HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Times, 1893-04-14, Page 4THE WINGTIt.M TIMES, APRIL `a 14, 1893..
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• he took that land ever there. just to be ostentatiously booted and spurred and
' near licr,when he was no longer agent." ;carrying a heavy raw hide riding whip
• But Cotu'tland was always master of , in his swinging ,sand, was approaching
himself and quite at ease regarding ' them, Deliberately, yet with uneasy .
Miss Sally when net in that lady's pres- self-coneeiousness, •ignoring the pre$-
' once. "You forget," he said, smiling- ence of Courtland, ho nodded abruptly , '
ly, "that I'm still a stranger and know to Miss Reed, ascended the steps,.
little of the local gossip; and, if I dict crushed past them both without pans-
knew it, I am afraid we didn't bargain ing, and entered the house.
to buy up vt ith the lane, ?4r. Champnoy's I "Is that yo' manners, Ma Tom?"
personal interest in the landlady/," called the young lady after him—a.
I "s'o'd have had your bands full, for, slight duels rising to her sallow cheek. '
I reckon she's pooty heavily mortgaged The young man muttered something '
in that fashion already," returned from tho hall which Courtland did not
Miss Reed, with more badinage than eateh, "It's Cou >iu Tom Higbee," she
spitefulness in the suggestion. "And , explained, half disdainfully. "file's had
Mr. Champney was run pooty elose by , some ugliness with his horse, I reckon,
a French cousin of hers when ho was but paw ought to teach him how
here. Yo' haven't got any I''re icli ,behave. Anel I don't think he likes
books to lend me, eo'nnlo, have yo'? no'th'n men," she added, gravely.
Paw says you read a heap of French, Courtland,' whop had kept his temper.
and I find it mighty hard to keep up my ' with his full understanding of the in-.
practice since I left the convent at St. I trudor's meaning, smiled as he took.
Louis, for paw don't know what sort I Miss Reed's hand," in parting. "That's
of books to order, and I reckon ho ; quite enough explanation—and I don't
makes awful mistakes sometimes." I know why it shouldn't bo even an
,Che conversation here turning upon i apology."
polite literature it appeared that Mss I Yet the incident left little impression
Octevia's French reading, through a shy, , on him as he strolledback to Redlands,«
proud innocence and an imperfeet It was not the first time ho had tasted
knowledge of the wishes, subtleties of , the dregs of old scational hatred in in -
the language, was somewhat broad and ; civility and discourtesy, but as it sel-
unconventional, for a young lady. ; doin camp from his old personal antag-
Courtland promised to send her some ' onists—the soldiers—and was confined
books and even ventured to suggest some . to the callow youth, former non-com-
American and English novels not in- batants and politicians he could afford
tensely "no'th'n" nor "metaphysical", to overlook it. He clid not see Miss
•—according to the accepted southern Sally during the following week. Some
beliefs. A new respect and pitying in- metallurgical experiments he had been
'Wrest in this sjillen, solitary girl, , making with ore found on the estate
cramped by tradition and °rushed, rath- . had taken up his time. He was am-'
er than enlightened by sad experiences, bitious to develop the resources of the
came over him. 116 found himself talk- property beyond the expectations of
ing quite confide$Itially to the lifted the company. Miss Sally was right in
head, ached eyebrows and aquiline attributing to him a capacity for ab -
nose beside hien, xaud even thinking sorbing work, which few, knowing his
what a handsome high bred brother quiet, reposeful temperament, had
minds when there was a pause in their share his awkward isolation with an she might have been to some one.. imagined, but.• she was wrong in sup -
mare practical and conventional con- other stranger, and greeted him pleas- When they had reached the house, in posing—if she diel—that it should pre-
versation, and was even revealed in the " antly. Tho Dows' pew being nearer to compliance with tie familiar custom, , elude a romantic and even dreamy ideal.
