The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1914-05-14

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 ofrCg. as the brassy buzz
OF telephone rom time to time an
nounced. Two OF the green wicker
rocking-chairs on the porch, however,
we're in agitant commotion. Mrs. Ma
son was receiving a caller in the per
son OF Mrs Napoleon Clifford
After all these years." the visitor
was saying in her customary italics.
tThe broad "a" which lent dulcet
softness to the speech of her hostess
was scorned by Mrs. Poly, her own
as being as narrow as the needle
through which tho rich man reaches
heaven.) I'VE came here from Rich
mond when | VAS a brlde-thats
twenty-one years ago-and Damory
Court was forsaken then. And think
what a conhitton 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 Valiant is to occupy IT,"
remarked Mrs. Mason In her sweet
flute-like voice. 1T would be sad to
see any one else there. For after all.
the vallants we're gentlemen"
Mrs. Clifford shifted. Would you
have called DevifJohn Valiant a gen.
tleman? Why. he earned the name
by the dreadful things he did. My
grandfather used to say that when his
wife lay sick-he 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"
II 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 a 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 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, | suppose. But II a man is
only rich enough they cant convict
him of anything Why he should sud.
denly make up his mind to come down
here / can't see With that old af-
fair OF his fathers behind him, |
should think he'd prefer Patagonia"
81 take. 1t, then. madam" Doctor
SouthalPs forbdding voice rose from
the doorway, that you are familiar
with the circumstances of that old af-
fair, as you term it?"
The lady bridled. 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. II one believed all
he heard here he'd quit speaking to
his own grandmother"
You will admit, / suppose" said
Mrs. Clifford with some spirit, that
the name Valiant isn't what it used
to be In this neighborhood?
Il will. madam" responded the doc
tor. when Valiant left this place "a
mark of good taste, I've always consid
cred it, he left II the worse, II 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 1t isn't true that Valiant wal
a dead shot and Sassoon intoxicated? p
Madam" said the doctor, IL have
no wish TO discuss the details OF tina
unhappy incident with you or anybod!
, else ! was one Of those present, bu
the circumstances you mention hav,
| never been descanted upon by me-"
Il see by the papers" said Mrs. Gif
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 becaus
they've made II 80 hot for him Ii
: New York Well. I'm afraid he'll I'm,
, this county disappointing"
r He will that" agreed the docto
savagely mo doubt he imagines he
. coming to a kindly countryside OF ger
! tle-born people with souls and imag
. nations; he'll find he's lit in sectiol
i that's entirely too ready to hack at hi
8 fathers name and prepared in at
= vance to call him Northern scum an
4 turn up its nose at his accent--a con
9 munity so full of dyed-in-the-woo
d snobbery that 1t would make Bosto
t, look like poor-white barbecue. III
r sorry for himl"