Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-08-06


 she soon found herself as moody as the others. The merchant gulped down a cup of hot, black coffee, ate very light ly of what was on his plate and then went out on the front veranda to smoke.
 The evening passed slowly, and about 10 o'clock the family retired. Hillyer could not sleep. His wife, tired as she was, was kept awake by her hus- bands constant movements. About midnight he got up, half dressed him. self and took his hat
 "Whar are you goin'2' asked his wife
 I'm a-goin' down to satisfy myself about George" he said sheepishly. Thar ain't no use tryin' to hide it; I'm worried"
 Well, I'll be switched! exclaimed his wife. 'But reckon you thought as well. I don't believe me nor you nuther is goin' to close our eyes to- night unless you do I'll bet you'll find i'm in bed. No doubt he jest went to the hotel an got his supper rather than let us know he was drinkin'. He still sleeps at the warehouse, don't he?"
 Yes, he still rooms thar" answered Hillyer, ian of thar's no light I'll come right back. Sometimes when he's bothered he sets up an works on his books"
 When her husband had gone Mrs. Hillyer crept up the stairs to Hortense | Snowden's room. The girl was sitting up in bed.
 Why, are you awake?" Mrs. Hill- yer cried. "I declare, we are all set O night owls.'
 T haven't slept wink" was the re- ply. Do you know, every sound in your room comes right up that stove fue. could hear the creaking of your bed, an just now I heard you talking Oh, Aunt Martha, where do you think it's going to end?''
 I'll end in madhouse eff it keeps up,' said Mrs. Hillyer, with little, forced laugh. 'T'm goin' to crawl in yore bed. Pm not to say afeard O sperits, but am of niggers an tramps. Phew! I'm all of shiver. Let's cov- CT up. Hortie, you've always said I was good woman We'll try to be, 1 but T hain't perfect by long shot. I | 1ts 1 You'd say so eff you could see through my outside. I've got one whalin' big fault, an that is suspicion. Somehow cayn't root it out. Now, like George Buckley as we'll as you or MT. Hillyer l does, but what on earth has made Mr. Hillyer so wrapped up in that boy an the whole layout Q Buckaeys2 Why, 1 he's as crazy as a bedbug right now l about this trial an Georges condition. l Oh, know you kin say he likes the boy an all that, but thar are heaps Q boys in the county an heaps O folks that's jest as worthy of assistance as 1 the Buckleys.'
 l SOh. Aunt Martha, urely don't mean
 II don't mean nothin,' interrupted Mrs Hillyer, "but I'm as sure O one thing as am that got my cold feet agin yore'n, an that is that MT. Hill yer hain't told me everything about them Buckleys. He may think I wouldn't keep 1t, but he hain't let me on to his game"
 Hortense had no observation to make, and they lay silent for several min utes. Then the girl spoke:
 George could really bear 1t much better if he had not met Lydia Gran ston. don't blame him for caring for her. Aunt Martha. She's splendid 1 girl; we all like her; she's just as frank and open as can be- She's, always making fun of her fathers family pride. He's got Cranston tree in the library, but Lydia gets all mixed up when she tries to tell any one who her I connections are. I was just thinking, I She'll be apt to be disgusted with George if she hears that this has driy- en him to drink, and"
 Don't you bother about that" retort- ed Mrs Hillyer ''Thar never was a woman that turned agin a man she l cared fer on that account; they'll make excuses fer 'em, an the Lord knows she could fish up good many to justi- I fy George. I know I could. Pore fel- low! Jest think O him try1n' an tryin' l to git his head above water an that old scamp of a daddy jerkin' i'm down an right now when he was gittin' sech a fine start He could "a married that Cranston gal eff this thing hadn't come up-I mean he could in time, I beca'se 1t was in 'im.''
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