The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-05-22
le, but did not answer


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
mad strlven these twenty years and
more to forget, and his memories
shaped themselves fantastically Sure
ly II ever man had quilted the world
that knew him, he was that man. He
mad died and yet he lived-lived hor.
ribly, without soul or heart, the empty
she'll of 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
We'll stop here, Solomon" he said
rather wearily, 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 been in Raleigh three days al
together" answered Darlington, and
they continued on across the meadow
In silence.
Here were 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
or the soil, the men who counted their
acres by the thousand and their
slaves Dy the score. There was the
nutter 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 kirdled the
haggard lines that streaked his face
erased themselves. This was life. opu-
lent and full. These swift-roliing car
rlages 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 astonishment, 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 is 1t, Hannibal: what is it,
dear?"
Nothing, only I'm so glad to find
you!"
Il 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
to her. But Charley Norton had not
seemed disturbed by the planters
fOrbidding air.
What ragamuffin's this, Betty?"
growled Ware disgustedly.
But Betty did not seem to hear.
Did you come alone, HannibaI?"
she asked.
NO, maam; the judge and Mr.. Ma.
haffy, they fetched me-"
The judge had drawn nearer as
Betty and Hannibal spoke together,
but Mahaf,y hung back. There were
gu)fs 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 l be per-
mitted to assume that this Is the Miss
Betty of whom my young protege so
often speaks?"
Tom Ware gave him a glance OF
undisgulsed establishment, while Nor
ton regarded him with an expression
of stunned and resolute gravity.
Betty looked at the Judge rather in.
Quiringly.
Il am glad he has found friends"
she said slowly. She wanted to be-
lioVa that Judpo SIOCup, prioo u,oo
somehow better than he looked, which
should have been easy, since 1t was
incredible that he could have been
worse.
He has indeed found friends" said
the Judge with mellow JUNCTION, and