excessive care which Miss Sally later the entrance than 'he Reeds', gave up he sat clown on one of the lower steps
of: moil=
eseAce, Iie"Iia i never again erred n the smart t Area pockets, had 1 econio a
the si'1de of romance or emotion; ho had part of her beauty, for he was already
xaever again referred 'to the infelix let- hopelessly conscious that she was love -
'ter and photograph, and, without being ly in anything, and he might be im-
,obli ed to confine himself stri:;tly to pelted to say so, lie thanked her grave-
g 1 and earnestly, but without gallantry
business affairs, he had maintained an. 3' 3'
Oven, quiet, neighborly intercowese with or effusion, and had the satisfaction of
her. Much of this was the result of his
own self-control and soldierly training,
,and gave little indication of the deeper
feeling that he was conscious lay be-
neath it. At times he caught the young
girl's eyes fixed upon him with a mis-
chievous curiosity. A strange thrill
went through him; there are few situa-
tions se subtle and dangerous as the ac-
cideetal confidences and understand-
ings; of two young people of opposite
sex. .even though the question of any
sentimental inclination be still in abey-
auee. Courtland knew that Miss Sally
remembered the too serious attitude he
had taken towards her past. She might
laugh at it and even resent it—but she
seeing the mischief in her eyes increase
in proportion to his seriousness, and
heard her say with effected. concern:
"Bear up, co'nulo. Don't let it worry
yo' till the time comes," and took his
leave. •
On the following Stuzclay he was pres-
ent at the Redlands Episcopal church,
and after the service stood with out-
ward composure but some inward chaf-
ing among the gallant youth, who,
after the local fashion, had ranged
themselves outside the doors of the
building. Ile was somewhat surprised
to find Mr. Chempncy evidently as muck
out of' place as himself, but less self-
contained, waiting in the crowd of ex-
ams/to it, remembered it, knew that lee pectant cavaliers. Although convinced
did—and this precious knowledge was that the young Englishman had comp
confines, to themselves. It was in their only to see Miss Sally, he was glad to
took to avert at the right moment her its occupants feet. Col. Courtland of the veranda while she, shaking out I
mischievously, smiling eyes. Once she lifted his hat to Miss Miranda and her her skirt, took a seat a step or. two .
went further. Courtland had just fin- niece, at the same moment that Champ- above him. This enabled him, after
idled explaining to her a'plan for sub- ney moved forward and ranged him- the languid local fashion, to lean on his,
sainting small farm buildings for the self beside them. Miss ,Sally, catching elbow and gaze up into the eyes of the
usual half -cultivated garden patches Courtland's eye, showed the whites of young lady, while she with equal l
clear to the negro field hand, and had her own in a backward glance of mis- languor looked down upon him. But
laid down the drawings on the table in chievous significance to indicate the fol- in the present instance Miss Reed
the office, when the young lady, leaning lowing Reeds. When they approached leaned forward suddenly and darting a .
against it with her hands behind her, Courtland joined them, and finding him- 1.•
fixed her bright gray eyes on his'seri- self beside Miss Octavio, entered into • 'I t �I
ons face. ' conversation. Apparently the sup -
•`I vow and protest, co'nnle," she pressed passion and sardonic melon -
said, dropping into one of the quaint choly of that dark -eyed young lady
survivals of an old-time phraseology pe- spurred him to a lighter, gayer humor
culler ,to her people, "I never allowed even in proportion as Miss Sally's good -
yo' could give yo'self up to business natured levity and sunny practicality
soul and body. as yo' do, when I first ma clo him serious. They presently fell
metyo' that day." to the rear, with other couples, and
"Why, what did you think me?" he acro soon quite alone.
asked quickly. haughty, but
A
little
Miss Sally, who had a southern a
tulle for gesture, took ole little h
frtiin behind her, tossed it above
bead with a pretty air of disposin,
some airy nothing in a presumably
°aline fashion, and said: "Oh! that-"
"I am afraid 1 did not impress
then as a very practical man." be s
with a faint color.
