Oldal 209 [209]
HIsTORIC GARDENS OF V:IRGINIA
into war and, although no hostile forces visited Rock Castle, during
the summer months the house was thronged with the young Vir¬
cinians coming and going to the training camps, and again young
couples sought the garden-walks and exchanged vows of love under
the shade trees.
After the death of Dr. Johnston, Mrs. Johnston disposed of the
place, and since 1918 it has changed hands several times. The
last resident owner, Mr: Henry L. Pierson, was killed in a tractor
accident last September, and dying intestate the estate reverted to
his brother, Mr. Thomas H. Pierson, of New York, and to his
sister, Mrs. Carlyon Bellairs, of Gore Court, Maidstone, England.
Mrs. Bellairs, whose husband is a distinguished M. P., has relin¬
quished her share to her brother. Inthe near future other strangers
will take possession and feast their eyes upon this rarely beautiful
landscape of which a convalescent Confederate soldier, during the
War Between the States, said to Mrs. Rutherfoord on being sum¬
moned to dinner: "This is meat enough and drink enough for me."
ANNE SEDDON RUTHERFOORD JOHNSON.
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