The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1914-07-10

would not have disqualified a year
ling OK.
On this particular morning neither
the major nor the doctor was In evil
dence, the former having gone out
early, and the latter being at the mo-
ment In his office, as the brassy buzz
Of telephone from time to time an
nounced. Two of the green wicker
rocking-chairs on the porch, however,
were in agitant commotion. Mrs. Ma
son was receiving a caller In the per-
son OF Mrs. Napoleon Clifford.
After all these years!" the visitor
was saying In her customary italics.
(The broad "a" which lent a dulcet
softness to the speech of her hostess
was scorned by Mrs. Poly. her own
as" being as narrow as the needle
through which the rich man reaches
heaven.) 1--WE came here from Rich
mond when ! was bride-that's
twenty-one years ago-and Damory
Court was forsaken then. And think
what a condition the house must be In
now! Cared for by an agent who
comes every other season from New
York Trust man to do work like
that"
I'm glad Valiant Is to occupy It,"
remarked Mrs. Mason In her sweet
flute-like voice. 1T would be sad to
see any one else there. For after all,
the Valiants were gentlemen"
Mrs. Clifford shifted. Would you
I'M IaI TzH yaIt
tleman? Why. he earned the name
by the dreadful things he did. My
grandfather used to say that when his
wife lay sick-he hated her, you know
he would gallop his horse with all
his hounds full-cry after him under
her windows. Then that CHASTITY story
Of the slave he pressed to death In the
hogshead OF tobacco"
Il know" acquiesced Mrs. Mason.
He was a cruel man and wicked, too.
Yet of course he was a gentleman. In
the South the test of gentleman has
never been what he does, but who he
Is. But his grandson. Beauty Valiant.
who lived at Damory Court thirty
years ago, wasn't his type at all. He
was only twenty-five when the duel
occurred"
He must have been brilliant" said
the visitor, Ito have founded that
great corporation. It's pity the son
didn't take after him. Have you seen
the papers lately? 1t seems that
though he was to blame for the wreck
ing Of the concern they can't do any
thing to him. Some technicality in
the law. suppose. But If man is
only rich enough they can't convict
him of anything. Why he should sud-
denly make up his mind to come down
here l can't see. With that old af-
fair of his fathers behind him, /
should think he'd prefer Patagonia"
Il take it, then, madam" Doctor
Southalps forbidding voice rose from
the doorway, that you are familiar
with the circumstances Of that old az
fair, as you term it,"
The lady bridled. Her passages at
bly, tend to sweeten her disposition.
I'm sure I only know what people
say" she said.
"'People?" snorted the doctor iras-
chilly. Just another name for a COM
munity that's a perfect sink Of mean
ness and malice. II one believed all
he heard here he'd quit speaking to
his own grandmother"
You will admit, l suppose" said
Mrs. Clifford with some spirit, that
the name Valiant isn't what It used
to be in this neighborhood?"
Il will, madam" responded the doc
tor when Valiant left this place "a
mark of good taste. I've always consid.
cred it) he left It the worse, IL posi-
BILE, for his departure. Your remark,
however, would seem to imply de-
merit on his part. Was he the only
man who ever happened to be at the
lucky end of dueling-ground?"
Then It isn't true that Valiant was
dead shot and Sassoon intoxicated?'
Madam" said the doctor, II have
no wish to discuss the details Of that
unhappy incident with you or anybody
else. / was one of those present, but
the circumstances you mention have
never been descanted upon by me-"
Il see by the papers," said Mrs. Gif.
ford, with an air of resignedly chang
ing the subject, they've been investi-
eating the failure Of the Valiant Cor
poration. The son seems to be get
ting the sharp end of the stick. Per-
haps he's coming down here because
they've made It so hot for him In
New York. Well, I'm afraid he'll find
this county disappointing"
He will that!" agreed the doctor
savagely. mo doubt he imagines he's
coming to kindly countryside of gen.
tle-born people with souls and imagi-
nations; he'll find he's lit in a section
that's entirely too ready to hack at his
fathers name and prepared In ad-
vance to call him Northern scum. and
turn up its nose at his accent--a com
munity so full Of dyed-in-the-wool
snobbery that It would make Boston
look like poorwhite barbecue. I'm
sorry for him!"
Just then from the rear of the house
came q strident voice: