The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1914-03-18
CHAPTER VI.
Mad Anthony.

Good Watah,' he said in the gentle
Quavcring tones of extreme age. Vas,
Marse. Hep yosc'f. Come rom he
centah oh de yerf, dat watah. En dah's
'olks say de centah Of dc ycrf is all
ah. Yo' rcck'n dcy's right, Mars
Chahmahs?" 2"
Nov, how the devil do you know
who l am, Anthony" The judge set
down his cup on the well-curb. 81
haven't been by here for year"
The ebony head moved slowly from
side to side. "Ol Ant'ny don need
10 eyes" he said, touching his hand
20 his brow "He see evything heah."
The judge beckoned to the others
and they trooped inside the paling
I've brought some other folks with
mo, Anthony; can you tell who they
are?"
The sightless look wavered over
them and the white head shook slow
~. Don know young mars" said
the gentle voice How many yuddahs
wid yo'? One, two? No. l don know
young mistis, eidah."
II reckon you dont need any eyes,"
Judge Chalmers laughed, as he passed
the sweet cold water to the rest. One
Of these young ladies wants you to tell
her fortune"
The old negro dropped his head,
waving his gaunt hands restlessly.
The judge beckoned to Betty Page,
but she shook her head with little
srimace and drew back
You go, Shirley" she whispered,
and with a laughing glance at the
others, Shirley came and sat down on
the lowest step.
Mad Anthony put out wavering
hand and touched the young body.
HI, fingers strayed over the habit and
went up to the curling bronze under
the hat.brm "Dis de III mistis,' he
muttered, "ain' afeahL oh OF Ant'ny.
Dah's fiah en- she ain atcahd, en- dah's
watah Ell she ain afeahd Wondah
whut All gwine tell huh? Whut de
coloh oh yo' hath, honey?"
Black" put in Chilly Lusk, with a
wink at the others "Black as crow"
Old Anthony's hand fell back to his
knee. Young mars laugh at de OF
man." he said, "but he don know. Dat
de coloh dat buhn nah han's-de coloh
OBJ gor, en- eyes blue like er thirds $
aig. Dah's err man gwine look in dem
eyes, honey, en- gwine make 'em cry
en- cry" He raised his head sharply,
his lids shut tight, and swung his arm
toward the North. "Dah's whah he
come fom," he said, zen heah"-his
arm veered and he pointed straight
toward the ragged hill behind them
he stay"
Lusk laughed noiselessly. Hes
pointing to Damory Court" he whi.s.
pered to Nancy Chalmers, "the only
uninhabited place within ten miles.
That's as near as he often hits 1t, I
fancy
"Heah's whah he stay" repeated the
old man. Heap OBJ trouble wait heah
TO- him too. honey,-heap oh trouble
heah whah III mistis fin him.
Come, Anthony" said Judge Chal-
mers. laying his hand on the old mans
shoulder. That's much too mourn
full! Give her something nice to TOP
of with at least!"
But Anthony paid no heed "Gr'et
trouble. Dah's fiah en- she ain afeahd,
en- dah's watah en- she ain afeahd. En-
All sees yo' gwine ter him, honey All
heah's de co'ot-house clock a.strikin in
de night-en yo gwlne DON wait,
don wait, III mistis. er de trouble
cloud gwine kyah him erway rom yo'
When de clock strike thuh-
teen-when de clock strike thuh-
teen"
The droning voice ceased. The
gaunt form became rigid. Then he
started and turned his eyes slowly
about him, a vague look of anxiety on
his face. For moment no one
moved. When he spoke again it was
once more In his gentle quavering
voice:
"Watah? Vas, Mars, good watah.
Hep yo'sef"
The judge set dollar bill on the
step and weighted 1t with a stone, as
the rest remounted. "Well, good-by,
Anthony he said. Were nightly
obliged"
He sprang into tho saddle and the
quartette cantered away my expert
ment wasn't great success, I'm
afraid, Shirley" he said ruefully.
"Oh, think 1t was splendid!" cried
Nancy. DO you suppose he really be.
lieves those spooky things? declare,
mt the time I almost did myself. What
an odd idea--'when the clock strikes
thirteep.' which. of course. it never