Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-05-14

ike frosted tl1Su6S, q mouth as II
made with one quick knife-slash and
a head nearly bald, set on neck that
would not have disqualified a year
ling OK
On this particular morning neither
the major nor the doctor was in evil
.dence, the former having gone out
early, and the latter being at the mo-
ment in his Office, as the brassy buzz
Of telephone from time to time an
nounced. Two Of the green wicker
rocking-chairs on the porch, however,
were in agitant commotion. Mrs. Ma
son was receiving caller in the per-
son of Mrs. Napoleon Clifford
After all these years!" the visitor
was saying in her customary italics
(The broad "a" which lent a duIcet
softness to the speech of her hostess
was scOrned by Mrs. Poly, her own
as" being as narrow as the needle
through which the rich man reaches
heayen) We came here from Rich
mond when was a bride-that's
twenty-One years ago-and Damory
Court was foTsaken then. And think
what a condition the house must be In
now! Cared for by an agent who
comes every other season from New
York Trust a man to do work like
that"
I'm glad a Valiant is to occupy it"
remarked Mrs Mason in her sweet
fiute-like voice. ut would be sad to
see any one else there. For after all,
the Valiants were gentlemen"
Mrs Clifford shifted. Would you
have called Devil-JOhn Valiant a gem
tleman? Why, he earned the name
by the dreadful things he did. My
grandfather used to say that when his
wife lay Sickle hated her, you know
he would gallop his horse with all
his hounds full-cry after him under
her windows. Then that CHASTITY story
Of the slave he pressed to death in the
hOgshead Of tobacco"
q know" acquiesced Mrs. Mason.
He was a cruel man and wicked, too.
Yet of course he was a gentleman. In
the South the test of gentleman has
never been what he does, but who he
is. But his grandson, Beauty Valiant,
who lived at Damory Court thirty
years ago, wasn't his type at all. He
was only twenty-five when the duel
occurred"
He must have been brilliant" said
the visitor, ito have founded that
great corporation. It's a pity the son
didn't take after him. Have you seen
the papers lately? 1t seems that
though he was to blame for the wreck
ing of the concern they can't do any
thing to him. Some technicality in
the law, l suppose But if a man is
only rich enough they can't convict
him Of anything. Why he should sud
denly make up his mind to come down
here l can't see With that old af-
fair Of his fathers behind him, l
should think he'd prefer Patagonia"
I take it, then, madam" Doctor
SouthalTs forbidding voice rose from
the doorway, that you are familiar
with the circumstances of that old at
fair, as you term it?"
The lady bridIed. Her passages at
arms with the doctor did not invaria-
bly, tend to sweeten her disposition.
I'm sure I only know what people
say" she said
People?'" snOrted the doctor iras-
chilly. Just another name for a com
munity that's a perfect sink of mean
ness and malice If one believed all
he heard here he'd quit speaking to
his own grandmother"
You will admit, l suppose" said
Mrs Clifford with some spirit, that
the name Valiant isn't what it used
to be in this neighborhood?"
I will, madam responded the doc
tor. when Valiant left this place Ga
mark of good taste, I've always consid-
cred it, he left it the worse, If posi-
BILE, for his departure Your remark,
however, would seem to imply de-
merit on his part. Was he the only
man who ever happened to be at the
lucky end of dueling- ground?"
Then it isn't true that Valiant was
dead shot and Sassoon intoxicated? %
Madam" said the doctor, q have
no wish to discuss the details of that
unhappy incident with you or anybody
else. l was one of those present, but
the circumstances you mention have
never been descanted upon by me-"
Il see by the papers" said Mrs. Gift
ford, with an air of resignedly chang
ing the subject, they've been investi-
eating the failure of the Valiant Cor
poration. The son seems to be get
ting the sharp end of the stick. Per-
haps he's coming down here because
they've made it so hot for him in
New York. Well, I'm afraid he'll find
this county disappointing.
He will that" agreed the doctor
savagely. mo doubt he tmagines he's
coming to a kindly countryside of gen
/ tle-born people with souls and imagi-
nations: he'll find he's lit in section
| that's entirely too ready to hack at his
/ fathers name and prepared in ad
| vance to call him Northern scum and
turn up its nose at his accent-a com,
munity So full Of dyed-in-the-wool
snobbery that it would make Boston
| look like a poor-white barbecue. I'm
sorry for him."
| Just then from the rear of the house
came a strident voice:
"Yo', Raph'eI! Take yo' hans
| outer dem cherries! Don yo' know Ell
| yo' swallahs dem ar pits, yo' gwinete1
hab 'pendegeetus en- lump up en- dep
The sound of a slap and shrill yell
followed, and around the porch dashed
an infantile darkey, as nude as black
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