Page 209 [209]
OCR
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 Vircinians 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 relinquished 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 summoned to dinner: "This is meat enough and drink enough for me." ANNE SEDDON RUTHERFOORD JOHNSON. [128]
