〃that Miss Miranda Dows and her niece now represent the Drummond
Company equally with myself； and that you cannot expect me to
listen to any reflections upon the way they choose to administer
their part in its affairs； either now； or to come。 Still less do I
care to discuss the idle gossip which can affect only the PRIVATE
interests of these ladies； with which neither you nor I have any
right to interfere。〃
But the naivete of the young Englishman was as invincible as Miss
Sally's own； and as fatal to Courtland's attitude。 〃Of course I
haven't any RIGHT； you know；〃 he said； calmly ignoring the severe
preamble of his companion's speech； 〃but I say！ hang it all！ even
if a fellow has no chance HIMSELF； he don't like to see a girl
throw herself and her property away on a man like that。〃
〃One moment； Champney；〃 said Courtland； under the infection of his
guest's simplicity； abandoning his former superior attitude。 〃You
say you have no chance。 Do you want me to understand that you are
regularly a suitor of Miss Dows？〃
〃Y…e…e…s；〃 said the young fellow； but with the hesitation of
conscientiousness rather than evasion。 〃That isyou know I WAS。
But don't you see； it couldn't be。 It wouldn't do； you know。 If
those clannish neighbors of hersthat Southern setsuspected that
Miss Sally was courted by an Englishman； don't you knowa poacher
on their preservesit would be all up with her position on the
property and her influence over them。 I don't mind telling you
that's one reason why I left the company and took that other
plantation。 But even that didn't work； they had their suspicions
excited already。〃
〃Did Miss Dows give that as a reason for declining your suit？〃
asked Courtland slowly。
〃Yes。 You know what a straightforward girl she is。 She didn't
come no rot about 'not expecting anything of the kind；' or about
'being a sister to me；' and all that； for； by Jove！ she's always
more like a fellow's sister； don't you know； than his girl。 Of
course； it was hard lines for me； but I suppose she was about
right。〃 He stopped； and then added with a kind of gentle
persistency： 〃YOU think she was about right； don't you？〃
With what was passing in Courtland's mind the question seemed so
bitterly ironical that at first he leaned half angrily forward； in
an unconscious attempt to catch the speaker's expression in the
darkness。 〃I should hardly venture to give an opinion；〃 he said；
after a pause。 〃Miss Dows' relations with her neighbors are so
very peculiar。 And from what you tell me of her cousin it would
seem that her desire to placate them is not always to be depended
upon。〃
〃I'm not finding fault with HER； you know；〃 said Champney hastily。
〃I'm not such a beastly cad as that； I wouldn't have spoken of my
affairs at all； but you asked； you know。 I only thought； if she
was going to get herself into trouble on account of that Frenchman；
you might talk to hershe'd listen to you； because she'd know you
only did it out of business reasons。 And they're really business
reasons； you know。 I suppose you don't think much of my business
capacity； colonel； and you wouldn't go much on my judgment
especially now； but I've been here longer than you and〃he lowered
his voice slightly and dragged his chair nearer Courtland〃I don't
like the looks of things here。 There's some devilment plotting
among those rascals。 They're only awaiting an opportunity； a
single flash would be enough to set them in a blaze； even if the
fire wasn't lit and smouldering already like a spark in a bale of
cotton。 I'd cut the whole thing and clear out if I didn't think it
would make it harder for Miss Dows； who would be left alone。〃
〃You're a good fellow； Champney；〃 said Courtland； laying his hand
on the young man's shoulder with a sudden impulse； 〃and I forgive
you for overlooking any concern that I might have。 Indeed；〃 he
added； with an odd seriousness and a half sigh； 〃it's not strange
that you should。 But I must remind you that the Dowses are
strictly the agents and tenants of the company I represent； and
that their rights and property under that tenancy shall not be
interfered with by others as long as I am here。 I have no right；
however；〃 he added gravely； 〃to keep Miss Dows from imperiling them
by her social relations。〃
Champney rose and shook hands with him awkwardly。 〃The shower
seems to be holding up；〃 he said； 〃and I'll toddle along before it
starts afresh。 Good…night！ I sayyou didn't mind my coming to
you this way； did you？ By Jove！ I thought you were a little stand…
