Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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THE PRODIGAL . JUDGE J \?y VXUOHAFiKESTEl\ j Itu'STtyT/ws BvD.Meivitt I Co*i<**t*f >9*/ K?e3c#to *ee+tit Ccvtwr By six o'clock be was undeniably drunk; at eight be was sounding still deeper depths of Inebriety, with only the most confused memory of Impend tng events; at ten he collapsed and was borne upstairs by Pegloe and nil bis? k boy to a remote chamber in th? kitchen wing. Here he was undressed aad put to bed, and the tavern keep er, making a bundle of his clothes, re tired from the room, locking too doot after him, and the Judge was doubly a prisoner. Rousing at last from a heavy dreamless sleep the Judge was aware of a faint Impalpable llgbt In bis room the asben light of a dull October dswn He was aware, too, of a feeling ol profound depression. He knew this waa the aftermath of indulgence and that ho might look forward to forty sight houis of utter misery of soul aad, groaning aloud, hs closed hit eyes. Bleep waa the thing If he could compass it Inetesd. his memory quickened. Something was to asp pen at suxvup?hs could not recal whst u was to be, tnougb be distinct ty remembered that Mahaffy had epoken of this very matter?Mad iffy the austere and implacable, the die embodied conscience whose fealty t< duty had somehow survived his owe spiritual ruin, so that he had becomi s sort of moral sign-post, ever point log the way yet never going It Mm wm Ths Judge Is/ still snd thought deeply aa ths l!ght Intensified Itself Pssjloe/e Black Boy Cams Bssrlng i Qrft. What was It that MahaTv had sale ho was to do at sun-up? Tbe ver> hour sccented his suspicions. Prob ably It was no more than some cheer loss obligation to be met, or MaDafT> would not hate been so concernec about it Eventually he decided tc refer everything to Mahaffy. Hi spoke his friend's name weakly anc hi a shaking voice, but received nc answer. "Solomon!'' he repeated, and shirt tng his position, looked in what should have been the direction of tbe shake down hod his friend occupied. Neith or the bed nor M ihaffy *ete there The Judge gasped?he wondered ll this were not a premonition of certain hallucinations to which be was not a strsnger Then all In a flash he re membered Kentress and the meeting, at Hoggs', something of how tbe eve? ning had been spent, and a apasn. rd regret shook htm Ml had other " it 4 to Miink of. This mu?t never happen again!" be told himself renor ? illy. He wan wi.s-a^ake now. Doubt less Pegloe had p..r htm to gssj Well, thst had losn U? aghtfuJ of raging he would got forK*d him?tbe City Tavern should continue to enjoy his patronage. It would he something fOf Peg I- anal of that Judge Sloeum Price T'irnorvlllo always m ad ?? IiIh plsce h? adquartera vthen ttt It a let g h Feeling that be h id already gOBfortod wealth and dt><tlnc'ton on the fOTttt? nate Pegloe ths Judge thrust his fat legt? over the nlde of hU | | I |ggj Stood erect Stooping he re n he I f?'r hie clothe* H?? confidently . -d to find them on the floor, h it gjg hand merely swept an unrarpeted WMte The Judge wa* profoundly ant on I ? Bt 'I "Mayb* I ve g t 'em on I don't re? run taking them off" he thought hopefully He moved uncertainly In the direction <>t UM window, s/hOfi the light showed him his own bare ex tremltles Me rev? rfed to hin orlg lasl Idea that hN clothes were scat tered about the floor He was beginning |g experience s grest aenne of haste, It was two miles to Hoggs' snd KentrexH would he thorp st sun up Ktnally he abandoned hi" quest of the missing garment* and He Distinguished Several Men. I turned to the door. To ear that he waa amased when he found It locked would have moat Inadequately de? scribed his emotione. Breathing deep, he fell back a atep or two, and then with all the vigor he could muster launched himself at the door. But it resisted him. "it's bolted on the other aide!" he muttered, the full measure of Peg loe'e perfidy revealing itself to his mind. He was aghast. It waa a plot to discredit him. Pegloe s hospitality had been Inspired by his enemy, for Pegloe was Fentress' tenant. Again he attacked the door; he be Ueved It might be possible to force it from Its hinges, but Pegloe bad done his work too well for