The state herald., 1914-06-05

dence, the former having gone out
early, and the latter being at the mo-
ment In his office, as the brassy buzz
of a 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 dulcet
softness to the speech of her hostess
was scoFned by Mrs. Poly. her own
as" being as narrow as the needle
through which the rich man reaches
heaven) I'VE came here from Rich
mond when was n bride-thats
twentyrone years ago--and Damory
Court was forsaken 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 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 Valiants were gentlemen"
Mrs. Clifford shifted. Would you
have called Devil-John 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"
Il know" acquiesced Mrs. Mason.
He was n cruel man and wicked, too.
Yet OF course he was n gentleman. In
the South the test Of n 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. TO have founded that
great corporation. It's n pity the son
didn't take after him. Have you seen
the papers lately? II 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
only rich enough they can't 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"
Il take II. then. madam" Doctor
Southall's forbldding 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 inyaria-
bly, tend TO sweeten her disposition.
I'm sure only know what people
say" she said.
'People?'" snorted tho doctor iras-
chilly. Just another name for n com.
munity that's 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 bc In this neighborhoodI"
II will. madam" responded the doc.
tor when Valiant left this place Ia
mark OF good taste. I've always consid.
cred ~ he left II the worse. II possi.
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 Mt the
lucky end OF n duellng ground7"
Then II isn't true that Valiant was
n dead shot and Snssoon Intoxicated r.
Madam" said the doctor. Il have
no wish to discuss the details OF that
unhappy incident with you or nybody
else, ! was one OF those present. but
the circumstances you mention have
never been dcsoanted upon by me"
Il see by the papers" said Mrs. or.
ford. with nm air of rcaignedly chang.
Ing tho subject. they've been invcsti.
eating the failure OF the Valiant Cor.
porntion, The son seems 10 be get.
ting tho sharp end OF the stick Per.
haps he's coming down here because
they've made II no hot for him In
New York Wen. I'm afraid ho'll mud
this county disappointing
"iie will thati" agreed tho doctor
nayagcly mo doubt he imaTines hos
coming TO kindly countrywide OF gen.
tio.born people with souls and imagl.
nations; ho'll md he's iit In section
that's entirely too ready 90 hack at his
fathers name and prepared IN ad.
vance to call him Northern Acum and
turn up ita nose at his aecont-a com.
munity 10 full OF dyed.in.tho- wool
snobbcry that Il would make Boston
look like a poot.whito barbecue. I'm
uorry for himl"
Just then from the rear of the house
came n ntrident voice.
"Yo', Rnph'eli Take yo' hans
outer dem oherfiasi Don yo' know ~
yo' awaiiahs dem ar ptts. yo' rwinataf