Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1912-04-11
Saint Maru's Beacon

y
p, he AT length asked brokeniy.
II fetched It sway from the BarcnH
vir; Mr.. Crenshaw said ] might nave
IL"
The iudge gave great stagk and Q
hoarsa. inarticulate murmur stole
Som between his twitchfng lips.
aWhat DO You know Of the Barcnvs
= lived at the Barony once, until
Hrnoie Bob took me to Scratch HiLi
N be with him." said Hannibal
'sYou-you lived at the BaronyT
repeated the Judge, and dull wonder
Iatyuck through his tone. How long
nao-when?" he continued.
II don't know how long 1t were
lnr,A until Uncle Bob carried me away
nfser the old general died"
The Judge slipped hand under the
achildsz chin and tilted his faoe BACK
20 that he might look into u. Bor .
hong moment he studied closely those
small features, then with a shake Oh
khe head he handed the rife to Car
Lr,n9ton. and without word strobe
forward. Darlington had been regard
hn0 Hannibal with a quickened inter-
est"
"Hellol" he said, as the Judge moved
on. you're the boy saw at Scratch
Hill" .
Hannibal gave him frightened
glance, and edged to Mr.. Mahaffy's
The Judge plodded forward, his
shoulders dropped, and his head
bowed. For once silence had fixed
hts 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 fantastically. Sure
hy II ever a man had quilted the world
that knew him, he was that mani de
had died and yet he hved-lived hor-
Iribiy, without soul or heart, the empty
l@hell Of man.
A turn In the road brought them
within sight Of BoggB' race-track. a
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 lest was quite gone out OF him.
t1e glanced toward Darlington. Are
you resident OF these parts, sir7" he
Asked.
.rt-r. kn<.. 10 paYotuh 4braa daya nj
together" answered Darlington, and
they continued on across the meadow
In silence.
Here were men from the small
pleartngs in homespun and butternu'
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 theii
acres by the thousand and theiI
slaves by the score. There was the
!dutter of skirts among the moving
groups, the nodding OF gay parasoli
that shaded fresh young faces, whil'
occasionally comfortable family car
Efage with some planters wife OF
daughter rolled silently over the turf
The judges dull eye kindled, th'
haggaYd lines that streaked his fac
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 his gloom.
A cry from Hannibal drew his al
Gention. Turning. he was in time 4
see the boy bound away. An instan
later, to his establishment, he saw
young girl who was seated with tw,
msn IN an open carriage, spring 70 tn
ground, and dropping to her knee
put her arms about the tattered littl
ngure.
why, Hanniball" cried Betty Ma
roy.
Miss Bettyl Miss BettyI" an
Hannibal buried his head on he
shoulder.
What ia IT, Hannibal; what il Il
idear7"
Nothing, only I'm 30 glad TO I'M
youI"
Il am glad to see you, tool" sal
Betty, as she wiped his tears away
when did you get here, dearT'
I'VE got here just today. Miss Bel
IT," said Hannibal.
Mr.. Ware, careless as 70 dresi
Iscowled down ON the child. He ha
favored Boggs' with his presence, no
because he felt the least interest =
phoTse.Racing, but because he had n
faith In girls, and especially had b
profound mistrust OF Betty. She wa
$50 much easily portable wealth,
lptnk-faced chit ready to fall into tn
arms Of the first man who propose
10 her. But Charley Norton had no
eBoemed disturbed by the planter
foTbidding air.
what ragamufiin's this, BettyI
HTowied Ware disgustedly.
But Betty did not seem to hear.
ibid you come alone, HannibalY
she aeked.
mo, ma'am; the judge ana Mr.. Ms
haffy. they fetched me-"
The Judge had drawn nearer a
Betty and Hannibal spoke together
put Mahaffy hung back There wer,
CULTS not to be crossed by him. l
was different with the Judge; tn,
native magnificence Of his mind fittec
htm for any occasion.
ALLOW me the honor TO present my
eelf ma'am-Price is my name
Judge slocum Price. May / be per