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


admitted the doctor.
In the copse of woods, hardly far
ther than a stones throw from the
mansion, night was falling darkly with
the mutterings Of an approaching
storm. Over a smoldering fire crouch
ed Matt Harding. the gypsy, putting at
his short black pipe a cry Of pain
from the weather stained tent near by
reused the man, and he arose and sui
lenly walked over and entered the
shabby shelter.
In a few moments he emerged and
hurried rapidly in the direction Of
Stanley Hail.
AS he raped at the great door Of
the mansion Ned, the colored butler,
opened it, throwing a glare Of yellow
light upon the sinister face of the
gypsy.
"You can't see nobody in this house
Mr. Man. said Ned.
But tell you Colonel Stanley prom
ised me his doctor would be here to-
night and that he would attend ms
wife. She needs the doctor now. It's
matter Of life and death. And It's
bad luck when gypsy dies without
being able to face the rising SUM-
de coloners allus dom foolish kind
nesses fo' poo white trash," grumbled
the darky as he shut the door on the
strange caller and went reluctantly to-
bear his message.
But the good old physician was posi-
tive that no harm would come from his.
absence for an hour or SO and fastened
away on his errand Of mercy.
At the little station Of Fairfax mean
while the now frightened London law
yer was wondering whether he should
load the elephant rifle with which he
had provided himself and fortify him
self behind his luggage. AS the beat
Of horse hoofs drew nearer the English
lawyer rose with leveled rifle and cried:
"Haltl Who goes there, friend or
foeY
The approaching horseman, Judge
Lamar Stanley, laughed grimly as he
called out: "It's friend! Don't shootW
And then he rode up to the platform
and introduced himself to the English
man and explained matters to the lat
ter's satisfaction. Then the judge
fastened the luggage Of his visitor to
the two saddle horses, and they rode
off together.
In the copse Of wood the pattering
night rain fell upon the gypsy tent
The storm passed as quickly as 1t
had come, and the moon shone out
refulgenrly. The flap Of the tent open
ed, and the bulky form Of the good
doctor was seen in the moonlight. He
held q small swaddled object In his
arms
"Matt Harding" said DR.. Lee Inn
pressively, "the storm has passed with
the miracle of birth, and you may say,
as was said Of old. Unto us child is
born; unto us son is given
"Them's fine words for rich folk
grumbled the gypsy grutily. 'To me
1t don't mean nothing but another
mouth to feed
The doctor regarded the man with
such look Of stcrnneSS that the gypsy
took the child from the doctor and en-
tered the tent with it after promising
the physician to take good care Of Is
and its mother.
The good doctor hurried back to
Stanley hail. where all were impatient
ly awaiting him. He smiled reassur-
ingly ut the colOnel's wife. the colonet
and the nurse.
"a fine boy has been born to the
gypsy woman" he said. 1T seems an
omen Of like good luck to Stanley han.
We may expect little earl to be born
here this night" he added gently.
The colonel's flower faced wife shook
her head and smiled back at the old
doctor, and the colonel spoke quickly.
81 have no ambitions for any title for
son Of mine," he said. But I wish
boy If but to thwart my cousin, La
mar Stanley"
A bitter expression crept into the
face Of the negro woman at the men
tion Of Judge Stanley's name.
Don't you worry, honey" she said
softly to her mistress, "an' don't you
worry either, colonel. De good Lord
don't intend no luck for Judge Lamar
Stanley. I was slave girl on his fa-
TIERS place when de jedge was
young man. He killed my brother like
dog, an he had me beat insensible
when called him CAIN"
A girl child was born at Stanley
hall at midnight. The colonel blanch-
ed at the news, but the flower faced
mother smiled and called her husband
to bring the diamond from the sky.
With trembling hands he brought the
precious heirloom. and the mother with
her own weak hands placed the chain
and the locket that contained the
jewel around the neck Of her newborn
daughter
''She is heir to Stanley hail. at least"
murmured the mother. and until you
die" she added. turning to the colonel,
"she may wear it as a charm against
HARM as the Stanleys Of our branch