Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1905-09-13

]
stretch Of cotton land where he bad
toiled through his boyhood. TO the
left. inside the garden fence. was the
log smokehouse. the barn and stables:
to the right, the yard where the chick
ems and ducks were scratching the
earth for food. The old woman said
notblng-there was nothing she could
say, for his reply had not reassured
her.
why do you think anything is wron.
with me?" he suddenly asked. Has
i"nyhody"-
"Yon cayn't keep folks mouths shet,"
| Mrs. Buckley said. you've got more
friends AN any boy in all this noun
tain country. but even Il body's best
friends will git jealous when he begins
to rise in the world. Most of em
thought you was flynn too high, George.
all along-in visitin' the best in bar
lcy-an' they are tickled to be able to
circulate the report that she's goin to
| marry the governor of the state. You
see, they kin say that an not seem to
be talkin' agin you. but they are
chuck lin all the same"
81 cant help their talking nor their
thinking" Buckley said, with a sigh.
| But l believe Id put a bold face
on it an laugh at the idea O. marryin'
anybody right now. Then Id sorter
slack off from goin' to the Cranstons'.
! George | kin stand anything better, ii
seems to me, than havin 'em all think
| you are miserable over it, an when the
| wedding takes place
"lhen you count on it as certainty,
do you:" His face clouded over. and.
| in spite of his self control, his voice
rang harshly.
She stared at him pityingly. "Thars
no use talkin' about it, She said soft
ly. George, you hain't ready to ad-
| nit it, an that's the wust sign of all.
| You Jest cayn't see it like other folks.
an thar's jest one reason fer that
| you cayn't stand to think it possible
He voiced no denial. What was the
use? The old woman. crude as She
was, had known him from the first pull
| sation of the life that was now raging
like mad torrent within him. In bis
4 minds eye he had "a glimpse Of the vii
lage church. packed to the doors with
an eager, eXpectant crowd. He saw
| the flowers on the altar There was a
profound hush. The Cranston carriage
had driven up. The governor of the
state was assisting two ladies to alight.
All eyes were on the part, of four as
they came in and moved unconcernedly
to the Cranston pew. Lydia and the
guest of honor were walking together.
She was being admired, envied.
George Buckley bowed his head; the
powerful neck and shoulders; he was
sinking into the deepest ooze of de-
spair.
Mind you. I'm not sayin' one word
agin the gal" Mrs. Buckley broke into
his reflections abruptly. ''In fact, l
Ike 'er. l can't tell you how much
do like 'er. Folks may swear they
hate kings an queens beca Sc the.
stand above EN- but they'll feel hon
ored by the notice O royal folks. That
may be one reason l like Lydia Gran
ston. don't know. I'm only human
but | jest feel like she's of IL differen.
order DO you know the time you in
,ro,iucpu me to or! Well. Il wom".
knows Il woman. no matter how Il ffcr
ent they've been raised. an seed tha'
she was surprised to-to see that wa
= we'll jest like l am. but tux
strong lilin' to 'er fer the way shf
acted"
1.-The way she acted?' George Buck
ley spoke under his breath, but the wo-
man heard.
"Yes; could tell she was don' 'er
level best to make me feel easy, an ii
made me like er. Then the next
time
1.-The next time?' George was really
surprised. Did you meet her again?'
Mrs. Buckley was silent; her eyes had
fallen. She had said more than she
intended.
Did you say you met her again.
mOther-aGain!"
Mrs Buckley looked up resolutely. 81
never intended to mention that she
said, IAN l don't kno" as | ort to nov
bein', as it seems. she never told yn"
aboul it. Put it was when she Was
over at Shirley Springs last week, One
mornin' she come here to see me. ~,
George. as God is my judge, nevc
spent a happier hour in all my lit" !
cont know how it was but she jc
lad IL way o maxim me feel good.
she ever thought she was bette
onnn OH folks. nobody could "a toll =
WAS piecin' scrap quilt, an 81
set down an SET to wo.; or it. ne
seed The like Her little. slim. WI,
fingers jest moved Ike Eghtnn'. All
talk! Sic could Task o E.@rc ci:c0.
tul thinss - sly th;'n anybody o.
seed it Was that WAY iii nl"l
AM then Size left. George-she k.s,.r
mc-'
Buckley was staring, an unfathc:
able EXPRESSION in his big, yeHrnin