The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-04-04

It..
The judge gave great start, and a
hoarse, inarticulate murmur stole
from between his twitching lips.
What do you know of the Barony,
Hannibal?"
Il lived at the Barony once, until
Uncle Bob took me to Scratch Hill
to be with him." said Hannibal.
"You-you lived at the Barony?'
repeated the judge, and dull wonder
struck through his tone. How long
ago-when?" he continued.
II don't know how long it were,
but until Uncle Bob carried me away
after the old general died.
The judge slipped hand under the
childs chin and tilted his face back
so that he might look into It. For
long moment he studied closely those
small features, then with shake OF
the head he handed the rifle to Car
rington, and without word strobe
forward. Darlington had been regard
ing Hannibal with a quickened inter-
est
"Hello!" he said, as the judge moved
off, You're the boy saw at Scratch
Hill"
Hannibal gave him frightened
glance, and edged to Mr.. Mahatfy's
side, but DE- 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 past he
had striven these twenty years and
more to forget, and his memories
shaped themselves Enthusiastically. Sure
ly if ever man had quilted the world
that knew him, he was that man! He
had 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,
wide, level meadow. The judge
paused irresolutely, and turned his
bleared face on his friend.
We'll 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?" he
asked.
1--WE 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
futter of skirts among the moving
groups, the nodding of gay parasols
that shaded fresh young faces, while
occasionally a comfortable family car
riage with some planters wife or
daughter rolled silently over the turf.
The judges dull eye kindIed, the
haggard lines that streaked his face
erased themselves. This was life oo,1-
lent and full. These swift-rolling car
riages with their handsome women,i
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, he saw =
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 it, Hannibal; what is Il,
dear?"
Nothing, only I'm so glad to find
you'll"
Il am glad to see you, tool" said
Betty, as she wiped his tears away.
when did you get here, dear?"
1--WE got here just today, Miss Bet
IT," 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,
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 ragamufin's this, Betty?"
growled Ware disgustedly.
But Betty did not seem to hear.
did you come alone, Hannibal?"
she asked.
mo, ma'am: the judge and Mr.. Ma
haffy, 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. It
was different with the Judge; the