"1 thought you roosted rather hi
co'nnle, to pick up many worms in
meaning. Ilut," she added, with a
zling smile, "I reckon ,from what
said about the photograph, yo' thou,
I wasn't exactly what yo' believe
aught to be."
rids would have liked to tell her t
and there that he would have
content if those bright, beautiful
had never kindled with anything
love or womanly aspiration; that
soft, lazy, caressing veice had n•
been lifted beyond the fireside or do
tic circle; that the sunny, tench-
hair
enchhair and pink ears had never incl'
to anything but whispered admirati
and that the graceful, lithe, erect flgt
so independent and self-contained,
been satisfied to lean upon his arm
support. Ile was conscious that
bad been in his mind when he first
her; he was equally conscious that
was more bewilderingly fascinatin;
him in her nresent inaccessible inti
gence and practicality.
"I confess," he said, looking into
eyes with a vague smile, "I did not
pest you would be so forgetful, of s
one who had evidently cared fdr yot
"Meaning Mr. Chet Brooks, or
Joyce Masterton, or both! That's
most yo' men, Co'nnle. Yo' rec
'because a girl pleases you she ough
be grateful all her life, and .yo'rs,
Ye' think different now! But yo' nee
act up to it quite sq much." She Ix
a little deprecating gesture with
'disengaged hand as if to ward off
tall
and
erect
ne
of
iss
he
er-
ng
or
the
ws
so
ser
or,
me
on,
Ay
not
lad
He
he
nits
site
h'n
om
uld
th
no -
em.
red
la's
retaliating gallantry: "I t'ain't speali'ftg,
for myself, co'nnle. Yo,,' and fine are'
geed enough friends, 'but the girls'
round here think yore a trifle too much
taken up with rice and+ niggers. And:
looking at it even in yovlr light, co'nnle,;
it ain't busincsa. Yo' ;want to keep;
straight with Maj. Rd;ed, so it would
e just as well to square the major's.
woman folks. 'Tavy find ClussieReed
Mint exactly poisonous, co'nnle, and yo'
alight see one er the ,other home front
church next Sunday. The Sunday after
that, just to show yeti ain't particular,
and that yo' go in for being e, regular
beau, yo' might w k home with me.
Don't bo frightened•, I've gotbetter
o
gown than this. Its a new one -just
come front lt1'ash.ville--and I'll weer it
for the oeeasiOn."
He diel not dare fitly that the quaint
alnock she Was then wearing—a plain
;i checked household gingham used for'
iildreii's pinafores, 'With its Alberta of
e saes peg/ales getbered; in bows at
'1
',
INIIIIIIIIIIII II',
ill lliijryi �tIIII�IiIF��
.• u..a`; kt y, p„w• " Urn w.
nE SAT DOWN
&Ff.
IT WAS Tns Ill MIA= OP THE DOW!
i'AIirY,
eaeanbly, ineani4leSsly silence -content
to walk beside this charming, summery
presence, Unshed by its delicate draper-
ies, and inhaling its ?rashness, Present-
ly it spoke:
"It would take more than a thousand
feet of hunbor to patch up the cow
shocls beyond tlio Mosely pasture, and
an entirely neve. building with an im-
proved dairy, would require only about
two thousand more. All the old ma-
terial would' coin° in good for fencing,
and could be used with the new posts
and rails. Don't you think it would be
better to have an out and out new build-
ing?"
"Yes, certainly," returned Courtland
a little confusedly. He had not calcu-
lated 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 get-
ting to be a pretty serious one. Aunt
Miranda holds some shares in the
CHAPTER iv- triggsville Branch line, and thinks
N the next Sunday something could bo done with the di-
st,'
i-
-j;, IJ•� he was early at erectors for a new tariff of charges if
church. But he she put a pressure on them. Taylor
had perhaps as says there was some talk of reducing
it one sixteenth per cent. before we
scutes, the ossa- move this year's crop."
