The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1914-04-07
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ILLUSTRATED 81 LAUREN sTOIrT
LAUREN STOUT

o0AuS lull-cry after him under
ner windows. Then that CHASTITY story
OF the slave he pressed, to death in the
hogshead Of tobacco"
know" acquiesced Mrs. Mason.
he was a cruel man and wicked, too.
Yet OF course he was 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 yeu seen
the papers lately? It seems that
though he was to blame for the wreck
ing of the concern they can't do any
thing to him. Some technicahty 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 I can't see. With that old az
fair of his fathers behind him,
should think he'd prefer Patagonia"
Il take 1t, then, madam" Doctor
SouthalPs forbidding 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.
Pm sure I only know what people
say" she said.
"rPeople?'" snorted the doctor iras-
chilly. Just another name for a COM
munity that's 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, suppose" said
Mrs. Clifford with some spirit, that
the name Valiant isn't what it used
to be in this neighborhood?"
81 will, madam" responded the doc
tor when Valiant left this place "a
mark Of good taste, I've always consid-
cred it, he left 1t 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 a dueling-ground?"
Then it isn't true that Valiant was
a dead shot and Sassoon intoxicated"
Madam" said the doctor, 81 have
no wish to discuss the details of that
unhappy incident with you or anybody
4I1 Il Of mi In11t
the circumstances you mention have
never been descanted upon by me-"
81 see by the papers" said Mrs. Gift
ford, with an air ofresignedly 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
this county disappointing"
HE will that!" agreed the doctor
savagely. mo doubt he imagines he's
coming to kindly countryside Of gen.
tle-born people with souls and irnagi-
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
tura up it's nose at his accent 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 himl"
Just then from the rear of the house
came strident voice:
"Yo', Raph'el! Take yo' hams
outer dem cherriesi Don yo' know Ell
yo' swallahs dem ar pits, yo gwineter
hab 'pendegeetus en- lump up en- die?'
The sound of a slap and shrill yelI
followed, and around the porch dashed
an infantile darkey, as nude as black
Puck, with his hands full of cherries
who came to sudden demoralize6
stop in the embarrassing foreground
''Ralph!" Numbered the doctor
Didn't I tell you to go back to thai
kitchen?"
Yes, suh," responded the imp. "But
yo' didn' tell me ter stay dar!"
IF 1 see you out here again. roared
the doctor, I'll tie your ears back
and grease you-and SWALLOW
you'll" At which grisly threat, the
apparition, with shrin shrek. turned
and ran desperately for the corner o.
the house.
i 81 hear" said the doctor, resuming
that the young man who came to FL
the place up has hired Uncle Jeffer
son and his wife to help him. Who's
responsible for that interesting infor
mation?'
! hickey Snyder" said Mrs. Mason
she's got a spy-glass rugged up II
a sugar-tree at Miss Matte Sues
and she saw them pottering arount
there this morning"
Little nmb!" exclaimed Mrs. Gil
ford, with emphasis. ''She's as cheeky
as town-hog. can't imagine wha
Shirley cambridge was thinking o
when she brought that low-born child
out of her sphere"
Something like growl came from
the doctor as ne struck open thu
screen-door. "Limb!' I'll bet ter
dollars she's an angel In cedar
tree at church fair compared witt
some better-born young ones know
of who are only fit to live wheI
they've got the scarlet-feyer and whs
ought to be in the reformatory lont
ago. And as for Shirley cambridge
it's my opinion she and her mothel
and q few others like her have go
about the only drops Of the milk O
human kindness in this whole aban
doned community"
Dreadful mani" said Mrs. Clifford
soto voce, as the door banged vicious
ly. "To think Of his being born ;
Southalli Sometimes can't believ'