The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1905-07-26

net, showing BbbOth, grap haiF mid
!, aeeply wrinklcd brow md checks.
aid stood for Il moment behind her son.
tGillyer fancied that their conversation
might be Of Il private nature, and. talk
ing up grain sampler, he left the
room. The sound Of his heavy boots
drew George Buckley's attention. and
looking round he saw his mother. Her
sympathetic eyes fell beneath his wild
glare
Il reckon Mr.. Hillyer's already told
you." She began.
Eyes. he's told me-"
"Wcll. thar ain't but one thing for
sensible folks to do" faltcrcd the wclu-
III, "an' that's to make the best Of 1t
I'M go on tryin' to do our own duty"
EYES," he nodded vacantly, "you are
right. mother. Are you going home
touightW
"No. l lowed 1t I'd look more re-
spcctful to stny till they tuck i'm of III
the mornin'. The sheriff's wife axcd
me to spend the night with her in the
jail house, so could be nigh i'm"
George Buckley shuddored vlsibly,
but he said nothing. 1t gave Mrs.
Buckley the opportunity she was look.
ing for.
George, reckon bein' young rs you
are an'-an' miXin' with folks here IN
Darlcy that hain't never been IN sech
mess. 1t goes harder with you than It
does with me, away out thur in the
mountains, but l wish you wouldn't
take 1t 50 hard. You cayn't help yorc
pas doin's. No. you cayn't, an no
right minded folks nin't a-goin' to blame
you. AS fer mc'-shc paused an III
stant us she began to roll her sunbon-
net in her fat, red hands--"why, my
boy. feel Jest like awful load was
tuck Off'n me. l cayn't help II. 1t may
not be human-1 don't know-but
feel Jest that away. You think yore
cross IS hard to bear, but fer fifteen
year I've hardly slept sound nights
sleep, cXpcctln' an eXpcctin' the oiti-
GERS O. the law to ride up an hello at
the fence. An kcepln' his secrets
law, that's the wust Of it, fer he would
tell me every blessed bit O. devilment
he ever was In. 1t oil began away
back fifteen year ago, when he fell Off
his wagon an struck his head ngin a
rock. He never got over that; it made
I'm as Ill as snake an mad at ever
body, even his best friends. George,
l want to tell you how he did once
whcn"-
Don't, don't, dontw the young man
cried. I know enough. ! don't want
you ever to speak to me Of his crimes"
"Wcll, I won't, then." promised the
woman. Il reckon Tve heard so much
Of his doins that 1t don't horrify me
rs much rs 1t would you. Well. I'll
go on back. I'm goin' to Webbcr g.
Lands an buy him change O. under
clothes an some socks"
When she had reached the big ell
trance Of the warehouse she saw HILL
yer In the center Of the building, walk
Ing back and forth, his gray head hang
ing low, as If In troubled meditation.
Turning as If from n sudden impulse,
she went and joined him. The two
faced each other.
81 smeit liquor on 'ln," she said
tcrsely. II stood nigh to i'm; he's had
I'm dram, Mr.. Nillyer''
eyes. he's had q drink or two, Mrs.
Buclllcy."
''Whar'd he git his whislly?"
"Jake followed lin an seed i'm Mt
Hillhouse's bar. I haint said a word
about it. 1t don't do one bit O. good
to preach to man all upset In mind.
an half full at thnt."
"HO, yO'rc plumb right, an nobody
kin drive George. I'm powerfully
afraid this is goin' to be his downward
start, Mr.. Hillyer."
Don't say thatr The words were
spoken almost in a groan; and the
merchants sympathetic face seemed
wrung with inward pain. Don't say
that" he repeated, under his breath.
I'VE mustn't lose hope-we mustn't DO
hat"
The old woman stared at the working
face for moment in silence; then she
asked abruptly. "Mr. Hilyer, who is
hat family O. Cranstons that's come
here from Virginia?"
"Oh, you've heard O. them?" said
lllllyer, taking breath. Major
'ranstOn's n member Of ii fine Old
family, II regular +. Il. "; he owns
tx or seven farms In this county an
i"' " W. " NV I:l cNcI llF'
He moved here about SIX
months ago beca'sc the climate agrees
With i'm, an he hain't very strong.
George got acquainted with his daugh-
or, a pretty. likely gal, but as proud
Is queen, an they've been good
rien1s ever since. She's well educated,
IN sos he, an they get along power
'ul we'll together. Have you ever seed
er Mrs. Buckley"
"Yes, once" answered the woman,
AN never shall forget 1t, fer 1t show
I'd me palmer what fine character
George has than anything he ever
lone. Thar's lot O. mcddlln' folks
,ut at the Covo, Mr.. IIlllyer. an the
'ep0rt got out that since George got
his schoolin' an you tuck I'm IN with
you that he was ashamed O inc. They
kept this talk up, an when he got to
yoln' here an yam with Lydia Gran
sion 1t got wuss, an some Of 'cm low.
I'd that the girl didn't know what sort
o scrub kin George had. This got to
George somehow, an one day when
vas ut Grove Level camp ground with
some O. my neighbors, George fetched