Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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~ALL4NT' " IlALLIE LUl L1.U3TRATrD gy- ' SYNOPSIS. CHAPTER I-John Valiant, a rich so lety favorite, Ouddenly discovers that the Valiant corporation, which his father founded and which was the principal source of his wealth, has failed. CHAPTER II-Ho voluntarily turns over his private fortune to the receiver for the corporation. CHAPTER III-His entire remaining possessions consist of an old motor car. a white bull dog and Damory court, a neglected estate in V!rginla. CHAPTER rV-He learns that this en tate came Into the family b1 royal grant and has been in the possession of the Valiants ever since. CHAPTER V-On the way to Damory court he meets Shirley Dandridge, an an burn-haired beauty, and decdes that h going to like Virginia Immensely. CHAPTER VI-An old negro tells Shir Ay's fortune and predicts great trouble or her on account of a man. CHAPTER VII-Uncle Jefferson, an old negro. takes Valiant to Damory court. CHAPTER VIII-Rhirley's mother. Mrs. Dandridge, and Major Bristow exchange reminiscences during which it is revealed that the major, Valiant's father, and A. man named Sassoon. were rivals for the hand of Mrs. Dandridge in her youth. .Sassoon and Valiant fought a duel on her account in which the former was killed. CHAPTER IX--Valiant finds Damory court overgrown with weeds and creep ers and the buildings In a very much neglected condition. Unclo Jefferson and his wife, Aunt Daphne, are engaged as -servants. CHAPTER X-Valiant explores hip an cestral home. He is surprised by a fox :'unting party which invades his estate. lIe recognizes Shirley at tho head of the party. CHAPTER XI-Hie gives sanctuary to the cornered fox. Gossips discuss the al vent of the new owner and recall the tragedy in which the elder Valiant took part. . APTER XII-Vallant decides to re habilitate Damory court and make the ,hapd produce a living for him. CHAPTER XliI. John Valiant Makes a Discovery. "I'm so sorry," was what he said, as be kneeled to release her, and she was grateful that his tone was unmixed with amusement. She bit her lips, as by sheer strength of elbow and knee he snapped the offending bole short off-one of those quick exhibitions of reserved strength that every wom an likes. "I don't know how I could have been so silly-thank you so much," said Shirley, panting slightly from her' exertions. "I'm not the least bit hurt-only my dress-and you know very well that I waan't afraid of that ridiculous dog." A richer glow stole to her cheeks as she spoke, a burn ing recollection of a rose, which from her horse that morning at Damory Court, she ha- glimpsed in its glass on the porch. Both laughed a little. He imagined .that he could smell that wonderful hair, a subtle fragrance like that of sun-dried seaweed or the elusive scent that clings to a tuft of long-plucked tanish moss. "Chum stands ab olved, then," he said, bending to sweep together the scattered Jesse niine. "Do you-do you run like that when you're not frightened?" "When I'm cauight red-handed. Don't you?" He looked puzzled. She pointed to the flowers. "I hjaa stolen them, and I was trying to ''scape off widi 'em' as the negretes say. Shocking, isn't it? But you sesg nobody has litet here since long be. tor I was bor'n, and I su1ppose( the flower-thIeving habit has become in grown." "But," he interrupted, "there's acres of them going to waste. Why on earth ,'Mbfuldn't you have them?" "Of course I know better today, but T ere was a-a special reason. We eve none andi this is the nearest where they grow. My mother ('op 'tnome for this particular day." ('yen heavens!" he cried. "You Mr's. W'u you can't go right on tak home hra ? Why, you can ''scape off' 'vhllethe whole garden any time!" rep- dr'oli little gleam of azure mis .tolef darted at him suddenly out of her eyes andl th'-i (lodged b~ack again. "Aren't you jusb a littld rash with other peopie's property?" "Other people's?" "What will the owner say' Ho bent back orie of the long jessa mine stems andt wound it ar'oundi the* othere. "I cane answer for him. Be sides, I owe you something, you know. I robbed you this morning-of your brush." She looked at hIm, abruptly serious. "Why (lid you do that?'' "Sanctuary. Fits two heady eyes begged so hard for it. 