sally dows-第15部分

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for　three　weeks　to　come。　　I　haven't　got　all　the　buckshot　out　of　it
yet　that　Jack　Dumont　put　there　the　other　night。〃

Courtland　started　slightly。　　Jack　Dumont！　　That　was　the　name　of
Sally　Dows　cousin　of　whom　Champney　had　spoken！　　He　had　resolutely
put　aside　from　his　returning　memory　the　hazy　recollection　of　the
young　girl's　voicethe　last　thing　he　had　heard　that　nightand　the
mystery　that　seemed　to　surround　it。　　But　there　was　no　delusion　in
this　cousinhis　rival；　and　that　of　the　equally　deceived　Champney。
He　controlled　himself　and　repeated　coldly：

〃Jack　Dumont！〃

〃Yes。　　But　of　course　you　knew　nothing　of　all　that；　while　you　were
off　in　the　swamp　there。　　Yet；　by　Jingo！　it　was　Dumont's　shooting
Higbee　that　helped　YOU　to　get　off　your　nigger　a　darned　sight　more
than　YOUR　killing　the　dogs。〃

〃I　don't　understand；〃　returned　Courtland　coldly。

〃Well；　you　see；　Dumont；　who　had　taken　up　No'th'n　principles；　I
reckon；　more　to　goad　the　Higbees　and　please　Sally　Dows　than　from
any　conviction；　came　over　here　that　night。　　Whether　he　suspected
anything　was　up；　or　wanted　to　dare　Higbee　for　bedevilment；　or　was
only　dancing　attendance　on　Miss　Sally；　no　one　knows。　　But　he　rode
slap　into　Highee's　party；　called　out；　'If　you're　out　hunting；　Tom；
here's　a　chance　for　your　score！'　meaning　their　old　vendetta　feud；
and　brings　his　shot…gun　up　to　his　shoulder。　　Higbee　wasn't　quick
enough；　Dumont　lets　fly；　drops　Higbee；　and　then　gallops　off　chased
by　the　Reeds　to　avenge　Higbee；　and　followed　by　the　whole　crowd　to
see　the　fun；　which　was　a　little　better　than　nigger…driving。　　And
that　let　you　and　Cato　out；　colonel。〃

〃And　Dumont？〃

〃Got　clean　away　to　Foxboro'　Station；　leaving　another　score　on　his
side　for　the　Reeds　and　Higbees　to　wipe　out　as　best　they　can。　　You
No'th'n　men　don't　believe　in　these　sort　of　things；　colonel；　but
taken　as　a　straight　dash　and　hit　o'　raiding；　that　stroke　of　Sally
Dows'　cousin　was　mighty　fine！〃

Courtland　controlled　himself　with　difficulty。　　The　doctor　had
spoken　truly。　　The　hero　of　this　miserable　affair　was　HER　cousin
HIS　RIVAL！　　And　to　himperhaps　influenced　by　some　pitying　appeal
of　Miss　Sally　for　the　man　she　had　deceivedCourtland　owed　his
life！　　He　instinctively　drew　a　quick；　sharp　breath。

〃Are　you　in　pain？〃

〃Not　at　all。　　When　can　I　get　up？〃

〃Perhaps　to…morrow。〃

〃And　this　arm？〃

〃Better　not　use　it　for　a　week　or　two。〃　　He　stopped；　and；　glancing
paternally　at　the　younger　man；　added　gravely　but　kindly：　〃If　you'll
take　my　unprofessional　advice；　Colonel　Courtland；　you'll　let　this
matter　simmer　down。　　It　won't　hurt　you　and　your　affairs　here　that
folks　have　had　a　taste　of　your　quality；　and　the　nigger　a　lesson
that　his　fellows　won't　forget。〃

〃I　thank　you；〃　returned　Courtland　coldly；　〃but　I　think　I　already
understand　my　duty　to　the　company　I　represent　and　the　Government　I
have　served。〃

〃Possibly；　colonel；〃　said　the　doctor　quietly；　〃but　you'll　let　an
older　man　remind　you　and　the　Government　that　you　can't　change　the
habits　or　relations　of　two　distinct　races　in　a　few　years。　　Your
friend；　Miss　Sally　Dowsalthough　not　quite　in　my　way　of　thinking
has　never　attempted　THAT。〃

〃I　am　fully　aware　that　Miss　Dows　possesses　diplomatic　accomplishments
and　graces　that　I　cannot　lay　claim　to；〃　returned　Courtland　bitterly。

