The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1905-02-03
THE SUBSTITUTE.
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w anu TWAS Inty SWGdE lleN
hate kings an queens beca'se they
stand above 'em, but they'll feel hon
ored by the notice O. royal folks. Tha.
may be one reason like Lydia Crap
ston. l don't know, I'm only human.
but jest feel like she's of differen.
order. Do you know the time you in
troduced me to 'er? Well, woman
knows woman, no matter how differ
ent they've been raised, an l seed that
she was surprised toto see that was
well, jest like | am. but l tux a
strong likin' to 'er fer the way she
acted"
''The way she acted?" George Buck
ley spoke under his breath, but the Wo-
man heard
"Yes; l could tell she was doin' 'er
level best to make me feel easy, an it
time
"The next timer George was really
surprised. did you meet her again?"
Mrs. Buckley was silent; her eyes hai
fallen. She had said more than she
intended.
did you say you met her again,
mother-again?
Mrs. Buckley looked up resolutely. II
never intended to mention that" she
said, "an' l don't know as ort to now.
bein, as it seems, she never told you
about it, But it was when she was
over at Shirley Springs last week. One
mornin' she come here to see me, an,
George, as God is my judge, never
spent happier hour in all my life. l
don't know how it was. but she jest
had a way O. maxim me feel good. Eff
she ever thought she was better'n
common folks, nobody could "a told it.
was piecin' q scrap quilt, an she
set down an set to work on it. / never
seed the like. Her little, slim, white
fingers jest moved like lightnin An
I talk! She could think O more cheer
full things TO say than anybody ever
seed. 1t was that way till nigh r.
an then she left George-she kissed
{. mew
Buckley was staring. an unfathom-
able expression in his big, yearning
eyes.
''SbH kissed you, mother? God bless
her!' And he rose and put his arms
about the old womans neck His eyes
were glistening.
Eyes, she did twice, out at the gate.
never intended to tell you about that,
fer IL didn't think it was exactly the
sort o thing toto make you take yore
mind off'n 'er, but she did it, an to
dxyiv, do oIv oil ofI
: FER an stand up fer 'er They may
make 'er marry that man or some
other in Their circle, but fer about one
hour me an her was on the level Gods
been tryin' fer centuries to bring folks
up to. Yes; she may not be strong
enough to go her way with all them
ropes tied to 'er, but eff she's ever a
mother she'll be a good un-with a soul
an heart. l like 'er, George, an 4
don't blame you fer aeceptin' her
friendship. Eff was man I would,
eff that was all the crumb she ever
drapped my way. Lovin' woman like
that's jest ambition, an ambitions
right an upliftin'."
Mrs, Buckley was looking at her son,
but he had turned his face away. He
stood still, his features working, his
strong breast heaving unanimously
''The FRUITS are a-havin' a world of
trouble with jeff" said Mrs. Buckley
irrelevantly. Somebody set fire to
Their barn last night They managed
to put 1t out, but Jeff got another
White Cap letter O. warnin to skip |
out. 1t had skull an bones on il
Mrs. TRUTHS been tryin' to git i'm to |
leave, but old Bascom won't let I'M |
go. Now, George, git the rife an shoot
me the latest chicken you see in the
bet you hain't half fed thar at Hill |
yer's. Them niger cooks don't know |
how to prepare meal o. vittles."
Mother" - he turned suddenly and |
resolutely on her-'you haven't told |
me all about her coming here"
"Yes. I have, George, s. help me
Godw
mot all you-thought, mother"
The woman hesitated, and then she |
faltered: mo, I'll admit that, George |
How could L? laid awake nearly all |
that night studyin' over 1t"
"Tell me what you thought, mother"
why, George? r.
Mother this Is the darkest day l |
have ever spent. l had one other as
bad, but drowned it in whisky, but |
now"-he smiled rigidly-"I am facing |
the music with a clear head. Mother.
what did you thinkY'
"Well, George" after another pause !
II sorter believed she kissed me an
an lookei like she wanted to cry III
my arms beca'se l was yore mother.
never could make Out-wOmen are
sech riddles, even to the'rselves-I new
er could make out whether it was
goodby kiss intended fer you or-or
another sort. l watched her tell she
got clean across the pasture field, an
she walked all the way with 'er head
down. Now git the gun"
He sat down suddenly. Mother,
couldn't kill a living thing today" he