Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-03-15
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ESTABLISHED 1866.
CHAPTER XXXV.
A Crisis At the Court House.

In tnat pare upper rooHh lhSS hehe
shared, the Judge, crushed and broken,
watched beside the bed on which the
dead man lay; unconscious of the
flight Of time he sat with his head
bowed in his hands, having scarcely
altered his position since he begged
those who had carried Mahaffy up the
narrow stairs to leave him alone with
his friend.
He was living over the past. He re-
called his first meeting with Mahaffy
in the stuffy cabin Of the small river
packet from which they had later
gone ashore at Pleasantville; he thank
ed God that it had been given him to
see beneath Solomon's forbidding ex-
terror and into that starved heart!
He reviewed each phase Of the almost
insensible growth of their intimacy;
remembered Mahaffy's fine true loyal
ty at the time Of his arrest-he
thought of Damon and Pythias-Ma-
hairy had reached the heights of a
sublime devotion; he could only feel
ennobled that he had inspired it.
At last the dusk of twilight invaded
the room. He lighted the candles on
the chimneypiece, then he resumed his
seat and his former attitude. Sud-
denly he became aw..re of small
hand that was resting on his arm and
glanced up; Hannibal had stolen quiet
" into the room. The boy pointed to
the still figure on the bed.
Judge, what makes Mr.. Mahafy
lie so quiet-is he dead?" he asked in
a whisper.
Yes, dear lad" began the judge In
a shaking voice as he drew Hannibal
toward him, your friend and mine is
dead-we have lost him." He lifted
the boy into his lap, and Hannibal
pressed q tear-stained face against the
Judges shoulder. How did you get
here?" the Judge questioned gently.
Uncle Bob fetched me-" said Han
nibal. Hes down-stairs. but he didn't
tell me Mr.. Mahaffy was dead"
I'VE have sustained a great loss,
Hannibal, and we must never forget
the moral grandeur Of the man. Some
day, when you are older, and / can
bring myself to speak of it, I will tell
you Of his last moments" The judges
voice broke, a thick sob rose choking
ly in his throat. Poor Solomon! A
man of such tender feeling that he
hid 1t from the world, for his was a
rare nature which only revealed itself
to the chosen few he honored with his
love-" The judge lapsed into a mo-
mentary brooding silence, in which
his great arms drew the boy closer
against his heart. Dear lad, since /
left you at Belle Plain very astonish-
ing knowledge has come to me. 1t was
the hand of Providence see it now
that first brought us together. You
must not call me Judge any more; I
am your grandfather-your mother
was my daughter"
Hannibal instantly sat erect and
looked up at the judge, his blue eyes
wide with amazement at this extra
ordinary statement.
1T is a very strange story. Hanni-
bal, and its links are not all in my
hands, but 1 am sure because of what
/ already know. /, who thought that
not a drop Of my blood flowed in any
veins but my own, live again in you.
Do you understand what 1 am telling
you? You are my own dear little
grandson" and the judge looked
down with no uncertain love and pride
into the small face upturned to his.
Il am glad if you are my grand
father, judge" said Hannibal very
gravely. Il always liked you"
Thank you, dear lad" responded the
Judge with equal gravity, and then as
Hannibal nestled in his grandfather's
arms a single big tear dropped from
the end of that gentleman's prominent
nose.
There will be many and great
changes in store for u.s." continued the
Judge But as We met adversely with
dignity, am sure we shall be able to
endure prosperity with equanimity-
only unworthy natures are affected by
what Is at best superficial and acci-
dental. mean that the blight of pow
erty is about to be lifted from our
lives"
DO you mean we amt going to be
pore any longer, grandfather" asked
Hannibal.
The Judge regarded him with infin-
ite tenderness Of preston; he was
profoundly moved.
Would you mind. saying that again,
dear lad?"
DO you mean we amt going to be
pore any longer, grandfather" re-
peated Hannibal.
Il shall enjoy an adequate compe-
tency which am about to recover. 1t
shall be sufficient for the indulgence
of those simple and intellectual tastes
I propose to cultivate for the future" "
In spite of himself the judge sighed.
This was hardly in line with his ideals,
but the right to choose was no longer
his. You will be very rich, Hanai-
bal. The Quintard lands-your grand
mother was a Quintard-will be yours;
they run up into the hundred of thou
sand acres here about; this land will
all be yours as soon as can estab-
lish your Identity
viii Uncle Bob be rich, too?" in
quired Hannibal.
Certainly. How can he be poor
when we possess wealth. answered
the judge.
You reckon he will always live
with us, don't you, grandfather"
Il would not have it otherwise.
admire Mr.. Yancy-he Is simple and
direct, and fit for any company under
heaven except that of fools. His
treatment of you has placed me under
everlasting obligations; he will share
what we have. NY one bitter unavail-
ing regret is that Solomon Mahaffy
will not be here to partake OF our al
tered fortunes" And the judge sighed
deeply.
Uncle Bob told me Mr.. Mahaffy got
hurt in a duel, grandfather" said