'Twenty raven ons hountds.' they said. 'and a dozen galloping horses. And look what a poor shivering little redl-brown mor *jel I am!' " For just, an Instant the bronze-gold head gave a quick imperious toss, like a, high-Inettled pony undier the flick of the -whip. But as suddenly the shadow of resentment passed; the mobIle face u~nder the bent hat-brim tm-ned thoughtful, She looked again at him, "1)o you think it's wrong to kill tilings?" she asked gravely. "Oh, dlear, no," ho smiled. "I haven't a single ism. I'm not even a vegetarian." "But yell would be if you had to kill your own meat?". "Perhaps. So many of us would. As a matter of fact, I don't hunt my sett, but I'm no reformer." "Why don't you hunt?" EN1 RIVEI PQ3T(ImW AUPEN STOUT "I ion't enjoy it." Ho flushed slightly. "I hate firearms," he said, a trifle difficultly. "I always have, I don't know why. Idiosyncrasy, I PtY pose. But I shouldn't car- for hunt ing, even with bows and arrows. I would kill a tiger or a poisonous rep tile, or anything else, in 'case of neces sity. But even then I should hardly enjoy it. I know some animals are pests and have to be killed. Some men do, too. But I don't like to do it myself." "Wouldn't that theory lead to a wholesale evasion of responsibility'?" "Perhaps. I'm n'o philosopher. But a blackbird or a red fox is so pretty, even when he is thieving, that I'd lot him have the corn. I'm like the Lord ligh Executioner in 'The Mi kado' who was so tender-hearted that he couldn't executO anybody and planned to begin with guinea-pigs and work up. Only I'm afraid I couldn't even nianage the guinea-pigs." She laughed. "You wouldn't find many to practice on here. Do you raise guinea-pigs up North?" "Ah," he said ruefully, "you tag me, too. Have I by chance a large letter N tattooed upon my manly brow? But I suppose it's the accent. Uncle Jef ferson catalogued me in five minutes. He said he didn't know why I was from 'de Norf,' but he 'knowed' it. I've annexed ' im and his .wife, by the way." "You're lucky to have them. Unc' Jefferson and Aunt Daph might have slipped out of a plantation of the last century. They're absolutely ante-bel. lum. Most of the negroes are more or less spoiled, as you'll find, I'm afraid." She turned the conversation bluntly. "Had you seen Damory Court before?" "No, never." "Do you like the general plan of the place?" "Do I like it?" cried John Valiant. "Do I like it!" A quick pleasure glanced across her face. "It's nice of you to say it that way. We ask that question so often it's become mechanical. You see, it's our great show-place." At that moment a patter of foot steps and shrill shrieks came flying over the last-year's leaves beyond the lilac bushes. It's Rickey Snyder," she said, peering out smilingly as two children, pursued and pursuer, burst into view. "Hush!" she whispered; "I wonder what they are up to." The pair came in a whirl through the bushes. The foremost was a seven-year-old negro girl, in a single 'short cottonade garment, wizened, barelegged and bareheaded, her black wool parted in little angular patches and tightly wrapped with bits of cord. The other was white and as freckled as a turkey's egg, with hair cropped like a boy's. She held a carving knife cut from a shingle, whose edge had been deeply ensanguined by poke berry juice. The pursued one stum bled over a root and came to earth in a heap, while the other pounced upon her like a wildcat. "Hold still, you limb of Satan," she scolded. "How can I do It when you won't stay still?" "Oh, lawd," moaned the prostrate one, in simulated terror; "oh, Doctah, good Doctah Snydah, has Ah getter hab dat operation? Is ye' she' gwine ter twitter aroun' mah insides wid dem knives en saws en things?" "It won't hurt," reassured the would be operator; "no more