that, and at last, spent and breathless, the Judge dropped down on the edge of his bed to consider the situation. He waa without clothes and he was a pris? oner, yet his mind rose splendidly tc meet the difficulties that beset him HU greatest activities were reserved for what appeared to he only a sea son of despair. He armed himself with a three-legged stool he had found and turned once more to the door, but the stout planks stood firm under hit blows. "Unless I get out of here In time I'm a ruined man!" thought the Judge "After this Fentress will refuse tc meet me!" The window next engaged his at ration. That, too, Pegloe had taken the precaution to fasten, but a single savage blow of the stool shattered glass and sash and left an empty space that framed the dawn'a red glow. The Judge looked out and shook his head dubiously. It was twelve feet or more to the ground, a risky drop for a gen tleman of ds years and build. The Judge considered making a rope of hla bedding and lowering himself to the ground by means of It; he remem bered to have read of captives in that Interesting French prison, the Bas? tille, who did this. However, an equal ly Ingenious but much more simple use for his bedding occurred to him; It would form a soft and yielding sub? stance on which to alight. He gath? ered It up into his arms, feather-tick and all, and pushed It through the window, then he wriggled out across the ledge, feet first, and lowering him self to the full length of his arms dropped. He landed squarely on the rolled-ur. bed with a jar that shook him to Ml (??nter. Almost gaily he snatched u[ a quilt, draping It about him arter the manner ot a Human toga, and thus lightly habited, started across Mr Pegloe'l truck-patch, his one thought Bog| and the sun. It WOUld have h? rved po purposo 10 have k<?iio homo situ-, hla entire wardrobe, except roi the h^lit on his back, was In the t a v ersvheopei i po as aloUi i>? -hies in had riot a moment tQ loie, lor the sue was peeping gf gin over the borlson V\ m ??! 1 gained I he edge ol the lOWfl and the highroad that 1 pgal Bogga' and stob- a fearful glanci over his should r The sun was cleat of the ireetopa, ha could even feel th<; llfeleea dual grow warm beneath his feet; and Wrapping tile QUllt close! about him he broke into g labored run. Some tWtnt] minutes later Boggfl came In sight He experletued a mo mofit of doubt?doubtless Fentress had been there and gone) It was u hideous thought and tho Judge groaned. Then at the other end or tin meadow mar the woods he dtstln guished several men, FentresH and hi frlends beyond miestlon The Judgt laughed aloud. " i sidte or everything he wai keeping bis engagement he wgi plucking his triumph out ol the rery dregi ol failure. The ludge threw nlmsoll i v< r the fence, a cor? ner ol \h" quilt caught on one of the rails; he tuned to release it and in that instant two pistol shots rung out sharply in the morning air. Cr! A PTER XXXI. Solomon's Last Night. It had been with no little reluctance that Bolomon Ma huffy accompanied Yancy and Cavendl b to Belle Plain; he would have preforred to remain in Raleigh i': attendance upon Judge Price. Intimately acquainted with the judge't mental proceaaea, he could fol? low all the devious workings of that magniiicent mind; he could fathom tho simply hellish ingenuity he was capable of putting forth to accom? plish temporary betiellts. Permitting his thoughts to dwell upon the min? gled strength and weakness which was so curiously blended in Slocum Price's character, he had horrid vi? sions of that great soul, treed from the trammels of restraint, confiding his melancholy history to Mr. Pegloo in the hope of bolstering his fallen credit at the City Tavern. Always where the Judge was con? cerned he fluctuated between extremes of doubt and confidence. He felt that under the urgent spur of occasion his friend could rise to any emergency, while a sustained activity made de? mands which he could not satisfy; then his efforts were discounted by his insane desire to realize at once on his opportunities; In his haste he was tor ever plucking unripe fruit; and tlough he might keep one eye on the main chance the other was fixed Just as resolutely on the nearest tavern. With the great stake which fate had suddenly