Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-02-26

N
@His Grandson Is Back Of That Cur
tain, Now-Asleep in My Bed.n
more than made up for in quantity,
and the boy was grateful for this fact.
Presently he heard the judges heavy,
shutting step as he came up the path
from the road, and q moment later
his gross bulk of body filled the door
way. Breathing hard and perspiring,
the judge entered the shanty, but his
eagerness kept him silent until be
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, Hannibal"
and he nodded oyer the rim or the
cracked glass his shaking hand had
carried to his lips. Twice the glass
vas filed and emptied. and then
again, his rowing, watery eyes rested
meditatively on the child. Have you
a father?" he asked suddenly. Han
| nibal shook hiahead. "A mother?"
"They both of them done died
years and years ago." answered the
boy. Il can't tell you how long back
1t was, but I reckon I don't know
much 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 a glance OF COM
ic seriousness. In Gods name what
do you call yourself now?"
I'm most ten," said Hannibal, with
dignity.
Il can we'll believe it." responded
the judge. Where did you come
from?n
From across the mountains"
"And where are you goingf"
ITO west Tennessee"
Have you any friends there7"
eyes. sir"
You've money enough to see you
through" and what the judge intend
ed for a smile Of fatherIy affection
became a leer IF infinite cunning.
II got ten dollars"
"Ten dollars" the Judge smacked
his lips once. TEN dollars he re-
peated, and smacked his lips twice.
The purple flush on the judges
face, where the dignity that belonged
to age had gone down In wreck, deep
ened.
He Quilted his chair and. lurching
somewhat as ne did 80, began TO pace
the floor.
Take me for your example, boyi
You may be poor, you may possibly
be hungry-you'H often be thirsty,
but through 1t all you will remain
that splendid thing-a gentemani
Perhaps you'll contend that the old
order ia overthrown, that family has
gone to the devil? You are right, and
there's the pity OF It'll The social
fabric Is tottering-I can see 1t tot
ter and he tottered himself as he
said this.
well, I'm an old mantle spec
tacle won't long offend me. I'll die
presently" He was sc profoundly
moved by the thought that he could
not go on. His voice broke, and be
buried his face in his arms. A SYM
pathetic moisture had gathered In the
child's eyes. He slipped from his
chair and stole to the judges side.
I'm mighty sorry you're going to
die"
Bless you. HannfDaii" cried the
Judge, looking wonderfully cheerful,
despite his recent bitterness OF spirit.
I'm not experiencing any of the pangs
of mortality now. MY dissolution amt
q matter Of tonight or tomorrow
there's some life In slocum Price yet,
for all the rough usage, eh2 / think
you'd better go to bed"
II reckon | had" agreed Hannibal,
slipping from his chair.
Well. take my bed back of the
| quilt. You'll ind q hoe there. You
can dig up the dirt under the shuck
tick with (which helps astonishing
ly. What would the world say Ii Il
could know that Judge slocum Price
makes his bed with a hoe!"
Hannibal retired behind the quilt.
DO you find it comfortabIef 7" the
Judge asked, when the rustiing OF the
shuck tick informed him that the
| child had lain down.
Eyes. air." said the boy.
sHave you said your ~prayersg' In
uuired the Judge.
"No. sir. / amt said EN- yet"
wen. say them now. Religion Is
as becoming In the young az Il ID re-
| spectacle In the aged. I'll not dis
turb You tonight. for 1t Ia Gods Will
that I should stay up and get very
drunk"