The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-12-08
fContinucd From Yesterday

ing his trucks, the negro hastened out
at the side door of the building and
sped up the street. Hrllyer went back
into the office and sat down at his pri-
waite desk. Once he lowered his head
to his crossed arms and it looked as
if he were praying. In a few minutes
Jake returned, swinging his SLOUGH hat
in his hand.
"Well?" gasped Hillyer-"well?"
"He went fust to de p~ostofice, Marse
Hillyer, but he didn't put no letter IN
nur wait to git any. Il looked to me
like he didn't know whar he was DIN
ur what fer. Den he am on down by
Hillhouse's bar. He stopped dar an
looked In, den he come on slow like an
stopped ag'in. Den he turned an
walked back an went in. l went round
to de back end en- watched. He was
at de counter pourin' him out o dram,
Marse Hillyer."
"You say he was, jake" said the
merchant. Jake. in the mornin' l
want you to truck all that western
wheat owe on the other side. It's TOO
damp where 1t is"
"All right. Marse Hillyer."
A moment after the negro had left
iit III 1bOl st DUMMY III ~
resumed his seat at the counter He
opened the big ledger, dipped his pen
and began to write. Hiliyer watched
him cautiously. His hand seemed
steady enough, but his cheeks were
flushed and his hair d~ishevelled over
his brow. Just then Mrs. Buckley cam
into the office. She took off her bon
net, showing smooth, gray hair and a
1aan1xr xxyr;rIrIal hrnuy ond 0haaES and
stood for a moment behind her son.
Hillyer fancied that their conversation
might be of a private nature, and, TAX
ing up a grain sampler. he left the
room. The sound of his heavy boots
drew George Buckley's attention, and
looking around he saw his mother. Her
sympathetic eyes fell beneath his wild
glare.
IT reckon Mr.. Hillyer's already told
you" she began.
Yes, he's told me-"
"Well, thar amt but one thing fer
sensible folks to do" faltered the won-
an. AN that's to make the best of it
an go on tryin' to do our own duty"
YES" he nodded vacantly. you are
right, mother. Are you going home to-
night?"
mo. I lowed it I'D look more re-
spectful to stay till they tuck i'm off in
the mornin'. The sneriff's wife axed
me to spend the night with her In the
Jail house. SO I could be nigh i'm"
George Buckley %shuddered vlsibly.
but he said nothing. II gave Mrs.
Buckley the opportunity she was look
ing for.
George, | reckon bein' young as you
are an'-an' mixin' with folks here In
barley that hain't never been in sech
a mess, it goes harder with you than it
does with me, away out thar In the
mountains. but I wish you wouldn't
take 1t so hard. YOU cayn't help yore
pas doin's. No. you cayn't. an no
right minded folks amt a-goin' to
blame you. AS fer me- she paused
an instant as she began to roll her sun
bonnet in her fat. red hands-"why,
my boy. I feel jest like a awful load
vas tuck off'n me. I cayn't help it. 1t
may not be human-I don't know-but
| feel jest that away. You think yore
cross is hard to bear, but fer fifteen
year I've hardly slept a sound nights
sleep. eXpectin' an expectin' the off
GERS o. tn. law to ride up an hello at
the fence. An keepin' his secrets
law. that's the wust of. IT, fer he would
tell me every blessed bit o devllrlent
he ever was in. 1t all began away
back fifteen year ago, when he fell off
his wagon an struck his head agin a
rock. He never got over that; it made
i'm as il as a snake an mad at every
body, even his best friends. George.
/ want to tell you how he did once
when"
Don't, don't, don't!" the young man
cried. 81 know enough. | don't want
you ever to speak to me of his crimes.
well, I Won't then" promised the
woman. "I reckon I've heard so much
of his doin's that it don't horrify me
as much as it would you. Well, I'll go
on back. I'm goin' to Weber &
Lands an buy him a change o. under
clothes an some socks"
When she had reached the big en-
trance of the warehouse he saw Hill
yer in the centre of the building. walk
ing back and forth, his gray head hang
ing low, as IL in troubled meditation.
Turning as if from a sudden impulse,
she went and Joined him. The two
faced each other.
"I snlelt liquor on i'm" she said
tersely. 81 stood nigh to i'm; he's had
i'm a dram. Mr.. Hillyer."
Yes, he's had a drink or two, Mrs.
Buckley
Wizard he git his whisky?"
Jake followed i'm an seed i'm at
H~illhouse's bar. | hain't said a word
about it. 1T don't do one bit o. good
to preach to a mar all upset in mind,
an half full at that"
mo. yo're plumb right, an nobody
kin drive George. I'm powerfully
afraid this is goin' to be his downward
start, Mr.. Hillyer."
Don't say that" The words were
spoken almost in a groan, and the mer-
chant sympathetic face seemed wrung
with inward pain. Don't say that"
he repeated, under his breath. eve
mustn't lose hope--We mustn't do that
The old stared at the work
ing face for a moment in silence; then
she asked abruptly, Mr.. Hillyer, who is
that family o. Cranstons that's come
here from Virginia."
"Oh, you've heard o. them?" said
Hillyer, taking a breath. major Gran
ston's a member of a fine old family, a
regular +. II. v; he owns six or seven
farms in this county an has a lot o
investments all over the country. He
moved here about six months ago be-
case the climate agrees with i'm, an
he amt very strong, George got ac-
quainted with his daughter, a pretty, |
a.I--I-. - lA -~. 49,