Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1912-05-16
cHAprER xI-fcontlnued).

The judge gave a 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
Il don't know how long 1t 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 1t. For a
long moment he studied closely those
small features, then with shake OF
the head he handed the rifle to Car
rington, and without a word strobe
forward. Darlington had been regard
ing Hannibal with qulckened inter
est" go
"Hello!" he said, as the Judge moved
off. You're the boy saw at Scratch
Hill"
Hannibal gave him a frightened
glance, and edged to Mr.. Mahaffy'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 to forget, and his memories
shaped themselves Enthusiastically. Sure
ly if ever q 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
shell of a 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.
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.
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 theil
slaves by the score. There was the
flutter 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 Of
daughter rolled silently over the turf
The judges dull eye kindled, tn,
haggard lines that streaked his face
erased themselves. This was life, opu
lent and full. These swift-rolling car
riages with their handsome women
these well-dressed men on foot, ant
splendidly mounted, all did their par
toward lifting him out of mis- gloom.
A cry from Hannibal drew his at
tention. Turning, he was in time t,
see the boy bound away. An instan
later, to his establishment, he saw
young girl who was seated with tw,
men in an open carriage, spring to tn
ground, and dropping to her knee
put her arms about the tattered littl
figure.
why, Hannibal" cried Betty Ma
roy.
Miss Betty! Miss Betty" an
Hannibal buried his head on he
shoulder
What is It, Hannibal; what is 4
dear2"
Nothing, only I'm so glad to fin
you'll"
81 am glad to see you, tool" sal
Betty, as she wiped his tears ava!
when did you get here. dear?"