sally dows-第9章
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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 love
