The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1914-03-25

and in the fireplace little heap Of
whitened ashes in which charred frag-
ments told Of letter3 and papers
burned in haste.
Suddenly he lifted his eyes. Above
tho desk hung a life-size portrait Of n
man, in the high soft stock and vel.
vet collar Of half a century before.
The right eye, strangely, had been cut
from tho canvas. He stood straight
and tall, ono hand holding an eager
hound in leash, his face proud and
flord, his single, cold, stccl.blue eye
staring down through its dusty curtain
with certain malicious arrogance,
and his lips set in a sardonic curve
that seemed about to snccr. 1t was
for an instant as if the pictured figure
confronted the young man who stood
there, mutely challenging his entrance
Into that tomb-like and sccrct-keoping
quiet; and he gazcd back as tixedly,
repelled by the craft Of the face, yet
subtly attracted. II wonder who you
were" he said "You were cruel
Perhaps you were wicked. But you
were strong, too"
He returned tG the outer hall to find
that the negro had carried in his
trunk, and he bade him place it, with
the portmanteau, in the room he had
Just left. Dusk was falling.
Uncle Jefferson" said Valiant alb
ruptly, "have you a family?"
mo, sub. Jes' me en- nah OF
CONAN"
."Can she cook?"
Cook" Tho genial litter again
captured his dusky escort. "When
she got dc fixens, All reck'n she de
beaten'es cook in his heah county"
How would you both like to live
here with me for a while? She could
cook and you could take care Of me-"
Uncle Jefferson's eyes seemed to
turn inward with mingled surprise and
introspection. He shifted from one
foot to the other, swallowed difficulty
several times, and said, "Ah ain neb-
bah seed yo' befo, sub"
well, I haven't seen you either,
have II"
Oats de trufe, sub, deed ct is!
Hyuh, hyuh! Whut All means ter
say is dat dc OF 'ooman kahn cook
no fancy didoes like what dey eats up
Norf. She kin jes' cook de Ferginey
STYLE"
"That SOUS good to me-" quoth
Valiant I'll risk it. Now as to
wages"
"Ah ain specticulous as ter do
wages" said Uncle Jefferson. "Ah
knows er gemman when All sees one"
Then it's bargain" responded Va
liant with alacrity. Can you come at
once?"
"Yas, sub, me Ell Daph gwineter
come ovah fus' thing in de mawnn'.
Whut yo-all gwineter do TO- yo' sup
pah?"
I'LL get along" Valiant assured him
cheerfully Here is five dollars. You
can buy some food and things to
cook with, and bring them with you.
Do you think there's q stove In the
kitchen?"
"Ah reck'n," replied Uncle Jefferson.
EN- eff dar ain Daph kin cook er
Christmas dinnah wild TO- stones en- er
tin skillet. Vas, suh!"
He trudged away into the shadows,
but presently as the new master OF
Damory Court stood in the gloomy
hall, he heard the shambling step
again OchAhu hihi. AL uOuo ueBlcCI-
uated ter ak yo' name, sub. All did,
TO- or fac"
my name Is Valiant. John Va
liant"
Uncle Jefferson's eyes turned up
ward and rolled out Of orbit. NAH
Lawd" he calculated soundlessly.
And with his wide lips still framed
about the last word, he backed out
OF the doorway and disappeared.
Alone in the ebbing twilight, John
Valiant found his hamper, spread
napkin on the broad stone steps and
took out glass. spoon and part Of
a loaf Of bread The thermos flask
was filled with milk. It was not
splendid banquet, yet he ate it with
great content as tho bulldog at his
feet gnawed his share of the crust.
He broke his bread into the milk as
he had not done since he was a child,
and ate the luscious pulp with keen
relish bred Of the long outdoor day.
1t was almost dark when the meal
was done and, depleted hamper in
hand, he reentered the empty echoing
house. He went into the library,
lighted the great brass lamp from the
motor and began to rummage. The
drawers Of the dining-room sideboard
yielded nothing: on shelf Of the but
ler's pantry, however, was tin box
which proved to be half full of wax
candles, perfectly preserved.
"The very thing!" he said triumph.