sally dows-第8节

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his　awkward　isolation　with　another　stranger；　and　greeted　him
pleasantly。　　The　Dows'　pew；　being　nearer　to　the　entrance　than　the
Reeds'；　gave　up　its　occupants　first。　　Colonel　Courtland　lifted　his
hat　to　Miss　Miranda　and　her　niece　at　the　same　moment　that　Champney
moved　forward　and　ranged　himself　beside　them。　　Miss　Sally；　catching
Courtland's　eye；　showed　the　whites　of　her　own　in　a　backward　glance
of　mischievous　significance　to　indicate　the　following　Reeds。　　When
they　approached；　Courtland　joined　them；　and　finding　himself　beside
Miss　Octavia　entered　into　conversation。　　Apparently　the　suppressed
passion　and　sardonic　melancholy　of　that　dark…eyed　young　lady
spurred　him　to　a　lighter；　gayer　humor　even　in　proportion　as　Miss
Sally's　good…natured　levity　and　sunny　practicality　always　made　him
serious。　　They　presently　fell　to　the　rear　with　other　couples；　and
were　soon　quite　alone。

A　little　haughty；　but　tall　and　erect　in　her　well…preserved　black
grenadine　dress；　which　gave　her　the　appearance　of　a　youthful　but
implacable　widow；　Miss　Reed　declared　she　had　not　seen　the　co'nnle
for　〃a　coon's　age；〃　and　certainly　had　not　expected　to　have　the
honor　of　his　company　as　long　as　there　were　niggers　to　be　elevated
or　painted　to　look　like　white　men。　　She　hoped　that　he　and　paw　and
Sally　Dows　were　happy！　　They　hadn't　yet　got　so　far　as　to　put　up　a
nigger　preacher　in　the　place　of　Mr。　Symes；　their　rector；　but　she
understood　that　there　was　some　talk　of　running　Hannibal　Johnson
Miss　Dows'　coachmanfor　county　judge　next　year！　　No！　she　had　not
heard　that　the　co'nnle　HIMSELF　had　thought　of　running　for　the
office！　　He　might　laugh　at　her　as　much　as　he　likedhe　seemed　to　be
in　better　spirits　than　when　she　first　saw　himonly　she　would　like
to　know　if　it　was　〃No'th'n　style〃　to　laugh　coming　home　from　church？
Of　course　if　it　WAS　she　would　have　to　adopt　it　with　the　Fourteenth
Amendment。　　But；　just　now；　she　noticed　the　folks　were　staring　at
them；　and　Miss　Sally　Dows　had　turned　round　to　look。　　Nevertheless；
Miss　Octavia's　sallow　cheek　nearest　the　colonelthe　sunny　side
had　taken　a　faint　brunette's　flush；　and　the　corners　of　her　proud
mouth　were　slightly　lifted。

〃But；　candidly；　Miss　Reed；　don't　you　think　that　you　would　prefer　to
have　old　Hannibal；　whom　you　know；　as　county　judge；　than　a　stranger
and　a　Northern　man　like　ME？〃

Miss　Reed's　dark　eyes　glanced　sideways　at　the　handsome　face　and
elegant　figure　beside　her。　　Something　like　a　saucy　smile　struggled
to　her　thin　lips。

〃There　mightn't　be　much　to　choose；　Co'nnle。〃

〃I　admit　it。　　We　should　both　acknowledge　our　mistress；　and　be　like
wax　in　her　hands。〃

〃Yo'　ought　to　make　that　pooty　speech　to　Sally　Dows；　she's　generally
mistress　around　here。　　But；〃　she　added；　suddenly　fixing　her　eyes　on
him；　〃how　does　it　happen　that　yo'　ain't　walking　with　her　instead　of
that　Englishman？　　Yo'　know　that　it's　as　plain　as　day　that　he　took
that　land　over　there　just　to　be　near　her；　when　he　was　no　longer
agent。〃

