The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1914-05-07
THE VALIANTS OF
VIRGINIA
Continued from Page 81

them Ranst0n propelled nand- car
filed with paper bundles from each o
which protruded bunch Of Towering
stems. There was flush in Shirley
cheek as her hand lay in Valiant's
AS for him, his eyes, like wilfu
drunkards, returned again and again
between the majors compliments. te
her face
you have accomplished wonders
sab! | had no idea SO much could be
done In such limited time. You
have certainly primped the old place
up. | could almost think / was look
ing at Damory Court in the sixties,
sahl"
That's quite the incest thing you
could have said, Major" responded
Valiant But 1t needs the flowers"
He looked at Shirley with sparkling
eyes, How splendid of you to bring
themi | feel like a robber"
with our bushels OF them? We
shall never miss them at all Have
you set out the others?"
Il have. indeed. Every one has
rooted, too. You shall see them" He
led the way up the drive till they
stood before the porch.
"Gad!' chuckled the major who
would think It had been unoccupied
for three decades? AT this rate, you'll
soon be giving dances, sab"
All" said Valiant That's the very
thing | want to suggest. The tourna-
ment comes OF next week, l under
stand, and it's been the custom to
have a ball that night The tourney
ground Is on this estate, and Damory
Court is handler than the Country
Club. Why wouldn't 1t be appropriate
to hold the dance here? The ground
floor rooms are in order. and IL the
young people would put up with it, 1t
would be great pleasure TO me, as
sure YOU
"Oh!" breathed Shirley. THAT
would be too wonderful"
The major seized his hand and
shook 1t heartily. IL can answer for
the committee" he said. They'll
jump at 1t. Why, sab, the new gener-
alton has never set eyes inside the
house. It's a golden legend to them"
Then I'll go ahead with arrange
ments."
He led them around the house and
down the terraces of the formal gar
den, and here the majors encomiums
broke forth again. you are going to
take us old folks back, sah," he said
with real feeling This gyarden In
it's original lines was unique. II had a
piquancy and picturesqueness that,
thank God. are to be restored! One
can understand the owner of an es-
tate like this having no desire to
spend his life philandering abroad. We
all hope, sab. that you will recur to
the habit of your ancestors and count
Damory Court home"
Valiant smiled slowly. Il don't
dream of anything else" he said. my
life, as | map 1t out, seems to begin
here. The rest doesn't count--only
the years when was little and had
my father"
The major carefully adjusted his
eye glasses. His head was turned |
away. "Ah, yes he said.
1.-THE last twenty years." continued |
the other, from my present view
point, are valuable mainly for con-
trast.'
"As a consistent regimen of pate
de foie gras," said Shirley quizzically,
snakes one value bread and butter?"
He shook his head at her. "As star
walton makes one appreciate plenty.
The next twenty years are to be here.
Rr. they hold sidetrips. too. Now
and then there's jaunt back to the
city"
Contrast again?" she asked inter
estedly.
Yes and no. Yes. because no one
who has ever known that blazing
life can really understand the
peace and blessedness of place like
this. No, because there are something's
which are to be found only there.
There are the galleries and the opera
l need breath OF them both"
And semi-occasional longer flights.
too" the major reflected. "A look-see
abroad once in blue moon. Why
not?"
Yes. For mental photographs--in
pressions one can't get from between
book-covers. There's an old cloister
garden | know In Italy and particu- !,
ar riyer-bank in Japan in the cherry
blossom season, and tiny island with
q Greek castle on 1t In the Aegean.
little colored memories for me to :
BRING away to dream over. But al
Ways | come back here to Damory }
court. For this is--homei"
They walked beneath the pergola
o the lake, where Shirley gave cry
Il delight at sight of its feathered u
population. Where did you get them 0
rom?" she asked
Washington. In crates"
That explains it," she exclaimed. c
One day last week the little darkies s
n the village all insisted circus was
oming. They must have seen these o
eing hauled here. They watched the q
Fhole afternoon for the elephants" G
Poor youngstersl" he said "Its .
shame to fool them But I've had u
II the circus l want getting the live Q
took installed" q
They won't sufftarn said the major a