Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-08-14
THE VALIANTS OF VIRGINIA
BY HALLE ERMlNlE RlVEo

really loved the other man. If So
she couldn't have borne seeing Va
liant afterwardn She paused WI
a little laugh. but then" she said
at may have been nothing so roman
tic Perhaps they quarreled over
cards or differed as to whose horse
was the better jumper. Valiants
grandfather, who was known
vil-John, is said to have called q
man out because he rode past MIN
on the wrong side Our ancestors
in Virginia, I'm afraid, didn't stand
on ceremony when they felt uppish.
He did not smile. He was looking
out once more overI the luminous
stretch of fields, his sideface toward
her Curious and painful questions
were running through his brain.
With an effort he thrust these back
and recalled his attention to what
she was saying.
"You wonder suppose. that we
feel as we do toward these old es-
tates, and set store by them, and"
yes, and brag of them insufferably
as we do. But it's in our blood. we
love them as the English do their
ancient manors. They have made
our legends and our history. And
theN history of Virginia.
She broke off with shrug and.
more himself now. he finished for
her: isn't exactly a trifiing part
of the history of these United States.
You are right"
"You Northerners think were des-
perately conceited,' she smiled, "but
it's true. We're still as proud of our
land, and its old, old places, and
love them as well as our ancestors
ever did. We wouldn't change line
of their stately old pillars or a pebble
of their darling horny gardens. Do
you wonder We resent their passing
to people who don't care for them in
the Southern way?'
But suppose the newcomers DO
care for them?"
Her lips curled. "a young million
aire who has lived all his life in New
York, to care for Damory Court. A
youth idiotically rich, brought up in
a superheated atmosphere of noise
and money!"
He started uncontrollably. So
that was what she thought! He felt
himself flushing. He had wondered
What would be his impression OF the
fnt4 ait nPaih their
possible opinion of himself had never
occurred to him.
"Why," she went on. "he's never
cared enough ABOUT the place even TO
| come ana see II. II VI ICdoOliS VI Ills
own-good enough ones, perhaps, ac-
cording to the papers-he finds him.
self tired of the city. I can imagine
him rejecting" With a knocking sim
ulation of a brown study, she put her
hand to her brow, pushing impatient
ly back the hayward luster. Let
me see, don't | own an estate some
where in the South? All, ha, yes.
If | remember, it's in Virginia. III
send down and fix up the old howell
Then he telephones for his architect
to run down and see what improve
ments it needs. And-here you are!"
He laughed shortly-a tribute to
her mimcry-but 1t was difficult
laugh. The desperately ennuyee
pose, the lax drawl, the unaccus-
toned mental effort and the sudden
lf-congratulatory "ah, hal hit
ting off to a hair the lackadaisical
boredom of the hoplessly rich young
boulevardier@this was the country
sides pen picture of him.
Don't you consider longing for
nature a wholesome sign?'
Perhaps The vagaries of the rich
are always suggestive"
you think there's no chance of his
choosing to stay here because he act
ually likes it?"
mot the slightest he said indif-
ferently
you are so certain of this without
ever having seen him."
She glanced at him covertly, an
noyedly sensible of the improperly of
the discussion, since the man dis
cussed was certainly his patron,
maybe his friend. But his insistence
had aroused a certain ballSy wilful-
ness that would have its way. It's
true I've never seen him." she said,
but I've read about him a hundred
times in the Sunday supplements.
He's a regular feature of the high
roller section. His idea of a good
time was dog banquet at Sherry's.
Why, girl told me once that there
was a cigarette named after him
the Vanity Valiant"
An angry CLINT slanted across his
eyes. For some reason the silly story
on her lips stung him deeply. You
find the Sunday newspapers always
so dependable?''
well" she flashed, ''you must
know Mr. Valiant. Is he a useful cit
izen? What has he ever done except
play polo and furnish spicy para
graphs for the society columns? ''
Isn't that beside the point? Be-
cause he has been an idler must he
necessarily be a-vandal? ?"
She laughed again. He wouldn't
call it vandalism. He'd think it de-
cided improvement to make Damory
Court as frantically different as pos
sible. ! suppose he'll erect a glass
cupola and porte-cochere, all up
to-date and varnishy, and put orchid
lighthouses where the wilderness gar
den was, and a modern marble cupid
instead of the summer house. and lay
out kite-shaped track
Everything that was impusive and
explosive in John Valiant's nature
came out with bang. "No!" he
cried, whatever else he is, he's not
such preposterous ass as that!"
She faced him squarely now. Her
eyes were sparkling. fSince you
know him SO intimately and so high
ly approve of him