The　doctor　lifted　his　eyebrows　slightly　and　changed　the　subject。

When　he　had　gone；　Courtland　called　for　writing　materials。　　He　had
already　made　up　his　mind；　and　one　course　alone　seemed　proper　to
him。　　He　wrote　to　the　president　of　the　company；　detailing　the
circumstances　that　had　just　occurred；　admitting　the　alleged
provocation　given　by　his　overseer；　but　pointing　out　the　terrorism
of　a　mob…law　which　rendered　his　own　discipline　impossible。　　He
asked　that　the　matter　be　reported　to　Washington；　and　some　measures
taken　for　the　protection　of　the　freedmen；　in　the　mean　time　he
begged　to　tender　his　own　resignation；　but　he　would　stay　until　his
successor　was　appointed；　or　the　safety　of　his　employees　secured。
Until　then；　he　should　act　upon　his　own　responsibility　and　according
to　his　judgment。　　He　made　no　personal　charges；　mentioned　no　names；
asked　for　no　exemplary　prosecution　or　trial　of　the　offenders；　but
only　demanded　a　safeguard　against　a　repetition　of　the　offense。　　His
next　letter；　although　less　formal　and　official；　was　more　difficult。
It　was　addressed　to　the　commandant　of　the　nearest　Federal　barracks；
who　was　an　old　friend　and　former　companion…in…arms。　　He　alluded　to
some　conversation　they　had　previously　exchanged　in　regard　to　the
presence　of　a　small　detachment　of　troops　at　Redlands　during　the
elections；　which　Courtland　at　the　time；　however；　had　diplomatically
opposed。　　He　suggested　it　now　as　a　matter　of　public　expediency　and
prevention。　　When　he　had　sealed　the　letters；　not　caring　to　expose
them　to　the　espionage　of　the　local　postmaster　or　his　ordinary
servants；　he　intrusted　them　to　one　of　Miss　Sally's　own　henchmen；　to
be　posted　at　the　next　office；　at　Bitter　Creek　Station；　ten　miles
distant。

Unfortunately；　this　duty　accomplished；　the　reaction　consequent　on
his　still　weak　physical　condition　threw　him　back　upon　himself　and
his　memory。　　He　had　resolutely　refused　to　think　of　Miss　Sally；　he
had　been　able　to　withstand　the　suggestions　of　her　in　the　presence
of　her　handmaidsupposed　to　be　potent　in　nursing　and　herb…lore
whom　she　had　detached　to　wait　upon　him；　and　he　had　returned
politely　formal　acknowledgments　to　her　inquiries。　　He　had
determined　to　continue　this　personal　avoidance　as　far　as　possible
until　he　was　relieved；　on　the　ground　of　that　BUSINESS　expediency
which　these　events　had　made　necessary。　　She　would　see　that　he　was
only　accepting　the　arguments　with　which　she　had　met　his　previous
advances。　　Briefly；　he　had　recourse　to　that　hopeless　logic　by　which
a　man　proves　to　himself　that　he　has　no　reason　for　loving　a　certain
woman；　and　is　as　incontestably　convinced　by　the　same　process　that
he　has。　　And　in　the　midst　of　it　he　weakly　fell　asleep；　and　dreamed
that　he　and　Miss　Sally　were　walking　in　the　cemetery；　that　a　hideous
snake　concealed　among　some　lilies；　over　which　the　young　girl　was
bending；　had　uplifted　its　triangular　head　to　strike。　　That　he
seized　it　by　the　neck；　struggled　with　it　until　he　was　nearly
exhausted；　when　it　suddenly　collapsed　and　shrunk；　leaving　in　his
palm　the　limp；　crushed；　and　delicately　perfumed　little　thread　glove
which　he　remembered　to　have　once　slipped　from　her　hand。

When　he　awoke；　that　perfume　seemed　to　be　still　in　the　air；　distinct
from　the　fresh　but　homelier　scents　of　the　garden　which　stole
through　the　window。　　A　sense　of　delicious　coolness　came　with　the
afternoon　breeze；　that　faintly　trilled　the　slanting　slats　of　the
blind　with　a　slumberous　humming　as　of　bees。　　The　golden　glory　of　a
sinking　southern　sun　was　penciling　the　cheap　paper　on　the　wall　with
leafy　tracery　and　glowing　arabesques。　　But　more　than　that；　the　calm
of　some　potent　influenceor　some　unseen　presencewas　upon　him；
which　he　feared　a　movement　might　dispel。　　The　chair　at　the　foot　of
his　bed　was　empty。　　Sophy　had　gone　out。　　He　did　not　turn　his　head
to　look　further；　his　languid　eyes　falling　aimlessly　upon　the　carpet
at　his　bedside　suddenly　dilated。　　For　they　fell　also　on　the
〃smallest　foot　in　the　State。〃

