past. He actually cried when told
him Of your sutferings. He said 1t was
YOUR influence that had made him try
tc lead q better life. He said his
protection Of you in that case was
the one thing in all his life that ne
was proud Of. He declared he would
do it over again. He's got into some
new religion l don't know what II
is. but it is not exactly orthodox. He
says it would have been wrong to pun
ish a man for q thing he regretted
as much as you did that act, and that
he was glad he yielded to the impulse
to help you."
"Oh, George, you don't mean
A great sob rose in Hillyer's breast
and burst; his red eyes were full or
tears.
HE says he is proud Of what he did
to save you from further trouble"
George went OH tenderly. He says If
you had gone to prison for life it would
have wrecked your career. but that his
testimony spared you to go on better
Ing the world. He's heard lot about
you. He says he runs across somebody
every day that you've helped In one
way and another, and when l came
right out and told him-yes, told him
how near was to the brink not long
ago and how you saved me-when he
heard that he actually sobbed and said,
Bully old man: bully, bully old man! "
The merchant caught the name of
the horse in his quivering fingers and
leaned forward till his face touched
the neck Of the animal.
Gods good. George; Gods good!'
he sobbed.
Buckley put his arm on the old mans
shoulder caressingly.
"Now get on the horse and ride
home" he said. II want to stretch
my legs. They are stiff"
mo" Hillyer looked up, his face
radiant "You ride. l want to 60 back
in the woods an pray an shout. I
don't want to 90 home now. I want
to thank my Maker. may not come
to dinner. I'll fast. May God bless
you. my boy!
George mounted the horse, and as he
rode away he saw the old man plunge
into the woods at the roadside. his
hands clasped before him. his lips in
motion.
Buckley did not see his employer
again until about o'clock In the aft
ernoon. Then he came In slowly and
sank into his chair at his desk and
touh lip tine letters George had left
there for him. There was a general
droop of dependency OIL him, and he
handled the letters with listless mat,
| tentiOn.
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