But　Courtland　was　always　master　of　himself　and　quite　at　ease
regarding　Miss　Sally　when　not　in　that　lady's　presence。　　〃You
forget；〃　he　said　smilingly；　〃that　I'm　still　a　stranger　and　knew
little　of　the　local　gossip；　and　if　I　did　know　it；　I　am　afraid　we
didn't　bargain　to　buy　up　with　the　LAND　Mr。　Champney's　personal
interest　in　the　LANDLADY。〃

〃Yo'　'd　have　had　your　hands　full；　for　I　reckon　she's　pooty　heavily
mortgaged　in　that　fashion；　already；〃　returned　Miss　Reed　with　mere
badinage　than　spitefulness　in　the　suggestion。　　〃And　Mr。　Champney
was　run　pooty　close　by　a　French　cousin　of　hers　when　he　was　here。
Yo'　haven't　got　any　French　books　to　lend　me；　co'nnlehave　yo'？
Paw　says　you　read　a　heap　of　French；　and　I　find　it　mighty　hard　to
keep　up　MY　practice　since　I　left　the　Convent　at　St。　Louis；　for　paw
don't　knew　what　sort　of　books　to　order；　and　I　reckon　he　makes　awful
mistakes　sometimes。〃

The　conversation　here　turning　upon　polite　literature；　it　appeared
that　Miss　Octavia's　French　reading；　through　a　shy；　proud　innocence
and　an　imperfect　knowledge　of　the　wicked　subtleties　of　the
language；　was　somewhat　broad　and　unconventional　for　a　young　lady。
Courtland　promised　to　send　her　some　books；　and　even　ventured　to
suggest　some　American　and　English　novels　not　intensely　〃No'th'n〃
nor　〃metaphysical〃according　to　the　accepted　Southern　beliefs。　　A
new　respect　and　pitying　interest　in　this　sullen；　solitary　girl；
cramped　by　tradition；　and　bruised　rather　than　enlightened　by　sad
experiences；　came　over　him。　　He　found　himself　talking　quite
confidentially　to　the　lifted　head；　arched　eyebrows；　and　aquiline
nose　beside　him；　and　even　thinking　what　a　handsome　high…bred
BROTHER　she　might　have　been　to　some　one。　　When　they　had　reached　the
house；　in　compliance　with　the　familiar　custom；　he　sat　down　on　one
of　the　lower　steps　of　the　veranda；　while　she；　shaking　out　her
skirt；　took　a　seat　a　step　or　two　above　him。　　This　enabled　him；
after　the　languid　local　fashion；　to　lean　on　his　elbow　and　gaze　up
into　the　eyes　of　the　young　lady；　while　she　with　equal　languor
looked　down　upon　him。　　But　in　the　present　instance　Miss　Reed　leaned
forward　suddenly；　and　darting　a　sharp　quick　glance　into　his　very
consciousness　said：

〃And　yo'　mean　to　say；　co'nnle；　there's　nothing　between　yo'　and
Sally　Dows？〃

Courtland　neither　flushed；　trembled；　grew　confused；　nor　prevaricated。

〃We　are　good　friends；　I　think；〃　he　replied　quietly；　without　evasion
or　hesitation。

Miss　Reed　looked　at　him　thoughtfully；　〃I　reckon　that　is　soand　no
more。　　And　that's　why　yo'　've　been　so　lucky　in　everything；〃　she
said　slowly。

〃I　don't　think　I　quite　understand；〃　returned　Courtland；　smiling。
〃Is　this　a　paradoxor　a　consolation？〃

〃It's　the　TRUTH；〃　said　Miss　Reed　gravely。　　〃Those　who　try　to　be
anything　more　to　Sally　Dows　lose　their　luck。〃

〃That　isare　rejected　by　her。　　Is　she　really　so　relentless？〃
continued　Courtland　gayly。

〃I　mean　that　they　lose　their　luck　in　everything。　　Something　is　sure
to　happen。　　And　SHE　can't　help　it　either。〃

