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

CHAPTER XVI.
I, In Devil-John's Day.
He was still sitting motionless when
there came knock at the door and 1t
opened to admit the gruff voice OF
Doctor Southall. A big form was close
behind him.
Hell. Up, sec. 1 took the liberty
Of bringing Major Bristow."
The master Of Damory Court came
forwsrd-nmpin8 the least tride-and
shook hands.
Glad to know you. sah." said the
major. ALLOW me to congratulate
you: is not every ono who gets bit
! ten by one Of those Internal mecca.
sins that hves to talk about It. You
MUS: BE = pet Of Providence. or else
you have Q castiron constitution,
sab"
Valiant waved his hand toward the
man Of medicine, who said, Il reckon
/ Miss Shirley was the Providence in
; tho case. She had sense enough to
! Sand for me quick and speed did It"
well, sah," the major said. Il
reckon under the circumstances. your
first Impressions Of the section aren't
anything for us to brag about"
I'm delighted: It's hard for mo to
tell how much"
wait till you know the fool place"
growled the doctor testify. You'll
change your tune"
The major smiled genially. Don't
bs taken in by the Doctors pessimism.
You'd have to get yoke Of three
year oxen to drag him out Of this
state"
1T would take - many for me"
Valiant laughed . little. "You who
have always lived here, can scarcely
understand what am feeling, ! mag
inc. You see. Ianever knew till quite
recently-my childhood was largely
spent abroad, and have no near rela-
tives-that my father was Virginian
and that my ancestors always lived
here. Why, there's room upstairs
with the very toys they played with
when they were children! To learn
that belong to it all; that I myself
an the last link In such chain!"
1.-THE ancestral instinct" said the
doctor. I'm glad to see thatit means
something still. in these rotten days"
"Of course" John Valiant continued,
every ono knows that he has ances-
torA But I'm beginning to sec that
what you call the ancestral instinct
needs . locality and place. In q
way It seems to me that IN old estate
like this has soul too sort OF
clan or family soul that reacts on the
descendant"
Rather q Japanesy idea, isn't it,
observed tho major. But know
what you mean. Maybe that's Why old
Virginisn families hang on to their
land in spite Of hell and htgh-vater.
They count their forebears real live
people, quite capsule Of turning over
in their sravss~
mine are beginning % seem very
real to me. Though I don't even
know their Christian names yet. I can
Judge thsm hy thetr handiwork The
men who built Damory Court had 9
sense Of beauty and of art"
And their share Of deviltry. too
put In tho doctor.
II suppose co." admitted his host
'At this distance can bear even that
But good or bad, I'm deeply thankful
that they chose Virginia. Since I've
been laid up. Tve been browsing IN thu
| library here
"A bit out of date now, reckon.
said tho major. but it used to PAST
muster. Your grandfather was some
thing Of . book-worm. He wrote I
history of the family, didn't he?"
"Yes. I've found it. Tho Valiant'
OF Virginia. I'm reading the Revolu
'tionary chapters now. 1t never seeme<
real before-it's been only . slice O
! ,impersonal and rather dull history
But the book has made It come alive
I'm having the thrill Of the globe
,trotter the hrst time he sees the Tow
or Of London or the field of Waterloo
Il see more than that stubble-ield on
yonder; I see big wooden stockad'
with soldiers in ragged bun and blu
guarding t."
The major nodded, "Ah, yes" b.
said. THE Continental prison-camp.
"And just over this rise there I cal
SEQ IN old courthouse, and the Vii
i iginia Assembly boiling under tn
golden tongue-lashing Of lean raw
boned Patrick Henry. I see messen
ger gallop up and see the member
scramble to their saddles-and then
I Tarleton and his red-coats streaming
up, too late"
WELL" commented the doctor DELFT
erately, "all have to say is, don
materialize too much to Mrs. Pol
! sC!Ecra when YOU meet her. Shell
have you lecturing to the Ladies
Church Guild before you know it."
II hope you ride, Mr.. Valiant? tn
latter asked genially.
4 I'm fond of It," said Valiant. "bu
u have no horse a. yet"
'T was thinking" pursued the ms
!.