The state herald., 1914-05-15

| Quavering tones Of extreme age. -Yas.
Marse. Hep yo'se'f. Come fom he
centah OBJ de yerf. dat watah. I'm dab 5
folks say de centah Of de yerf IL all
nah. Yo' reck'n dey's right, Mars
Chahmahsf"
Nov. how the devil do you know
who l am. Anthony" Tho Judge set
down his cup on tho wellcufb. Il
haven't been BY here for Q year."
Tho ebony head moved slowly from
side to side. "Or Antny dom need
no eyes" he said. touching his hand
to his brow. He see sv'ything heah. :"
The Judge beckoned to the others
and they trooped inside the paling.
I've brought some other folks with
me. Anthony: can you tell who they
aref"
Tho sightless look wavered over
them and the white head shook slow.
ly. Don know young mars." said
the gentle voice. How many yuddahs
wild yo'! One. twof No. dom know
young mistis. eidah."
Il reckon you don't need any eyes"
Judge Chalmers laughed. a. he passed
the sweet cold water to the rest zone
Of these young ladies wants you TO tell
her fortune"
The old negro dropped his head.
waving his saunt hands restlessly.
The Judge beckon,d to Betty Page.
but she shook her head with q little
grimace and drew back.
You go. Shirley" she whispered,
and with q laughing glance at the
others. Shirley came and sat down on
the lowest step.
Mad Anthony put out q wavering
hand and touched the young body.
His fingers strayed over the habit and
went up to the curling bronze under
the hat-brim. dis de III mistis." he
muttered. ain afeahd OBJ or Ant'ny.
Dah's fab en- she ain afeahd. On dah's
watah en- she ain afeahd. wondah
whut All gwine tell huhi whut de
coloh OBJ yo' hath. honey!"
Black" put in Chilly Lusk. with a
wink at the others. BLACK as q crow ''
Old Anthony's hand fell back to his
knee. Young mars laugh at de ol'
man." he said. but he don know. Dat
de coloh dat buhn nah han's-de coloh
OBJ gol'. en- eyes blue like er cat-bird's 8
aig. Dah's er 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 rom." he said. zen heah--his
harm veered and he pointed sisaieht
toward the ragged hill behind them
he stay"
Lusk laughed noiseisssly. Hes
pointing to Damory Court" he whis-
pered to Nancy Chalmers. the only
uninhabited place within ten miles,
That's as near as he often hits II.
fancy"
'Heah's whah he stay repeated the
old man. 'Heah OBJ trouble wait heah
70 him too. honey.-heap OBJ trouble.
heah whah III mistis I'M 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
on with. at least!"
But Anthony paid no heed. "Gr'et
trouble. Dah's nah en- she ain afeahd.
en- dnh's watnh 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' gwine. Don wait.
don wait. III mistls. er de trouble.
cloud gwine kyah him erway fom yo'
When de clock strike thuh.
teen-when de clock strike thuh.
teen"
The droning voice ceased. Tho
saunt form became rigid. Then he
started and turned his eyes slowly
about him. a vague look OF anxiety on
his face. For n moment no one
moved. When he spoke again II was
once more In his gentle quaverinE
voice:
"wa,ahr Vas. Mars. good watah
Hep yo'se'f"
The Judge set n dollar bill on the
step and weighted Il with n stone. ~
the rest remounted. We'll, good by
Anthony he said. We're nightly
obliged"
lie sprans into the saddle and the
quartcttc oantcrcd away My expert
mcnt wasn't a great success, I'm
afraid. Shirley" he said ruefuiiy.
"oh. think Il was splendid" cried
Nancy DO you suppose he really be
lioves thos, spooky thinEsT | declare
at the ume almost did myself. wha,
an odd idea-'when the clock strikes
thirteen. which. OF course. 1, never
does"
Don't mind. Shirley" bantercd
Lusk. When you see all dem trou
blcs' coming. sound tho alarm and
wc'li ny In body to your rescue
They let their horses out for q
pounding Eailop which pulled down
suddenly q, n mufi-d SHREK from Bet
" PaHs. as her horse wen, into this
air at sight OF an automobile by this
roadsid.
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