Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-03-04
CHAPTER !.
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CHAPTER !.
The Boy at the earony.
The Quintards had not prospered
on the barren lands OF the pine woods
whittier they had emigrated to a.
cape tho malaria OF the low coast, but
this no longer mattered, for tho last
Of his name and race. old General
Quintard. was dead in the great house
his father had built almost century
before ana tho thin acres Of the
Barony, where he had made his last
stand against age and poverty, were
to claim him. now, that he had given
up the struggle In their midst.
Though he had lived continuously
at the Barony for almost quarter OF
. century, there was none among his
neighbors who could say he had
looked on that thin. aquiline face in
all that time. Yet they had known
much of him, for the gossip Of the
slaves, who had been his only friends
in those years he had chosen to deny
himself to other friends. had gone far
and wide over the county.
That notable man of business, iona.
than Crenshaw, was closeted in the
library with . stranger to whom
r,imor fixed the name OF Bladen, sup
posing him to be the legal repre-
sentative OF certain remote connec-
lions Of tho old generals.
cot Sn$opa thu Aof.fnAnAH
mahogany desk with several account
books before him. Bladen stood by
the window.
II suppose you will buy In the prop
erty when It comes up for sale? the
latter was saying.
Crenshaw nodded.
He lived entirely alone, saw no
one. I understand said Bladen.
"Alone with his two or three old
slaves-yes. sir, He wouldn't even
see me-
There was . brief pause, then Cren-
shaw spoke again. Il reckon. sir. II
you know anything about the old gen.
tleman's private Affairs you don't feel
no. call to speak on that point!" he
observed.
IAN INV IL this: General Quin-
tard was . conspicuous man in these
parts nifty years ago: he married q
Beaufort"
go he did," said Crenshaw. land
there was one child. daughter; she
married q South Carolinian by the
name sof Turbervilie. Great folks.
those eTurbervilles. rolling rich"
"And what became Of tho daughter
who married Turberville?"
Died years ago" said Crenshaw.
They were interrupted by q knock
ct the door.
"Come in." said Crenshaw. The
door opened and small boy entered
the room dragging after him long
rife. Suddenly overcome by q shy.
ness, he paused on the threshold to
stare with round, wondering eyes at
the two men. We'll, sonny, what do
you Mant!" asked Mr.. Crenshaw In.
diligently.
please. sir. I want this here old
spo'tin' rifle," said the child.
Il reckon you may keep it-at least
rye no objection" Crenshaw glanced
at Baden.
"Oh. by al MEANS" said the latter.
spasms Of delight shook the small
figure. With murmur that was meant
for thanks he backed from the room.
closing the door. Bladen glanced in
quiringly 1t Crenshaw.
'You want to know about him, sir?
Well, that's Hannibal Wayne Hazard.
But who Hannibal Wayne Hazard il
Just wait . minute. sir"-and quilt
ting his chair MI. Crepshaw hurried
from the room to return almost i'm.
mediately with q tall countryman.
..Mr. Bladsn, this is Bob Yancy. Bob,
the gentleman wants to hear about
the woman and the child; that's your
story"
"Howdy, sir" said Mr.. Yanoy. He
appeared 70 mediate on the mental
effort that was required Of him.
ut was four years ago come next
Christmaa," said Crenshaw.
.told Christmas" corrected Mr..
Yancy. ''The evening befo', it was.
and I'd gone to Fayetteville to get my
Christmas hxin's. Just at shutdown
hooked up that blind mule of mine to
the cart and started TO- home. A mile
out Of town heard some one slosh-
ing through the rain after me. !
pulled up and waited, and then I made
out It was Z woman. She spoke when
she was alongside The cart and says.
Can you drive me on to the Barony!
When got down to help her into the
cart saw she was toting child In
her arms. Well. sir, she hardly spoke
until We came to the red gate. when
she says, stop, II you please; I'll
walk the rest Of the way The last
I seen Of her she was hurrying
through the rain toting the child in
her arms"
Mr.. Crenshaw took up the narrative.
"When morning come she was
zone, but the child done stayed be-
hind. rye heard Aunt Alsidia tell ~
how the old general said that morn.
ans, pale and shaking like, You'll md
= boy asleep in the red room: he's to
be fed ana cared TO-, but keep him
cut Of my sight. His name IL hanni.
bal Wayne Hazard That is all the
general ever said on the matter"
The old general was borne across
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