The Lehi banner. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1891-1917, 1914-09-12

dence, the former having gone out
early, and the latter being at the mo-
ment In his office. az the brassy buzz
OF a telephone from time to time an
bounced Two OF the green wicker
rocking.chairs on the porch, however,
were In agitant commotion Mrs. Ma
son was receiving caller In the per
son OF MS Napoleon Clifford.
After all these years." the visitor
was saying in her customary italics
CThe 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
heavenD We came here from Rich
mond when was bride-that's
twenty.one years ago-and Damory
Court was forsaken then And think
what 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
have called Devil-John Valiant gen
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 fullcry 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 cruel man and wicked, too.
Yet OF course he was n gentleman. In
the South the test OF n 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? II seems that
though he was to blame for the wreck
ing OF the concern they cant do any
thing to him. Some technicality in
the law. | suppose. But II 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 ! cant see. With that old al.
fair OF his fathers behind him. |
should think he'd prefer Patagonia"
Il take II, then. madam" Doctor
Southall's forbidding voice rose from
the doorway, that you are familiar
with the circumstances OF that old al
fair. as you term it?"
The lady bridled. Her passages al
arms with the doctor did not invaria
bly, tend to sWeeten her disposition
I'm sure only know what people
say" she said
People," snorted the doctor iras
chilly Just another name for a com
munity that's n perfect sink OF mean
ness and malice II one believed all
he heard here he'd quit speaking tc
his own grandmother"
You will admit. suppose" said
Mrs clifford with some spirit. that
the name Valiant isn't what It useC
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 ~ he left II the worse. II posi-
| BILE. for his departure. Your remark
however, would seem to iupy de
merit on his part Was he the only
man who ever happened to be at IN,
| lucky end OF a duelnE-ground2
Then II isn't true that Valiant wa,
a dead shot and Sassoon intoxicated o
Madam said the doctor. Il hay,
no wish to discuss the details OF tha
unhappy incident with you or anybod,
else. was one OF those present. bu
| the circumstances you mention hay,
never been descantod upon by me"
Il see by the papers, said Mrs Gif
| ford, with an air of resiguodly chang
/ ing the subject, they've been luvesti
eating the failure OF the Valiant Cor
/ poration The son seems 10 be get
ting the sharp end OF the stick Per
haps he's coming down here becaus,
they've made It so hot for him n
New York Wen, I'm afraid he'll fin,
/ this county disappointing"
He will that agreed the doctor
sayagcly No doubt he lmagines he'i
coming to kindly countryside of gen
tle-born people with souls aud imagi
nations; he'll find he's lit In a section
that's entirely too ready TO hack at hi
fathers name and prepared In ad
vance to call him Northern scum an,
turn up It's nose al his accent--a com
munity so fun OF dyed in.the-woo
snobbery that It would make Boston
look like q poor,white barbecue. In
Jorry for hint"
Just then from the rear OF the hous,
came strldent voice:
"io', Raph'el' Take yo' hani
outer dem cherries, Don yo know a
yo' swallahs dem ar pits. yo' gwinetei
hab pendegeetus en- lump up en- dle?'
The sound OF slap and shrill yelI
followed, and around the porch dashed
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