sally dows-第4节

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！


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；〃