Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1912-03-28
Saint Msrv's Beacon

judges harder lacked In variety Il
more than made up for in quantity.
and the boy was grateful for this fact,
Presently he heard the Judges heavy,
shunling step as he CAME UP the path
from the road, and moment later
his gross bulk OF body allied The door
way. Breathing hard and persDfsing.
the Judge entered the shanty, but his
eaeerness kept him silent until he
had established himself in his chair
beside the table, with the Jug and a
cracked glass at his elbow. Then,
bland and smiling, he turned toward
his guest.
my tenderest regards, HannibaIl"
and he nodded over the rim Of the
cracked glass his shaking hand had
carried to his lips. Twice the glass
was filled and emptied, and then
again, his rowing, watery eyes rested
msditatively on the child. Have YOU
a fatherT' he asked suddenly. Han
nibal shook his head. "A motherY"
"They both Of them done died
years and years ago." answered the
boy. II cant tell you how long back
It was, but I reckon l don't know
nnch about 1t. / must have been q
small child"
"Ho-a small child" cried the
Judge, laughing. He cooked his head
on one side and surveyed Hannibal
Wayne Hazard with q glance OF COM
10 seriousness. In Gods name what
do you call yourself now2"
'Pm most ten" said Hannibal, with
dignity.
Il can well believe it," responded
the judge. "Where did you come
from?"
From across the mountains"
"And where are you going?"
ITO west Tennessee"
Have you any friends there7"
Eyes, sir"
you've money enough to see you
through 2" and what the judge intend
ed for smile OF fatherly affection
became q leer OF infinite cunning.
II got ten dollars"
"Ten dollars" the Judge smacked
his lips cnoe. "Ten dollars" he re
psated, and smacked his lips twice
The purple flush ON the judges
face, whore the dignity that belonged
TO age had gone down in wreck, deep
ened.
He quilted his chair and, lurching
somewhat as he did 40, began to pace
the floor.
Fake me for your example, boy!
You may be poor you may possibly
be hungry-you'u often be thirsty,
but through # all you viii remain
that spleRdid thlng--a gentleman!
Perhaps you1l contend that the old
order Is overthrow, that family has
gone to the devil? You are right, and
there's the pity Of III The social
fabric is totterinE--I can see it tot
ter" and he tottered himself as he
said this.
We'll. I'm an old mantle spec
taele won't long offend me- III die
presently" lie was 80 profoundly
moved by the thought that he could
net 80 on. His voice broke, and he
buried his fara 10 hls arms sym
pathetic moisture bad gathered IN the
chras eyes. BE slipped from his
chair and stole 20 the JUDGES side.
I'm mighty sorry you're going to
die"
Bless you, HanmDal!" cried the
Judge looking wonderfully cheerful
despite his recent bitterness a spirit
I'm not experiencing any Of the pangs
Of mortality now My dissolution aln't
matter Of tonight or tomorrow
there's some life In slocum Price yet,
for all the rough usage, Ell? / think
you'd better so to bed"
Il reckon I had agreed Hannibal,
slipping from his chair
well, take my bed back OF the
guilt. You'll find a hoe there. You
can dig up the dirt under the sbuck
tick with it--which helps astonishing,
ly. What would the world say if 1t
could know that Judge Slocum Price
makes his bed with hoel"
Hannibal retired behind the quilt
DO You lind it oomfortable?" the
Judge asked, when the rustling Of the
shuck tick informed him that the
child had Jain down
Yes, sir, said the boy.
"Haye you said your prayers?' IN
quired the judge.
NO, sir. ! amt said EN- yet"
We'll, say them now. Religion ia
as becoming IN the young as Il Is re-
spectacle IN the aged. III not dis
turb you tonight, for It Is Coda Will
that l should stay up and get very
drunk"