The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1905-03-10
The SUBSTITUTE.
(Continued from Eighth Page.)


IKE a child. with no regard for my
feelings but now that you have dared
70 Interfere through me with George
BuckieY's rights as an American citi-
zen, inteFeepting his letters when he
Jay at deaths deep, treating him as if
ne were a dos we'll, yea bnve simply
Forced me to do my duty"
Lydia, daughter But the girl had
turned into the hall and was walking
rapidly across the lawn toward the
gate.
She went directly to Hillyer's house.
Hortense was in the yard gathering
flowers and greeted her with sur
prised smile as she came toward her
across the grass.
p,"Hortense," said Lydia tepsely, u
want to see George, May II"
'Why, yes, of course" said Hc7tense.
II have just left him, 7 came after
these flowers for his room. Go right
up; it's the first door on the left at
the head of the Stairs. Oh, Lydia, I'm
30 glad you came; it is very good of
you: 1t will make him so happy. Ever
Since he was hurt he has
ooh, know, but it wasn't my fault;
that's what 1 want to explain"
The door of Georges room was open.
His face was turned from Lydia as she
entered the room and he did not look
toward her, thinking 1t was HorteASe
returning with the flowers. 1t was not
till she stood over him, her burning
glance of sympathy on him, that he
looked up; then he aushed and started
TO sit erect.
Don't, don't, George!'' she cried, and
she laid her hand softly on his brow
low.
ats kind OF you to COME" he said.
81 really was not-nOt eXpecting-that
ts"-
mo; know you were not looking fo1
me, George, and wonder what you
have thought of me. I've come to ex>
plain and beg you to forgive me. 1 am
not quite as bad as seem. George,
did not know of the shooting till we
returned from Atlanta. l heard the
danger was over, but l at once wrote
you letter l have just discovered
that mother intercepted it. Not hear
ing from you, Iwrote another 1t also
was intercepted, but, not knowing that,
took your silence to mean that you
wished all to I've over between u.s."
Buckley was staring at her fXedly.
"What did you writer" he asked.
She was silent; the warm color was
mounting into her fine face; her eyes
were downcaSt.
Don't you want me to know now
what the letters containedY' he qucs-
toned gently
IL don't see how l can tell you
George, unless she paused.
"Unless," he prompted, the fire Of
hope almost afame in his eyes-"un
less?''
you see," she said, Il don't know
how you feel about me right now, and
when l wrote it was under the-mem-
DRY of what you said that night in At
lanta."
II could never change, Lydia. 1 love
you with all my life and soul. am
furnishing for one little word of hope
from you. Did your letters
II told you frankly in the first one,
George that l loved you, that l was
tired Of the way l was being treated
at home and that if you wanted me I'd
come to you in spite of all the world
and consider myself the luckiest wom-
an alive TO be your wife, but when you
did not answer hoped there was some
mistake, so 1 wrote another note tell
ing you l had received no reply and
that if did not get one I'd take it that
you wished everything over between
us. oh, George, l have been very uri
happy! l never realized how much |
loved you till l knew you were lying
here wounded, and r. She covered
her face with her hands and began to
sob softly. He reached out and drew
her hands down and held them, while
he Toasted his eyes on hers.
God bless you, little womanw he
said. 1T seems like dream. / can't
realize that you are here telling me you
you really care for me and are will
ing to be my wife. oh, darling, I'm
afraid I'll awake. 1t can't-can't be
truet'
''Ive loved You for long time" she
said gently. returning the pressure Of
his hands, but did not realize it till
that night in the summer house, when
1 overheard Governor Telfare insult
you as he did. You seemed a king
among men when you spoke to him as
you did, and what you said about your
respect for me and the sacrifices you'd