Introduced Into their los? ing game, he wished earnestly to be? lieve that the Judge would stay quiet? ly In his office and complete the task he had set himself; that with this oft Ms hands the promise of excitement at Belle Plain would compel bis pres? ence there, when he would pass some? what under the restraining influence which he was determined to exert; in short, to Solomon, life embraced Just the one vital consideration, which was to maintain the Judgo In a state of sobriety until alter his meet? ing with Fentress. The purple of twilight was stealing over the land when he and his two companions reached Belle Plain. They learned that Tom Ware had returned irom Memphis, that the bayou bad been dragged but without results, and that as yet nothing had been heard from Carrlngton or the dogs he had gone for. Presently Cave Jdish and Yancy set off across the Melds. They were go? ing on to the raft, to Polly and the six little Cavendishes, whom they had not seen since early morning; but they promised to be back at Belle Plain within an hour. By very nature an alien, Mahaffy sought out a dark corner on the wide porch that overlooks. 1 the river to await their Teturn. The house had been thrown open, and supper was be lr" served io whoever cared to stay anu partake of it. The murmur or idle purposeless talk drifted out to him; he was irritated and offended by it. There was something garish in this indiscriminate hospitality in the very home of tragedy. As the mo? ments slipped by his sense of dis? pleasure increased, with mankind in general, with himself, and with tho Judge?principally with the Judge? who was to make a foolish target of himself In the morning. He was go? ing to give the man who had wrecked his life a chance to take It as well. Mahaffy's cold logic dealt cynically with the preposterous situation his friend had created. In tho midst of his angry medita? tions he heard a clock strike in the hall and counted the strokes. It was nine o'clock. Surely Yancy and Cut ? tndllh had been gone their hour! He quitted hla seat and strolled restless? ly about the home. He lelt deeply Indignant with everybody and every? thing. Human intelligence seemed but a pitiable advance on brute in? stinct. A whole day had passed and what had been accomplished? Car? rlngton, the Judge, Yancy, Cavendish ?tho four mer who might have worked together to some purpose? had widely separated themselves; and here was the duel, the very climax of absurdity. He resumed his dark cor? ner and waited another hour. Still no Carringttm, and Yancy and Caven? dish had not come up from tho rait. "Fools!" thought Mahaffy bitterly. "All of them fools!" At last, ho decided to go back to the judge; and a moment later was hurrying down the lane in the direc? tion of tho blghroadi but, jaded as he was by the effort he had already put for that day, I e walk to Raleigh l ado tremendous demands on him, und it was midnight when be entered the little town. It cannot bo said that he was alto? gether surprised when he found theii c< !t ige dark and apparently desert < d He had half expected this Ku terlngi and not stopping to secure a candle, he groped his way upstairs tc the room on the second Moor which he and the judge shared. "Price!" he called, but this gained him DO response, and ho cursed son |y under his breath He haatlly descended to the kltch en, lighted a candle, and stepped into the adjoining room. On the table waa a peat pile Of papers, and topping the pllo was the president's letter. Be It'g burdened by no false scruples, ami thinking it might afford sonu clue to the Judge's whereabouts, Ma haffy took it up and read it Having mastered its contents be Instant!) glanced ?n the direction ot tne ? irj Tavern, but it wna wrapped In dark Less. "Price le drunk somewhere," waa his definite conclusion. "But be'U be at 11 oi le fust tiling In the morn? ing?most likely so tar gone he can hardly Btund!" Th ' letter, with its Btrlklng news, made little or no Impression on him Just then; it merely furnUhcd tin.' Clue he bad iOUght. The judge was off bo me where marketing hi.s pros poets After b time Mahaffy w? nt up? stairs, find, without removing bis eh thes, threw himself on the bod. He was worn down to the point of ex? haustion, yet he could not