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was in his ordinary affairs； he was nevertheless not entirely free
from that peculiar superstition which surrounds every man's
romance。 He believed there was something more than a mere
coincidence in his unexpectedly finding himself in such favorable
conditions for making her acquaintance。 For the restif there was
any resthe would simply trust to fate。 And so； believing himself
a cool； sagacious reasoner； but being actually； as far as Miss Dows
was concerned； as blind； fatuous； and unreasoning as any of her
previous admirers； he rode complacently forward until he reached
the lane that led to the Dows plantation。
Here a better kept roadway and fence； whose careful repair would
have delighted Drummond； seemed to augur well for the new
enterprise。 Presently； even the old…fashioned local form of the
fence； a slanting zigzag； gave way to the more direct line of post
and rail in the Northern fashion。 Beyond it presently appeared a
long low frontage of modern buildings which； to Courtland's
surprise； were entirely new in structure and design。 There was no
reminiscence of the usual Southern porticoed gable or columned
veranda。 Yet it was not Northern either。 The factory…like outline
of facade was partly hidden in Cherokee rose and jessamine。
A long roofed gallery connected the buildings and became a veranda
to one。 A broad； well…rolled gravel drive led from the open gate
to the newest building； which seemed to be the office； a smaller
path diverged from it to the corner house； which； despite its
severe simplicity； had a more residential appearance。 Unlike
Reed's house； there were no lounging servants or field hands to be
seen； they were evidently attending to their respective duties。
Dismounting； Courtland tied his horse to a post at the office door
and took the smaller path to the corner house。
The door was open to the fragrant afternoon breeze wafted through
the rose and jessamine。 So also was a side door opening from the
hall into a long parlor or sitting…room that ran the whole width of
the house。 Courtland entered it。 It was prettily furnished； but
everything had the air of freshness and of being uncharacteristically
new。 It was empty； but a faint hammering was audible on the rear
wall of the house； through the two open French windows at the back；
curtained with trailing vines； which gave upon a sunlit courtyard。
Courtland walked to the window。 Just before it； on the ground；
stood a small light ladder； which he gently put aside to gain a
better view of the courtyard as he put on his hat； and stepped out
of the open window。
In this attitude he suddenly felt his hat tipped from his head；
followed almost instantaneously by a falling slipper； and the
distinct impression of a very small foot on the crown of his head。
An indescribable sensation passed over him。 He hurriedly stepped
back into the room； just as a small striped…stockinged foot was as
hastily drawn up above the top of the window with the feminine
exclamation； 〃Good gracious me！〃
Lingering for an instant； only to assure himself that the fair
speaker had secured her foothold and was in no danger of falling；
Courtland snatched up his hat； which had providentially fallen
inside the room； and retreated ingloriously to the other end of the
parlor。 The voice came again from the window； and struck him as
being very sweet and clear：
〃Sophy； is that YOU？〃
Courtland discreetly retired to the hall。 To his great relief a
voice from the outside answered； 〃Whar； Miss Sally？〃
〃What did yo' move the ladder for？ Yo' might have killed me。〃
〃Fo' God； Miss Sally； I didn't move no ladder！〃
〃Don't tell me； but go down and get my slipper。 And bring up some
more nails。〃
Courtland waited silently in the hall。 In a few moments he heard a
heavy footstep outside the rear window。 This was his opportunity。
Re…entering the parlor somewhat ostentatiously； he confronted a
tall negro girl who was passing through the room carrying a tiny
slipper in her hand。 〃Excuse me；〃 he said politely； 〃but I could
not find any one to announce me。 Is Miss Dows at home？〃
The girl instantly whipped the slipper behind her。 〃Is yo' wanting
Miss Mirandy Dows；〃 she asked with great dignity； 〃oah Miss Sally
Dowsher niece？ Miss Mirandy's bin gone to Atlanta for a week。〃
〃I have a letter for Miss Miranda； but I shall be very glad if Miss
Sally Dows will receive me； returned Courtland； handing the letter
and his card to the girl。
She received it with a still greater access of dignity and marked
deliberation。 〃It's clean gone outer my mind； sah； ef Miss Sally
