The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1912-06-22
CHAPTER xI-(contlnusd).

from between his twitching lips.
What do you know Of the Barony.
Hannibal?"
Il lived at the Barony once. until
Uncle Bob took me to Scratch Hill
90 be with him." said Hannibal.
"You-you lived at the Barony?"
repeated the Judge. and dull wonder
struck through his tone. How long
ago-when?" he continued.
Il don't know how long 1t were.
but until Uncle Bob carried me away
after the old general died."
The Judge slipped hand under the
child's chin and tilted his face back
so that he might look into 1t. For a
long moment he studied closely those
small features, then with shake OF
the head he handed the rifle to Car
rington, and without word strobe
forward. Darlington had been regard
ing Hannibal with quickened inter
est"
'Hello!" he said, as the Judge moved
on. You're the boy l saw at Scratch
Hill"
Hannibal gave him a frightened
glance. and edged to Mr.. Mahaffy's
side. but did not answer.
The Judge piodded 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 past he
had striven these twenty years and
more to forget. and his memories
shaped themselves fantastically. Sure
iy If ever a man had quilted the world
that knew him, he was that man! He
had died and yet he lived-lived hor-
ribly, without soul or heart. the empty
shell of a man.
A turn in the road brought them
within sight Of Boggs' race-track, a
wide, level meadow. The Judge
paused irresolutely, and turned his
bleared face on his friend.
Wen stop here. Solomon" he said
rather YEARLY, for the spirit OF boast
and Jest was quite gone out Of him.
He glanced toward Darlington. Are
you resident of these parts. sir?" he
asked.
i've beeh In Raleigh three days al
together" answered Darlington. and
they continued on across the meadow
On silence.
Here were men from the small
'ciearings in homespun and butternut
or frfnged hunting-shirts, with their
women folk trailing after them. Here.
too, in lesser numbers. we're the lords
of the soil, the men who counted their
acres BY the thousand and their
slaves by the score. There was the
futter of skirts among the moving
groups, the nodding Of gay parasols
that shaded fresh young faces, while
occasionally comfortable family car.
rage 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
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 a
young girl who was seated with two
men In an open carriage, spring to the
ground. and dropping to her knees
put her arms about the tattered little
figure.
why, Hannibal" cried Betty NAL
roy.
Miss Betty! Miss Betty" and
Hannibal buried his head on her
shoulder.
What IL II. Hannibal; what n 1t,
dear?"
Nothing. only I'm 80 glad to ma
you!"
81 am siad 70 see you, tool" said
Betty. rs she wiped his tears away.