than it did MIS' Poly Glifford. And I'll put your liver right hack again." "Wait er minute. Ah jes' remem babs Ah fo'go! ter make mahi will. Ah .leabs-" "Nonsense!" objected the other trrt. tably. You mnade- it yesterday. They always d!o it becfonctand." "No, suh; Ah done clean forgot et. Ah leabs mahi thimblje ter de MetodiW' ;,hurch, en malh black en w'lte kitten tr Rickey Snyder, en A twig snapped undler Valiant's foot. Both scrambled to their feet. the black girl to look at themi with a wide self conscious grin. Rickey, tossing her short hair- back from her freckled face, came toward them., "My good ness, Miss Shirley," she said, "we didn't see you at all." She looked at Valiant. "Are you the man that's going to fix up D~amory Court?" she inquired, without any tedious for malities. "Yes," said Valiant. "Well," she said critically, "you've got your job cut out for you. But I should say you're the kind to do it." "Rickoy!" Shirley's voice tried to be stern, but there was a hint of laughter in it. "What did I say now?" inquired Rickey. "I'm sure I meant it to be complimentary." "It was," said Valiant. "I shall try to deserve your good opinion." "But what a ghastly play!" ex claimed Shirley, "Where did you learn it?" "We wore playing Mis' Poly Qifford in the hospital," Rickey answered. "She's got a whole lot of little peb bles what they cut out-" *"Oh, Rickey I" expostulated Shirley with a shudder. "They did, She keeps them In a lIttle pasteboard box like wedding-cake, with a blue ribbon around it, She was showing it to Miss Mattie Sue yester day. She was tellirig her all about it. tho said allthewomenThrei showed each other their cuts and bragged about how long they were." "You certainly have a highly devel. ;oped taste for the dramatic," said 'Shirley. "I wonder what your next effort will be." "It's tomorrow," Rickey informed her. "We're going to have the duel between Valiant and Bassoon." The smile was stricken from John Valiant's face. A duel-the duel-be 'tween Valiant and Sassoon! He felt his blood beat quickly. Had there ,been such a thing in his father's life? Was that what had blighted it? "Only not hero where it really hap pened, but in the Meredith orchard. Greenie's going to be-" "Ah ain'!" contradicted Greenie. "Ah ain' gwineter be dat Valiant, no. how!" "You are, too!" Insisted Rickey, wrathfully. "You needn't be so pickety and choosety-and after she kills Sas soon, we put the bloodhounds on her trail." Greenie tittered. "Dey ain' no dawg aroun' heah'd tech me," she said, "en 'sides--" "But, Rickey," Shirley interposed, "that wasn't a murder. That was a duel between gentlemen. They don't-" "I know it," assented Rickey cheer. fully. "But it makes it more exciting. Vill you come, Miss Shirley, deed and double? I won't charge you any ad mission." "I can't promise," said Shirley. "By the way, isn't it about time Miss Mat tie Sue had her tea?" "It certainly is, Miss Shirley!" said Rickey, with penitent emphasis. "I clean forgot it, and she'll row me up the gump-stump! Come on, Greenie," and she started off through the bushes. Shirley looked at Valiant with a deepening of her dimple. "Rickey isn't an aristocrat," she said; "she's what we call hero poor-white, but she's .got a heart of gold. She's an orphan, and the neighborhood in general, and Miss Mattio Sue Mabry in particular, have adopted her." He hardly heard her words for the painful wonder that was holding him. His father had taken a man's life. Was it this thought-whatever the provocation, however justified by the customs of the time and section that had driven him to self-exile? He recalled himself with an effort, for she was speaking again. "You've found Lovers' Leap, no doubt?" "No. This is the first time I've been so far from the house. Is it nea' here?" "I'll show it to you." She held out "It Won't Hurt," Reassured the Would. Be Operator. her hand for the bunch of jessamine and laid it on the broad roots of a tree that were mottled with lichen. "Look there." she said suddenly; "Isn't that a beauty?" She was pointing to