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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 lovely vision by recalling to the eye of to…day a fashion of
yesterday。 Enough； that it enabled her to set her sweet face and
vapory golden hair in a horseshoe frame of delicate flowers； and to
lift her oval chin out of a bewildering mist of tulle。 Nor did a
certain light polonaise conceal the outlines of her charming
figure。 Even those who were constrained to whisper to each other
that 〃Miss Sally〃 must 〃be now going on twenty…five；〃 did so
because she still carried the slender graces of seventeen。 The
organ swelled as if to welcome her； as she took her seat a ray of
sunlight； that would have been cruel and searching to any other
complexion； drifted across the faint pink of her cheeks； and
nestling in her nebulous hair became itself transfigured。 A few
stained…glass Virtues on the windows did not come out of this
effulgence as triumphantly； and it was small wonder that the
devotional eyes of the worshipers wandered from them to the face
of Sally Dows。
When the service was over； as the congregation filed slowly into
the aisle； Courtland slipped mutely behind her。 As she reached the
porch he said in an undertone：
〃I brought my horse and buggy。 I thought you might possibly allow
me to drive〃 But he was stopped by a distressful knitting of her
golden brows。 〃No；〃 she said quickly； but firmly； 〃you must not
it won't do。〃 As Courtland hesitated in momentary perplexity； she
smiled sweetly： 〃We'll walk round by the cemetery； if you like； it
will take about as long as a drive。〃 Courtland vanished； gave
hurried instructions and a dollar to a lounging negro； and rejoined
Miss Sally as the delighted and proud freedman drove out of the
gate。 Miss Sally heaved a slight sigh as the gallant equipage
passed。 〃It was a mighty pooty turnout； co'nnle； and I'd have just
admired to go； but it would have been rather hard on the other
folks。 There's the Reeds and Maxwells and Robertsons that are too
pooah to keep blood horses； and too proud to ride behind anything
else。 It wouldn't be the right thing for us to go whirling by；
scattering our dust over them。〃 There was something so subtly
pleasant in this implied partnership of responsibility； that
Courtland forgot the abrupt refusal and thought only of the tact
that prompted it。 Nevertheless； here a spell seemed to fall upon
his usually ready speech。 Now that they were together for the
first time in a distinctly social fashion； he found himself
vacantly； meaninglessly silent； content to walk beside this
charming； summery presence； brushed by its delicate draperies；
and inhaling its freshness。 Presently it spoke。
〃It would take more than a thousand feet of lumber to patch up the
cowsheds beyond the Moseley pasture； and an entirely new building
with an improved dairy would require only about two thousand more。
All the old material would come in good for fencing； and could be
used with the new post and rails。 Don't yo' think it would be
better to have an out…and…out new building？〃
〃Yes； certainly；〃 returned Courtland a little confusedly。 He had
not calculated upon this practical conversation； and was the more
disconcerted as they were passing some of the other couples； who
had purposely lingered to overhear them。
〃And；〃 continued the young girl brightly； 〃the freight question is
getting to be a pretty serious one。 Aunt Miranda holds some shares
in the Briggsville branch line； and thinks something could be done
with the directors for a new tariff of charges if she put a
pressure on them； Tyler says that there was some talk of their
reducing it one sixteenth per cent。 before we move this year's
crop。〃
Courtland glanced quickly at his companion's face。 It was grave；
but there was the faintest wrinkling of the corner of the eyelid
nearest him。 〃Had we not better leave these serious questions
until to…morrow？〃 he said； smiling。
Miss Sally opened her eyes demurely。 〃Why； yo' seemed SO quiet； I
reckoned yo' must be full of business this morning； but if yo'
prefer company talk； we'll change the subject。 They say that yo'
and Miss Reed didn't have much trouble to find one last Sunday。
She don't usually talk much； but she keeps up a power of thinking。
I should reckon；〃 she added； suddenly eying him critically； 〃that
yo' and she might have a heap o' things to say to each other。
She's a good deal in yo' fashion； co'nnle； she don't forget； but〃
more slowly〃I don't know that THAT'S altogether the best thing
for YO'！〃
Courtland lifted his eyes with affected consternation。 〃If this is
in the light of another mysterious warning； Miss Dows； I warn you
that my intellect is already tottering with them。 Last Sunday Miss
Reed thrilled me for an hour with superstition and Cassandra…like
prophecy。 Don't things ever happen accidentally here； and without
warning？〃
〃I mean；〃 returned the young lady with her usual practical
directness； 〃that Tave Reed remembers a good many horrid things
about the wah that she ought to forget； but don't。 But；〃 she
continued； looking at him curiously； 〃she allows she was mighty cut
up by her cousin