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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's manner to yo'。〃
〃I am afraid that Miss Reed was more annoyed than I was；〃 said
Courtland。 〃I should be very sorry if she attached any importance
to it；〃 he added earnestly。
〃And YO' don't？〃 continued Miss Sally。
〃No。 Why should I？〃 She noticed； however； that he had slightly
drawn himself up a little more erect； and she smiled as he
continued； 〃I dare say I should feel as he does if I were in his
place。〃
〃But YO' wouldn't do anything underhanded；〃 she said quietly。 As
he glanced at her quickly she added dryly： 〃Don't trust too much to
people always acting in yo' fashion； co'nnle。 And don't think too
much nor too little of what yo' hear here。 Yo' 're just the kind
of man to make a good many silly enemies； and as many foolish
friends。 And I don't know which will give yo' the most trouble。
Only don't yo' underrate EITHER； or hold yo' head so high； yo'
don't see what's crawlin' around yo'。 That's why； in a copperhead
swamp； a horse is bitten oftener than a hog。〃
She smiled； yet with knitted brows and such a pretty affectation of
concern for her companion that he suddenly took heart。
〃I wish I had ONE friend I could call my own；〃 he said boldly；
looking straight into her eyes。 〃I'd care little for other
friends； and fear no enemies。〃
〃Yo' 're right； co'nnle；〃 she said； ostentatiously slanting her
parasol in a marvelous simulation of hiding a purely imaginative
blush on a cheek that was perfectly infantine in its unchanged
pink； 〃company talk is much pootier than what we've been saying。
Andmeaning mefor I reckon yo' wouldn't say that of any other
girl but the one yo' 're walking withwhat's the matter with me？〃
He could not help smiling； though he hesitated。 〃Nothing！ but
others have been disappointed。〃
〃And that bothers YO'？〃
〃I mean I have as yet had no right to put your feelings to any
test； while〃
〃Poor Chet had； yo' were going to say！ Well； here we are at the
cemetery！ I reckoned yo' were bound to get back to the dead again
before we'd gone far； and that's why I thought we might take the
cemetery on our way。 It may put me in a more proper frame of mind
to please yo'。〃
As he raised his eyes he could not repress a slight start。 He had
not noticed before that they had passed through a small gateway on
diverging from the road； and was quite unprepared to find himself
on the edge of a gentle slope leading to a beautiful valley； and
before him a long vista of tombs； white head…stones and low
crosses； edged by drooping cypress and trailing feathery vines。
Some vines had fallen and been caught in long loops from bough to
bough； like funeral garlands； and here and there the tops of
isolated palmettos lifted a cluster of hearse…like plumes。 Yet in
spite of this dominance of sombre but graceful shadow； the drooping
delicacy of dark…tasseled foliage and leafy fringes； and the waving
mourning veils of gray； translucent moss； a glorious vivifying
Southern sun smiled and glittered everywhere as through tears。 The
balm of bay； southernwood； pine； and syringa breathed through the
long alleys； the stimulating scent of roses moved with every
zephyr； and the closer odors of jessamine； honeysuckle； and orange
flowers hung heavily in the hollows。 It seemed to Courtland like
the mourning of beautiful and youthful widowhood； seductive even in
its dissembling trappings； provocative in the contrast of its own
still strong virility。 Everywhere the grass grew thick and
luxuriant； the quick earth was teeming with the germination of the
dead below。
They moved slowly along side by side； speaking only of the beauty
of the spot and the glory of that summer day； which seemed to have
completed its perfection here。 Perhaps from the heat； the
overpowering perfume； or some unsuspected sentiment； the young lady
became presently as silent and preoccupied as her companion。 She
began to linger and loiter behind； hovering like a butterfly over
some flowering shrub or clustered sheaf of lilies； until；
encountered suddenly in her floating draperies； she might have been
taken for a somewhat early and far too becoming ghost。 It seemed
to him； also； that her bright eyes were slightly shadowed by a
gentle thoughtfulness。 He moved close to her side with an
irresistible impulse of tenderness； but she turned suddenly； and
saying； 〃Come！〃 moved at a quicker pace down a narrow side path。
Courtland followed。 He had not gone far before he noticed that
the graves seemed to fall into regular lines； the emblems became
cheaper and more common； wooden head and foot stones of one
monotonous pattern took the place of carved freestone or marble；
and he knew that they had reached that part of the cemetery
reserved for those who had fallen in the war。 The long lines drawn
with military precision stretched through the little valley； and
again up the opposite hill in an odd semblance of hollow squares；
ranks； and columns。 A vague recollection of the fateful slope of
Snake River came over him。 It was intensified as Miss Sally； who
was still preceding him； suddenly stopped before an isolated mound
bearing a broken marble shaft and a pedestal with the inscription；
〃Chester Brooks。〃 A few withered garlands and immortelles were
lying at its base； but encircling the broken shaft was a perfectly
fresh； unfaded wreath。
〃You never told me he was buried here！〃 said Courtland quickly；
half shocked at the unexpected revelation。 〃Was he from this
State？〃
〃No； but his regiment was；〃 said Miss Sally； eying the wreath
critically。
〃And this wreath； is it from you？〃 continued Courtland gently。
〃Yes； I thought yo' 'd like to see something fresh and pooty；
instead of those stale ones。〃
〃And were they also from you？〃 he asked even more gently。
〃Dear no！ They were left over from last anniversary day by some of
the veterans。 That's the only one I put therethat isI got Mr。
Champney to leave it here on his way to his house。 He lives just
yonder； yo' know。〃
It was impossible to resist this invincible naivete。 Courtland bit
his lip as the vision arose before him of this still more naif
English admirer bringing hither； at Miss Sally's bidding； the
tribute which she wished to place on the grave of an old lover to
please a THIRD man。 Meantime； she had put her two little hands
behind her back in the simulated attitude of 〃a good girl；〃 and was
saying half smilingly； and he even thought half wistfully：
〃Are yo' satisfied？〃
〃Perfectly。〃
〃Then let's go away。 It's mighty hot here。〃
They turned away； and descending the slope again re…entered the
thicker shade of the main avenue。 Here they seemed to have left
the sterner aspect of Death。 They walked slowly； the air was heavy
with the hot incense of flowers； the road sinking a little left a
grassy bank on one side。 Here Miss Sally halted and listlessly
seated herself； motioning Courtland to do the same。 He obeyed
eagerly。 The incident of the wreath had troubled him； albeit with
contending sensations。 She had given it to please HIM； why