Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-08-24

shake that in the pore, Wounoeu poy
face. You cayn't say he's coward.
as they say about the lordiy governor
o. this state You cayn't say he's
bankrupt an a spendthrift, like they
say about Telfare. Muir you cayn't ac-
cuse George Buckley O. resortin' to low
political tricks to advance his inter-
ests, an -
Madam the major broke in, raising
his thin hand protestingly, Il must beg
you
Don't beg me. Major Cranston," hur-
ried on the woman, her eyes flashing.
her bosom heaving excitedly, as she
leaned forward. her elbows on her
knees. Eve come here to talk. an
will be heard. l want Lydia to hear
more than l do you. fer believe she II
act. She's been blinded, that gal has,
or she's a unnatural woman. one or
t'other, fer no woman made on the
right plan would let things go jest like
they are a-goin' an never cheep a
word agin 1t. Lydia Cranston"
turned to the staring, wondering girl
did you hear about certain letter
George Buckley wrote my husband
Jest before he thought he was goin
to be shot by them robbers?
~ heard he wrote something. some
instructions to Mr.. Hillyer," replied the
girl In an unsteady voice, something
about what the men had demanded,
but that's all father told me. haven't
been out Of the house since we got
back from Atlanta"
well, le' me tell you some'n'," went
on Mrs Hillyer. Thar hain't wo-
man today in all America-an' I'm no
excepion-that knows, actually knows,
she's loved enough by man to be In
his last thoughts when he's expectin'
every second to meet horrible death.
I've got that letter in my hand. | did
intend to read it to you, but won't,
fer it's too sacred. But I'll tell you
that the pore boy was bothered by jest
one thought in that awful moment. an
that was that the woman he loved an
wanted to care fer was to be left to
marry worthless man. He begged
Mr.. Hillyer to ak 'er not to do it. Eff
George had "a died that I'D "a been
his message from the grave. I wonder
IT,
Lydia Cranston had risen to her feet
ard stood bending toward the impas-
stoned speaker. her great, beautiful
eyes distended.
..Did-did he write that, Mrs. Hill
yer?' she cried "Oh, did hep
Not only that replied Mrs. Hill
yer, 'but he has laid thar in my house
ever since pinin' fer q word, Il mes
nge, line from the woman he loved,
but not thing come. | got to iookin'
fer it, too, fer I lowed I'd made no
mistake in sizin' the woman up, an
t'other day, when big bunch o roses
come fer i'm with note. l actually
run up to his room with 'em, was SO
glad. knowed whar they growed,
an, like fool, I told i'm they was
from the right source. His pore, pale
face flushed all over. But when he
opened the note it was from somebody
else. His lip jest sagged down an
jerked as he tol me was mistaken in
the pusson that had sent them. My
Lord! l was hoppin' mad then! Say.
what are you uns, anyway. that you
kin hold yourselves aloof from sech a
man Mt sech time? Even eff you did
intend to balk the marriage you could
"a treated i'm like a human bein',
stricken In upholdin' his honor an pro.
tectin' the rights O. other people"
Mrs. Hillyer''-Lydia drew herself
up to her full height, her startled eyes
bearing down on the caller'do you
mean to say that George Buckley has
not had letter from me since he was
wounded?"
II certainly do, Miss Lydia"
Then the girl turned to Mrs. Gran
ston, taking step toward her In her
eagerness. Mother" she said fiercely,
you took my letters away from Jane.
saw you talking to her.
"Why, daughter, r.
did you do itY the girl demanded
sharply. Did your"
Mrs. Cranston hesitated and then
6dll luitSllhStS, LIZA Sy 90 VIZ sAAo eAAPSs'
"You were SO unduly wrought up and
excited by-by the report of the shoot
ing that really II
Mother" Lydia interrupted her,
"you have gone too far. You had no
right under heaven to act as you did.
1t was crime, considering his con-
dition and-my feelings. Mrs. Hill
yer, is Hortense at home?"
Eyes, she's thar. Miss Lydia"
well, I'm going to explain to George.
and I'm going now" Lydia said. HE
shant wait one minute longer to know
how feel and how I've felt all along.
You have done everything on earth to
make me untrue to my better self.
mother, and at last resorted to actual
dishonesty. I'll never marry the man
you want me to-neyer!" With that
the girl turned quickly from the room.
ITO Be Continued)