, 1915-06-10

ling OK.
On this particular morning neither
the major nor the doctor was in evil
uence, 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
Two Of the green wicker
rocking-chairs on the porch, however.
were In agitant commotion. Mrs. Ma
son was receiving a caller in the per-
son OF Mrs. Napoleon Clifford.
After all these y~ears!" the visitor
vas saying in her customary Italics.
Nlhe broad "a" which lent a dulcet
soitness to the speech of her hostess
was scorned by Mrs. Poly, her own
as being as narrow as the needle
through which the rich man reaches
heaVen.) We came here from Rich
mohd when | was a bride-that's
twenty-one 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 a man to do work like
that"
I'm glad a Valiant is to occupy it."
remarked Mrs. Mason in her sweet
fiute-like voice. 1T would be sad to
see any one else there. For after all,
the Valiants were gentlemen"
Mrs. Clifford shifted. Would you
nave 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 fullcry after him under
her windows. Then that CHASTITY story
OF the lave he pressed to death in the
hogshead Of tobacco"
Il know" acquiesced Mrs. Mason.
H was a cruel a and wicked, too.
Yet Of course he was a gentleman. In
the South the test Of a gentleman has
new 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"
tAS u hdNC btSA DLlllldul, bdiu
the visitor, ito have founded that
great corporation. It's a pity the son
didn't take after him. Have you seen
the papers lately? 1t 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
the law, | suppose. But IL 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 l can't see. With that old af-
fair Of his fathers behind him, i
should think he'd prefer Patagonia"
Il take 1t, then, madam" Doctor
| Southall's f%orbidding 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.
I'm sure | only know what people
say" she said.
~"'People?'" snorted the doctor iras-
chilly. Just another name for a COM
munity that's a perfect sink of mean
ness and malice. If n 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
10 be in this neighborhood?'
81 will, madam" responded the doc
tor. When Valiant left this place Ia
mark of good taste, I've always consid-
cred IT. he left it the worse, II 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 1t isn't true that Valiant was
a dead shot and Sassoon in~toxicated?"
Madam" said the doctor. II have
no wish to discuss the details Of that
unhappy incident with you or anybody
else. was one of those present. but
the circumstances you mention have
never been descanted upon by me-"
II see by the papers" said Mrs. Gif-
ford. with an air of resignedly chang
ing the subject, they've been investi-
/ gaIlnk tue idiiuib vi tht oAsAh W.
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 1t so hot for him In
New York. Well. I'm afraid he'll find
this county Disappointing"
He will that" agreed the doctor
savagely No doubt he imagines he's
coming to a kindly countryside of gen.
tle.born people with souls and imagi-
nations; he'll find he's liz in a section
| that's entirely too ready to hack at his
| fathers name and prepared in ad-
vance to call him Northern scum and
turn up its lose at his accent|a 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 him!"
Just then from the rear of the house
| came a strident voice: