The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1912-03-06
The ProdicaI Judge
Confined from Page p

est
-Helloi" he said. as the Judge moved
on You're the boy saw at Scratch
HIM"
Hannibal gave him a frightened
glance. and edged to Mr.. Mahany's
side, but did not answer.
The Judge plodded 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 10 forget, and his memories
shaped themselves fantasticaIly. Sure
I ly IL ever a man had quilted the world
that knew him, he was that mani 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, 9
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 a resident Of these parts, sir!" be
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
OF the soil, the men who counted their
acres by the thousand and their
slaves by the score. There was the
fiutter OF skirts among the moving
groups. the nOdding Of gay psrssols
that shaded fresh young faces. while
occasionally 8 comfortable family car
rage with some planters wife or
daughter rolled silently over the turf.
The judges dull eye kndled, the
haggard lines that streaked his face
erased themselves. This was life, opu-
lent and full. These swift-roIling car
riages 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 establishment, be saw q
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 #, Hannibal; what is it,
dear?"
Nothing. only I'm so glad to find
you'll"
4 am glad to see you. too" said
Betty, as she wiped his tears away.
When did you get here, dear?"
We got here just today, Miss Bet
~" 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
10 her. But Charley Norton had not
seemed disturbed by the planters
forbidding air.
What ragsmufhn's this, Betty?"
grOwled Ware disgustedly.
But Betty did not seem to hear.
did you come alone, HsnnibsI7"
she asked.
No, ma'sm; the Judge and Mr.. Ma
hairy, they fetched me"
The judge had drawn nearer as
Betty and Hannibal spoke together,
but Mahaffy hung back. There were
CULTS not TO be crossed by him. 1t
was different with the Judge; the
native magnifcence OF his mind fitted
him for any occasion.
ALLOW me the honor to present NY
self, ma'sm-Price is my name
Judge Slocum Price. May 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
undisguised establishment, while Nor
ton regarded him with an expression
Of stunned and resolute gravity.
Betty looked at the Judge rather In
Quiringly.
I am glad be has found friends"
she said slowly. She wanted 10 be
heve that Judge Slocum Price was
somehow better than he looked, which
should have been easy, since It was
Incredible that be could have been
worse.
He has indeed found friends" said
the judge with mellow JUNCTION, and
swelling visibly.
Now Betty caught sight OF Caring
ton and bowed. Occupied with Han
nibal and the judge, she had been IN
aware Of his presence. Darlington
stepped forward.
Have you met Mr.. Norton, and my
brother, Mr.. CarrinFton?" she asked.
The two young men shook hands,
and Ware improved the opportunity
to inspect the newcomer. But as
his glance wandered over him, it took
In more than Darlington, for Il In
cluded the fine figure and swarthy
face OF Captain MurreIl, who. with
his eyes fixed on Betty, was thrusting
his eager way through the crowd.
Murrel had presented himself at
Belle Plain the day before. For Nd
ward OF a year, Ware had enjoyed
great peace OF mind as q direct re-
suit OF his absence from west Ten
nessee, and when he thought Of him
at all he had invariably put a period
20 his meditatiOns with, Il hope 10
hell he catches II wherever be Isl"
More than this. Betty had spoken
Of the captain in no uncertain tones.
He was not 10 repeat that visit.
AS Murrell approached, the hot col
or surged into Betty's face. AS for
Hannibal. be had gone white to the
lips, and his small hand clutched hers
desperately.
Murrell. with all his hardihood.
realized that a too great confidence