The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1905-01-13


/ fess the truth. They say men will gil
that away as they nigh the grave, an
he's gittip old Some'n's wrong,
know. fer he acts quar- In not comm
to see me. I'm as nigh crazy as q
man ever vas. Do you know what
done last night? It was as dark as
pitch, an l knowed nobody wouldn't
see me. You know the old livery sta
BILE whar the shootin' occurred Is still
standin'. had never been past II
since then. Jest couldn't. But last
night, in the pitch dark an drizzlin'
rain, got out'n bed an went thar an
knelt down right whar he fell. an
begged an begged God to let me die
/ then an thar an face whatever was
a-comin' to me. even eff 1t was eternal.
/ want my punishInent-the rail thing
| Ito begin. an go on an on eff it's Gods
will. l don't care how long. l cayn't
stand this uncertainty. Hank VIII
liams intends to come to me. but he's
npttin' it OF to the last minute. But
want him to spout it all out an lie done
with it. Eff he don't, will Then tonight
| went up to the graveyard an picked
out Lynn Hambright's grave an laid
down on it amongst the weeds an
briers an prayed to his bones to rise
up an do some'n Anything's better
than this awful silence of God an
man."
With his hands tightly pressed over
his face the merchant sat, breathing
heavily. George Buckley stood over
him, his handsome face heavy with
pity.
us there anything-anything on
earth that can do. Mr.. HillyerT he
questioned. II would do anything to
relieve you. I'd cut of my right arm
to do you a service"
"Yes, you can do some'n'," said the
merchant, looking up and staring stead
lily. You know how feel. l want
you to take my boss an ride out to
Williams the fust thing In the morn
in. You could git thar by 10 or IL
o'clock, but"-Hillyer paused and ut
tered soft groan-"but I'd have all
that time-to wait, like a man goin' to
-
tonight, you'd git thar about the time
he was risin', an you could, by ridin'
peart. git back here by 10 in the
mornin'." 500 4
'Why, yes, can go easily" said
Buckley. But what must say 10 him,
4s:ir. 1.',;.;:-o"
The olu man stared for a moment,
and then he replied:
Tell i'm I'm a million times sorrier |
than l was when-the deed was done, !
an that l want i'm not to delay any |
longer ef-ef he is goin' to take any
step. Tell i'm I want 1t over. That |
will be enough, George. Now git out
the boss"
"And your
"I'll stay here the balance O. the
night an open up, as usual, an make
Jake put the Office in order"
Don't you think your wife will be
troubled If she should miss you, Mr.. I
"She won't miss me; she's got used
to my night prowlin'. I'd keep her
awake eff l was at home. I'm goin' to
pace this floor back an forth an try
to git tired. Go ahead, George. Don't
waste any more time You'll know
what to say. l don't want you to plead
fer me. I've plead with higher power
n he is till I'm through. All want is
a verdict-the verdict lodged so long
ago."
The next day about 10 o'clock, as
George was returning home and was
within mile of town, he saw his en-
ployer emerge from a clump of per-
simmon trees on the edge of the road
md walk toward him. He was almost
1 nervous wreck; his eyes were blood
shot and his gray hair disheveled.
Il couldn't wait fer you to git to
.own." he said, looking up and down
he road furtively,. as If afraid soLle
)ne might be coming, land so waTKeu
,ut. | come away from the warehouse
est after breakfast an I've beer
yalkin' through them woods over thar
,ver since. Once fell in deep ditch.
thought 1t was Gods mercy an that
t was all goin' to be over, but
lidn't git scratch. You notice l keep
akin. It's beca'se I'm afeard to look
It you or let you speak"
"You haven't thing to fear, Mr..
Iillyer." Buckley dismounted and
TODD by his employer, his arm through
he Bride
You didn't see Williams?'
Eyes, l saw him and had long talk !
With him. He said you were the best
nan he had ever known in his life
nd that he'd rather die than harm you
n any way. He would have come to =
ee you, he said, but he thought you L
night not want to be reminded of the
asst. He actually cried when l told
i'm of your sufferings. He said it was
our influence that had made him try
D lead a better life. He said his
of you in that case was 0
he one thing in all his life that he S
yas proud of. He declared he would II
o it over again. He's got into some l
ew religion. l don't know what it 0
!, but it is not exactly orthodox. He a
avs it would have been wrong to pun
III man for thing he regretted II