Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-08-24

@lHE next morning at breakfast,
while Hillyer sat slipping his
coffee his wife stood near his
chair
Its time played my last card, she
was saying Il tell you thars some
mistake. don't believe Lydia Gran
ston would let that pore boy lie up
stairs an suffer without one word from
her at sech a time-a time when the
whole town an county is a-talkin
about his manliness an bravery an
the wrong done his daddy. That hain't
like woman one bit. Not one woman
in ten thousand would stay quiet at
such time without some strong rea-
SON."
Well what are you goin' to do about
TT" the merchant asked.
"Do? Why, I've got my case all III
hand, as Mr.. Trabue would "a said
The evidence is all In. an 1t Will have
weight when | sum 1t up. I'm simply
a-eoin' to them weevil eaten aristo-
Gratis an have it out with EN-, one way
or t'other."
lou say YOU ate'
yes. | am. know human natur'.
an I'm not afeard to risk my judg-
ment. I'm a-goin' to take that letter
George writ to you the night he was
shot-oh. yes, l am; You needn't raise a
kick about that 1t Is admitted as evil
dence. an strong evidence at that.
Then I'm a-goin' to tell EN- what me N
you have agreed on. That Is my trump
card It'll knock out anything they
hold: now you see eff 1t don't. I'm
poin' to give them a-talkin' to that they
won't forget soon, an I'll do 1t right.
too. fer don't expect to tell anything
but the truth Ell Lydia Cranston has
engaged 'erself to that stuck up bump
on rotten log, she'll have the satisfac>
ton o. KNOWN that thar's one woman
in the land that knows whar she's driv
'er ducks"
Hillyer rose, with smile. We'll.
maybe you kin sorter bring 'em to Their
senses, an | say go it. l lost control
O. myself tother day an give the old
major a piece o my mind, an he
mought as well git t'other half from
you. ! wish you luck. Ef yon fail, 1t
will be about the fust time you've
missed fire since I've knowed you. l
reckon it won't kill i'm. Mrs. Dugan
says the New York doctor found i'm
as sound as dollar
About 10 O'Clock Mrs. Hillyer went
down to Cranstons She was attired
In her best black silk gown and flow
cred bonnet, and she walked with a
firm, decided tread. She was invited
by the maidservant at the door into
the sitting room, where Cranston sat
before an open window. looking out
into the balmy spring sunshine. His
wife was near him, and Lydia had just
come in with glass Of claret punch
and stood stirring it at his side. They
all greeted her pleasantly. and Lydia
seemed somewhat surprised at the I'M
expected visit, for it occurred to her
Quick powers of observation that,
while George Buckley lay i'll at the
Hillyers' and right upon the news OF
his fathers death and public exonera-
t IL,
say the least, extraordinary. So Lyd-
las face became rigidly eXpectant as
she seated herself and endeayored to
participate calmly in the platitudes
that her mother. with her usual tact,
managed to set going.
II was powerful glad to hear" said
Mrs. Hillyer to the major, that the
New York specialist made favorable
report on yore case"
Eyes; he took quite load of worry
off my mind, thank you, madam"
The major always addressed ladies as
madam" whom he did not specially
like. 1t was way he had of leaving
the impression that he might or might
not remember their names. In the
same way he frequently greeted GER
tain men whom he considered beneath
him socially with n vague How do
you do, sir?' However, his Formally
of speech today had little effect on the
visitor. II he had called her by her
given name. without a prefix, she would
not have spoken what was on her mind
any sooner.
"Thar's no use beatin' the devil
around a bush, folkses," she began
lightly. 1--WE come here this mornin'
to do my duty as l see it. an I hain't
a-goin' to waste time. The good book
says do unto others as you'd have them
do unto you. an eff was actin as
wrong as you uns are I'd want folks to
tell me Of it. I'd want 'em to telegraph
eff they couldn't git to me right away"
The Cranstons were all staring fixed
ly. The warm color was rising In
Lydia's face
"Why, what's wrong. madam asked
the major in establishment.
.Tts all about yore daughter here
an George Buckley" Mrs. Hillyer
blurted out with firmness. Them two
hain't bein' treated right 1t may seem
like I'm takin' lots fer granted in
includin' her, but she don't look to me
like fool, an any woman would be
fool to be adored by a man like
she is by George Buckley an not want
to treat i'm with common decency."
Lydia started to speak as she drew
herself up more erectly but her father
prevented it.
81 trust you will pardon me, madam"
ba said "for frankly saying that the