sally dows-第5章
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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
perhaps it was better fo
