The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-04-04
CHAPTER XVI.
In Devll-John's Day.

He was still sitting motionless when
there came knock ut the door and 1t
opened to admit the gruff voice Of
Doctor Southall. A big form was close
behind him.
Hell. Up. see. took the liberty
of bringing Major Bristow."
The master Of Damory Court came
forward-limping the least trii,e-and
shook hands.
"Glad to know you. sah." said the
major. ALLOW me to congratulate
you; It's not every one who gets bit
ten by one of those Internal mecca.
sins that lives to talk about 1t. You
must be a pet Of Providence, or else
you have a cast-iron constitution,
sah''
Valiant waved his hand toward the
man OF medicine, who said. 81 reckon
Miss Shirley was the Providence in
the case. She had sense enough to
send for me quick and speed did It"
We'll. sah." the major said. IT
reckon under the circumstances, your
first Impressions Of the section aren't
anything for US to brag about"
I'm delighted; it's hard for me to
tell how much"
Wait till you know the fool place."
growled the doctor testify. You'll
change your tune"
The major smiled genially. Don't
be taken In by the doctors pessimism
You'd have to get yoke Of three
year oxen TO drag him out Of this
state"
1T would take as many for me-"
Valiant laughed a little. "You who
have always lived here, can scarcely
understand what am feeling, l imag-
inc. You see. l never knew till quite
recently-my childhood was largely
spent abroad. and have no near rela-
tives-that my father was virginian
and that my ancestors always lived
here. Why. there's q room upstairs
with the very toys they played with
when they were children! To learn
that belong to It all: that myself
am the last link in such chain!"
THE ancestral instinct" said the
doctor. I'm glad to see that it means
something still, In these rotten days"
"Of course" John Valiant continued.
every one knows that he has ances-
tors. But I'm beginning to see that
what you call the ancestral instinct
needs locality and a place. In a
way 1t seems to me that an old estate
like this has soul too-a sort Of
clan or family soul that reacts on the
descendant"
Rather a Japanesy, idea. isn't it,"
observed the major. "But I know
what you mean. Maybe that's why old
Virginian families hang on to their
land In spite OF hell and high-water
They count their forebears real live
people. quite capable of turning over
In their graves"
Mine are beginning to seem very
real TO me. Though | don't even
know their Christian names yet, | can
Judge them by their handiwork. The
men who built Damory Court had a
sense OF beauty and Of art"
And their share Of deviltry, too"
put In the doctor.
Il suppose So" admitted his host
AT this distance can bear even that.
But good or bad. I'm deeply thankful
That they chose Virginia. Since I've
been laid up. I've been browsing In the
library here"
"A bit out OF date now, I reckon"
said the major, but 1t used to pass
muster. Your grandfather was some
thing OF book-worm. He wrote "a
history OF the family, didn't he?"
Yes. I've found 1t. Tho Vallants
OF Virginia I'm reading the Revolu.
tionary chapters now 1t never seemed
real beforo-it's been only slice OF
impersonal and rather duh history.
But tho book has made Il come alive.
I'm having the thrlll OF the globe
trOtter tho first tiHo he sees the Tow
or OF London or the iIcld Of Waterloo