Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1912-09-19
CHAPTER !.
rhe Boy a. the Rarony.

cape the malaria OF the low COAST, Dut
this no longer mattered, for the last
Of his name and race, old General
Quintard. was dead in the great house
his father had built almost a century
before and the thin acres Of the
Barony, where he had made his last
stand against age and poverty, were
10 claim him, now that he had given
MP the struggle In their midst
Though he had lived continuously
1t the Barony for almost a quarter OF
4 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 a stranger to whom
rumor fixed the name of Bladen, sup
posing him to be the legal repre-
sentative Of certain remote connec-
tons Of the old generals.
Crenshaw sat before the fiat-topped
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, | 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
"Au | know is this: General Quin-
tard was a conspicuous man in these
parts fifty years ago; he married a
Beaufort"
80 he did," said Crenshaw, land
there was one child, daughter; she
married a South Carolinian by the
name of Turberville. Great folks,
those Turbervilles, rolling rich"
And what became of the daughter
who married Turberville?"
Died years ago." said Crenshaw.
They were interrupted by a knock
at the door.
Come in" said Crenshaw. The
door opened and small boy entered
the room dragging after him a long
rifle. Suddenly overcome by shy
ness, he paused on the threshold tC
stare with round, wondering eyes al
the two men. well, sonny, what dc
you want?" asked Mr.. Crenshaw in
diligently.
please, sir, l want this here ole
spotin' rifle" said the child.
Il reckon you may keep it-at least
I've no objection" Crenshaw glanced
at Bladen.
"Oh, by all MEANS" said the latter
! ODdSlllS vi ucll6uL bhOOh IhO olllol
figure. With murmur that was meant
for thanks he backed from the room
closing the door. Bladen glanced in
Quiringly at Crenshaw
You want to know about him, sir
Well, that's Hannibal Wayne Hazard
But who Hannibal Wayne Hazard II
Just wait a minute, strand quit
ting his chair Mr.. Crenshaw hurried
from the room to return almost i'm
mediately with tall countryman
"Mr. Bladen, this is Bob Yancy. Bob
: the gentleman wants to hear abou
the woman and the child; that's you
story"
"Howdy, sir" said Mr.. Yancy. HI
appeared to mediate on the menta
. effort that was required of him.
1T was four years ago come mex
Christmas said Crenshaw.
"Old Christmas" corrected MI
Yancy. 1.-The evening befo', 1t was
and I'd gone to Fayetteville to get m
Christmas fixin's. Just at shutdown
hooked up that blind mule Of mine t
the cart and started To- home. A mil
| out of town l heard some one slost
} ing through the rain after me.
! pulled up and waited, and then mad
, out it was a woman. She spoke whe
she was alongside the cart and says
Can you drive me on to the Barony'
When got down to help her into tn
cart l saw she was toting child 1
her arms. Well, sir, she hardly spok
until we came to the red gate, whe
) She says, Stop, If you please; T.
> walk the rest of the way The las
: I seen of her she was hurryin
( through the rain toting the child
, her arms"
Mr.. Crenshaw took up the narrative
when morning come she wa
gone, but the child done stayed b
: hind. I've heard Aunt Alsidia tell q
+ how the old general said that mor1
3 Ing, pale and shaking like, You'll I'm
4 boy asleep in the red room; he's {
be fed and cared TO-, but keep hill
out Of my sight His name is Ham