Gilpin observer., 1914-04-30
CHAPTER xIIl-contInued.


CHAPTER xilI-Continued.
They stood on the edge of 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 1t all my life. l love
everything about Damory Court.
Ruined as 1t is; 1t 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. Tell me about
It," 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?
He went away the same day and
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-
Court"
THAT was the last duel ever fought
in Virginia. Dueling was a dreadful
custom. I'm glad It's gone. Aren't
you?"
Yes" he said slowly, 1T was a
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" she
agreed, "or he wouldn't have exiled
himself as he did. used to wonder
II 1t was loveQuarrel-whethe they
could nave been In love with the same
woman"
But why should he go away?"
Il can't imagine. unless she had
really loved the other man. II SO. she
couldn't have borne seeing Valiant
afterward." She paused with little
laugh. But then" she said. 1T may
have been nothing SO romantic. Va
liant's grandfather, who was known as
Devil-John, is said to have called a
man out because he rode past him
on the wrong side. Our ancestors in
Virginia. I'm afraid. didn't stand on
ceremony when they felt uppish."
He did not smile. He was looking
out once more over the luminous
stretch OF fields, his side-face towards
her. Curious and painful questions
we're running through his brain. With
an effort. he thrust these back and re-
called his attention to what she was
saying.
You wonder. suppose, that we
feel as we do toward these old estates,
and set store by them. and-yes. and
brag OF them insufferably as we do
But it's in our blood. You Northern
ers think we're desperately con-
ceited." she smiled. "but it's true.
We're still ~ proud OF our land. and
its old. old places. and love them as
we'll as our ancestors ever did. Do
you wonder we resent their passing
to people who don't care for them In
the Southern way?"
But suppose the newcomers do
care for them?"
Her lips curled "A young million.
aire who has lived all his life In New
York. to care for Damory Court! A
youth idiotically rich. brought up In q
superheated atmosphere OF noise and
money!"
He started uncontrollably. So that
WAS what she thought! He felt him
self flushing. He had wondered what
would be his impression OF the neigh
borhood and its people; their possible
opinion of himself had never occurred
to him.
You think there's no chance OF his
choosing to stay here because he
actually likes itT'
mot the slightest" she said indif
ferently
You are so certain Of this without
ever having seen himf"
She glanced at him covertly. an.