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

through the wooden latticework that
separated the two rooms.
What are you doing?" Miss Cosby
asked
Il was looking to see If anybody was
on the other side" was the answer, in
4 satisfied tone, as Mrs. Cranston seat
cd herself. I'VE had lot of trouble
here in the summer at lawn party.
owing to some people hearing them
selves talked about. There was
spoony pair ON that side and couple of
old maids on this one. The lovers were
blissfully silent, for reasons of their
own, and they heard some things about
themselves that they didn't like. Yes.
| want to talk to you about Lydia"
Il knew it," cried the visitor, laying
her two hands on Mrs. Cranstons arm
AMI sitting down beside her. "She's
going to marry the governor and you
want me to help prepare for the event"
Mrs. Cranston shook her lead and
went on with II lengthy explanation of
the existing state of affairs, in which
the name of George Buckley appeared
rs often as that of Governor Telfare.
Now, you see the fix we are in
Mrs. CranstOn ended.
The young lady was silent, her fair
brow wrinkled. why, Mrs. sCranstOn,
it's simply awfulH she said after
pause. 1T will never do for it to go
on like this. 1t will be ruinous. Has
the child lost her reason? Why, if he
is as bad as you say, how on earth
does he happen to be min good SO
ciety-even here?''
Perhaps am not quite fair to him"
Mrs. Cranston admitted, ''or 10 Lydia
either, in not mentioning what has real
ly been in his favor. In the first place,
he is by far the best educated and
most refined young man in the place;
his employer sent him off to college
and gave lin extraordinary advan-
tages; then he happens to be great
reader, and Lydia is, too, you know
yes, lie has most remarkably polished
manners and is decidedly good look
ing"
"Oh, and you put that last! How
ridiculous" Miss Cosby laughed mer
rily and then suddenly subsidized, for
her hostess was looking at her with
panied expression.
Its no laughing matter, Kitty. We
are in an awful fix. You know how
headstrOng Lydia is, and if she were
just to get the idea that we were OPP
posing her she'd be worse than ever. |
So l knew your influence would be |
good. You will bring her back to the |
old associations, and in an indirect
way you can show her the social ad |
vantages of marrying Governor Tel |
fare"
"Oh, can do all that" said Kitty, |
land If she is not already in love with |
nondescript I'll bring her to
her senses. But tell me about him
that's the main thing. What's he like? |
How does lie conduct himself? Why, |
can't imagine IA son of common
thief, lowborn mountaineer, a penni
less bookke eper, being even for a min
ute on q social footing with the only |
child of Major Cranston-even if you
are living in the backwoods, out of all
creation. If the two were shipwrecked
on q lonely island together l should
was displaying her fine,
even teeth in jovial smile-''that the
very waves would throw up a sort of
barrier"
THE religious element here governs
everything returned Mrs. Cranston,
with a patient smile. These good,
Christian people would think we were
awfully stuck up if we refused to adj
nit worthy young man to our house
Just because his father had gone
wrong; besides, he had established him
self before his fathers trouble We
simply drifted into the situation, and
things went on till now we don't know
where we stand. But to be perfectly
fair to him, Kitty, he's simply a mascu-
inc marvel. When l began to fear
lim l began to watch for vulnerable
places in his makeup, but I've found
precious few, l tell you-precious few.
You know I've seen good society, ii
my Virginia woman has, and I'm 60
ng to tell you that have never met
more polished man in all my life-no,
;ir, not in Richmond, nor Boston, nor
Charleston. He has actually made me
blush with shame. / remember once l
disputed his word about one of Bal
;acs heroes, only to have him prove
hat was wrong a few minutes later
n the incest manner
"He happened to be dining here, too,
me night when Bishop Page stopped
'ver with us on his way to Florida.
There were several young men pres
mt, among them Tarpley cambridge,
Who belongs to one or the very oldest
antilles in Georgia and is considered
he catch Of the county. Well, he sat
here like a stick In the cushion Of his
hair and let Mr.. Buckley conduct the
ntire conversation with the bishop. In
act, Bishop Page simply directed most
f his remarks to Mr.. Buckley, and it
eally was an intellectual treat lie |
ripped the bishop up twice, and the
Id man flushed, but laughingly adj
litted he was wrong. He was most |
avorably impressed with Mr.. Buckley,
nd, of course, | did not enter into |