按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
to his judgment。 He made no personal charges； mentioned no names；
asked for no exemplary prosecution or trial of the offenders； but
only demanded a safeguard against a repetition of the offense。 His
next letter； although less formal and official； was more difficult。
It was addressed to the commandant of the nearest Federal barracks；
who was an old friend and former companion…in…arms。 He alluded to
some conversation they had previously exchanged in regard to the
presence of a small detachment of troops at Redlands during the
elections； which Courtland at the time； however； had diplomatically
opposed。 He suggested it now as a matter of public expediency and
prevention。 When he had sealed the letters； not caring to expose
them to the espionage of the local postmaster or his ordinary
servants； he intrusted them to one of Miss Sally's own henchmen； to
be posted at the next office； at Bitter Creek Station； ten miles
distant。
Unfortunately； this duty accomplished； the reaction consequent on
his still weak physical condition threw him back upon himself and
his memory。 He had resolutely refused to think of Miss Sally； he
had been able to withstand the suggestions of her in the presence
of her handmaidsupposed to be potent in nursing and herb…lore
whom she had detached to wait upon him； and he had returned
politely formal acknowledgments to her inquiries。 He had
determined to continue this personal avoidance as far as possible
until he was relieved； on the ground of that BUSINESS expediency
which these events had made necessary。 She would see that he was
only accepting the arguments with which she had met his previous
advances。 Briefly； he had recourse to that hopeless logic by which
a man proves to himself that he has no reason for loving a certain
woman； and is as incontestably convinced by the same process that
he has。 And in the midst of it he weakly fell asleep； and dreamed
that he and Miss Sally were walking in the cemetery； that a hideous
snake concealed among some lilies； over which the young girl was
bending； had uplifted its triangular head to strike。 That he
seized it by the neck； struggled with it until he was nearly
exhausted； when it suddenly collapsed and shrunk； leaving in his
palm the limp； crushed； and delicately perfumed little thread glove
which he remembered to have once slipped from her hand。
When he awoke； that perfume seemed to be still in the air； distinct
from the fresh but homelier scents of the garden which stole
through the window。 A sense of delicious coolness came with the
afternoon breeze； that faintly trilled the slanting slats of the
blind with a slumberous humming as of bees。 The golden glory of a
sinking southern sun was penciling the cheap paper on the wall with
leafy tracery and glowing arabesques。 But more than that； the calm
of some potent influenceor some unseen presencewas upon him；
which he feared a movement might dispel。 The chair at the foot of
his bed was empty。 Sophy had gone out。 He did not turn his head
to look further； his languid eyes falling aimlessly upon the carpet
at his bedside suddenly dilated。 For they fell also on the
〃smallest foot in the State。〃
He started to his elbow； but a soft hand was laid gently yet firmly
upon his shoulder； and with a faint rustle of muslin skirts Miss
Sally rose from an unseen chair at the head of his bed； and stood
beside him。
〃Don't stir； co'nnle； I didn't sit where I could look in yo'r face
for fear of waking yo'。 But I'll change seats now。〃 She moved to
the chair which Sophy had vacated； drew it slightly nearer the bed；
and sat down。
〃It was very kind of youto come；〃 said Courtland hesitatingly； as
with a strong effort he drew his eyes away from the fascinating
vision； and regained a certain cold composure； 〃but I am afraid my
illness has been greatly magnified。 I really am quite well enough
to be up and about my business； if the doctor would permit it。 But
I shall certainly manage to attend to my duty to…morrow； and I hope
to be at your service。
〃Meaning that yo' don't care to see me NOW； co'nnle；〃 she said
lightly； with a faint twinkle in her wise； sweet eyes。 〃I thought
of that； but as my business wouldn't wait； I brought it to yo'。〃
She took from the folds of her gown a letter。 To his utter
amazement it was the one he had given his overseer to post to the
commandant that morning。 To his greater indignation the seal was
broken。
〃Who has dared？〃 he demanded； half rising。
Her little hand was thrust out half deprecatingly。 〃No one yo' can
