The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1914-03-18

let me say. sab. that the neighbor-
hood is not unaware Of the splendid
generosity which 10 responsible for
the present lack of which you speak"
Valiant put out his hand with .
other disregarded it. "Confound Il
sab. 1t was to be expected Of q We
liant. Your ancestors wrote their
names in capital letters over this
country. They were an up and down
lot. but good or bad land. a. 6outhall
says, reckon'-he nodded toward The
great portrait above the couch-"thsg
weren't all little woolly lambs) ths0
did big things in q big way"
Valiant leaned forward eagerly,
question on his lips. But at the mo-
ment . diversion occurred In The
shape of Uncle Jefferson. who resn-
tered. bearing q tray on which sst sun
dry Jugs and clinking glasses. glow
ing with white and green and gold.
You old humbug." said the doctor.
don't you know the majors that poi
soned with mintjuleps already that he
can't get up before eight In ths morn
ing?"
We'll, suh." Uttered Unois JefIeF-
son, "Ah done foun' er mintbaid down
below dc Kitchens dis mawnin'. To-
all gemmun' bout dc bigges' expuhts
in dis yeah county. en- All rsck'n
Mars Valiant sho' 'sist on 10 50
plin' ct"
"sah." said the major fseiinsiy.
turning to his host, I'm proud to
drink your health in the typical bsv-
erage Of virginia." He touched
glasses with Valiant and glared 1t the
doctor. who was slipping his own
thoughtfully. Poems have besa witt
ten on the julep. sah."
They make good epitaphs. too" o.
served the doctor.
Il noticed your glass isn't going
begging" the major retorted. "Uno'
Jefferson, that's as good mint ~ grew
in the garden Of Eden. Bee that
those lazy niggers of yours don't grub
the patch out by mistake"
"Yas. sah," said Uncle Jefferson. -
he retired with tho tray. "Ah gwins'
ter put or fence eroun' dat n bald ~
shutdown"
The question that had sprung %
valiant's lips now found utterance Z
saw you look at the portrait thsrN"
he said to the major. which Of my
ancestors 10 IT."
Tho other got up and stood bsous0
the mantel-piece in . Napolsooio att1
tuds. That" he said. fixing his 80
glasses. els your greatgrandfatA9.
Devil-John Valiant"
"Devil-John!" echoed his hooG Tea
I've heard the name"
The doctor guffawed. He safAsA
It, I reckon. I never realised what .
sinister expression that missing oDe1o
Rivss the old rufIian. TAaro Waa
skirmish during the war on the Inn
side yonder and . bullet cut II cot
When We were boys We used 70 ean
him Old One-Eye."
TT interests me enormously JoAA
Valiant spoke explosively.
The stories Of DevilJohn would m
Q mighty big book" said the major.
by all accounts he ought to have
lived in the middle ages" Crossing
the library, he looked into the dining
room. II thought remembered. The
portrait over the console there u his
wife, your great-grandmother. Thsy
say he bet that when he brought his
bride homo, she should walk into D.
mory Court between rows Of candle
sticks worth twenty-thousand dollarA
He made the wager good. too. for
when she came up those steps out
there. there was Q row Of ten candles
burning on either side Of the doorway.
each held by . young slave worth .
thousand dollars In the markst.
Some say he grew Jealous of his
wifo's beauty. There were any num-
Der of stories told Of his cruelties to
her that aren't worth repeating. 8hs
died early poor lady-and your
grandfather was the only issue. Devil
John himself lived to be past seventy.
and at that age. when most men were
stacking their sins and groaning with
the govt. he was dicing and fox-hunt-
ing with the youngest Of them. He
always swore he would die with his
boots on. and they say when ths doc
tor told him he had only . few houfs
leeway, he made his slaves dress him
completely and prop him on his horse.
They galloped out 10. . negro On
either side Of him. It was . stormy
night. black as the Earl Of Hell's rid
ing.boots. with wind and lightning,
and he rode cursing at both. There's
an old black-gum tree . mile from
hnrn that fhov atfil call n>wll Y~h~s.