sally dows-第10节

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some　flowering　shrub　or　clustered　sheaf　of　lilies；　until；
encountered　suddenly　in　her　floating　draperies；　she　might　have　been
taken　for　a　somewhat　early　and　far　too　becoming　ghost。　　It　seemed
to　him；　also；　that　her　bright　eyes　were　slightly　shadowed　by　a
gentle　thoughtfulness。　　He　moved　close　to　her　side　with　an
irresistible　impulse　of　tenderness；　but　she　turned　suddenly；　and
saying；　〃Come！〃　moved　at　a　quicker　pace　down　a　narrow　side　path。
Courtland　followed。　　He　had　not　gone　far　before　he　noticed　that
the　graves　seemed　to　fall　into　regular　lines；　the　emblems　became
cheaper　and　more　common；　wooden　head　and　foot　stones　of　one
monotonous　pattern　took　the　place　of　carved　freestone　or　marble；
and　he　knew　that　they　had　reached　that　part　of　the　cemetery
reserved　for　those　who　had　fallen　in　the　war。　　The　long　lines　drawn
with　military　precision　stretched　through　the　little　valley；　and
again　up　the　opposite　hill　in　an　odd　semblance　of　hollow　squares；
ranks；　and　columns。　　A　vague　recollection　of　the　fateful　slope　of
Snake　River　came　over　him。　　It　was　intensified　as　Miss　Sally；　who
was　still　preceding　him；　suddenly　stopped　before　an　isolated　mound
bearing　a　broken　marble　shaft　and　a　pedestal　with　the　inscription；
〃Chester　Brooks。〃　　A　few　withered　garlands　and　immortelles　were
lying　at　its　base；　but　encircling　the　broken　shaft　was　a　perfectly
fresh；　unfaded　wreath。

〃You　never　told　me　he　was　buried　here！〃　said　Courtland　quickly；
half　shocked　at　the　unexpected　revelation。　　〃Was　he　from　this
State？〃

〃No；　but　his　regiment　was；〃　said　Miss　Sally；　eying　the　wreath
critically。

〃And　this　wreath；　is　it　from　you？〃　continued　Courtland　gently。

〃Yes；　I　thought　yo'　'd　like　to　see　something　fresh　and　pooty；
instead　of　those　stale　ones。〃

〃And　were　they　also　from　you？〃　he　asked　even　more　gently。

〃Dear　no！　　They　were　left　over　from　last　anniversary　day　by　some　of
the　veterans。　　That's　the　only　one　I　put　therethat　isI　got　Mr。
Champney　to　leave　it　here　on　his　way　to　his　house。　　He　lives　just
yonder；　yo'　know。〃

It　was　impossible　to　resist　this　invincible　naivete。　　Courtland　bit
his　lip　as　the　vision　arose　before　him　of　this　still　more　naif
English　admirer　bringing　hither；　at　Miss　Sally's　bidding；　the
tribute　which　she　wished　to　place　on　the　grave　of　an　old　lover　to
please　a　THIRD　man。　　Meantime；　she　had　put　her　two　little　hands
behind　her　back　in　the　simulated　attitude　of　〃a　good　girl；〃　and　was
saying　half　smilingly；　and　he　even　thought　half　wistfully：

