Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-12-15
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VAUGHAN KESTER GkWNE
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falsehood, grotesque exaggeration
purposeless mendacity.
He and Mahatfy had met exactly one
month before, on the deck OF the
steamer from which they had been put
ashore at the river landing two miles
from Pleasantville. Mahaffy's historic
era had begun just there. Apparently
he had no past Of which he could DC
brought to speak. He admitted having
been born in Boston some sixty years
before. and was a printer by trade;
further than this, he had not revealed
himself, drunk or sober.
At the judges elbow Mr.. Mahary
changed his position with nervous sud-
denness. Then he folded his long arms
You asked If there was any news
Price; while we were waiting for the
boat a raft tied up to the bank; the fel-
low aboard of it had man he'd fished
up out of the river, man who'd been
pretty we'll cut to pieces"
WHO was he?" asked the judge.
Nobody knew, and he wasn't con-
scious. I shouldn't be surprised If he
never opens his lips again. When the
doctor had looked to his cuts, the fell
low on the raft cast off and went on
down the Elk
It occurred to the judge that he HIM
self had news to impart. He must ac-
count for the boys presence.
while you've been taking your whiff
of life down at the steamboat landing,
Mahaffy, I've been experiencing most
extraordinary coincidence" The judge
paused. BY a sudden glare in his deep
sunk eyes Mr.. Mahaffy seemed to bid
him 90 on. Back east" the judge
ierked his thumb with an indefinite
gesture-"back east at my ancestral
home" Mahaffy snorted harshly
You don't believe I had an ancestral
home well, l had! 1t was OF brick
sir, with eight Corinthian columns
across the front, having a spacious
paneled hall sixty feet long. I had
the distinguished honor to entertain
General Andrew Jackson there"
Did you get those dimensions out
of the jug?" inquired Mahaffy, with a
frightful bark that was intended for q
sarcastic laugh.
Sir, 1t is not in your province TO
Judge me by my present degraded as
sociates. Near the house l have de-
scribed-my fathers and his fathers
before him, and mine now-but for the
UNPARALLELED misfortunes which have
pursued me-lived a family by the
name of Hazard. And when 1 went to
the war of '12-"
What were you in that bloody time,
a sutler?" inquired Mahaffy insulting
ly.
mo. sir-a colonel Of infantry!-l
say. when 1 went to the war, one OF
these Hazards accompanied me as my
orderly. His grandson is back of that
curtain now-asleep-in my bed" Ma
.haffy put down his glass.
You were like this once before" he
said darkly. But at that instant the
shuck tick ratified noisily at some
movement Of the sleeping boy. Mahaf-
fy quilted his chair, and crossing the
room, drew the quilt aside. A glance
sufficed to assure him that in part, al
least, the Judge spoke the truth. He
let the curtain fall into place and re-
sumed his chair.
He's an orphan, Solomon; poor
friendless orphan. Another might have
turned him away from his door
didn't have the heart to. 1 bespeas
your sympathy for him."
who is he?" asked Mahaffy.
Haven't 1 just told you?" said the
Judge reproachfully. Mahaffy laugh
ed.
You've told me something. Who is
he?"
His name is Hannibal Wayne Haz-
ard. Wait until he wakes up and see
if it isn't?"
Sure he isn't kin to you?" said Ma
haffy.
Not a drop of my blood flows in the
veins of any living creature" declared
the judge with melancholy impressive.
ness. He continued with deepening
feeling. "All l shall leave to posterity
is my fame"
Speaking of posterity, which ISM
present, Mr.. Price, I'll say it is en-
barrassed by the attention." observed
Mahaffy.
There was a long silence between
them. Mr.. Mahaffy drank, and wher
he did not drink he bit his under liI
and studied the judge. This was al
ways distressing to the latter gentle
man. Mahaffy's silence he could never
penetrate. What was back of it-judg.
ment, criticism, disbelief-what? o.
was it the silence of emptiness? Was
Mahaffy dumb merely because he coulG
think of nothing to say, or did his 81
lence cloak his feelings-and what
were his feelings? Did his medita'
tions outrun his habitually insulting
speech as he bit his under lip ant
glared at him? The judge always fell
impelled. to talk at such times, while
Mahaffy, by that silence of his, seemed
to weigh and condemn whatever M
said.
The moon had slipped below TIT
horizon. Pleasantville had long since
gone to bed; it was only the judges
window that gave its light to the black
ness of the night There was a hoof'
beat on the road. 1t came nearer ane
nearer, and presently sounded just be-
yond the door Then it ceased, and
voice said:
"Hullo, there" The judge scrambled
to his feet, and taking up the candle
stepped. or rather staggered, into tn
yard. Mahaffy followed him.
What's wanted?" asked the judge
as he lurched up to horse and rider
holding his candle aloft. The ligh
showed a tall fellow mounted on {
handsome bay horse. 1t was Murell.
rs there an inn hereabouts?" h,
asked
You'll find one down the roaC