Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-02-24

forward. Carr1ngtOn mao Deeu fesaiu-
ing Hannibal with a quickened inter-
est"
"Hello!" he said, as the judge moved
off. You're the boy J. saw at Scratch
Hill"
Hannibal gave him a frightened
glance, and edged to Mr.. Mahaffy g
side, but did not answer.
The Judge plodded forward, his
shoulders dropped, and his head
bowed. For once silence had fixed
its seal upon his lips, no Inspiring
speech fell from them. He had been
suddenly swept back into a pastf'he
had striven these twenty Years and
more to forget, and his memories
shaped themselves Enthusiastically. Sure
is if ever man had quilted the world
that knew him, he was that man! He
had died and yet he lived-lived hor-
rbly, without soul or heart, the empty
shell OF a man.
4 turn in the road brought them
within sight OF Boggs race:track, q
wide, level meadow. The Judge
paused irresolutely, and turned his
cleared face on his friend. -;
We'll stop here, Solomon ne said
rather YEARLY. for the spirit OF boast
and jest was quite gone out. OF him.
He glanced toward Darlington. Are
you a resident OF these parts, SIR he
asked.
I've been in Raleigh three days al
together" answered Darlington, and
they continued on across the meadow
in silence.
Here we're men from the small
clearings in homespun and butternut
or fringed hunting-shirts. with their
women folk trailing after them. Here.
too, in lesser numbers, were the lords
of the soil, the men who counted their
acres by the thousand and their
slaves by the score. There was the
t!utter of skirts among the moving
groups, the nodding OF gay parasols
that shaded fresh young faces. while
occasionally comfortable family car
riage with some planters wife or
daughter rolled silently over the turf.
The judges dull eye kindled, the
haggard lines that streaked his face
erased themselves. This was life, opu-
lent and full. These swift-rolling car
riages with their handsome women,
these well.dressed men on foot, and
splendidly mounted. all did their part
toward lifting him out Of his gloom.
A cry from Hannibal drew his at
tention. Turning, he was in time to
see the. boy bound away. An instant
LATER, to his establishment, he saw y
Young girl who was seated with two
men in an open carriage, spring TO tho
ground and dropping to her kDoeH
put her arms about the tattered Htl'"
figure
why, Hannibal" cried Betty Ma
roy. -.
Miss Betty! Miss Betty" and
Hannibal buried his head on her
shoulder.
What is it, Hannibal; what Is it.
dear?"
Nothing, only I'm 80 glad to fnd
You!'
II am glad to see you. tool SAID
Betty, as she wiped his tears away
When did you get here, DEAR
I'VE got here just today, Miss Bet
'ty," said Hannibal.
Mr.. Ware, careless as to dress,
scowled down on the child. He had
favored Boggs' with his presence, not
because he felt the least interest in
horse-racing, but because he had no
faith in girls, and especially had he
profound mistrust of Betty. She was
so much easily portable wealth, a
pink-faced chit ready to fall into the
arms of the first man who proposed
10 her. But Charley Norton had not
seemed disturbed by the planter
forbidding air.
What ragamufin's this, Betty"
growled Ware disgustedly.
But Betty did not seem to hear.
did you come alone, Hannibal?'
she asked.
No, ma'am: the judge and Mr.. Ma
haffy, they fetched me-"
The judge had drawn nearer as
Betty and Hannibal spoke together.
but Mahaffy hung back. There were
CULTS not to be crossed by him. 1t
was different with the Judge; the
native magnificence Of his mind fitted
him for any occasion.
Allow me the honor to present my
self, ma'am-Price is my name
Judge Slocum Price. May I be per-
mitted to assume that this is the Miss
Betty OF whom my young protege SO
] often speaks?"
Tom Ware gave him q glance OF
undisguised establishment, while Nor
ton regarded him with an expression
| OF stunned and resolute gravity.
Betty looked at the Judge rather In
! quiringly.
II am glad he has found friends,
she said slowly. She wanted to be-
i lieve that Judge Slocum Price was