The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1905-02-03

like a sensitive. high spirited dwarf
trying to avoid seeing tall men. The
whole town was going to hear the gov.
ernor's address the next Sunday; the
whole town was talking of his admira.
ton for the belle of the place. For the
remainder of the week George was un-
certain what he should do, but when
the eventful morning arrived he went
to livery stable, engaged a horse and
buggy and drove out to his mothers.
He might have chosen better, for the
sordid surroundings of the farmhouse.
which had never seemed like home to
him in the highest sense, only made
him feel more depressed.
THE Lord knows I'm astonished to
see you," Mrs. Buckley said as she
came to the door wiping her fat hands
on her apron. why, all the settle
ment it seems to me, has gone in town
to see the governor, but somehow Il
didn't care to go. I'm too old to ride
ten miles in joltin' wagon to see Jest
a man. How do you come onT'
Il feel all right" George replied. az
didn't care to hear the speech"
You say you didn't?" Mrs. Buck.
ley's heavy brows ran together. She
stood for a moment eying her son with
sympathetic fixity. She had heard the
rumor of the governors attentions to
Lydia Cranston. They were now In
| the sitting room, and he stood warm
ing himself before the fire.
"Oh, George" she suddenly got out.
Il wish you'd let me talk to you an
not git mad" I
Mad? Why, mother" he exclaimed,
show could get mad at your
The old woman sat down in her low
chair in the chimney corner "You are
my boy" she said, tremor in her gen.
tie voice, AN some things hurt-cut
me to the quick. oh, George, 1 wish
you would sort o. be content with com.
mon folks like we all are. You are as
good, every bit an grain, as that vir.
ginia gal, but somehow she's situated
different Now, fer instance, they say
she's got a chance, an good one, to-
marry the governor"
Il think she has" George said cold.
iy. his lips Tightening, but what Of
that, motherT
"Oh, 1t nearly kills me to have folks
think you-you want to get somen' rn'
cayn't," replied the old woman plain.
lively. AN, George, as things 20 I'M
this world, Lydia Cranston will have
to take that offer. She cayn't git
around It. Gals kin have Their choice.
an'-mind you, I don't know a thing
she may, down in her heart, like you
the best on account o. you bein' yosin.
ger an better lookin', but folks in her
walk o. life, / reckon, have to sorter
look to the future. Her folks will
make her, eff she draws back. George,
IL hope you don't feel bad about it.-
Mother, I'm all right" He sat down
before the fire. He looked out through
the small paned window upon a wide,
stretch Of cotton land where he had
toiled through his boyhood. To the
left, inside the garden fence, was the
log smokehouse, the barn and stables:
to the right, the yard where the chick.
ems and ducks were scratching the
earth for food. The old woman said
Aothing-there was nothing she could
say, for his reply had not reassursd
her, ,4t
why do you think anything Is wrong
with mel" he suddenly asked. "Haa
ea ia stts
You cayr't keep folks mouths shet."
Mrs Buckley said. you've got more
friends AN any boy in all this noun,
tain country, but even a body's best
friends will git jealous when he begins
70 rise in the world. Most of 'em
hought you was fyin too high, George.
Ill along-in visitin' the best In Oar.
cyan they are tickled to be able to
circulate the report that she's goin' to
marry the governor of the state. You
zee, they kin say that an not seem to
'e talkin' agin you, but they are
hucklin' all the same"
Il can't help their talking nor their
linking" Buckley said, with a sigh.
"But l believe I'd put a bold faca
n 1t an laugh at the IDEA o. marryin'
nybody right now. Then I'd sorter
lack off from goin' to the Cranstons'.
George, kin stand anything better, IL
GEMS to me, than havin' 'em all think
on are miserable over 1t, an when the
1edding takes place.
Then you count on 1t as a certainty.
o you" His face clouded over, and,
! spite Of his self control, his voice
ang harshly.
She stared at him pityingly. 'Thars
o use talkin' about it." she said soft
7. George, you hain't ready to adj
nit it, an that's the wust sign of all.
ou jest cayn't see it like other folks
n thar's jest one reason fer that
on cayn't stand to think Il possible"
He voiced no denial. What was the
Sc? The old woman, crude as she
as, had known him from the first pull.
alton of the life that WIS now raging
Ike a mad torrent within him. In bis
Iinds eye he had q glimpse II the vil-
ge church, PACKED TO tire doors with
q eager. expe,iant crowd lie saw
he flowers on the altar. There was a.
rofound hush The Cranstou carriage
nd driven up. The governor Of the
ate was assisting two ladies TO alight.