Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-02-24
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CHAPTER ".
u Valiant Of Virginia.
For . long time John Valiant sat
motionless. the opened letter in his
hand. staring ct nothing. He had the
sensation. spiritually, Of . traveller
awakened with rude shock amid
wholly unfamiliar surroundings.
He was trying to remsmbe-to put
two and two together. His father had
been Southern-born; yes, he had
known that But he had known moth
Ing whatever Of his fathers early days.
or Of his forebears; since he had been
old enough to wonder about such
things, he had had no ono to ask
questions oe.
Phrases Of the letter ran through
his mind: Sometime. perhaps. you
viii know Why you are John Valiant
Of New York instead Of John Valiant
OF Damory Court ." cannot
tell you myself" There was some
tragedy, then, that had blighted the
place, some ''melancholy story" % the
clipping put It.
He bent over the deed spread out
upon the table. following with his m
ger the long line Of transfers: "'To
John vaiyante.. !" he muttered: what
odd spelling! Robert valyant'-with-
out the e. Here, In 1870. the " be-
gins to DO s. ~ There, WAS something
strenuous and sxtpSa1ing In the long
line OF dates. valiant. Always Va
liant: How they. held Ion to it! There's
never . break"
A curious pride, newborn and self
conscious. was dawning in him. He
was descended from ancestors who
had'been no weaklings. A Valiant had
settled on those acres under Q royal
governor, before tho old frontier
dgAting was over and the Indians
had sullenly retired to the westward.
Tho sons Of those who had braved
sea and savages had bowed their
strong bodies and their stronger hearts
to raze the forests and turn tho
primeval jungles into golden planta-
tons.
There stole into his mood IN eery
suggestion Of Infection. Why should
the date assigned for that deeds de-
livery have been the very day on
which he had elected poverty? Here
was . Generalization - pointed as the
index-fnger Of . guidepost. Every
man carries his fate" he repeated,
on q riband about his neck Chum,
DO you believe in fatef'
For answer the bulldog. cooking an
alert eye on His master. discontinued
his occupation conscientious II un-
successful mastication Of the hattish
packet that had fallen from the folded
d1ed-and with much solicitous tail
wassing, brought the soddsn thing in
his mouth and put Il into the out
stretched hand.
His master unrolled the pulpy wad
and extricated the object. 1t had en-
closed-an old-fashioned iron doorkey.
. .
After . time Valiant thrust the key
into his pocket. and rising. went to .
trunk that lay against the wall
Searching In . portfolio, he took out
small old-fashioned photograph,
much battered and soiled. It had been
cut from larger group and the name
Of the photographer had been erased
from tho back. He set 1t upright on
the desk. and bending forward, looked
long at the face it disclosed. It was
the only picture he had ever possessed
Of his father.
He turned and looked into the glass
above the dresser. The features were
the same. eyes, brow, lips, and strong
waving hair. But for its time-stains
the photograph might have been ena
Of himself. taken yesterday.