He never failed to contribute from his
store of wealth, for young Jenison was the richest as well as the
kindliest planter in all Virginia.
Jenison farm lands stretched far and wide; Jenison town property was
to be found in no less than five cities of importance; Jenison
securities, as sound as Gibraltar, were piled up in New York vaults,
and the Jenison collection included more than a score of the rarest
paintings ever developed under the magic of Rembrandt, Franz Hals,
Turner, Gainsborough, Velasquez, Stewart and others.
He was more than a person of landed importance, however. His story was
so well known that wherever he fared he was hailed as a hero. In his
own sunny land he was a hero-prince with as many retainers and loyal
subjects as ever bent knee to an Eastern medieval potentate. Rich in
fair looks as well as in worldly possessions, the owner of a
distinctive charm of manner, combined with the poise of good breeding,
a certain interesting reticence and a wonderfully impelling smile, he
was more than a hero to the young, and little short of an idol to the
old.
Countless assaults had been made against his heart.
Pages:
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355