The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1905-10-25

You'd have thought something was
| wrong If you'd been here" George an.
swered lightly.
Hunks was at his desk munching n
piece OF cracker and now and then
taking sip Of water from thick.
unclean tumbler. He had no comments
to make. If the building had been half
demolished during the night he would
have inspected the ruin with supreme
Indifference, for 1t was not his per
sonal property. Half an hour later Il
man and woman came Gown the
street and entered the warehouse
The woman was short and f;if. wore II
black sunbOnnet and Il heavy gray
shawl. The man carried Il worn CON
federate flag in his left hund in lis
right battered army buSle.
"Je6'e NANNY an daddy" Kenper
said. my Lord. they got here quick!
reckon somebody must "a told 'em
tho news last night"
"COme on In, old woman" Truitt said
to his wife. Nobody hain't a-goin to
hurt YOU" He took the chair Ken
ner was proffering and placed it near
the stove. Then he leaned unsteudily
on the short staff of the furlcd flag.
The bugle rattled Oh the brass buttons
of his long oyercoat as his arm hung
down. ..'-.. ... -, '...
THE camp meets today" he said
huskily. but I haint blowed Il note
yit, an hain't stuck up the fling. The
boys will wait OH OF Bas this mornin'.
wish some O my tried comrades could
be here to listen TO what got to say.
George Buckley, I'm goin' to speak to
you, sir"
George had flushed all over with en-
barrassment His profile was to the
door. but out Of the corner Of his
eye he had caught glimpse of a
woman's figure In the main doorway.
The thought flashed through his brain
that it was Mrs. Hillyer or Hortense
Snowden, and he wanted to direct Hill
Yer's attention thither, but with set,
expectant features the merchant was
staring ut the speaker.
JEFF told us Jest how il happened"
Truitt went OH, his earnest eyes half
full Of tears. "an' me an my old wom-
an felt like we wanted to see, to look
nc, the man that saved our child. Thar
he is, Matilda; thar he is! Thar's the
chap that stood up IN the teeth O. that
ragin' mob an said ef they got our
boy 1T nd be over his dead body. George
Buckley done IT. He"-the old man =
, voice snnk SO low for Il moment that
, 1t was scarcely audible--"hc done IT.!
wish God would help me talk, but he
| won't, an I cayn't. l had lots to say,
/ but l cayn't talk. ] want to show
! what l feel, but I caynt. lowed
that a.-a man thnt fit fer Jackson an
Lee an Davis was good enough, but
: Il man blessed by a high place in tho
! world that stoops down an offers his
life fer pore, weak, scared boy is het.
tern soldier. He's more like God
than soldier. He's Rctuated by love
an pity, while tho soldier is nyhtin
fer spite. IL jest wish God would
give me a chance to show what I feel.
Matilda, cf you want to say anything,
say IT. Iore old mans made a fool OF
hlSselfr'
"Oh, DON'T don't, Mrs. Truittw George
protested as the Old woman pushed
back her bonnet and began to speak,
but she went on.
Il cnyn't say what l want to, moth
err" she sobbed. but kin pray fer
you, George, an | will. hope the
Master will shower blessings down on
yore head. Pve knowed i'm, gentle
men. scnce he was Il little boy, an he
always WAS one O. the best children
that ever lived. God knows he's had
trouble, but it jest seems to n sancti-