The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1914-06-04
CHAPTER xiil-continued.

NIII-Continued.
They stood on the edge OF a stony
ravine which widened at one end to n
shallow marshy valley. The rocks
we're covered with gray.green feath-
cry creepors. enwound with curly yell
low tendrils OF love.yine. Across the
grove OF splendid trees hat marched
up into the long stretch OF neglected
forest he had seen from the house.
"You love IT," he asked. without
Withdrawing his eyes.
I've loved Il all my life. love
everything about Damory Court.
Ruined IL II IL. II is still n OF the
most beautiful estates In all Virginia.
There's nothing finer eve In Italy.
Just behind US, where those hemloc.;s
stand. - where the duel the children
spoke OF was fought"
He turned his head. Tell me about
IT," he said.
She glanced at him %curiously, Didn't
you know? That was the reason the
place was abandoned. Valiant. who
lived here. and the owner OF another
plantation. who was named Sassoon.
quarreled. They fought, the story Is.
under those big hemlock trees. Sas.
soon was killed"
He looked out across the distance:
he could not trust his face. And
Valiant7'
He ven away the same day and
never came back; he lived In New
York till he died. He vas the father
of the courts present n You
never heard the story?"
NO" he admitted. IT'LL quite re.
Gently never heard Of Damory
Court"
That was the last duel ever fought
in Virginia. Duellng was a dreadful
custom. I'm glad It's gone. Aren't
your"
Yes" he said slowly, 1T was n
thing that cut two ways. Perhaps Va.
liant. II he could have had his choice
afterward. would rather have been ly.
ing there that morning than Sas.
soon"
He must have suffered. too" she
agreed. 'or he wouldn't have exiled
himself as he did. | used TO wonder
II II was a Observation-Disclosures they
could have been In love with the same
woman"
But why should he go away"
Il can't imagine, unless she had
really loved the other man. II so. she
couldn't have borne seeing Valiant
Afterward." She paused with a little
laugh. But then" she said. 1T may
have been nothing so romantic, Va
liant's grandfather, who was known as
Devil.John, Is said to have called a
man out because he rode past him
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 Owe the luminous
stretch OF fields. his side-face towards
her. Curious and painful questions
were running through his brain. With
an effort. he thrust these back and re.
called his attention to what she was
saying.
You wonder, | suppose, that we
feel a. we do toward these old estates
and set store by them. and-yes, and
brag OF them insufferably as we DO
But it's In our blood. You Northern
ers think we're desperately con
ceited." she smiled. but It's true
We're still as proud Of our land. anC
its old. old places. and love them al
we'll as our ancestors ever did. Dc
you wonder we resent their passing
20 people who don't care for them II
the Southern way?"
But suppose the newcomers d,
care for them7"
Her lips curled. "A young million
Aire who has lived all his life In New
York. to care for Damory Court !
youth idiotically rich. brought up In
superheated atmosphere Of noise an,
money!"
lie started uncontrollably. So tina
was what she thought He felt him
self flushing. He had wondered wha
would be his impression of the neigh
borhood and its people; their possibi
opinion of hiWself had never occurre
20 him.
You thinx there's no chance OF hi
choosing to stay here because b
actually likes III"
mot the slightest" she said indi
sersntiy.
"you ara 90 certain OF this witho,
ever having sssn himr~
she glanced a. him sovsrtiy. a