The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-11-23

~ 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
piece Of cracker and now and then
taking a sip Of water from a thick,
uncIean tumbler. he had no comments
to make. If the building had been half
demolished during the night be would
have inspected the ruin with supreme
indifference, for it was not his per-
sonal property. Half an hour later q
man and 4 woman came down the
street and entered the warehouse.
The woman was short and fat, wore
black sunbonnet and heavy gray
shawl. The man carried a Worn Con-
federate flag in his left hand, in his
right battered army bugle.
"Jeff's NANNY an daddy" kenne-
said. ''N1y Lord, they got here quick!
! I reckon somebody must "a told 'em
TIE news last night"
Come Oh III, old woman Truitt said
to his wife. Nobody hain't a-goin' to
hurt YOU He took the chair Ken
ner was prohering and placed it near
the stove. Then he leaned unsteadily
on the short staff of the furled flag.
The busle ratified 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 q note
yit, an hain't stuck up the flag. The
BOYS will wait on OF Bas this mornln'.
I 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 en-
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 it 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
raein' mob an said ef they got our
boy it nd be over his dead body. George
Buckley done it. He"-the old mans
voice sank so low for q moment that
it was scarcely audible-''he done It!
I wish God would help me talk, but he
won't, an I cayn't. I had lots to say,
but I cayn't talk. I want to show
what I feel, but I cayn't. I lowed
that "a man that fit fer Jackson an
Lee an Davis was good enough, but
man blessed by 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. Hes actuated by love
an pity, while the soldier is fghtin'
fer spite. IL jest wish God would
give me a chance to show what feel.
Matilda. eff you want to say anything,
say it. Yore Old mans made fool Of
hisselfr'
"Oh, don't, don't, Mrs. Truittv George
protested as the old woman pushed
back her bonnet and began to speak,
but she went on.
81 cayn't say what want to, moth
er," she sobbed, "but I kin pray fer
you, George, an will. I 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 sanctl-