sally dows- 第4部分

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；〃　she　added；　with　a　faint　accession　of
mischief　in　her　voice；　〃yo'　came　to　talk　about　the　fahm？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Courtland；　rising；　〃but　not　to　interrupt　the　work　on
it。　　Will　you　let　me　help　you　nail　up　the　laths　on　the　wall？　　I
have　some　experience　that　way；　and　we　can　talk　as　we　work。　　Do
oblige　me！〃

The　young　girl　looked　at　him　brightly。

〃Well；　now；　there's　nothing　mean　about　THAT。　　Yo'　mean　it　for
sure？〃

〃Perfectly。　　I　shall　feel　so　much　less　as　if　I　was　enjoying　your
company　under　false　pretenses。〃

〃Yo'　just　wait　here；　then。〃

She　jumped　from　the　sofa；　ran　out　of　the　room；　and　returned
presently；　tying　the　string　of　a　long　striped　cotton　blouse
evidently　an　extra　one　of　Sophy'sbehind　her　back　as　she　returned。
It　was　gathered　under　her　oval　chin　by　a　tape　also　tied　behind　her；
while　her　fair　hair　was　tucked　under　the　usual　red　bandana
handkerchief　of　the　negro　housemaid。　　It　is　scarcely　necessary　to
add　that　the　effect　was　bewitching。

〃But；〃　said　Miss　Sally；　eying　her　guest's　smartly　fitting　frock…
coat；　〃yo'　'll　spoil　yo'r　pooty　clothes；　sure！　　Take　off　yo'r　coat
don't　mind　meand　work　in　yo'r　shirtsleeves。〃

Courtland　obediently　flung　aside　his　coat　and　followed　his　active
hostess　through　the　French　window　to　the　platform　outside。　　Above
them　a　wooden　ledge　or　cornice；　projecting　several　inches；　ran　the
whole　length　of　the　building。　　It　was　on　this　that　Miss　Sally　had
evidently　found　a　foothold　while　she　was　nailing　up　a　trellis…work
of　laths　between　it　and　the　windows　of　the　second　floor。　　Courtland
found　the　ladder；　mounted　to　the　ledge；　followed　by　the　young　girl；
who　smilingly　waived　his　proffered　hand　to　help　her　up；　and　the　two
gravely　set　to　work。　　But　in　the　intervals　of　hammering　and　tying
up　the　vines　Miss　Sally's　tongue　was　not　idle。　　Her　talk　was　as
fresh；　as　quaint；　as　original　as　herself；　and　yet　so　practical　and
to　the　purpose　of　Courtland's　visit　as　to　excuse　his　delight　in　it
and　her　own　fascinating　propinquity。　　Whether　she　stopped　to　take　a
nail　from　between　her　pretty　lips　when　she　spoke　to　him；　or　whether
holding　on　perilously　with　one　hand　to　the　trellis　while　she
gesticulated　with　the　hammer；　pointing　out　the　divisions　of　the
plantation　from　her　coign　of　vantage；　he　thought　she　was　as　clear
and　convincing　to　his　intellect　as　she　was　distracting　to　his
senses。

She　told　him　how　the　war　had　broken　up　their　old　home　in　Pineville；
sending　her　father　to　serve　in　the　Confederate　councils　of
Richmond；　and　leaving　her　aunt　and　herself　to　manage　the　property
alone；　how　the　estate　had　been　devastated；　the　house　destroyed；　and
how　they　had　barely　time　to　remove　a　few　valuables；　how；　although
SHE　had　always　been　opposed　to　secession　and　the　war；　she　had　not
gone　North；　preferring　to　stay　with　her　people；　and　take　with　them
the　punishment　of　the　folly　she　had　foreseen。　　How　after　the　war
and　her　father's　death　she　and　her　aunt　had　determined　to
〃reconstruct　THEMSELVES〃　after　their　own　fashion　on　this　bit　of
property；　which　had　survived　their　fortunes　because　it　had　always
been　considered　valueless　and　unprofitable　for　negro　labor。　　How
at　first　they　had　undergone　serious　difficulty；　through　the
incompetence　and　ignorance　of　the　freed　laborer；　and　the　equal
apathy　and　prejudice　of　their　neighbors。　　How　they　had　gradually
succeeded　with　the　adoption　of　new　methods　and　ideas　that　she
herself　had　conceived；　which　she　now　briefly　and　clearly　stated。
Courtland　listened　with　a　new；　breathless；　and　almost　superstitious
interest：　they　were　HIS　OWN　THEORIESperfected　and　demonstrated！

〃But　you　must　have　had　capital　for　this？〃

Ah；　yes！　that　was　where　they　were　fortunate。　　There　were　some
French　cousins　with　whom　she　had　once　stayed　in　Paris；　who　advanced
enough　to　stock　the　estate。　　There　were　some　English　friends　of　her
father's；　old　blockade　runners；　who　had　taken　shares；　provided　them
with　more　capital；　and　imported　some　skilled　laborers　and　a　kind　of
steward　or　agent　to　represent　them。　　But　they　were　getting　on；　and
perha