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

@Ac uOCIOE IHlukS ne udu SSElOuo u
tack. It's that old hurt place in hi
head that he got when he fell of tn
wagon fifteen year ago. The docto
cayn't tell how it'll come out, but b
says I'd better be up thar. Yore p
keeps akin fer me. l cayn't refus
i'm, George" The speaker suddenl!
paused and applied her handkerchief t
her eyes.
"Well. you can go, of course" salt
George.
"Oh, kin I?' she exclaimed II wal
afeard you wouldn't want Inc to. II
rather go, George. l sorter hardened
| my heart agin i'm when he was stou
an well, but now he's sufferin', want
to be with i'm" She broke down and
began to cry again.
There is nothing on earth to hinder
you," said her son, who was deeply
touched by her emotion, land if you
want me to do so, I'll CO. too, mother
He's my father-the only one l ever
had, and
lone of US will be enough said Mrs
Buckley. But, George, I've been
studyin' since got this letter. never
thought of it before, but l never
knowed yore pa to do a dishonest act
till he had that fall an hurt his head.
| read in the Index t'other day whar a
good man had got lick In the head
an it made demon out O. him till the
doctors operated ON him an cured i'm.
oh, George it may be that away in
yore pas case, an them twelve men
an the judge jest sent pore sick man
off fer what he couldn't help. 1t wasn't
managed right. Somebody ought to
"a fetched up that point He mighty
nigh made life unbearable fer us all,
but the chain gang wasn't the place fer
a man in his condition"
She had pushed back her bonnet and
her gray eyes were flashing rebellious-
ly. George was deeply moved.
That's right, mother" he said ad-
miringly, his fine face aglow, "stick to
him. l remember, when l was very
little fellow, that he was kind and gen.
tie with me, and although he treated
me pretty badly after grew up never
could forget that period. Yes, you
must go to him and do all you can for
his comfort. I'll pay for it."
"Oh, George, Georgew the old wom-
an cried, standing up. ut don't seem
right FER you to-
81 want to do 1t, mother" he said
simply and firmly. you must take the
night train, and remember, you are to
spare no expense"
II said felt relieved to have i'm go
off," whipoered Mrs. Buckley, but
after awhile missed i'm, an eff could
"a had i'm back without the RESPONSE
bility of what he'd do I'd "a been
willin'. When me n i'm got married
1t was SO different. George. I'd "a
picked yore pa out of thousand men.
was so proud Of i'm, an was the hap
Eiest womnn alive fer several years
after you was born. George, eff he gifts
N i'm had better move Off somers
whar we don't conflict with yore inter-
ests. l see my duty clearer now. I'll
stick to i'm fer better or worse as long
as me or i'm lives"
George Buckley's head sank for an
instant, then he looked up and gazed
ut her tenderly.
There is nothing, mother, that can
keep me from being with you and him.
When his time is out Wen all live to- |
gether. I've made up my mind on that |
point. He's convict, and l want |
things different. but he's my father and |
you are my mother, and that settles It,"
The old woman started away. She |
had reached the door. but turned back |
and stood near him. George" SHE |
said huskily. you are good boy" and |
then she slowly walked away.
She came in about the middle of the
afternoon ready for her train. and as
ne was walking with her to the sto-
ion she surprised him with a confess
sion.
II don't think / ort to keep back Il
hing from you, George" she said IAN
I'm goin' to tell you some'n' l did that
don't feel right about"
what was that. motherT
George looked up hesitating-
Y, as If dreading his displeasure-'I
eed Lydia Cranston ag'in. Jest a day
n two before she accepted the govern
RS invite to Atlanta she driv out home
n her buggy an come in to see me.
She didn't ak me not to tell you, but
I'm sure she wouldn't want you to
now. She told me all about her trou-
lie, cryin' like 'er heart I'D break. Her
"a was in a critical condition an want
ID 'er to go, an 'er ma was dingdong-
n at 'er night an day. She didn't
ay right ont that she loved you, but
Ter actions said it, an she knowed |
Understood. She don't like that man
bit, but her pa wants 'er to marry
i'm, an she's afeard 1t will blll i'm eff
he refuses. George, she axed me right
ut what l thought she ort to do, an
o save my life didn't know--I couldn't
ell. She told me she loved me, George,
hat her own mother never'd been good {
o 'er an never understood 'er an that ]
he'd come to me fer advice. Rugged
er up in my arms, an she sobbed like
-