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

| followed him. George looked anu saw
Lydia Cranston und kitty Cosby stand
ing few feet from him. They .hn,
( heard all. In Lydia's eyes great tear
stood. and In her face shonc kindlin
light upon which her very soul seemc
to breathe Covered with c!nbarrass
nlcnt, Buckley went to them.
"Tm verj sorry" lie began, bu
Lydia put up her gloved hand an,
stopped him.
"Don't, don't" she said gently, almos
revercntly, as she looked straight Int.
his eyes. Don't"
He had not been introduced to hc
companion, and the fact seemed t
have escaped her. The three walked tc
the door.
II am Miss Cosby, Mr. Buckley
Kitty said swcetly. Lydia has COM.
pletcly forgotten that we don't know
each other"
II am delighted to meet you" he
fnltercd. red In the face This IL n
rather rough and tumble camp meet
Ing reception TO offer You the first time
you honor the Old warehouse with your
presence. Miss Cosby" he managed to
get cnt, but we are IN emotional pco.
pie nnd'--
'Hush" suddenly exclaimed Lydia,
facing him with her great, wondering
eyes. "Don't speak lightly OF that"
Tlrn her voice sank into ineffable
sweetness. "Show me, Mr., Buckley,
where 1t happened. mean from
Which direction did the mob come, ana
Is this the a0or--where the poor hoy
tl,t,
George grew redder; he cssnyed a
light laugh, but she was persistent
She laid her hauds OH his arm. Tell
me-" SHE urged, "is this the very spot:"
"rhats right, miss" said Truitt,
coming up. "Thc gung come runnin'
right down that walk after JET. lie
haint Il plumb coward, but a mob o
iifiy hloodthirsty men would rattle
any boy that's been made Il pet OF all
his life. They WAS all right on his
heels, an he seed George Bucklcy's
open door an made break fer it.
George let i'm in an then stood right
OH that sill thar an dared one Of 'cm
to pass i'm. He had gun, but they
could Il ground i'm to sausage meat.
One man cooked n revolver. an George
TO shoot i'm while he stood in the
light. an be,neaned i'm fer IL coward
an all he could think Of His pure
grit, an the respect they had fer I'm,
shamed the gang, an they left. But
thar's Il hero. miss. You young ladies
study about leaders OF great battles
That are this an that, but I'm II old
soldier an what George Buckley done
last night was the Dravcst thing ever
seed or heard tell Of"
1--WE thought Major Cranston was
herc,' Miss Cosby explained when Tru.
lit had gone. I'VE have been looking
Ill over town for him.
George accompanied them to the car
rlnEc and helped them in. He WAS still
flushed and embarrassed. Lydia was
uniet and thoughtful.
"Nou must come up and see us very
soon," she said. Il want you to know
Kitty"
Buckley turned back to the Office. an.
CRY with himself, the Truitts and cv-
crything pertaining TO the recent hap
pening.
ooh, what an ass made Of myself"
he thought-"what deplorahlc, help
less Assn'
He had just seated himself ut lis
desk when jeff Truitt came in
George" he said, "Kenncr has offrrc;
mo job at the compress. and
"Well"--Gcorge looked up from hi.
work, with Il frown-"that's all right
guess
Their eyes met. and Truths fell TO
|
door, meeting Kcnncr OH the sidewalk.
II made George mad jest now," he
sa1u to kcnncr. 81 wouldn't "a done
It fer the world. but'-
You didn't make me mad. old boy"
SAID George, coming up, with Il smile.
i was worried about calculation
was making. hardly knew who was
speaking to me-"
"Wcll. Pm glad" said jeff, with Il
smile Of relief. 81 wouldn't bother
you fer the world"
"ill bet he was mad," snid Kennc.'
to himself aS he moved on "Gcorg
Buckley's as hard to understand some.
times as Il woman. He didn't like thu
way the Truitts carried on fore ther.
young ladies. Lord, he don't knov.
" llNIl StNc Ills Dfcuu = Dullcfeu DI.
Ef live hundred years I'll ncve'
forget Lydia Cranston's face while old
Trultt was a-talkin', nn' George IL AZ
blind as Il bat--kickin' himself right
now"
He went into the Office few minutes
later. George was at his desk. II dry
pen In his hand, the flush still on his
face. 81 met Bob Hanks uptown
awhile ago." Kcnner observed.
George did not seem to hear.
Hes put on new two horse delIv.
cry wagon, painted up with his sign
on it, jest like city wagons"
Buckley was still inattentivc.
by the way, the littlo devil told ne
he was goin' to let up OH that school
girl racket O. his. lie told me OF his
own accord. SO l reckon my talk did
some good t'0thcr night"
Il suppose it did," said Buckley. with
a start, and he went to work. Kcnner
stood watching him for several min
utes. The flush remained on Buclslcy's