a jlmson-weed on which had settled, with glassy wings vibrating, a long, ungainly, needlelike insect with an odd sword like beak. "What is that?" he asked. "A snake-doctor. If Unc' Jefferson were here he'd say, 'Bettah watch out! Dah's er anek roun' erbout heah, I ho'!' He'll fill you full of darky superstitions." Suddenly the slim path between the tres took a quick turn, and fell away at their feet. "There," she~ said. "This Is the finest view at Damo'' ('ouirt." They stood on the- '" ravine which wvide shallow marsh were covered Afl' graiy-green feath ery creepers, enwoand with curly yel low tendrils of lovI,-vine. Across the ravine, on a lower level, began a grove of splendid trees that marchedi up into the long stretch of neglected forest ho had seen from the house. "You love it?" he asked, without withdrawing his eyes. "I've loved it all my life. I love everything about Damory Court. Ruined as it is, it 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, la where the duel the children spoke of was fought." He turned his head. "Tell me about it," he etd. She glanced at him curiously. "Didn't you know? That wan the reason the place was abandoned. Valiant, who lived here, and the owner of another plantation, who w'as 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?" "H~o went away the same (lay and never came back; ho lived In New York till ho died, H~e was'the father of the court's present owner. You never heard the story?" "No," he admitted. "I--till quite re cently I never heard of Damory Court."' "That was the last Annl ever fought In VIfrgii, ulig ~Iwas a drea custom. I'm glad it's gone. Aren't you?" "Yes," he said slowly, "it was a thing that out two ways. Perhaps Va liant, if 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. I used to wonder if it was a love-quarrel--whether they could have been in love with the same woman." "But why should he go away?" "I can't Imagine, unless she had really loved the other man. If so, she couldn't have borne seeing Valiant afterward." She paused with a little laugh. "But then," she said, "it may have been nothir.g 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 were running through his brain. With an effort, he thrust these back and re called his attention to what she was saying. "You wonder, I 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 as proud of our land, and its old, old places, and love them as well as our ancestors ever (lid. 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 Now York, to care for Damory Court! A youth idiotically rich, brought up in a superheated atmosphere of noise and money!" Ho 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 it?" "Not the slightest," she said indif ferently. "You are so certain of this without ever having seen him?" She glanced at him covertly, an noyedly sensible of the impropriety of the discussion, since the man dis cussed was certainly his patron, may. be his friend. But his insistence had roused a certain balky wilfulness that would have its way. "It's true I've never seen him," she said, "but I've read about him a hundred times in the Sunday supplements. He's a regular feature of the high-roller section. His idea of a good time is a (log-banquet at Sherry's. Why, a girl told me onee that there was a cigarette named after him-the Vanity Valiant!" "Isn't that be!de the point? Be cause he has bemau an idler, must he necessarily be a-vandal?" She laughed again. "He wouldn't call it vandalism. He'd think It de cided improvement to make Damory Court as frantically dlifferent as possi ble. I suppose he'll erect a glass cupola andI a porte-cochere, all up-to date .nd varnishy, and put orchid hot Ihouses where the wilderness garden was, and a modern marble cupid in stead of the summ4 -house, and lay out a kite-shaped tr - Everything that was impulsive and explosive in John Valiant's nature came out with a ban,, "Not" he cried, "whatever else he is, he's not such a preposterous ass as thati" She faced him sqaarely now. Her eyes were sparkling. "Since you know him so