sign by driving Courtlacnd glanced quickly at his com-
there in a light panion's faro. .It was grave, but there
buggy behind et was the faintest. wrinkling of the eor-
fast thorough- ner of the eyelid nearest him. "Had
bred — possibly we not better leave these serious ques-
selected more to tions until to -morrow?" he said, smil-
the taste of a ing
- smart cavalry of- Miss Sally opened her eyes. "Why,
I dicer than an agricultural superin- you seemed so quiet, I reckoned you
tendent. IIe was already in a side must bo full of business this morning;
. ,pew, his eyes dreamily fixed on the but if yo' prefer company talk, we'll
I "prayer -book ledge before him, when change the subject. The say that yo'
there was a rustle at the church and Miss Reed didn't have much trod -
'door and a thrill of curiosity and ad- ble to find one last Sunday. She don't
miration passed over the expectant con- usually talk much, but she keeps up a
.gregation. It was the entrance of .the
power of thinking.I should reckon,"
Dows party lliiss Sally well to the she added suddey, eying him crit -
fore. . She was in her new clothes—
Lally, "that yo' and she might ' have a
the latest Fashion in ,Louisville, the la- heap o' things to say to . each other.
test but two in Paris and New York. She's a good deal in yo' fashion, .co'nnle
• It was over twenty years ago. I —,she don't forget,'but,"—more slowly—
; shall not imperil the effect of that "1 don't know that that's altogether the
, lovely vision by recalling to the eye of best thing for yo'1'?
' to -day a fashion of yesterday. Enough Courtland lifted his eyes with affected
that it enabled her to set her sweet consternation. "If this is in the light
I face and vapory golden hair in a horse -
of another mysterious w ---. the light
Ile could not help smiling-•thoug
hesitated. "Nothing! but others h
been disappointed."
"And that bothers vane"
"l mean /have es yet had no right tie
put your feelings to any test, while—e
1 oor Chet had, yo' were going to
say! Weis, here we are at the seine.
teryl I reckoned yo' were bound +te go
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 our,
of mind to please yo'."
As he raised his eyes he could not re-
press a slight start. Ile hal not no,
tiered before that they had passed
through a small gateway on diverging
from the road, and was quite unpro,
pared to And himself on the edge of. a
gentle slope, leading to a beautiful val-
ley, and before him a long vista of
tombs, white headstones and low
crosses, edged by drooping cypress and
trailing feathery vines. Sono of them
had fallen and been caught in long
loops from bough to bough, like funeral
garlands, and here and there the tops
of isolated pahnettos lifted a cluster of
hearse -like plumes. Yet in spite of this
dominance of somber but graceful
shadow, the drooping delicacy of dark
tasselled foliage, and leafy fringes, the
waving, mourning veils of gray, trans-
lucent moss—a glorious, vivifying
southern sun smiled and glittered every:
where as through tears. The balm of
bay, southern -wood, pine and syringo
breathed through the long alleys; the
stimulating scent of roses moved with
every zephyr, and the heavier 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 trap-
pings, provocative in the contrast of
its own still strong virility. Every-
where the grass grew thick and lux-
uriant; the thick earth was teeming
with the germination of the plead 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
• shoe frame of delicate flowers and to
ex b or THE I owElt Dows, I warn ,you; that my intellect is
sTilbPs. lift her oval chin out of the bewilder- already tottering with them. Last
ing .mist of tulle. Nor did a certain Sunday Miss Reed thrilled mo for an
sharp quick glome into his very con- , light polonaise conceal the outlines of hour with superstition and Cassandra-
sciousness, said: l'1 her charming figure. Even those who like prophecy. Disn't things ever hap -
"And yo' mean to say, co'nnle, there's , were constrained to whisper to each pen accidentally ` here—and without
nothing between ,• o' and Sally Dows? ; other that ':Miss Sally" must "be now „
Csurtland neither flushed, trembled, r goingon twent ;live " did so because warnings?
