Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1920-07-09

about her being here"
Eyes, sir. Some ten years ago,
when I was a very little girl, met
your son Bryce. He gave me a ride
on his Indian pony, and we came here.
SO / remember"
well, declared Ten years ago.
Ell? You've met, eh? You've met
Bryce since his return to Sequoia, |
believe. He's quite fellow now"
"He Is indeed"
John Cardigan nodded sagely. $50
that's why you thought aloud he re-
marked lmpersonally. Bryce told you
about her. You are right, Miss Shlr-
ley Sumner. God didn't give her
much time for happlness-just three
years; but oh, such wonderful years
Such wonderful years
ut was mighty fine of you to bring
flowers" he announced presently. Il
appreciate that. I wish l could see
you. You must be dear, nice, thought
full girl. Won't you sit down and talk
to me-"
~ should be glad to- she answered,
and seated herself on the brown car
pet Of redwood twigs close to his
chair.
$50 you came up here to do Il lit
tie clear thinking" he continued In
his deliberate, amnble tones. do
you come here often?'
"Thls is the third time in ten years."
she answered. 81 feel that | have
no business to intrude here. This Is
your shrine, and strangers should not
profane It,"
~ think | should have resented the
presence of any other person, Miss
Sumner. | resented you--until you
spoke"
'Tm glad you said that, Mr.. Cardl-
gan. It sets me at ease"
81 hadn't been up here for nearly
two years until recently You see |
i don't own the Valley Of the Giants
any more"
"Indeed. To whom have you sold
it,"
III do not know, Miss Sumner. had
to sell; there was no other way out
of the jam Bryce and / were in; so
| sacrificed my sentiment for my boy.
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 me. have told Judge Moore, who
represents the unknown owner, to ex-
tend my thanks to his client. But
words are so empty, Shirley Sumner
II that new owner could only under
stand how grateful | am-how pro-
foundly her courtesy touches me
"IIer courtesy" Shirley echoed
"Did a woman buy the Giants"
He smiled down at her. "Why,
certainly. Who but n woman-and n
dear kind, thoughtful woman--would
have thought to have this chair made
and brought up here for meT
Fell n 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 it Immediately he said.
"You are the new owner. My dear
child. IL the silent prayers of very
unhappy old man will bring Gods
blessing on ycu-there, there, girl! !
didn't intend to make you weep. what
n 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 benlgnancy, 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 or
love. girl, what made you do 1t? Why
should girl like you give a hundred
thousand for my Valley of the Giants?
Were Observation-Disclosures I'M
cle's agentT
mo. bought II myself-with my
own money. My uncle doesn't know
am the new owner. You see, he want
ed it-for nothing"
"Ah, yes. I suspected as much
long time ago. Your uncle Is the
modern type of business man. Not
very much of an ideallst, I'm afraid
But tell me why you decided to thwart
the plans of your relative"
~ knew 1t hurt you terribly to sell
your Giants; they were dear to you
for sentimental reasons. | understood,
also, why you were forced to sell; SO
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 straightforward boards
he could get from these trees
"That does not explain satlsfactor'
lily, to me, why you took sides with
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 l came to Sequola
last May, your son and l met, quite
accidentally. The stage to Sequola
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 John-partner,, as he called you,
were very dear to each other. | was
witness to your meeting that night
/ saw him take you in his big arms
and hold you tight because you'd
h.. Lea