The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-03-14

! itAV0 ucbiu VI uIH WHen you Wofe nero
before. He's almost as celebrated %
the Reverend John Jasper OF Rich
mond."
Betty tapped her temple. Where
have All heard of John Jasper"
He was the author of the famous
sermon on The Sun do Move He
used to prove it by q bucket Of water
that he set beside his pulpit Saturday
night. As 1t hadn't spilled in the
morning he knew 1t was the earth that
stood still"
Betty nodded laughingly. "Ah re-.
member now. Is Mad Anthony really
mad?"
only harmlessly," said Shirley.
Hes stone blind. The negroes all
believe he conjures-thats voodoo,
you kno' They put a lot Of stock
in his 'prOphecisms.' He tells for
tunes, too. SSH" she warned. Hes
sitting on the doorstep. He. heard
Ns."
The old negro had the torso Of .
black patriarch. He sat bolt upright
with long straight arms resting on
his knees, and his face had that Pc
culiar expressionless immobility seen
In Egyptian carvings. His age might
have been anything, Judging from his
face which was 80 ssamed and crev.
iced with innumerable tiny wrinkles
that 1t most resembled the tortured
glaze OF some ancient bitumen pot
terry unearthed from q tomb of Kor.
The Judge dismounted, and tossing
his bride over q fence-picket, took
from his pocket collapsible drinking
cup. "Howdy do, Anthony" he said.
We just stopped for q drink Of your
good water"
The old negro nodded his head.
Good watah," he said in the gentle
quavering tones Of extreme age. "Yas,
Marse. Hep yo'se'f. Come rom he
centah OBJ de yerf, dat watah. En- dah's
folks say de centah of de yerf is all
fab Yo' reck'n dey's right, Mars
Ohahmahs?"
Now. how the devil do you know
who l am, Anthony" The Judge set
down his cup on the well-curb. II
haven't been by here for year."
The ebony head moved slowly from
side to side. "Ol' Ant'ny dom need
no eyes," he said. touching his hand
to his brow. He see ev'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
are?"
The sightless look wave red over
them and the white head shook slow.
ly. Don know young mars" said
tho gentle voice. How many yuddahs
wid yo'? One. two? 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. "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
grimace and drew back.
You go, Shirley" abe whispered,
and with q laughing glance At the
others, Shirley came and sat down on
the lowest step.
Mad Anthony put out q waverinx
hand and touched the young body.
His fingers strayed over the habit and
went up to the curling bronse under
the hat.brim. dis de III mistis." he
muttersd, "ain' efeahd oh oil Ant'ny.
Dah's fiah en- she atm afeahd, en- dah's
vatah en she ain afeahd. Wondah
whut All gwine tell huh? Whut d
coloh oh yo' hath. honey?"
Black" put In Chilly Lusk, with q
wink At the others. "Black az . crow"
Old Anthony's hand fell back to his
knee. Young mars laugh at de OIL
man" he said, "but he don know. Dat
de coloh dat buhn NAH han's-de ooloh
oh gol. en- eyes blue like or cat-bird's
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 hs
come rom." he said, Zen heah"-his
arm veered and he pointed straixht
toward the ragged hill behind them
he stay"
Lusk laughed noiselessly. Hes
pointing to Damory Court" he whis.
pered to Nancy Chalmers, "the only
uninhabited place within ten miles
That's as near a. he often hits It, I
fancy"
'Heah's whah he stay" repeated the
old man. Heap oh trouble wait heah
TO- him too, honey,-heap oh trouble,
heah whah III mistis fin' him."
Come, Anthony" said Judge Chsl-
mers. laying his hand on the old man'a
shoulder. That's much too mourn
full! Give her something nice to top
on with, at least!"
But Anthony paid no heed. 'Gret
trouble. Dah's fab en- she ain afeahd.
a<0 AQh'o WI h. -.