sleep, though the deep silence warned him that day was not far oft'. W hat it ? but lie would not lot the thought shape Itself In his mind. He had wit? nessed the judge's skill with the pis? tol, and he had even a certain irra? tional faith in that gentleman's des? tiny. He prayed God that Fen tress might die quickly and decently with the judge's bullet through his brain. Over and over in savage supplication he muttered his prayer that Fentress might die. Mahaffy watched for the coming of the dawn, but before the darkness lifted he had risen from the bed and gone downstairs, where he made him? self a cup of wretched coffee. Then he blew out his candle and watched the gray light spread. He was im? patient now to be off, and fully an hour before the sun, set out for Hoggs', a tall, gaunt figure in tbe shadowy uncertainty of that October morning. He was the first to reach the place of meeting, but he had scarcely entered the meadow when Fentress rode up, attended by Tom Ware. They dismounted, and the colonel lifted hifl hat. Mahaffy bare- , ly acknowledged the salute; he was | In no mood for courtesies that meant j nothing. Ware was clearly of the j same mind. There was an awkward pause, then Fentress and Ware spoke together in j a low tone. The planter's speech was broken and hoarse, and his heavy, blood-shot eyes were the eyes of a haunted man; this was all a part of Fentress' scheme to face the world, and Ware still believed that the tires Hicks had kindled had served his des? perate need. I When the first long shadows stole out from the edge of the woods Fen? tress turned to Mahaffy, whose glance was directed toward the distant cor? ner of the field, where he knew bis friend must first appear. "Why are we waiting, sir?" be de? manded, his tone cold and formal. "Something has occurred to detain Price," answered Mahaffy. The colonel and Ware exchanged looks. Again they spoke together, while Mahaffy watched the road. Ten minutes slipped by in this manner, and once more Fentress addressed Mahaffy. "Do you know what could have de? tained him?" he inquired, the ghost of a smile curling his thin lips. "I don't," said Mahaffy, and relapsed into a moody and anxious silence. He held dueling in very proper abhor? rence, and only his feeling of intense but never-declared loyalty to bis friend had brought him there. Another interval of waiting suc? ceeded. "I have about reached the end of my patience; I shall wait just ten minutes longer," said Fentress, and drew out his watch. "Something has happened?" began Mahaffy. "I have kept my engagement; be should have kept his," Fentress con? tinued, addressing Ware. "I am sor The Pistol Slipped From His Fingers. ry to have brought you here lor noth? ing, Tom." "Wait!" said Mahaffy, planting him? self squarely before Fentress. "I consider this comic episode at tin end," and Fentress pocketed big watch. "Scarcely!" rejoined Mahaffy. Hi;; long arm Bhot out and the open palm of his hand descended on tbe col? onel's face. "1 am here for my frleud," he Bald grimly, Tho colonel's lace paled and col? ored by turns. "Have you a weapon ''' ho asked, when ho could cotnman 1 his voice. Mahaffy exhibited the pistol he had carried to Hello Plain the day be? fore. "Step off the ground, Tom." Pen* tress spoke quiet!>, When Ware had done as requested, the colonel spoke again. "You are my witness thai i was the vlctitu of an unprovoked at tack." Mr Ware accepted this statement with equanimity, not to say Indiffer? ence. Are you ready?" he asked; he f la need at Mahaffy, who by a Blight inclination of the head Bignitied that he was. "1 reckon you're a green hand at this sort of thing?" comment* ? d Toni e\ Illy. "Yes," said Mahaffy tersely. "Well, listen: I Bhall count, one, two, three; at the Word three you Will tire. Now take your positions." Mahaffy and the colonel stood tak? ing each other, a dlptance Ol twelve paces separating thorn. Mahaffy was pale hut dogged; ha eyed Fentress unflinchingly. Quick on the word Fen? tress fired, an inst: m later Mahaffy'! pistol exploded; apparently neither bullet bad taken ? '.'feet, the two men maintained the rigid attitude they bad assumed; then Mahaffy was seen to turn on his heels, next his arm drop? ped to his tide and the pistol slipped from his