The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1904-12-23

could help you. but | can't. I'll settle
Buekley's hash i'm about two minutes
after | give him a sound lecture Right
now the old devil would cut the threats
OF several Of the states witnesses IL
he was at liberty"
Then I'll 20 back TO the store an
tell the boy" Hillyer sighed as he
moved TO the door, a dead look of dis
appointment in his eye.
AS Hillyer was making his way
| through the courtroom to the outer
door the wife of the condemned man
reached out her hand and stopped him.
| She had clutched the tail of his long
| frOck coat.
Il want TO speak TO you" she said.
Go ahead. I'm goin' outside" He
led the way down the stairs to the yard
below and then paused to hear what
| she had to say.
II seed you invite the judge out" she
began Il suspicioned you axed i'm
| to make it fine"
Yes, that's what called i'm out fer,
Mrs. Buckley the merchant said.
looking down commiserately on her fat
figure clothed in dingy black calico,
''but 1t wasn't bit o. use. He's made
up his mind to send the old man of
for five years"
The woman nodded slowly. We'll,
reckon it's as good as we kin expect"
she said EFF 1t had been fine, George
would "a had TO pay it, an I'm agin
that proposition. He's worked hard
to make his little start, an it amt
right fer i'm to have to give it up when
Mr. Hillyer, I've heard that pore boy
beg an beg his pa to change, an eff
he's predicted this thing once he has
fifty times"
Il knew that, too" replied the mer-
chant, with dark frown. But
George is jest so situated right now,
Mrs. Buckley, that he'd sacrifice all he
expects to make in the next ten years
to avoid the disgrace O. the sentence.
He holds his own with the biggest
folks in town, an this is simply awful.
You know how some o. these blue
blooded families look on thing like
this
"Jest about as sensible as they look
on most things" retorted Mrs. Buck
ley philosophically, IAN | don't see no
use in humorin' 'em. They may know
a mans thief but eff he hain't pub
licly branded they don't care. But
David has broke the law; thar amt no
change to be made in i'm, an I'm agin
lettin' 1t hamper George. no matter
what these shallow minded aristocrats
think. What's botherin' me is another
thing" u
"You say 1t is, Mrs Buckeye And
the merchant stared expectantly.
Yes, Mr.. Hillyer George hain't got
but one weakness, an that is. once In
long while, when he is In despair.
he will take drink to drown his trou-
bic. reckon be bain't fetched drap
but once since he's been with you"
'An' that was the time they threat
ened to jail yore husband fer pennin'
Up Wilson's hogs, an we succeeded In
squashin' the charge"
YES, that was the time''-the old wo-
man pushed back her gingham poke
bonnet and looked straight into HILL
yers eyes-"an' | am anxious to find
out Of this thing has made him
mot yet Mrs. Buckley" Hillyer's
voice had fallen very low; it was al.
most husky "But I've been that afeard
{ would start I'm off that han't been
.lde o slice 1T niaht lies in d awful
5ate o mind Mrs. Buckley, IN when
20 back an tell i'm the judges de-
.ision | don't know what he'll do. A
Inc piece o metal will bend jest SO
ar an then it'll break
The old woman nodded again slowly
md then said: 'sWel, III 80 back In
ide. This is new wrinkle on me.
Is considered right an proper fer
olks to 20 to the crave wifi Their kin.
n reckon thar I'D he talk eff | shlrk-
d lcarin' the sentence. but tell George
II come down to the store after
white"
IAN right Mrs. Buckley III tell
m"
AS Hillyer turned toward the gate
J reach TIE little street which stretch
i OUT. lined with cottages and brick
NV Offices, TO tLcl red brick freight de-
OF at the far end one Of TIE atI sers
n tie grass rose and slouched l9ward
Inn
"TIave they sentenced Bu1klev yetr
G asked I'm witness on tl0t harn
urnin' case. an eff 1t AIM ~ to
: called tonight I'm a-goin E0iae
"It's next on he docket, te ner-
liant informed lin. as
The man had aother que an ldy.
What's cottond bringin' he
,ked. 1--WE got a big white M 'ady
r the gin" ,t,s
"Seyen and three-eights." ,red
flyer, and he walked Of lu the
ain thorcuphfare Of the fpp had
pass several lex stores the
erks and merchants stooc the
APPS OF their wares on tile 1 row
lex sidewalks and mans ~ lem ;.
ked about the Buckley trial Ili'lyer
ade short but considerate TppUfs and
stened past On d corner 81 one OF