The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1915-10-07


family nor to ever possess the diamond
from the sky.
On the other hand, Judge Lamar
Stanley had a son, sturdy boy of
three His proud wife, equally with
himself, dreamed Of a day when this
boy should bear the honors and have
the vast estates Of the Stanley earl
dom and the wonderful, priceless dia-
mond from the. sky.
AS the two horsemen, kinsmen and
bitter enemies, rode down upon each
other In a smiling Virginia lane nei-
ther would swerve his horse a hairs
breadth for the other. Into each other,
full tilt, their blooded horses charged,
and then the superior horsemanship of
the soldier, skilled in cavalry encoun-
ters, told. Over went horse and judge
into the dust of the road, and, with
mocking laugh and not deigning to
look back. at his fallen kinsman, who
arose and cursed and shook his fist at
him, Colonel Stanley rode on.
The judge, discounted in the dust,
saw the dark face Of gypsy grinning
at him through a hedge near by. The
hedge was on the property Of Judge
Stanley. Mounted on his horse again
he now saw gypsy van on the other
side Of the hedge. Judge Stanley,
Quivering with rage, rode into the gap
Of the hedge and hoarsely ordered off
the intruders.
"But, yo' see, it Is like this" expos
tulated the gypsy. 81 am alone here
with my wife, sir. Our people has
gone on. My wife is very sick. We
can't 60 on, SIR
"What do I care what ais your
wretched wifew snarled the Judge.
"Drive your horses off my land and get
out. I am judge in this county"
"Mebbe you are president Of the
United States, too," grumbled the
gypsy. "Do you think you own the
roads because the gentleman that just
rode by knocked you off your horse
on the road?'
Reused to a burst Of fury, the Judge
drove his horse at the gypsy and
lashed him cruelty with the heavy rid
ing whip he always carried. A wan
but handsome gypsy woman, clutching
at her side as though in pain, tottered
out from the van as though to protect
the gypsy from the sheer brutality Of
the horseman. Stanley struck the gyp-
sy woman across the face, leaving a
nvid veal. To his surprise she never
finched, but faced him dauntlessly.
1.-THE bitterest disappointment Of your
life and death that will be a buz-
yards feast for you for that blow! she
said tensely, light Of prophecy in
her courageous eyes.
The judge faltered and wheeled his
horse, but turning to the gypsy man
he cursed him again and bid him be
off his land Then he rode on.
Meanwhile Colonel Stanley had rid
den to the village Of Fairfax and had
halted his horse at the gate Of pref
ty cottage. A sign by the gate bore
the words, "DT. Henry Lee"
The doctor was an amiable man Of
some sixty years, inclined to corpu-
lence, a kinsman Of General Robert E.
Lee. The doctor had been surgeon
in the Confederate army. Some fifteen
years older than the colonel he had
been the guardian Of the other. Dur
ing the war the colonel had saved the
NJ
wounded back to the Confederate lines
under CALLING fire. A further bond
between them, If others were needed,
was the mutual hatred they bore to
Judge Lamar Stanley, who through
some legal chicanery had impoverished
the doctor in his old age, breach Of
confidence If not Of trust. Eyes, doc
tor, come at once. My wife will need
you tonight" said the colonel.
AS the colonel neared his estates and
was within sight Of the broad lawn Of
his colonial mansion, Stanley hall, a
landmark Of the countryside, he saw
gypsy van approaching. On the driv-
Ing seat We're two figures, man and
q woman. The man was believing
hoarse curses at disappearing horse
man, whom even at the distance the
colonel recognized as his hated cousin,
the judge.
AS he neared the approaching gypsy
outfit the colonel noticed the woman
had tainted from pain and WEAKNESS.
He had just time to wheel his horse
close beside the van and catch her as
she was falling from the seat.
In a few words the gypsy man ex-
planned their miserable situation. The
kindly heart Of the colonel was touch
ed. The fainting woman had now re-
vived and was listening alphabetically.
$50 Judge Stanley has ordered you
of the earthT remarked the colonel.
well, my good man, that little copse
Of woods right over there, not far from
my house, belongs to me. Camp there
as long as you wish and will see your
sick wife gets every attention. She
expects child, you say? All, the curse
Of Eve falls alike in hut and mansion.
We expect this same momentous event
at my house You are doubly vel
L. II