Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-08-18

s'~@1HEY say the old junk shop was
 turned into a reg'lar fort last
 night" Kenner tested as he
 slouched into the office the next morning after breakfast, bundle of letters in his hands
 George and Hillyer exchanged glances and smiled.
 You'd have thought something was wrong if you'd been here" George an- swered lightly.
 Hanks was at his desk munching a piece of cracker and now and then taking sip of water from thick, unclean tumbler. He had no comments to make. If the building had been half demolished during the night he would have inspected the ruin with supreme indifference, for it was not his per sonal property. Half an hour later man and woman came down the street and entered the warehouse The woman was short and fat. wore black sunbonnet and a heavy gray shawl. The man carried worn Con- federate flag in his left hand, in his right battered army bugle.
 ''Jefrs mammy an daddy" Kenner said. My Lord. they got here quicki reckon somebody must a told 'em the news last night.''
 "Come on in, old woman" Truitt said to his wife. Nobody hain't a-goin' to hurt you" He took the chair Ken ner was proffering and placed 1t near the stove. Then he leaned unsteadily on the short staff of the furled flag. The bugle rattled on the brass buttons of his long overcoat as his arm hung down.
 "The camp meets today" he said huskily, "but I hain't blowed note yit, ,san' I hain't stuck up the flag. The boys will wait on or Bas this mornin'. wish some O my tried comrades could be here to listen to what got to say George Buckley, I'm goin' to speak to you, sir"
 George had flushed all over with em- barrassment His profile was to the door, but out of the corner of his eye he had caught a glimpse of woman's figure in the main doorway. The thought flashed through his brain that 1t was Mrs. Hillyer or Hortense Snowden, and he wanted to direct Hill yer's attention thither, but with set, expectant features the merchant was staring at the speaker.
 Jeff told us jest how it happened" Truitt went on, his earnest eyes half full of tears, ian me an my old wom- an felt like we wanted to see, to look at the man that saved our child Thar he is, Matilda; thar he is! Thar's the chap that stood up in the teeth O that ragin' mob an said eff they got our boy 1t ud be over his dead body. George Buckley done 1t. He"-the old mans voice sank so low for a moment that 1t was scarcely audible "he done it! wish God would help me talk, but he won't, an I cayn't. had lots to say, but cayn't talk. I want to show what feel, but I cayn't. I flowed that a-a man that it fer Jackson an Lee an Davis was good enough, but man blessed by a high place in the world that stoops down an offers his life fer pore, weak, scared boy is bet tern a soldier. He's more like God than a soldier. He's actuated by love an pity, while the soldier is fghtin' fer spite. I-I jest wish God would give me a chance to show what feel Matilda, eff you want to say anything, say 1t. Tore old mans made fool of hisselfr'
 "Oh, don't, don't, Mrs. Truittp' George protested as the old woman pushed back her bonnet and began to speak, but she went on
 T cayn't say what want to, noth- er," she sobbed, "but I kin pray fer you, George, an will. hope the Master will shower blessings down on yore head. I've knowed i'm, gentle men, sence he was little boy, an he always was one O the best children that ever lived God knows he's had trouble, but it jest seems to "a sancti-