lingers, a look of astonish? ment passed over his face and leit it vacant and staring while his right hand stole up toward his heart; be raised it slowly, with difficulty, as though it were held down by some In? visible weight. A hush spread across the field. It was like one of nature's Invisible transitions. Along the edge cf tbe woods the song of birds was stricken into silence. Ware, heavy-eyed?Fen? tress, his lips twisted by a tortured smile, watched Mahaffy as he panted for breath, with his hand clenched against his breast. That dead, oppres? sive silence lasted but a moment; from out of it came a cry that smote on the wounded man's ears and reached his consciousness. "It's Price?" he gasped, his words bathed In blood, and he pitched for? ward on his face. Ware and Fentress had heard th* cry, too, and running to their horsea threw themselves into the saddle and galloped off. The Judge midway of the meadow roared out a furious pro? test, but the mounted men turned in? to the highroad and vanished from sight, and the judge's shaking legs bore him swiftly in the direction of the gaunt figure on the ground. Mahaffy struggled to rise, for he was hearing his friend's voice now, the voice of utter anguish, calling his name. At last painful effort brought him to his knees. He saw tbe Judge, clothed principally In a gaily colored bed-quilt, hatless and shoeless, bis face sodden and bleary from his night's debauch. Mahaffy stood erect and staggered toward him, his hand over bis wound, his features drawn and livid, then with a cry he dropped at his friend's feet. "Solomon! Solomon!" And tbe Judge knelt beside him. "It's all right, Price; I kept your appointment," whispered Mahaffy; a bloody spume was gathering on bis lips, and he staged up at his friend with glassy eyes. In very shame the judge hid his face In his bands, while sobs shook him. "Solomon?Solomon, why did you do this?" he cried miserably. The harsb lines on tbe dying man's face erased themselves. "You're the only iriend I've known in twenty years ot loneliness, Price. I've loved you like a brother," he panted, with a pause between each word. Again the Judge burled bis face In his hands. "I know It, Solomon?I know it!" he moaned wretchedly. "Price, you are still a man to be reckoned with. There's the boy; take your place for his sake and keep It? you can." "I will?by God, I will!" gasped tbe judge. "You hear me? You hear me, Solomon? By God's good help, I will!" "You have tbe president's letter? I saw It?" said Mahaffy in a whisper. "Yes!" cried the Judge. "Solomon, the world is changing Tor us!" "For me most of all," murmured Mahaffy, and there was a bleak In? stant when tho Judge's ashen counte? nance held the full pathos of age and failure. "Remember your oath, Price," gasped the dying man. A moment of silence succeeded. Mahaffy's eyes closed, then the heavy lids slid back. He looked up at the Judge while the harsh lines of his sour old face soft? ened wonderfully. "Kiss me, Price," he whispered, and as the Judge bent to touch him on the brow, the soft? ened lines fixed themselves In death, while on his lips lingered a Bmlle that was neither bitter nor sneoring. CHAPTER XXXII. The Judge's Grandson. In that bare upper room they had shared, the Judge, crushed and bro? ken, watched beside the bed on which tbe dead man lay; unconscious of the flight of timo he sat with his head bowed in his bands, having scarcely altered his position since he begged those who carried Mahaffy up the narrow stairs to leave him alono with his friend. He was living over the past, -le recalled his first meeting with Ma? li.iffy |n the stuffy cabin ol the small rlvci packet from wblcb they had later gone ashore at Pleasantvtllo; he thanked God that it bad been given blm to see beneath Solomon's forbid? ding exterior and into that starved heart! Ho reviewed cut. phase ol the almost insensible growth of their intimacy; he remembered Mahaffy's lino true loyalt) at the time ot his ar? rest-he thought of Damon snd Pythias?Mahaffy fead reached the heigh of r sublime devotion; he could only feel ennobled that he bad Inspired it. At last th<* dusU of twilight In vaded the room He lighted the can? dles on the cbtmneypiece, then he re? sumed his Meat and his former atti? tude. Suddenly