The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-09-21

LOT i've SedIS.
The woman nodded slowly. "Well,
reckon it's as good as we kin expect"
she said. "Ef it had been a fine, George
would "a had to pay 1t, an I'm ag1n
that proposition. He's worked hard
to make his little start, an 1t amt
right fer i'm to have to give it up when
Mr.. Hllyer, I've heard that pore boy
beg an beg his pa to change, an ef
he's predicted this thing once he has
fifty times
II 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 be
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
lev philosophically, "an' I don't see no
use in humorin' 'em. They may know
a mans thief, but ef he hain't pub
lcly 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' it hamper George, no matter
what these shallow minded aristocrats
think. What's botherin' me is another
thing"
"You say it is, Mrs. Buckley" And
the merchant stared eXpectantly.
eyes, Mr.. Hillyer George hain't got
but one weakness, an that IS, once in
q long while. when he Is in despair,
he will take drink to drown his trou-
bic. I reckon he hain't fetched drap
but once since he's been with you"
can that was the time they threat
ened to Jail yore husband fer pennln'
up Wilson's hogs, an we succeeded IN
squashin' the charge"
Eyes, that was the time'-the old Wo-
man pushed back her gingham poke
bonnet and looked straight into Hill
yer's eyes-"an' I am anxious to find
out eff this thing, has made HIM
'Not yet, Mrs. Buckley" Hillyer's
voice had fallen very low; 1t was al
most husky. "But I've been that afeard
1t would start i'm off that I hain't been
able to sleep at night He's in a. awful
state O. mind, Mrs. Buckley, an when
I 20 back an tell i'm the Judges de-
cision I don't know what he'll do. a
fine piece O. metal will bend jest SO
far an then it'll break
The old woman nodded again slowly
and then said: "Well, I'll 60 back in
side. This is new wrinkle on me.
It's considered right an proper fef
folks to go to the grave with ther kin,
an I reckon thar I'D be talk eff shirk-
ed hearin' the sentence, but tell George
III come down to the store after
awhile"
"All right. Mrs. Buckley. I'll tell
i'm
AS Hillyer turned toward the gate
to reach the little street which stretch
ed out, lined with cottages and br K
law Offices, to the red brick freight e
Dot at the far end, one Of the loungers
on the grass rose and slouched toward
him.
Have they sentenced Buckley yet|
he asked. sT'm witness on that barn
burnin' case, an eff it amt a-goin' to
be called tonight I'm a-goin' home"
"It's next on the docket" the mer-
chant Informed him.
The man had another question ready.
"Whats cotton bringin' today" he
asked. 'I've got big white bale ready
fer the GIN
Seven and three-eights," answered
Hiilyer, and he walked on. On the
main thorouehfare Of the town he hac
to pass several brick stores where the
clerks and merchants stood amid the
heaps Of their wares on the narrow
brick sidewalks, and many Of them
asked about the Buckley trial. Hillyer
made short but considerate replies and
fastened past. On a corner Of one OF
the streets running back to railroad
sidetrack, in the rear, stood his ware
house. Here be found his negro porter
busy with rattling floor trucks loading
a box car with bags Of grain. The Of
fee was a commodious room cut on
sn one Of the corners of the big brick
building next to the street. 1t con-
tanned a long walnut counter full Of
drawers, with shelves overhead for old
ledgers, commercial reports, dusty let
ter files and wired punches Of bills, re-
ceipts and Cancelled bank checks.
George Buckley, handsome, dark
eyed young man Of twenty-seven or
eight, sat on high stool writing in
ponderous ledger. Turning his head
and seeing who it was, he removed his
heels from the rung Of the stool and
turned round. There was steady
stare In his eyes as he fixed them on
Hillyers sympathetic, almost shrink
ing face.
"You did not succeed" be said, his
lips tightening.
"No; he'd already made up his mind,
George" replied the merchant.
George Buckley turned suddenly and
bent over his ledger and took up his
pen, but he did not dip it in the ink
stand. Hillyer could not see his face,
but he noted that the hand holding the
pen was quivering. Suddenly Buckley
laid the pen down, and Hillyer heard
something resembling sob or gasp
escape him, then the young man stood
down on the floor and reached for his
coat and pulled it on. He was deathly
pale, bis eyes were flashing strangely.
George, where are you going!' The
old man caught his arm, but Buck
ley wrenched it from his grasp.
LET me alone, Mr. Hillyer," said he.
"For Gods sake. let me alone:'
"All right, George; was Jest
about But his words fell dead on
the air, for Buckley had taken his hat,
pulled it on, and plunged out at the
door. For a moment the merchant
stood like a man turned to stone, and
fhan he hnrried back over the rough