He　started　to　his　elbow；　but　a　soft　hand　was　laid　gently　yet　firmly
upon　his　shoulder；　and　with　a　faint　rustle　of　muslin　skirts　Miss
Sally　rose　from　an　unseen　chair　at　the　head　of　his　bed；　and　stood
beside　him。

〃Don't　stir；　co'nnle；　I　didn't　sit　where　I　could　look　in　yo'r　face
for　fear　of　waking　yo'。　　But　I'll　change　seats　now。〃　　She　moved　to
the　chair　which　Sophy　had　vacated；　drew　it　slightly　nearer　the　bed；
and　sat　down。

〃It　was　very　kind　of　youto　come；〃　said　Courtland　hesitatingly；　as
with　a　strong　effort　he　drew　his　eyes　away　from　the　fascinating
vision；　and　regained　a　certain　cold　composure；　〃but　I　am　afraid　my
illness　has　been　greatly　magnified。　　I　really　am　quite　well　enough
to　be　up　and　about　my　business；　if　the　doctor　would　permit　it。　　But
I　shall　certainly　manage　to　attend　to　my　duty　to…morrow；　and　I　hope
to　be　at　your　service。

〃Meaning　that　yo'　don't　care　to　see　me　NOW；　co'nnle；〃　she　said
lightly；　with　a　faint　twinkle　in　her　wise；　sweet　eyes。　　〃I　thought
of　that；　but　as　my　business　wouldn't　wait；　I　brought　it　to　yo'。〃
She　took　from　the　folds　of　her　gown　a　letter。　　To　his　utter
amazement　it　was　the　one　he　had　given　his　overseer　to　post　to　the
commandant　that　morning。　　To　his　greater　indignation　the　seal　was
broken。

〃Who　has　dared？〃　he　demanded；　half　rising。

Her　little　hand　was　thrust　out　half　deprecatingly。　　〃No　one　yo'　can
fight；　co'nnle；　only　ME。　　I　don't　generally　open　other　folks'
letters；　and　I　wouldn't　have　done　it　for　MYSELF；　I　did　for　yo'。〃

〃For　me？〃

〃For　yo'。　　I　reckoned　what　yo'　MIGHT　do；　and　I　told　Sam　to　bring　ME
the　letters　first。　　I　didn't　mind　what　yo'　wrote　to　the　company
for　they'll　take　care　of　yo'；　and　their　own　eggs　are　all　in　the
same　basket。　　I　didn't　open　THAT　one；　but　I　did　THIS　when　I　saw　the
address。　　It　was　as　I　expected；　and　yo'　'd　given　yo'self　away！　　For
if　yo'　had　those　soldiers　down　here；　yo'　'd　have　a　row；　sure！
Don't　move；　co'nnle；　YO'　may　not　care　for　that；　it's　in　YO'R　line。
But　folks　will　say　that　the　soldiers　weren't　sent　to　prevent
RIOTING；　but　that　Co'nnle　Courtland　was　using　his　old　comrades　to
keep　order　on　his　property　at　Gov'ment　expense。　　Hol'　on！　　Hol'　on！
co'nnle；〃　said　the　little　figure；　rising　and　waving　its　pretty　arms
with　a　mischievous　simulation　of　terrified　deprecation。　　〃Don't
shoot！　　Of　course　yo'　didn't　mean　THAT；　but　that's　about　the　way
that　So'th'n　men　will　put　it　to　yo'r　Gov'ment。　　For；〃　she
continued；　more　gently；　yet　with　the　shrewdest　twinkle　in　her　gray
eyes；　〃if　yo'　really　thought　the　niggers　might　need　Federal
protection；　yo'　'd　have　let　ME　write　to　the　commandant　to　send　an
escortnot　to　YO；　but　to　CATOthat　HE　might　be　able　to　come　back
in　safety。　　Yo'　'd　have　had　yo'r　soldiers；　I'd　have　had　back　my
nigger；　which〃demurely〃yo'　don't　seem　to　worry　yo'self　much
about；　co'nnle；　and　there　isn't　a　So'th'n　man　would　have　objected。
But；〃　still　more　demurely；　and　affectedly　smoothing　out　her　crisp
skirt　with　her　little　h