he became aware ot s ptnall hand that was esting on his am and pi : j? i op; Har.nlbnl had stolen qul the o Ti.c boy point j to the still ?gure on the bed "Judge, wbst makes Mr. Mahaffy; lie c0 quiet?la ha dead?" ha aakod ig a whisper. "Yes d? ar lad," began the j idgej Jrj a shaking voice, h> he drew tiannlbgj toward him, "your friend gl ri i Ii > U dead?we have lost aim." lie lilted the hoy into nil lap, and Hannibal pressed ? tear-stained tare against tho judge's shoulder. "How did you get here?" the judge questioned gent? ly. "Tncie Bob fetched mo," s? tW rtm> nil al. "lks down-statra, hut he didn't tell me Mr. Mahaffy was dead.' "We have sustained a grant loss, Hannibal, and we must never forget the moral grandeur of the man. Some day, when you are older, and I can bring myself to apeak ol it, I will tell you of his last moments." The judge s voice broke, a thick sob rose choking? ly in his throat. "Poor Solomon! A man of such tender feeling thr-t he hid It from the world, for his was a rare nature which only revealed itself tc the chosen few he honored with his love." The judge lapsed into a mo "Do You Mean We Alnt Going to Be Pore Any Longer, Grandfather?" mentary brooding silence, in whlcb hl? great arms drew the boy closet against hts heart. "Dear lad, since J left you at Belle Plain a very as ton lshlng knowledge has come to me It was the Hand of Providence?1 see It now?that first brought u? togeth er. You must not call me judge any more; I am your grandfather?youi mother was my daughter." Hannibal Instantly sat erect apd looked up at the Judge, his blue eyes wide with amazement at this extraor? dinary statement. "It is a very strange story, Hanni? bal, and its links are not all In my hands, but I am sure because of what I already know, who thought that not a drop of my blood flowed In any veins but my own, live again In you Do you understand what I am telling you? You are my own dear little grandson?" and the Judge looked down with no uncertain love and pride into the small face upturned to his. "I am glad if you are my grand father, Judge," said Hannibal very gravely. "I always liked you." "Thank you, dear lad," responded the Judge with equal gravity, and ther as Hannibal nestled back In his grand father's arms a single big tear drop ped from the end of that gentleman's prominent nose. 'There will be many and great changes In store for us," continued the judge, fjlttt as we met adversity with dignity, I am sure we shall be able to endure prosperity with equanl mlty?only unworthy natures are af? fected by what is at best superficial and accidental. I mean that the blight of poverty is about to be lifted from our lives." "Do you mean we ain't going to be pore any longer, grandfather?" asked Hannibal. The Judge regarded him with in finite tenderness of expression; he was profoundly moved. "Would you mind saying that again dear lad?" "Do you mean we ain't going to be pore any longer, grandfather?" re peated Hannibal. I "I shall enjoy an adequate compe? tency w hich I am about to recover. It will be sufficient for the Indulgence ot those simple and Intellectual taste?, 1 propose to cultivate for the future.' In spite of himself the Judge sighed. This was hardly In line with hie ideals, but the right to choose was nc longer his. "You will be very rich, Hannibal. The Quintard lands?your grandmother w as a Qulntard?will be yours; they run up into the hundred Of thousands of acres hereabout; this land will be yours as soon as I can establish your Identity." "Will ITncle Bob be rich too?" in quired Hannibal. "Certainly. How can he be poor when we possess Wealth?" answered the Judge, ? You reckon be Will always live with us, don't you, grandfather?" ' I would not have it otherwise. I admire Mr Yancy?he is simple and direct, and tit for any company under hi aven except that Of tools. His treat? ment of you 1ms placed mo under everlasting obligation*; be shall share what we have. My one bitter, un? availing reg:ct is that Solomon Ma? haffy will tun be lure to partako or our altered fortunes." And the Judge Sighed deeply 'Tncle Hob told me Mr Mahaffy got hurt In a duel, grain..atiier?" said Hannibal. He was as inexperienced as a child In the use ot firearms, and he had to deal with SCOundrela who had