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It was over twenty years ago。 I shall not imperil the effect of
that lovely vision by recalling to the eye of to…day a fashion of
yesterday。 Enough； that it enabled her to set her sweet face and
vapory golden hair in a horseshoe frame of delicate flowers； and to
lift her oval chin out of a bewildering mist of tulle。 Nor did a
certain light polonaise conceal the outlines of her charming
figure。 Even those who were constrained to whisper to each other
that 〃Miss Sally〃 must 〃be now going on twenty…five；〃 did so
because she still carried the slender graces of seventeen。 The
organ swelled as if to welcome her； as she took her seat a ray of
sunlight； that would have been cruel and searching to any other
complexion； drifted across the faint pink of her cheeks； and
nestling in her nebulous hair became itself transfigured。 A few
stained…glass Virtues on the windows did not come out of this
effulgence as triumphantly； and it was small wonder that the
devotional eyes of the worshipers wandered from them to the face
of Sally Dows。
When the service was over； as the congregation filed slowly into
the aisle； Courtland slipped mutely behind her。 As she reached the
porch he said in an undertone：
〃I brought my horse and buggy。 I thought you might possibly allow
me to drive〃 But he was stopped by a distressful knitting of her
golden brows。 〃No；〃 she said quickly； but firmly； 〃you must not
it won't do。〃 As Courtland hesitated in momentary perplexity； she
smiled sweetly： 〃We'll walk round by the cemetery； if you like； it
will take about as long as a drive。〃 Courtland vanished； gave
hurried instructions and a dollar to a lounging negro； and rejoined
Miss Sally as the delighted and proud freedman drove out of the
gate。 Miss Sally heaved a slight sigh as the gallant equipage
passed。 〃It was a mighty pooty turnout； co'nnle； and I'd have just
admired to go； but it would have been rather hard on the other
folks。 There's the Reeds and Maxwells and Robertsons that are too
pooah to keep blood horses； and too proud to ride behind anything
else。 It wouldn't be the right thing for us to go whirling by；
scattering our dust over them。〃 There was something so subtly
pleasant in this implied partnership of responsibility； that
Courtland forgot the abrupt refusal and thought only of the tact
that prompted it。 Nevertheless； here a spell seemed to fall upon
his usually ready speech。 Now that they were together for the
first time in a distinctly social fashion； he found himself
vacantly； meaninglessly silent； content to walk beside this
charming； summery presence； brushed by its delicate draperies；
and inhaling its freshness。 Presently it spoke。
〃It would take more than a thousand feet of lumber to patch up the
cowsheds beyond the Moseley pasture； and an entirely new building
with an improved dairy would require only about two thousand more。
All the old material would come in good for fencing； and could be
used with the new post and rails。 Don't yo' think it would be
better to have an out…and…out new building？〃
〃Yes； certainly；〃 returned Courtland a little confusedly。 He had
not calculated upon this practical conversation； and was the more
disconcerted as they were passing some of the other couples； who
had purposely lingered to overhear them。
〃And；〃 continued the young girl brightly； 〃the freight question is
getting to be a pretty serious one。 Aunt Miranda holds some shares
in the Briggsville branch line； and thinks something could be done
with the directors for a new tariff of charges if she put a
pressure on them； Tyler says that there was some talk of their
reducing it one sixteenth per cent。 before we move this year's
crop。〃
Courtland glanced quickly at his companion's face。 It was grave；
but there was the faintest wrinkling of the corner of the eyelid
nearest him。 〃Had we not better leave these serious questions
until to…morrow？〃 he said； smiling。
Miss Sally opened her eyes demurely。 〃Why； yo' seemed SO quiet； I
reckoned yo' must be full of business this morning； but if yo'
prefer company talk； we'll change the subject。 They say that yo'
and Miss Reed didn't have much trouble to find one last Sunday。
She don't usually talk much； but she keeps up a power of thinking。
I should reckon；〃 she added； suddenly eying him critically； 〃that
yo' and she might have a heap o' things to say to each other。
She's a good deal in yo' fashion； co'nnle； she don't forget； but〃
more slowly〃I don't know that THAT'S altogether the best thing
for YO'！〃
