Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-03-12

I00 0OCSOE CUT 49, -
cock-a-doodle-do which givss the yeen
bucks . chance to RIG ont IN silly ~.
gerry and prance their colts before . 1T
Of petticoats!"
ITS IN annual affair."" explained the
major: - kind Of spectacle For
many years, by tho way. n has been
held on . part OF this estate perhaps
you VIII have no objection to its use
this season land at night there 10 .
dance ct the Country Club. By the
way, you must let me introduce you
there-tomorrow. i've taken the ubeEty
already OF putting your name up"
Good lord!" growisd the doctor,
aside, HE counts himself young! II
I'd reached your age. Bristow-"
you have" sa3d the major. nettled.
'Four wear. ago!-As was saying,
Mr.. Valiant, they ride for prise. It's
. very ancient thing-l've seem reeer'
epcss to It In . colonial manuscript
IN the Byrd Library at Westovsr. No
doubt its como down directly fsoo
the old 3oustA"
You don't mean 10 cav" cried he
bearer In genuine astonisAnent. that
Virginia has . ltnea desceadant Of Tie
tourney" All
Tho major nodded. Yes. Certain
sections Of Kentucky used TO have It.
too. but It has died out there. It
exists now only in this state. fes
q curious thing that the old knightly
meetings Of the middle ages should
survive today only on American soil
and in q corner of Virginia"
Doctor SouthaH, meanwhile, had set
bis gaze on the litter Of pamphlets. He
turned with an appreciative eye.
You're beginning in earnest. The
Agricultural Department And The
Congressional frank"
I'm afraid I'm . sad sketch as .
scientist" laughed Valiant. my
point Of view has to be somewhat
practical ono. must be selfsupport.
ing. Damory Court 10 big estate.
1t has grain lands and forest ~ we'll.
II my ancestors lived from It. can.
It's not only that" he went on moro
slowly, Il want to make the most Of
the place for It's own sake. too. Not
only Of its possibilities for earning.
but Of it, natural beauties. lack the
resources I once had. but can give
It thought and work, and If they can
bring Damory Court back 10 anything
even remotely resembling what 1t once
was. I'll not spare either"
The major smote his knee and even
the Doctors face showed q grim, II
transient approval II believe you'll
do it," exclaimed the former. "And
let me say, sab, that the neighbor-
hood 10 not unaware Of the splendid
generosity which is responsible for
the present lack Of which you speak"
Valiant put out his hand with .
little gesture of depreciation, but the
other disregarded it. "Confound it..
sab, It was to be expected Of q Va
liant Your ancestors wrote their
names in capital letters over this
country. They were an up and down
lot, but good or bad land, a. southall
says, reckon"-he nodded toward the
great portrait above tho couch-"they
weren't all little woolly lambs) they
did big things In big way"
Valiant leaned forward eagerly, .
question on his lips. But at the mo-
ment diversion occurred in the
shape Of Uncle Jefferson. who Ee-en.
tered, bearing . tray on which set sun
dry jugs and clinking glasses. glow.
ing with white and green and gold.
you old hum bug, said the doctor.
don't Won know the majors that poi.
soned with mint-Juleps already that he
can't get up before eight in the morn
ing?"
Wei. suh," Uttered Uncle Jeffer
son. "Ah done foun' or mint-baid down
below dc kitchens dis mawnin'. Yo'-
all gemmun' bout do bigges' expuhts
in dis yeah county. On All reck'n
Mars Valiant sho' 'sist on 20 sam-
plin' ct"
sab" said the major feelingly,
turning to his host, I'm proud to
drink your health in the typical bev.
erase OF Virginia." He touched
glasses with Valiant and glared at the
doctor, who was slipping his own
ithoughtfully. "Poems have been writ.
ten on the julep. sab
They make good epitaphs. too" OBJ
served the doctor.
II noticed your glass isn't COINS
begging" the major retorted. "Unc
Jefferson, that's as good mint - grew
in tho garden Of Eden. See that
those lazy niggers Of yours don't grub
the patch out by mistake"
'Yas, sah," said Uncle Jefferson. "a
he retired With the tray. "Ah gwine
ter put or fence eroun' dat ar bald 70
shutdown"
The question that had sprung t.
ivaliant's lips now found utterance. y
saw you look at the portrait there
he said to the major. (Which OF my
ancestors 10 it7'
The other got up and stood before
tho mantel-piecs IN Napoleonic atti
:tude. THAT" no said. fixing bic eye
glasses, 'is yonr Ereat-srandfather
iDwiLJohn Valiant" +.
"Devil-John echoed his host. YES
I've heard the name"
The doctor lunawed, HE earned
II. I reckon. l never realized what q
sinister express ION that missing optic