〃Is　this　a　Sibylline　warning；　Miss　Reed？〃

〃No。　　It's　nigger　superstition。　　It　came　from　Mammy　Judy；　Sally's
old　nurse。　　It's　part　of　their　regular　Hoo…doo。　　She　bewitched　Miss
Sally　when　she　was　a　baby；　so　that　everybody　is　bound　to　HER　as
long　as　they　care　for　her；　and　she　isn't　bound　to　THEM　in　any　way。
All　their　luck　goes　to　her　as　soon　as　the　spell　is　on　them；〃　she
added　darkly。

〃I　think　I　know　the　rest；〃　returned　Courtland　with　still　greater
solemnity。　　〃You　gather　the　buds　of　the　witch…hazel　in　April　when
the　moon　is　full。　　You　then　pluck　three　hairs　from　the　young　lady's
right　eyebrow　when　she　isn't　looking〃

〃Yo'　can　laugh；　co'nnle；　for　yo'　're　luckybecause　yo'　're　free。〃

〃I'm　not　so　sure　of　that；〃　he　said　gallantly；　〃for　I　ought　to　be
riding　at　this　moment　over　to　the　Infirmary　to　visit　my　Sunday
sick。　　If　being　made　to　pleasantly　forget　one's　time　and　duty　is　a
sign　of　witchcraft　I　am　afraid　Mammy　Judy's　enchantments　were　not
confined　to　only　one　Southern　young　lady。〃

The　sound　of　quick　footsteps　on　the　gravel　path　caused　them　both　to
look　up。　　A　surly　looking　young　fellow；　ostentatiously　booted　and
spurred；　and　carrying　a　heavy　rawhide　riding…whip　in　his　swinging
hand；　was　approaching　them。　　Deliberately；　yet　with　uneasy　self…
consciousness；　ignoring　the　presence　of　Courtland；　he　nodded
abruptly　to　Miss　Reed；　ascended　the　steps；　brushed　past　them　both
without　pausing；　and　entered　the　house。

〃Is　that　yo'r　manners；　Mr。　Tom？〃　called　the　young　lady　after　him；　a
slight　flush　rising　to　her　sallow　cheek。　　The　young　man　muttered
something　from　the　hall　which　Courtland　did　not　catch。　　〃It's
Cousin　Tom　Higbee；〃　she　explained　half　disdainfully。　　〃He's　had
some　ugliness　with　his　horse；　I　reckon；　but　paw　ought　to　teach　him
how　to　behave。　　AndI　don't　think　he　likes　No'th'n　men；〃　she　added
gravely。

Courtland；　who　had　kept　his　temper　with　his　full　understanding　of
the　intruder's　meaning；　smiled　as　he　took　Miss　Reed's　hand　in
parting。　　〃That's　quite　enough　explanation；　and　I　don't　know　why　it
shouldn't　be　even　an　apology。〃

Yet　the　incident　left　little　impression　on　him　as　he　strolled　back
to　Redlands。　　It　was　not　the　first　time　he　had　tasted　the　dregs　of
former　sectional　hatred　in　incivility　and　discourtesy；　but　as　it
seldom　came　from　his　old　personal　antagoniststhe　soldiersand
was　confined　to　the　callow　youth；　previous　non…combatants　and
politicians；　he　could　afford　to　overlook　it。　　He　did　not　see　Miss
Sally　during　the　following　week。


CHAPTER　IV。


On　the　next　Sunday　he　was　early　at　church。　　But　he　had　perhaps
accented　the　occasion　by　driving　there　in　a　light　buggy　behind　a
fast　thoroughbred；　possibly　selected　more　to　the　taste　of　a　smart
cavalry　officer　than　an　agricultural　superintendent。　　He　was
already　in　a　side　pew；　his　eyes　dreamily　fixed　on　the　prayer…book
ledge　before　him；　when　there　was　a　rustle　at　the　church　door；　and　a
thrill　of　curiosity　and　admiration　passed　over　the　expectant
congregation。　　It　was　the　entrance　of　the　Dows　party；　Miss　Sally
well　to　the　fore。　　She　was　in　her　new　clothes；　the　latest　fashion
in　Louisville；　the　latest　but　two　in　Paris　and　New　York。

It　was　over　twenty　years　ago。　　I　shall　not　imperil　the　effect　of
that　l