The Concordia sentinel. (Vidalia, Concordia Parish, La.) 1882-current, 1920-08-28

"HVli hdS very HllIt bii' NV
your son Bryce. He gave me ride
on his Indian pony, and we came here.
| So | remember"
/ well, | declare! Ten years ago.
/ eh? You've met. eh? You've met
! Bryce since his return to Sequoia.
believe. He's quite a fellow now"
! He Is indeed"
| John Cardigan nodded sagely. $50
that's why you thought aloud he re-
marked imperSOnally. Bryce told you
about her. You are right, Miss Shir-
| ley Sumner. God didn't give her
much time for happinesS-just three
years; hut oh. such wonderful years :
Such wonderful years!
1T was mighty fine of you to bring
! flowers" he announced presently. 81
! appreciate that. wish | could see
! you. You must be dear. nice, thought
full girl. Won't you sit down and talk
! to me?"
Il should he glad to-" she answered.
and seated herself on the brown car
pet of redwood twigS close TO his
chair.
$50 you came up here 10 do a lit
tie clear thinking he continued in
his deliberate, amiable tones. "DO
you come here OftPn?'
This is the third time in ten years"
she answered. 81 feel that / have
no business tn intrude here. This is
your shrine, and strangers should not
prOfane it,"
Il think I should have resented the
presence Of ann other person, Miss
Sumner. l res hnted yOu-until you
spoke"
I'm glad You said that, Mr.. Cardi-
gan. 1t sets me at ease"
II hadn't been up here for nearly
two years until recently. You see l
i don't own the Valley of the Giants
any more"
Indeed. To whom have you sold
it?r
81 do not know. Miss Sumner. had
TO sell; there was no other way out
of the Jam Bryce and were in; so
I sacrificed my sentiment for my hoy.
However. the new owner has been
wonderfully kind and thoughtful. She
reOrganiZed that old Skid-rOad so even
an old blind duffer like me can find
his way in and out without getting
loSt-and she had this easy-chair made
for ire. / have told Judge Moore, who
represents the unknown owner, to eX
tend my thanks to his client. But
words are so empty. Shirley Sumner.
If that new owner could only under
stand how grateful l anyhow pro-
fourdly her courtesy touches me"
"IIer cOurtesy?" Shirley echoed.
did woman buy the Giants?"
He smiled down at her. why.
certainly. Who hut wOman-dId a
dear, kind. thoughtful wOman-wOuld
have thought TO have this chair made
and brought up here for me-?
Fell long silence between them;
then John Cardigan's trembling hand
went cropping out toward the girls.
"Why, how stupid of me not TO have
guessed 1t Immediately he said.
"You are the new owner. Ny dear
child, II the silent prayers of very
unhappy old man will bring Gods
blessing on yOu-there. there, girl!
didn't intend to make you weep. What
a tender heart II Is, TO be sure!'
She took his great toil-wOrn hand,
and her hot tears fell on It. for his
gentleness, his benignaDcy, had touch
ed her deeply. 'Oh. you must not tell
anybody! You mustn't" she cried.
He put his hand on her shoulder as
she knelt before him. Good land Of
love, girl, what made you do it? Why
should n girl like You give hundred
thousand for my Valley Of the Giants?
Were you"-hesItatingly-"yOur I'M
cle's agent?
"NO. I bought It myself-with my
own money. My uncle doesn't know I
am the new owner. You see, he want
ed it-for nothing"
"Ah, yes. / suspected as much a
long time ego. Your uncle is the
modern type Of business man. Not
very much Of an idealist. I'm afraid.
But tell me why you decided to thwart
the, plans of your relative"
II knew it hurt you terribly to sell
your Giants; they were dear to you
for sentimental reasons. I understood.
also. why you were forced to sell; so
I-well. decided the Giants would be
safer In my possession than in my
uncle's. In all probability he would
have logged this valley for the sake
of the clear ACKNOWLEDGEMENT boards
he could get from these trees"
"That does not explain satisfactor
lily, to me. why you took sides with q
stranger against your own KIM" John
Cardigan persisted. There must be
deeper and more potent reason.
Miss Shirley Sumner"
"Well." Shirley made answer. glad
he could not see the flush Of confusion
and embarrassment that crimsoned
her cheek, when / came to SequOia
last May. your son and l met, quite
accidentally. The stage to SequOia
had already gone, and he was gracious
enough to invite me To make the jour
ney IN his car. Then we recalled hav-
ing met as children, and presently ]
gathered from his conversation that he
and his .IOhu-partner. as he called you
were very dear to each other. I WAS