The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-10-19

| II moment the mercncEL OpeneO
the great, rafting door in front and
came slowly back to his clerks apart
ment.
.'Git back in bed" said he. I've
got my overcoat on an my teeth are
chatterin. I feel like wasn't nothin
but skin an bones.''
why, it's not cold, Mr.. Hillyer.
Buckley was now dressed, all but bis
coat, and he hastily drew it on and
sat down on the bed. Hillyer re-
NAMED standing in the middle Of the
| room, staring wide eyed and pale faced
at his clerk. Then he bethought him
self Of chair and drew one to him
and sank into it
'eYou went TO call. on Miss Lydia to.
night, didn't you, George?'
Eyes, sir. T was there till about 1C
o'clock"
MAXIM any progress, George?
mean
'I'm not trying to make any prog
ress, Mr.. Hi,lyer," said the young man
quickly. 1--WE are Simply friends-thats
ALL"
It was as If the merchant had not
heard the reply to his question. He
stared blankly at Buckley for mo,
ment, and then, with a groan, he buried
his face in his hands and rocked back
and forth like a man in pain. Sudden
y he said:
"George, I'm in awfulawful fxr'
Buckley found himself unable to
formulate a reply. he could only
answer the astonishing statement with
an almost alarmed. stare.
George, I'm suffarin'-sufferin'. It's
that old thing. I thought after my talk
with you down here awhile ago that
7, would feel better, but it's BACK agin
like q million devils had hold o every
nerve in my brain an body. Fer the
last week it has been CROWN wuss an
wuss, an now ef some'n' hain't done
III Jest die. But I must tell you. You
know I said I hadn't spoke about it FER
thirty year to a single soul, an tlkin'
to you here that night seemed to do
me some good, an so tonight when
couldn't sleep 7 thought I'd come to
you"
Pm glad you came, Mr. Hillyer."
'You remember, George, I said that
Hank Williams, the man whose testi-
mony had cleared me. was livin' in
Texas?'
Eyes, Iiremember you said that, Mr..
Hillyer."
"Weu, jest week ago last Thursday
he come back to this county to see bis
old friends an kin. When I heard
he'd come was setin' ct my desk.
Kenner an Hanks was a-talkin', an
one Of 'em mentioned it. All my
strength went out O me, fer they said
he'd gotsreugion an was leadin' a up.
right life. Do you knowwhstt i'mfeared
Of nov, George? I'm afeard he's come
back toto az me toto let i'm con-
fess the truth. They say:men will git
that away, as-they nigh the grave, an
he's gittiR old Some'n's wrong, ]
know, fer The acts quar- in not comm
to see me. I'm as nigh crazy as a
man ever was. Do you know what !
done lastenight? 1t was as dark as
pitch, an I knowed nobody wouldn't
see me. You know the old livery sta
Bile wharf.-the shootin' occurred is still
standin'. I had never been past il
since then. I jest couldn't But last
night, in the pitch dark an drnzlin
rain. got oufn bed an went thar an
knelt down right whar he fell, an
begged an begged God to let me die
then an thar an face whatever was
a-comin' to me, even eff it was eternal
I want.my puuishment-ther rail thing
to begin, an so on an on ef it's Gods
will. I don't care how long. cayn't
stand this uncertainty. Hank VIII
Iams .intends to come to me, but he's
putin it of to the last minute. But
want him to spout it allsout an be done
withit Eff he>don't, will. Then tonight
I went up, 1.-The graveyard an picked
out Lynn Hmbright's. grave an la1d
down on it amongst the weeds an
briecs an prayed to his bones to rise
up an dossome'n'. -Anything's better
than this awful silence Of God an
man"
With mis- shands; tightly pressed over
his face the merchant sat, breathing
hesyily. George Buckley, stood over
him, his handsome face 'heavy with
pity.
as there nything-anything on
earth that scan do. Mr.. Hillyer" he
questioned II would do anything to
relieve you. I'd cut off my right arm
to do you asserEice.'
Eyes, you CAM do some'n'," said the
merchant, looking up and staring stead
iIy You know how l feel. I want
you to take my hoss an ride out to
Williams the frst thing in the morn
in. You could git thar by 10 or II
o'clock, but'-Billyer paused and ut
tered soft gnoan-"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 tne tlne
he was risin', an you could, by ridin'
peart, git back here by 10 in the
mornin'."
"Why, yes, I. can go, easily" SAID
Buckley. 'Butewhat must.I say to him,
Mr.. .Hillger?"
The old man .stared for moment
and then.he replied:
"Tell1'im I'm a million times sornef
than Twas vhen-thes esdeedfWas cone
an that want;'im not to delay any
longer ref -ef he is goin' to take any
step. Tell i'm I want it over. Ihae
will be. enough, George. Now git OUT
the +hoss."
And you:"
sIll stay here the balance o the
night an open-up as usual, an make
Jakeaputs4he- -of1cesinsor
'Don'tsyou,thinksy your wife will be
trouoleda1f fsheeskuld miss you, Mr.
HNlyer:"