intimately and so highly ap prove of him-" "No, no," he interrupted. '"You mis take me. I shouldn't try te justify him." His flush had risen to the roots of his brown hair', but he did not lower his gaze. Now the red color slowly ebbed, leaving him pale, "He h as' been an idler-thatL's true enough --and till a week ago he was 'idiotio ally rich.' But his idling is over new. At this moment, except for this one 'property, he is little better than a beggar." She had taken a hasty step or two back from him, and her eyer were now fixed on his with a dawning half-fear. ful question in them, "Till the failure of the Valiant Cor poration, he hadl never heard of Da mory Court, much less been aware that he owned it. It wasn't because he' loved it that he came here-no! H-ow could it be? He had never set foot in Virginia in his mortal life," She put up her hands to her throat with a start. "Came?" she echoed, "Came!" "lBut if you think that even ho could be so cr-assly stupid, so monumentally blind to all that is really fine and beautiful-" "Oh!" she cried with flashing com prehension. "Oh, how could you! You-" He nodded curtly. "Yes," he said. "I am that haphazard harlequin, John Valiant, himself," 'Continmued Nex't Weexa. I~ev. ('. II. N':bers of P' esin ' dlver en illusmtrated lectu re cn~ m e land of Sacred Ritory" ini ti.e 0-.. P'. chu rch I' eveulV. at '- oc *IIVERE YEYOU NEED A GENERAL TONIC - TAKE GROVE'S The Old Standard Grove's Tasteless chill Tonic is Eqyally Valuable as a General Tonic because it Acts on the Liver, - Drives Out Malaria, Enriches the Blood and Builds up the Whole System, For Grown People and Children. You know what you are taking when you take Grove's Tasteless chill Tonic as the forioula is printed on every label showing that it contains the well known tonic properties of QUININE and IRON. It is as strong as the strongest bitter tonic and is in Tasteless Form. It has no equal for Malaria, Chills and Fever, Weakness, gene'rat debility and loss of appetite. Gives life and vigor to Nursing Mothers and Pale, Sickly Children. Removes Biliousness without purging. Relieves nervous depression and low spirits. Arouses the liver to action and purifies the blood. , A True Tonic and Sure Appetizer. A Complete Strengthener. bNo family should be without it. Guaranteed by your Druggist. We mean it. 50o. -' GIVE I, !YOUR A BANK -; - ACCOUNT l A MAN NEEDED MONEY BADLY ONE DAY; 2 HIS WIFE A5KED HIM- HOW MUCH; HE TOLD HER; SHE WROTE HIM A CHECK FOR THE AMOUNT. SHE HAD PUT MONEY. IN THE BANK, AND SAVED HER HUSBAND FROM BUSINESS FAILURE. . * '""'""* A woman with a bank account makes a better companion; she gets interested in her husband's af fairs; she knows where money comes from and where it goe. and she takes mighty good care that it goes as far as possible. She can save you trouble and MONEY. Give HER a bank account! Make OUR bank YOUR bank. We pay interest in Savings Department ENTERPRISE BANK N. B. DIAL, Pres. G. H. ROPER, Cashier Galatea Cloth! For hard service and permanent color no fabric made better for the money at 12 1-2 cents. The finest Shirting Madras in colored and white at 15 cents. A good assortment in all colors in yard wide Percale at 10 cents and 12 1-2 cents. A complete line of Suitings and Waist ings, both in colored and white, at 25 cts a yard. Colored Corduroy in popular shades at 20 cents. Also in white from 10 cts to 25 cents the yard. SW.G.Wilson&Co Are You Using Nitra gin? Your neighbors are using it and they say. it increases the yield of the crop to which it is applied, from 25 to 100 per cent. besides this it causes that crop to jtore in each acre of ground from 100 to 200 pounds of ure nitrogen, for the benefit of the next crop. Nitr'og in commer cial fertilizers costs YOU about 20 cents a pound. Use Nitragin and you get it FREE from the air. Apply it to all your Peas, Beans and other pod bearing or legume. crops. Can you afford to pay 20 cents a pound for Nitro. gen when your neighbor gets it FREE? ' Full information gladly given. R. C. McLEES, Clipton, S. C.