〃Are　yo'　satisfied？〃

〃Perfectly。〃

〃Then　let's　go　away。　　It's　mighty　hot　here。〃

They　turned　away；　and　descending　the　slope　again　re…entered　the
thicker　shade　of　the　main　avenue。　　Here　they　seemed　to　have　left
the　sterner　aspect　of　Death。　　They　walked　slowly；　the　air　was　heavy
with　the　hot　incense　of　flowers；　the　road　sinking　a　little　left　a
grassy　bank　on　one　side。　　Here　Miss　Sally　halted　and　listlessly
seated　herself；　motioning　Courtland　to　do　the　same。　　He　obeyed
eagerly。　　The　incident　of　the　wreath　had　troubled　him；　albeit　with
contending　sensations。　　She　had　given　it　to　please　HIM；　why　should
HE　question　the　manner；　or　torment　himself　with　any　retrospective
thought？　　He　would　have　given　worlds　to　have　been　able　to　accept　it
lightly　or　gallantly；with　any　other　girl　he　could；　but　he　knew　he
was　trembling　on　the　verge　of　a　passionate　declaration；　the
magnitude　of　the　stake　was　too　great　to　be　imperiled　by　a　levity　of
which　she　was　more　a　mistress　than　himself；　and　he　knew　that　his
sentiment　had　failed　to　impress　her。　　His　pride　kept　him　from
appealing　to　her　strangely　practical　nature；　although　he　had
recognized　and　accepted　it；　and　had　even　begun　to　believe　it　an
essential　part　of　the　strong　fascination　she　had　over　him。　　But
being　neither　a　coward　nor　a　weak；　hesitating　idealist；　when　he
deliberately　took　his　seat　beside　her　he　as　deliberately　made　up
his　mind　to　accept　his　fate；　whatever　it　might　be；　then　and　there。

Perhaps　there　was　something　of　this　in　his　face。　　〃I　thought　yo'
were　looking　a　little　white；　co'nnle；〃　she　said　quietly；　〃and　I
reckoned　we　might　sit　down　a　spell；　and　then　take　it　slowly　home。
Yo'　ain't　accustomed　to　the　So'th'n　sun；　and　the　air　in　the　hollow
WAS　swampy。〃　　As　he　made　a　slight　gesture　of　denial；　she　went　on
with　a　pretty　sisterly　superiority：　〃That's　the　way　of　yo'　No'th'n
men。　　Yo'　think　yo'　can　do　everything　just　as　if　yo'　were　reared　to
it；　and　yo'　never　make　allowance　for　different　climates；　different
blood；　and　different　customs。　　That's　where　yo'　slip　up。〃

But　he　was　already　leaning　towards　her　with　his　dark　earnest　eyes
fixed　upon　her　in　a　way　she　could　no　longer　mistake。　　〃At　the　risk
of　slipping　up　again；　Miss　Dows；〃　he　said　gently；　dropping　into　her
dialect　with　utterly　unconscious　flattery；　〃I　am　going　to　ask　you
to　teach　me　everything　YOU　wish；　to　be　all　that　YOU　demandwhich
would　be　far　better。　　You　have　said　we　were　good　friends；　I　want
you　to　let　me　hope　to　be　more。　　I　want　you　to　overlook　my
deficiencies　and　the　differences　of　my　race　and　let　me　meet　you　on
the　only　level　where　I　can　claim　to　be　the　equal　of　your　own
peoplethat　of　loving　you。　　Give　me　only　the　same　chance　you　gave
the　other　poor　fellow　who　sleeps　yonderthe　same　chance　you　gave
the　luckier　man　who　carried　the　wreath　for　you　to　put　upon　his
grave。〃

She　had　listened　with　delicately　knitted　brows；　the　faintest　touch
of　color；　and　a　half…laughing；　half…superior　disapprobation。　　When
he　had　finished；　she　uttered　a　plaintive　little　sigh。　　〃Yo'
oughtn't　to　have　said　that；　co'nnle；　but　yo'　and　me　are　too　good
friends　to　let　even　THAT　stand　between　us。　　And　to　prove　it　to　yo'
I'm　going　to　forget　it　right　awayand　so　are　yo'。〃

〃But　I　cannot；〃　he　said　quickly；　〃if　I　could　I　should　be　unworthy
of　even　your　friendship。　　If　you　must　reject　it；　do　not　make　me
feel　the　shame　of　thinking　you　believe　me　capable　of　wanton
trifling。　　I　know　that　this　avowal　is　abrupt　to　you；　but　it　is　not
to　me。　　You　have　known　me　only　for　three　months；　but　these　three
months　have　been　to　me　the　realization　of　three　years'　dreaming！〃
As　she　remained　looking　at　him　with　bright；　curious　eyes；　but　still
shaking　her　fair　head　distressedly；　he　moved　nearer　and　caught　her
hand　in　the　little　pale　lilac　thread　glove　that　was；　nevertheless；
too　wide　for　her　small　fingers；　and　said　appealingly：　〃But　why
should　YOU　forget　it？　　Why　must　it　be　a　forbidden　topic？　　What　is
the　barrier？　　Are　you　no　longer　free？　　Speak；　Miss　Dowsgive　me
some　hope。　　Miss　Dows！Sally！〃

