Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-09-19
2yXAUCHAMK ESTER
ILLUSTRATIONS BYA1NExNxk
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violence Of any sort apparently had.
no place In his nature. He was deep
ly absorbed in Hannibal.s account Of
those vicissitudes which had befailen
him during their separation They
were now seated before a cheerful are
that blazed on the hearth, the boy
very close to- Yancy, with one hand
ciasped in the Scratch Killers, while
about them were ranged the six small
Cavendishes sedately sharing in the
reunion OF uncle and neVvy, toward
which they felt they had honorabIy
labored
And you want dead. Uncle Bobf'
said Hannibal with deep breath.
viewing Yancy Enthusiastically in the
flesh.
Never once. been floating peace
fully along with these here titled
friends OF mine; but was some anx-
ious about you. son."
And Mr.. Slosson, Uncle Bob-did
you smack him like you smacked
Dave Biount that day when he tried
to steal me?" asked Hannibal. whose
childish sense of justice demanded
reparation for the wrongs they had
suffered.
Mr.. Yancy extended big right
hand, the knuckle OF which was
skinned and bruised.
He were the meanest man ever
felt obliged TO- to hit with my fist,
Nevvy: 1t appeared like he had teeth
all over his face"
"Sho'-where's his hide. Uncle
Bob?" cried the little Cayendishes in
an excited chorus. "Sho'-did you for
get that?" They themselves had for
gotten the unique enterprise to which
Mr.. Yancy was committed, but the
alluslon to Slosson had revived their
memory Of it.
Well. he begged so piteous to be
allowed TO to keep his hide, hadn't
the heart to strip it on" explained Mr..
Yancy pleasantly. And the winters
comm on-at this moment can feel
a chill in the air don't you-all reckon
he's going to need it TO. to keep the
cold out? Sho', you mustn't be bloody
minded"
What was it about Mr.. SIosson's
hide, Uncle Bob?" demanded Hanni-
bal What was you a-goin' to do
to that?"
Why, NeVvy, after he beat me up
and throwed me in the river, was
some peevish TO- spell in my feel
ings TO him." said Yancy in a tone
of gentle regret. He glanced at his
bruised hand. but I'm right pleased
to be able to say that I've got over
all them oncharitable thoughts OF
mine"
And you seen the judge, Uncle
Bob?" questioned Hannibal.
Yes, I've seen the judge. We was
together To- part OF day. Me and
him gets on fine %
Where is he now, Uncle Bob?'
Il reckon he's back at Belle Plain
by this time. You see we left him in
Raleigh along after noon to tend to
some business he had on hand.
never seen gentleman of his weight
SO truly spry on his legs-and all
about you, Nevvy; while as to mind!
Sho'-why, words flowed out OF him
as naturally as water out OF branch. .
OF Hannibal's relationship to the
Judge he said nothing. He felt that
was secret to be revealed by the
Judge himself when he should see lit.
Uncle Bob. whom / going to live
with noW?" questioned Hannibal anx-
iously
That p'int's already come up,
Nevvy-him and mes decided that
there won't be no friction You-all
will just go. on living with him.
But what about you, Uncle BobY.
cried Hannibal. lifting wistful little
face to Yancy's
''Oh. me?-well, you-all viii go
right on living with me-
And what will come of Mr.. Ma.
haffy?" A
Il reckon you-all will 60 right on
living with him, too
Uncle Bob, you mean you reckon
we all are going to live In one
house?"
Il low 1t will have to be fixed that
Always. agreed Yancy
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