The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-12-14

LII DE CurOGC e1 Lie Qluu JSSLa W ASSAS
an say ouch" when twisted bis year.
George, my boy, you ort not to give his
words another thought. What be said
to you was jest what sneekin' COW
ard would say. He's got less sand In
his gizzard n any man ever run
across. I hope you are satisfied"
Yes, I'm satisfied" said George sim
ply. and he extended his hand, ''and
I'm glad there was no bloodshed. NJ.
Hillyer told me what he did yester-
day in a passion. Well all have to
ind some way out Of our troubles other
than bloodshed."
God knows I agree with you on
that" said Hillyer feelingly, and he
turned and walked out Of the Office.
But that hain't all done" said
Truirt, leaning against Georges desk
and looking down sheepishly.
Not all:" exclaimed Buckley.
mo, I got my foot into somen' else.
Jest after I landed in town I come
down here, but you wasn't about.
Then. as had nothin' to do an re-
membered that I had promised Major
Cranston to come in en- give i'm an
estimate on movin' several hundred
acres O. tan bark on some o his noun
tain land, went down thar. Hes q
sick man. They got i'm propped up in
q big chair in the settin' room, an his
wife an daughter are nussin' Mm like
O baby. But be wanted to see me, an
they made me como In. His gal is a
beauty, George-but you know that-an'
never seed body seem as much Wor-
ried over a sick pusson as she was over
her daddy. She loves every hair o his
old, white head Whenever he'd have
a spell O. coughin' she'd actually turn
pale an run fer his medicine. Well,
when I got through with him started
of, but she follered me out on the
lawn. She wanted to az me, she said,
ef I rally thought her pa looked bad.
She said she was afeard the doctor was
keepin' back some'n' ur was behind the
times an hadn't diagnosed the case
right. I eased 'er all I could, laughin'
at her fears tell she sorter got in q
good humor, an then in a roundabout
way, fore she knoweG what was on
foot, I led up to my trip to Atlanta,
an'"-
Heavens, Truitt, you didn't tell her
that?" George cried.
ayes; had to, George" said the old
man, his eyes arerted. Some say she's
thinkin' O marryin' that man beca'se
her sick daddy wants her to, an I'd
never be satisfied eff I let woman
marry a thing like that, beltevin' he
was honorable an brave like her daddy
an like somebody else I know. No; 1
would thank anybody to tell daugh,
ter O. mine sech q thing, an felt like
it was my duty"
George bit his lip and stifed an ex-
ciamation Of irritation, but he met the
old mans look presently with steady
stare.
What did she say, Truitt?" he asked
finally.
"Say? I hardly know" said Truitt.
"Eer face got the purtiest color ever
seed, an while was talkin' she kept
sayin', Go on, so On, Mr.. Truitt, 60 on?
an right in the middle O some things
she'd jest laugh out an kiyer 'er mouth
with that white hand O. her'n, but she
kept sayin', Go on, 50 on" an looked
like she Jest couldn't wait fer me to
cit through. An when I finally got
to whar lifted i'm by one o his side
straps out O. his chair she jest hollered:
No, you didn't rally, Mr.. Truitt. Did
you. do that to the governor O. Georgian
told 'er I certainly did, an she
laughed like she'd bust She followed
me clean to the front gate. You may
think she's purity woman, but I'll bet
she never looked as purity to you as she
did then. The wind was devilin' her
hair, an her cheeks looked like ripe
peaches. Seemed like she'd sorter tuck
q likin' to me, fer once or twice she
forgot an put her hand on my arm.
Then she said, Mr.. Truitt, I believe
kin trust you with secret, an want
to tell you some'n'.'
''I told 'er I was graveyard itself
when it come to keepin' secrets fer
women folks, but she sorter hung FIRE.
Her face got serious, an she wouldn't
look me in the eye like she had been
a-doin'. I told 'er not to be afeard o
me, an she started In ag'in. but
stopped. No. says she, I believe I
won't tell you after all. Men are the
very dickens to tell tales Then re-
minded 'er that I was old Confeder-
ate soldier an that women an the'r
private matters was sacred to men that
had fit for the south an its honor, an
that sorter fetched 'er. Well says
she, you do look like man a woman
could trust, an ct you'll give me your
word that this won't 60 no furder III
tell you
"I'l do it, says I.
"'Will you swear it?' says she.
"'Not only that says I, but III cross
my heart
"'Well,' says she, that's all a wom-
an could az, an I'm sorry I have to
be so particular, but I'd rather die
than have O single soul know what
I'm goin' to tell you want to tell
you to show how much I appreciate
what you did on that Atlanta trip:
Then she swallowed once or twice, an
lookin' me IN the eye an p'intin' across
the yard, she said: Mr.. Truitt, I was
settin' in that summer house tothef
night an heard Governor Telfare IN
suit George Buckley, an I'm glad
glad-glad-you done what you done.
AS Governor Teifare was visthn' my
house an, as fathers health Is SO bad