y "I mean," returned the young lady,
grew confused noriprevaricated. I she still had the slender grace of seven -
with her usual practical directness,
"We aro good feiends, I think," he re- I teen. The organ swelled as if to wel- ..that "Pave Reed remembers a good
plied, quietly, without evasion or hesi- i come her; as she took ' her seat a ray of many horrid things about the wah that
tation. r ;sunlight that would have been cruel she ought to forget, but don't. But,"
Miss Reed look*, at him thoughtful- ' and searching to any other complex- she continued, looking at him curious-
ly. "I reckon :that is so—and no ion drifted across the faint pink of her ly, "she allows she was mighty cut up
lucky in,nd everything," setas why he said, slowly. ' hair cheeks cr ecame tsc f ;transfigured. o lous Afew by hIer cousin's am afraid th t Misnner to yo'."Reed was
"I don't think,' quite understand," ; stained-glass Virtues on the windows more annoyed than I was," said Court-
returned Courtland, smiling. "ls this a aid not come out of this effulgence as land. "I should be very sorry if she at-
paraclax—or a consolation?" I triumphantly, and it was small wonder tached any importance to it," he added,
"It's the truth,t' said Miss Reed, grave- ; that the clevotionaaeyes of the worship earnestly. r
ly. "Those wht{ try to be anything ers wandered from them to the face of ••And yo' don't,?' continued Miss Sally.
more to Sally Dews lose their luck." ! Sally Dows. "No. why should I?" She noticed,
"That is—are ''ejected by her. Is she ( When the service was over, as the however, that he had slightly drawn
wally so relentless?" continued Court- • congregation flied slowly -into the aisle himself up "a little more erect, and she
land, gayly. Courtland slipped mutely behind her. smiled, as he edn.tinued: "I dare say I '
"I mean that they lose their luck in As she reached the porch ho said in 'an should feel as he does if I were in his
everything. Something is surd to ! undertone: "I brought my horse and
happen. Anel side can't help it, either." { buggy. I thought you might possibly
place."
"But yo' wouldn't do anything under •
-
"Is this a Sybilline warning, Miss allow me to drive—" hand," she said, quietly. Ashe glanced
Reed?" I But he was stopped by a distressful 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 ,Fust 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
eager, or hold yo' head so .high yo' don't
sec what's °rawlln' 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 apretty affectation of con-
cern for her companion that he sudden
ly took heart.
"I wish I had area friend I could call
my owns" he said, boldly, looking
straight into her eyes. "I'd care little
for other friends and fear no enemies."
"Yo'reright, co'nnle," she said—osten-
tatiously slanting' her parasol in a mar-
veleus simulation of hiding a purely
imaginative blush inn a cheek that was
perfectly h fantine in its unchanged
pink --"company talk is emelt pootier
than what we've been sayin'. And—
meaning mei-for I reckon yo' wouldn't
young lady. i Ally ready speech. New that they say that of ' y other' girl. but the none
The sound of quick footsteps on the i ere together fon the first time in a die- o're 'tvalkin with--whn,tys the matt
v oxy with
matter
nra'velpath caused them both to look tinetly-secial fasliienehe foufd himself. with tete'?" ,
-4-11011# I00—ki;ilte rasing fellow,
sallow cheek nares' the cont—the
sunny side --had taken a faint bru-
nette's flush and the corners of her
proud mouth were slightly lifted.
"But candidly, Miss heed, 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 g31e?"
Miss Reed's dark .eyes glanced side-
ways 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."
"T admit it. We should both ac-
knowledge our mistress and be like wax
in your hands."
"Yo' ought to male that pooty speech
to Sally Dows---she's: generally mistress
tirmttnahere. But,'t she added, sad-
cieniy"tiling her eies on him, "how
does sit Happen that yo' ain't walking
with het instead of that Englishman?
YO`' ltnow that it's as plain as day that
perfection here. I erhaps from the'
heat, the overpowering perfume or
some unsuspected sentiment, the young;
lady became presently as silent and'
preoccupied as her companion. She be-
gan to linger and loiter behind, hover-
ing 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 be-
coming ghost. It soeiued to him also
that her bright eyes , were slightly
shadowed by a gentle thoughtfulness.