fight； co'nnle； only ME。 I don't generally open other folks'
letters； and I wouldn't have done it for MYSELF； I did for yo'。〃
〃For me？〃
〃For yo'。 I reckoned what yo' MIGHT do； and I told Sam to bring ME
the letters first。 I didn't mind what yo' wrote to the company
for they'll take care of yo'； and their own eggs are all in the
same basket。 I didn't open THAT one； but I did THIS when I saw the
address。 It was as I expected； and yo' 'd given yo'self away！ For
if yo' had those soldiers down here； yo' 'd have a row； sure！
Don't move； co'nnle； YO' may not care for that； it's in YO'R line。
But folks will say that the soldiers weren't sent to prevent
RIOTING； but that Co'nnle Courtland was using his old comrades to
keep order on his property at Gov'ment expense。 Hol' on！ Hol' on！
co'nnle；〃 said the little figure； rising and waving its pretty arms
with a mischievous simulation of terrified deprecation。 〃Don't
shoot！ Of course yo' didn't mean THAT； but that's about the way
that So'th'n men will put it to yo'r Gov'ment。 For；〃 she
continued； more gently； yet with the shrewdest twinkle in her gray
eyes； 〃if yo' really thought the niggers might need Federal
protection； yo' 'd have let ME write to the commandant to send an
escortnot to YO； but to CATOthat HE might be able to come back
in safety。 Yo' 'd have had yo'r soldiers； I'd have had back my
nigger； which〃demurely〃yo' don't seem to worry yo'self much
about； co'nnle； and there isn't a So'th'n man would have objected。
But；〃 still more demurely； and affectedly smoothing out her crisp
skirt with her little hands； 〃yo' haven't been troubling me much
with yo'r counsel lately。〃
A swift and utterly new comprehension swept over Courtland。 For
the first time in his knowledge of her he suddenly grasped what
was； perhaps； the true conception of her character。 Looking at her
clearly now； he understood the meaning of those pliant graces； so
unaffected and yet always controlled by the reasoning of an
unbiased intellect； her frank speech and plausible intonations！
Before him stood the true…born daughter of a long race of
politicians！ All that he had heard of their dexterity； tact； and
expediency rose here incarnate； with the added grace of womanhood。
A strange sense of reliefperhaps a dawning of hopestole over
him。
〃But how will this insure Cato's safety hereafter； or give
protection to the others？〃 he said； fixing his eyes upon her。
〃The future won't concern YO' much； co'nnle； if as yo' say here
yo'r resignation is sent in； and yo'r successor appointed；〃 she
replied； with more gravity than she had previously shown。
〃But you do not think I will leave YOU in this uncertainty；〃 he
said passionately。 He stopped suddenly； his brow darkened。 〃I
forgot；〃 he added coldly； 〃you will be well protected。 Your
COUSINwill give you the counsel of raceandcloser ties。〃
To his infinite astonishment； Miss Sally leaned forward in her
chair and buried her laughing face in both of her hands。 When her
dimples had become again visible； she said with an effort； 〃Don't
yo' think； co'nnle； that as a peacemaker my cousin was even a
bigger failure than yo'self？〃
〃I don't understand；〃 stammered Courtland。
〃Don't yo' think；〃 she continued； wiping her eyes demurely； 〃that
if a young woman about my size； who had got perfectly tired and
sick of all this fuss made about yo'； because yo' were a No'th'n
man； managing niggersif that young woman wanted to show her
people what sort of a radical and abolitionist a SO'TH'N man of
their own sort might become； she'd have sent for Jack Dumont as a
sample？ Eh？ Only； I declare to goodness； I never reckoned that he
and Higbee would revive the tomfooling of the vendetta； and take to
shootin' each other at once。〃
〃And your sending for your cousin was only a feint to protect me？〃
said Courtland faintly。
〃Perhaps he didn't have to be SENT for； co'nnle；〃 she said； with a
slight touch of coquetry。 〃Suppose we say； I LET HIM COME。 He'd
be hanging round； for he has property here； and wanted to get me to
take it up with mine in the company。 I knew what his new views and
ideas were； and I thought I'd better consult Champneywho； being a
foreigner； and an older resident than yo'； was quite neutral。 He
didn't happen to tell YO' anything about itdid he； co'nnle？〃 she
added with a grave mouth； but an indescribable twinkle in her eyes。
Courtland's face darkened。 〃He didand he further told me； Miss
Dows； that he himself was your suitor； and that you had refused him
because of the objections of your people。〃
She raised her eyes to his swiftly and dropped them。
〃And yo' th