Alma record., 1914-02-12
church, en- nah black en- wife kite.

church, en- NAH black en- w'ite kittes
ter Hickey Snyder, en-"
A twig snapped under Valiants foot
Both scrambled to their feet, the black
girl to look at them with wide self
conscious grin. Hickey, tossing her
short hair back from her freckled
face, came toward them.
my goodness. Miss Shirley" she
said, 1--WE didn't see you at ALL" She
looked at Valiant. Are you the man
that's going to fix up Damory Court?"
she inquired without any tedious for
malities.
YES" said Valiant.
Well" she said critically, you've
got your job cut out for you. But
should say you're the kind to do it."
"Rickey!" Shirleys voice tried to
be stern. but there was q hint of
laughter in it.
What did say now?" inquired
Rickey. I'm sure | meant 1t to be
complimentary
1T was" said Valiant. Il shall try
to deserve your good opinion"
But what a CHASTITY play!" ex-
claimed Shirley, Where did you
learn it?"
I'VE were playing Mis- Poly Clifford
in the hospital" Hickey answered
she's got a whole lot of little peb
bles what they cut out"
"Oh. Rickey!" expostulated Shirley
with a shudder.
They did She keeps them in q
little pasteboard box like wedding-cake
with blue ribbon around it. She was
showing II to Miss Matte Sue yester
day. She was telling her all about It
She said all the women there showed
each other their cuts and Dragged
about how long they were"
You certainly have highly deveb
oped taste for the dramatic" said
Shirley II wonder what your nex1
effort will be-
It's tomorrow" Hickey informed
her. We're going to have the duel
between Valiant and Sassoon."
Tho smile was stricken from John
Valiant's face A duel-the duel-be
tween Valiant and Sassoon He fell
his blood beat quickly. Had there
been such thing in his fathers lifef
Was that what had blighted it?
"Only not here where it really hap
pened. but in the Meredith orchard
Greenie's going to be"
"Ah ain'!" contradicted Greenie.
"Ah ain gwineter be dat Valiant, no
howl"
You are, tool" insisted Hickey
wrathfully. You needn't be so pickety
and choosety-and after she kills Sas
soon, we put the bloodhounds on her
trail"
Greenie Uttered. "Dey ain no dawg
aroun heah'd tech me-" she said. zen
! sides"
But, Hickey" Shirley interposed.
that wasn't murder. That was a
duel between gentlemen. They don't
Il know it," assented Hickey cheer
fully. But it makes it more exciting
Will you come, Miss Shirley, deed and
double? l won't charge you any adj
mission"
81 can't promise said Shirley. by
the way, isn't 1t about time Miss Mat
tie Sue had her tea?"
1T certainly is, Miss Shirley" said
Hickey, with penitent emphasis. Il
clean forgot it, and she'll row me UP
the gump-stump! Come on. Greenie,"
and she started off through the
bushes.
Shirley looked at Valiant with q
deepening Of her dimple. "Rickey
isn't an aristocrat," she said; shes
what we call here poor-white, but she's
got heart of gold. She's an orphan.
and the neighborhood in general, and
Miss Matte Sue Mabry in particular
have adopted her"
He hardly heard her words for the
painful wonder that was holding him
His father had taken mans life
Was it this thought-whatever the
provocation, however justified by the
customs OF the time and section
that had driven him to self-eXile? He
recalled himself with an effort, for
she was speaking again.
you've found Lovers Leap, no
doubt?"
mo. This is the first time I've
been so far from the house. Is it near
here?"
"Ill show it to you" She held out