He moved close to her side with an ir-
resistible impulFe of tenderness, but she.
turned suddenly, and saying: "Come!
moved at a quicker pace down a narrow
side path. Courtland followed. ITe•
had not gone far before ho 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 ,freestones or Mar-
ble, and he knew that they hod reached
the part of the cemetery reserved for
those who had fallen in the war. The
long lines drawn ith military pre-
cision stretched through the little valley
and again up the oiposite 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
(To ns co .'rumen
•
"No. It's nigger superstition. It knitting of her golden brows. "No,"
came from Mammy Judy—Sally's old she said, quickly, but firmly, "you mut
nurse. It's part of their regular Ilea- not—it won't do." As Courtland hesi-
doo" [negro witchcraft; voo-doh, prob-tated in momentary perplexity, she
ably]. "She bewitched Miss Sally I smiled sweetly: "We'll walk round by
when she was n baby, so that every- I the cemetery if you like—it will take
body is bound to her as long as they i about as tong as a dnizc:"
care for her, and she isn't bound to ; Courtland vanishecl, gave hurried in -
them in. any way. All their luck goes ( structioes and a dollar to a lounging
to her as soon as the spell is on them," } negro, and rejoined Miss Sally as the
she added, darkly. ! delighted and proud freedman drove out
"I think I know the rest," returned : of the gate. Miss Sally heaved a slight
Courtland, with still greater solemnity. ! sigh as the gallant equipage passed. "It
"You gather the buds of the witch was a 'nighty pooty turn -out, co'nnle,
hazel in April when the moon is full. and I'd just admire to go, but it would
You then pluck three hairs from the ' have been ratlieY hard on the ether
young .t lady's right eyebrow when she folks. There's the Reeds and Maxwells
isn't looking—" and ttobertses that aro toop ooh to
"Yo' can laugh, eo'nnle, for yore
lucky --because yore free." keep blood horses, and too proud to
"I'in not sure of that," he said gal- ride behind anything else. It wouldn't
be the right thing for you to go whirl-
cantly, "for I ought to be riding at this ing by scattering our dust over them."
moment over to tlio infirmary to visit ; There was sometliin so subtly pleas-
le Sunday forget If being and
to ant in thus implied rtnership of re-
pleasantlyone's time and duty
sponsibility that' Courtland forgot the
is a sign of witclicra#t I am
afraid Mammy Jucly's enchantments abrupt refusal and thought only of the
were not confined to only one southern ; tact that prompted it. Neverthelese,
„ ' here a spell seemed to fall upon his um -
Mr. Geo. W. gooic
Of St. Johnsbury, Vt.
Like a; Waterfall
Great Suffering
After the Crap
ale
Tremendous heaving in the Read
— Pain; in the Stomach,
"To C. 1. Hood & Co., Lowell, Mass.:
"Two years ago T Lad a severe attack of the
Grip, which lefe me in a terribly weals and de-
bilitated condition. Last winter I had another
attack and was again very badly eft, my health
nosey wreekee. My Appetite was all gone, 1
had no strength, felt tired all the since had
disagreeable roaring noises in my heal, Mice a
waterfall. I also had severe headaches and
Severe Sinking Pains
in my stomach, 1 took medicines without ben-
efit, until, having heard so inueit about hood's
Sarsaparilla, 1 :concluded to try it, and tl,e re-
sortpains isand velyaches, gratifyingAntibe. lieveAll site dlsa[ renblo
effects of the Grip are gone, 1 am free from
Hood's Sarsaparilla'
6"
is surf iy sarin& my catarrh. 1 recommend it
to all." Gi.o. W, Cootc, St. Johnsbury, Vt.
if O D'S PItts euro housed, male iiotid*Che,
IndigAstlou, lilitousneae, Sold by ail druggirtL
4