The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1904-09-09
CHAPTER XXI.


Ill husband aside. He followed
- her into the parior, where she
aied him to get beyond the hearing of
the negroes in the dining room.
s. Whats the matter with Georpe2~
!. she asked him. ~.
{ "Why, nothin' as know Of" he re-
piled. II haven't seen him this morn
In. Is anything wrongT"
:. LOOKS like he hasn't slept wink
all night" said the woman. 'He
didn't tetch thing on the table, an
his hands shook awful. Do you know,
somehow, I believe him an Governor
! 'Tslfare Quarreled up at Cranstons'
last night. never saw him look like
that before. He's up, in the company
: bedroom. I passed through the han
Just now nm seed i'm settin' Mt the
window Iookin' out Mr.. Hillyer, go
UP an see what's the matter with i'm.
He'll talk to you"
With his heart in his mouth. Hillyer
went up the stairs, sliding his hand on
the banister railing. George turned his
head as he entered the open door, and
rose quickly, as If ashamed to be seen
there without a reason for 1t.
George, what's the matter with you?
Amt you well this mornin'r the old
man questioned gently.
"Not very, Mr. Hillyer," George said.
dropping his eyes, "but I'll feel better
wnen get to work. I'm going down
pretty soon.'
That hain't it, my boy-that hain't
It." said Hillyer. his sympathetic eyes
resting on the troubled face before him.
"Some'n' has gone wrong, George an
j wish you'd tell me about it. I'd take
It as q fayor-so would. I-I-feei o
big interest in you. don't know as
could ever explain how big It is. Tell
me, George"
1T wouldn't do any good" the young
man replied slowly. "and might disturb
you httle-you are so kind hearted"
II want to know, George"
well, I will tell you, Mr. HilIyer.
Do you know what is the hardest thing
on earth to bear7 It is to be insulted.
grossly tnsulted, by q man whom you
can't strike" Buckley then told NIL
that had taken place between him and
Teifare.
"He said that to your cried the old
-saan. x" Yes. I know what It would
mean. tosa proud sperifs like yore'n, my
boy, an it's simply awful-awful! He's
cowardly dog, but that don't make
You feel any better Men in the northern
states don't understand how we kin
'feel as we do. on that line. but it's bred
IN the bone with u.s."
Hillyer. suddenly turned from the
room and went downstairs. His wife
heard him going out Mt the gate and
called to him from the veranda, but he
walked on without needing her. AT
the street corner he quickened his step,
going faster and faster till he reached
the warehouse. He saw Kenner and
Hanks In the office, but he passed on
to Georges room In the rear. There on
the table lay BuckIey's revolver.
Thrusting it into the pocket of his
short coat he hurried out Mt the side
door and went up the railroad to the
Johnston House. Going into the office
be approached the desk and asked the
clerk for Governor Telfare.
HE left on the o'clock train this
morning. Mr.. Hillyer.. said the clerk.
HE had us call him at z"
"Gone" The old man stared blank
y.
: "Yes, he got of, but he'll be back
next Sunday. He engaged the best
room In the house and gave orders that
1t was not to be used by any one else"
"Gone!' Hillyer turned and started
away aimlessly. In the hall leading to
the street he was met by Bascom
Truitt, who stopped him.
Say, old man, what's the matter?
Sickr Hillyer stared Mt him, but made
no reply. "Look " here, what ails you
anywayT The old soldier placed his
hand on the merchants shoulder and
turned him into vacant room on the
side OF the hall, room used by COM
mercial travellers for displaying their
wares to the village storekeepers.
Hfllyer sank into q chair and groaned.
Truitt heard some one passing in the
hall and closed the door.
II know some'n's wrong" he said.
"Some'n's wrong when deacon in thel
church an man o. yore stamp goes
round white as a grave rock with a
A caiiber gun In his pocket an his
teeth chatterin' on as warm day as.l
this is.o
Hillyer told him what had happened
to George and his own failure to meet
Telfare. He told II In an unsteady
voice, his lips quivering as he spoke
Then, with his head down, he added:
"Bas, you know split human blood
thirty year ago. I've prayed all them
years to git God to blot out the crime,
an yet, after all that. II I'd "a met
Telfare just now, IL reckon, eff he
hadn't apoiogized to that pore boy I'd
"a shot Inn dead In his TRICKS. was
all upset about II, on, my God. I'm
n bad as I was away back when was
young an hot bloodedr'
i 1>r11iff ef,ruxoodS3,fs ol,rx,Yda~a s0r,, a.,