The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1914-05-28
CHAPTER xIII-contInued.

~
habiiitats Damory court AID make the
land produces living for him.
CHAPTER xiII-contInued.
They stood on the edge OF a stony
ravine which widened at one end to
shallow marshy valley. The rocks
were covered with gray-green feath-
cry creepers, enwound with curly yel-
low tendrils of love-vine. Across the
ravine, on a lower level. began a
grove OF splendid trees that marched
up into the long stretch OF neglected
forest he had seen from the house.
you love it?" he asked. without
Withdrawing his eyes.
I've loved It all my life. l love
everything about Damory Court.
Ruined as II Is. It is still one Of the
most beautiful estates In all Virginia.
There's nothing finer even in Italy.
Just behind us. where those hemlocks
stand. is where the duel the children
spoke OF was fought"
He turned his head. "reIl me about
st." he said.
She glanced at him curiously. Didn't
you know? That was the reason the
place was abandoned. Valiant. who
lived here. and the owner of another
plantation, who was named Sassoon.
Quarreled. They fought, the story Is.
under those big hemlock trees. Sas-
soon was killed"
He looked out across the distance; |;
he could not trust his face. And
Valiant?"
In ant hA Any aV nd
never came back; he lived in New
York till he died. He was the father
of the courts present owner. You
never heard the story?"
NO" he admitted. It'll quite re-
Gently never heard Of Damory
Court"
THAT was the last duel ever fought
in Virginia. Dusling was a dreadful
custom. I'm glad it's gone. Aren't
your"
YES" he said slowly. 1T was 9
thing that cut two ways. Perhaps Va
liant, II he could have had his choice
afterward, would rather have been ly
ing there that morning than Sas-
soon"
He must have suffered. too." sh'
agreed, "or he wouldn't have exilet
himself as he did. l used to wonde
~ 1t was a ve-quarrel-whether the!
could have been In love with the SAM
woman"
But why should he go away?"
Il can't imagine, unless she ha'
really loved the other man. II SO. sh
couldn't have borne seeing valian
afterward." Shs paused with littl
laugh. But then" she said, 1T ma
have been nothing SO romantic. VI
liant's g gsndfather, who was known a
Devil-John. Is s,id to have called
man out because he rode past hir
on the wrong side. Our ancestors !
Virginia. I'm afraid. didn't stand o
ceremony when they felt uppish."
He did not smile. He was lookin
out once more over the luminou
stretch OF fields. his side-face toward
her. Curious and painful question
were running through his brain. Wit
an effort, he thrust these back and r,
called his attention to what she wa
saying.
You wond-;. I suppose, that "
feel as We do toward these old estate
and set store by them. and-yes. an
lbrag OF them insufferably as we d,
But it's In our blood. You Northerl
ers think we're desperately col
ceited." she smiled. but it's tru
We're still as proud Of our land. an
fts old. old places. and love them /
well as our ancestors ever did.
you wonder we resent their passir
TO people who don't care for them
the Southern way?"
But suppose the newcomers Z
care for them?"
Her lips curled. "A young millio
aire who has lived all his life In Ne
York. to care for Damory Court!
youth idiotically rich. brought up In
superheated atmosphere OF noise ar
money!"
He started uncontrollably. So tn
was what she thought! He felt hiI
self flushing. He had wondered VIII
would be his impression OF the neig
borhood and its people; their possib
opinion OF himself had never occurr'
10 him.
You think there's no chance OF b
choosing to stay here because
actually likes it?"
Not the slightest" she said ind
ferently.
You are SO certain Of this witho
ever having seen him?"
She glanced at him covertly. q