Courtland lifted his eyes with affected consternation。 〃If this is
in the light of another mysterious warning； Miss Dows； I warn you
that my intellect is already tottering with them。 Last Sunday Miss
Reed thrilled me for an hour with superstition and Cassandra…like
prophecy。 Don't things ever happen accidentally here； and without
warning？〃
〃I mean；〃 returned the young lady with her usual practical
directness； 〃that Tave Reed remembers a good many horrid things
about the wah that she ought to forget； but don't。 But；〃 she
continued； looking at him curiously； 〃she allows she was mighty cut
up by her cousin's manner to yo'。〃
〃I am afraid that Miss Reed was more annoyed than I was；〃 said
Courtland。 〃I should be very sorry if she attached any importance
to it；〃 he added earnestly。
〃And YO' don't？〃 continued Miss Sally。
〃No。 Why should I？〃 She noticed； however； that he had slightly
drawn himself up a little more erect； and she smiled as he
continued； 〃I dare say I should feel as he does if I were in his
place。〃
〃But YO' wouldn't do anything underhanded；〃 she said quietly。 As
he glanced at her quickly she added dryly： 〃Don't trust too much to
people always acting in yo' fashion； co'nnle。 And don't think too
much nor too little of what yo' hear here。 Yo' 're just the kind
of man to make a good many silly enemies； and as many foolish
friends。 And I don't know which will give yo' the most trouble。
Only don't yo' underrate EITHER； or hold yo' head so high； yo'
don't see what's crawlin' around yo'。 That's why； in a copperhead
swamp； a horse is bitten oftener than a hog。〃
She smiled； yet with knitted brows and such a pretty affectation of
concern for her companion that he suddenly took heart。
〃I wish I had ONE friend I could call my own；〃 he said boldly；
looking straight into her eyes。 〃I'd care little for other
friends； and fear no enemies。〃
〃Yo' 're right； co'nnle；〃 she said； ostentatiously slanting her
parasol in a marvelous simulation of hiding a purely imaginative
blush on a cheek that was perfectly infantine in its unchanged
pink； 〃company talk is much pootier than what we've been saying。
Andmeaning mefor I reckon yo' wouldn't say that of any other
girl but the one yo' 're walking withwhat's the matter with me？〃
He could not help smiling； though he hesitated。 〃Nothing！ but
others have been disappointed。〃
〃And that bothers YO'？〃
〃I mean I have as yet had no right to put your feelings to any
test； while〃
〃Poor Chet had； yo' were going to say！ Well； here we are at the
cemetery！ I reckoned yo' were bound to get back to the dead again
before we'd gone far； and that's why I thought we might take the
cemetery on our way。 It may put me in a more proper frame of mind
to please yo'。〃
As he raised his eyes he could not repress a slight start。 He had
not noticed before that they had passed through a small gateway on
diverging from the road； and was quite unprepared to find himself
on the edge of a gentle slope leading to a beautiful valley； and
before him a long vista of tombs； white head…stones and low
crosses； edged by drooping cypress and trailing feathery vines。
Some vines had fallen and been caught in long loops from bough to
bough； like funeral garlands； and here and there the tops of
isolated palmettos lifted a cluster of hearse…like plumes。 Yet in
spite of this dominance of sombre but graceful shadow； the drooping
delicacy of dark…tasseled foliage and leafy fringes； and the waving
mourning veils of gray； translucent moss； a glorious vivifying
Southern sun smiled and glittered everywhere as through tears。 The
balm of bay； southernwood； pine； and syringa breathed through the
long alleys； the stimulating scent of roses moved with every
zephyr； and the closer odors of jessamine； honeysuckle； and orange
flowers hung heavily in the hollows。 It seemed to Courtland like
the mourning of beautiful and youthful widowhood； seductive even in
its dissembling trappings； provocative in the contrast of its own
still strong virility。 Everywhere the grass grew thick and
luxuriant； the quick earth was teeming with the germination of the
dead below。
They moved slowly along side by side； speaking only of the beauty
of the spot and the glory of that summer day； which seemed to have
completed its perfection here。 Perhaps from the heat； the
overpowering perfume； or some unsuspected sentiment； the young lady
became presently as silent and preoccupied as her companion。 She
began to linger and loiter behind； hovering like a butterfly over
some flowering shrub or clustered sheaf of lilies； until；
encountered suddenly in her floating draperies；