is in de resumption of visitahs at dis houah。 In fac'； sah；〃 she
continued； with intensified gravity and an exaggeration of
thoughtfulness as the sounds of Miss Sally's hammering came
shamelessly from the wall； 〃I doahn know exac'ly ef she's engaged
playin' de harp； practicin' de languages； or paintin' in oil and
watah colors； o' givin' audiences to offishals from de Court House。
It might be de houah for de one or de odder。 But I'll communicate
wid her； sah； in de budwoh on de uppah flo'。〃 She backed
dexterously； so as to keep the slipper behind her； but with no
diminution of dignity； out of a side door。 In another moment the
hammering ceased； followed by the sound of rapid whispering
without； a few tiny twigs and leaves slowly rustled to the ground；
and then there was complete silence。 He ventured to walk to the
fateful window again。
Presently he heard a faint rustle at the other end of the room； and
he turned。 A sudden tremulousness swept along his pulses； and then
they seemed to pause； he drew a deep breath that was almost a sigh；
and remained motionless。
He had no preconceived idea of falling in love with Miss Sally at
first sight； nor had he dreamed such a thing possible。 Even the
girlish face that he had seen in the locket； although it had
stirred him with a singular emotion； had not suggested that。 And
the ideal he had evolved from it was never a potent presence。 But
the exquisitely pretty face and figure before him； although it
might have been painted from his own fancy of her； was still
something more and something unexpected。 All that had gone before
had never prepared him for the beautiful girl who now stood there。
It was a poor explanation to say that Miss Sally was four or five
years older than her picture； and that later experiences； enlarged
capacity； a different life； and new ambition had impressed her
youthful face with a refined mobility； it was a weird fancy to
imagine that the blood of those who had died for her had in some
vague； mysterious way imparted an actual fascination to her； and he
dismissed it。 But even the most familiar spectator； like Sophy；
could see that Miss Sally had the softest pink complexion； the
silkiest hair； that looked as the floss of the Indian corn might
look if curled； or golden spider threads if materialized； and eyes
that were in bright gray harmony with both； that the frock of India
muslin； albeit home…made； fitted her figure perfectly； from the
azure bows on her shoulders to the ribbon around her waist； and
that the hem of its billowy skirt showed a foot which had the
reputation of being the smallest foot south of Mason and Dixon's
Line！ But it was something more intangible than this which kept
Courtland breathless and silent。
〃I'm not Miss Miranda Dows；〃 said the vision with a frankness that
was half childlike and half practical； as she extended a little
hand； 〃but I can talk 'fahm' with yo' about as well as aunty； and I
reckon from what Major Reed says heah；〃 holding up the letter
between her fingers； 〃as long as yo' get the persimmons yo' don't
mind what kind o' pole yo' knock 'em down with。〃
The voice that carried this speech was so fresh； clear； and sweet
that I am afraid Courtland thought little of its bluntness or its
conventional transgressions。 But it brought him his own tongue
quite unemotionally and quietly。 〃I don't know what was in that
note； Miss Dows； but I can hardly believe that Major Reed ever put
my present felicity quite in that way。〃
Miss Sally laughed。 Then with a charming exaggeration she waved
her little hand towards the sofa。
〃There！ Yo' naturally wanted a little room for that； co'nnle； but
now that yo' 've got it off；and mighty pooty it was； too；yo'
can sit down。〃 And with that she sank down at one end of the sofa；
prettily drew aside a white billow of skirt so as to leave ample
room for Courtland at the other； and clasping her fingers over her
knees； looked demurely expectant。
〃But let me hope that I am not disturbing you unseasonably；〃 said
Courtland； catching sight of the fateful little slipper beneath her
skirt； and remembering the window。 〃I was so preoccupied in
thinking of your aunt as the business manager of these estates that
I quite forget that she might have a lady's hours for receiving。〃
〃We haven't got any company hours；〃 said Miss Sally； 〃and we
haven't just now any servants for company manners； for we're short…
handed in the fields and barns。 When yo' came I was nailing up the
laths for the vines outside； because we couldn't spare carpenters
from the factory。 But；〃