She　had　drawn　herself　away；　distressed；　protesting；　her　fair　head
turned　aside；　until　with　a　slight　twist　and　narrowing　of　her　hand
she　succeeded　in　slipping　it　from　the　glove　which　she　left　a
prisoner　in　his　eager　clasp。　　〃There！　　Yo'　can　keep　the　glove；
co'nnle；〃　she　said；　breathing　quickly。　　〃Sit　down！　　This　is　not　the
place　nor　the　weather　for　husking　frolics！　　Well！yo'　want　to　know
WHY　yo'　mustn't　speak　to　me　in　that　way。　　Be　still；　and　I'll　tell
yo'。〃

She　smoothed　down　the　folds　of　her　frock；　sitting　sideways　on　the
bank；　one　little　foot　touching　the　road。　　〃Yo'　mustn't　speak　that
way　to　me；〃　she　went　on　slowly；　〃because　it's　as　much　as　yo'
company's　wo'th；　as　much　as　OUR　property's　wo'th；　as　much　maybe　as
yo'　life's　wo'th！　　Don't　lift　yo'　comb；　co'nnle；　if　you　don't　care
for　THAT；　others　may。　　Sit　still；　I　tell　yo'！　　Well；　yo'　come　here
from　the　No'th　to　run　this　property　for　moneythat's　square　and
fair　business；　THAT　any　fool　here　can　understandit's　No'th'n
style；　it　don't　interfere　with　these　fools'　family　affairs；　it
don't　bring　into　their　blood　any　No'th'n　taint；　it　don't　divide
their　clannishness；　it　don't　separate　father　and　son；　sister　and
brother；　and　even　if　yo'　got　a　foothold　here　and　settled　down；　they
know　they　can　always　outvote　yo'　five　to　one！　　But　let　these　same
fools　know　that　yo'　're　courtin'　a　So'th'n　girl　known　to　be　'Union'
during　the　wah；　that　girl　who　has　laughed　at　their　foolishness；　let
them　even　THINK　that　he　wants　that　girl　to　mix　up　the　family　and
the　race　and　the　property　for　him；　and　there　ain't　a　young　or　old
fool　that　believes　in　So'th'n　isolation　as　the　price　of　So'th'n
salvation　that　wouldn't　rise　against　yo'！　　There　isn't　one　that
wouldn't　make　shipwreck　of　yo'r　syndicate　and　yo'r　capital　and　the
prosperity　of　Redlands　for　the　next　four　years　to　come；　and　think
they　were　doing　right！　　They　began　to　suspect　yo'　from　the　first！
They　suspected　yo'　when　yo'　never　went　anywhere；　but　stuck　close　to
the　fahm　and　me。　　That's　why　I　wanted　yo'　to　show　yourself　among
the　girls；　they　wouldn't　have　minded　yo'　flirting　with　them　with
the　chance　of　yo'　breaking　yo'　heart　over　Tave　Reed　or　Lympy
Morris！　　They're　fools　enough　to　believe　that　a　snub　or　a　jilt　from
a　So'th'n　girl　would　pay　them　back　for　a　lost　battle　or　a　ruined
plantation！〃

For　the　first　time　Miss　Sally　saw　Courtland's　calm　blood　fly　to　his
cheek　and　kindle　in　his　eye。　　〃You　surely　do　not　expect　ME　to
tolerate　this　blind　and　insolent　interference！〃　he　said；　rising　to
his　feet。

She　lifted　her　ungloved　hand　in　deprecation。　　〃Sit　still；　co'nnle。
Yo'　've　been　a　soldier；　and　yo'　know　what　duty　is。　　Well！　what's
yo'　duty　to　yo'　comp