The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1907-05-02

/ Il
| amazed and full Of strange
wonder because he did not
4 i know what had amazed him.
A chime Of bells sounded from church
steeple across the square, ringing out
in assured Righteousness, summoning
the good people who maintained them
to come and sit beneath them or be
taken to task, and they fell SO dismal
ly upon Joe's ear that he bestirred him
self and rose, to the delight of his mon
grel, who leaped upon him toyfully.
An hour later or thereabout the pair
emerged from the narrow stairway and
stood for a moment, blinking in the
fair sunshine, apparently undecided
which way to go. The church bells
were silent. There was no breeze. The
air trembled little with the deep. pip
ings of the organ across the square,
and, save for that, the town was very
quiet. The paths which crossed the
courthouse yard were Aecked with
steady shadow, the strong young foil
age of the naples not moving, having
the air Of observing the Sabbath with
propriety. The organ ceased to stir
the air, and all was in quiet yet
quiet which for Louden was not peace.
He looked at his watch and, without
intending II, spoke the hour aloud, "a
quarter past IL" The sound Of his
own voice gave him a little shock.
He rose without knowing why, and az
he did 80 II seemed to him that he
heard close 10 his ear another voice, q
woman's, troubled and insistent, but
clear and sweet, saying:
Remember! Across Main street
bridge at noonw
It was so distinct that he started and
looked round. Then he laughed. "I'll
be seeing circus parades next" His
laughter fed, for. louder than the ring
Ing In his ears, Enthusiastically came the
strains of q faraway brass band which
had no existence on land or sea or In
the waters under the earth.
"Here!" he said to the mongrel. 1--WE
need a walk. I think. Let's you and
me move on before the camels turn
the corner"
The music followed him to the street,
where he turned westward toward the
river, and presently as he walked on,
tanning himself with his straw hat, 1t
faded and was gone. But the voice he
had heard returned.
Remember! Across Main street
bridge at noon!' 1t said again close to
his ear.
This time he did not start. Cali
right" he answered, wiping his fore
head. Tf you'll let me alone, I'll be
there"
At q dingy saloon corner near the
river a shabby little man greeted him
heartily and petted the mongrel. "I'n
mighty glad you didn't 80, after all,
joe" be added. with frightening
face.
go where, Happy"
Mr.. Fear looked grave. Don't you
rec'lect meetin' me last night"
Louden shook his head. "No. Did
IT
The others jaw fell, and his brow
corrugated with self reproach. "Well,
II that don't show what thick head l
am! ] thought ye was all right er I'd
gone on with We. Nobody cd a walk
ed straighter ner talked straighter.
Said We was goin' to leave Canaan fer
good and didn't want nobody to know
It. Said We was goin' to take the 'leven
o'clock through train fer the west and
told me I couldn't come to the deepo
with ye. Said ye'd had enough o Ca
naan and Of everything. follered ye
part way to the deepo, but ye turned
and made a motion fer me to go back,
and l done 1t because ye seemed to be
kind Of in trouble, and thought ye'd
ruther be by yerseH. Well, sir. It's
one on me-"
"Not at ALL" said Joe. 81 was all
right"
"was YER returned the other. "Do
remember, do ye"
almost" Joe smiled family.
almost" echoed Happy, shaking his
head seriously. 81 tell We, Joe, eft l was
you he began slowly, then paused
and shook his head again. He seemed
on the point of delivering some advice,
but evidently perceiving the snobbish-
ness Of such a proceeding, or else con-
vinced by his own experience OF the
futility of It, he swerved to cheerful
ness:
"I hear the boys is all goin' to work
hard fer the primaries. Mike says ye
got some chances We don't know about.
He swears yell be the next mayor OF
Canaan"
Nonsense! Folly and nonsense. Hap
| py! That's the kind of thing I used to
rhink when / was a boy. But now
pshaw" Joe broke off with a tired
laugh. Tell them not to waste their
time! Are you going out to the Beach
this afternoon:"
The little man lowered his eyes
moodily. I'll be near there" he said,
scraping his patched shoe up and down