offish at first。 But you know what I meant？〃
〃Perfectly； and I thank you。〃 They shook hands again。 Champney
stepped from the portico； and； reaching the gate； seemed to vanish
as he had come； out of the darkness。
The storm was not yet over； the air had again become close and
suffocating。 Courtland remained brooding in his chair。 Whether he
could accept Champney's news as true or not； he felt that he must
end this suspense at once。 A half…guilty consciousness that he was
thinking more of it in reference to his own passion than his duty
to the company did not render his meditations less unpleasant。 Yet
while he could not reconcile Miss Sally's confidences in the
cemetery concerning the indifference of her people to Champney's
attentions with what Champney had just told him of the reasons she
had given HIM for declining them； I am afraid he was not shocked by
her peculiar ethics。 A lover seldom finds fault with his mistress
for deceiving his rival； and is as little apt to consider the
logical deduction that she could deceive him also； as Othello was
to accept Brabantio's warning； The masculine sense of honor which
might have resented the friendship of a man capable of such
treachery did not hesitate to accept the love of a woman under the
same conditions。 Perhaps there was an implied compliment in thus
allowing her to take the sole ethical responsibility； which few
women would resist。
In the midst of this gloomy abstraction Courtland suddenly raised
his head and listened。
〃Cato。〃
〃Yes； sah。〃
There was a sound of heavy footsteps in the hall coming from the
rear of the house； and presently a darker bulk appeared in the
shadowed doorway。 It was his principal overseera strong and
superior negro； selected by his fellow…freedmen from among their
number in accordance with Courtland's new regime。
〃Did you come here from the plantation or the town？〃
〃The town； sah。〃
〃I think you had better keep out of the town in the evenings for
the present；〃 said Courtland in a tone of quiet but positive
authority。
〃Are dey goin' to bring back de ole 'patter rollers；'* sah？〃 asked
the man with a slight sneer。
* The 〃patrol〃 or local police who formerly had the surveillance of
slaves。
〃I don't know；〃 returned Courtland calmly； ignoring his overseer's
manner。 〃But if they did you must comply with the local regulations
unless they conflict with the Federal laws； when you must appeal to
the Federal authorities。 I prefer you should avoid any trouble
until you are sure。〃
〃I reckon they won't try any games on me；〃 said the negro with a
short laugh。
Courtland looked at him intently。
〃I thought as much！ You're carrying arms； Cato！ Hand them over。〃
The overseer hesitated for a moment； and then unstrapped a revolver
from his belt； and handed it to Courtland。
〃Now how many of you are in the habit of going round the town armed
like this？〃
〃Only de men who've been insulted； sah。〃
〃And how have YOU been insulted？〃
〃Marse Tom Highee down in de market reckoned it was high time fancy
niggers was drov into de swamp； and I allowed that loafers and
beggars had better roost high when workin' folks was around； and
Marse Tom said he'd cut my haht out。〃
〃And do you think your carrying a revolver will prevent him and his
friends performing that operation if you provoked them？〃
〃You said we was to pertect ourse'fs； sah；〃 returned the negro
gloomily。 〃What foh den did you drill us to use dem rifles in de
armory？〃
〃To defend yourselves TOGETHER under orders if attacked； not to
singly threaten with them in a street row。 Together； you would
stand some chance against those men； separately they could eat you
up； Cato。〃
〃I wouldn't trust too much to some of dem niggers standing
together； sah；〃 said Gate darkly。 〃Dey'd run before de old
mastersif they didn't run to 'em。 Shuah！〃
A fear of this kind had crossed Courtland's mind before； but he
made no present comment。 〃I found two of the armory rifles in the
men's cabins yesterday；〃 he resumed quietly。 〃See that it does not
occur again！ They must not be taken from the armory except to
defend it。〃
〃Yes； sah。〃
There was a moment of silence。 Then it was broken by a sudden gust
that swept through the columns of the portico； stirring the vines。
The broad leaves of the ailantus began to rustle； an ominous
pattering followed； the rain had recommenced。 And as Courtland
rose and walked towards the open window its blank panes and the
interior of the office were suddenly illuminated by a gleam of
returning lightning。
He entered the office； bidding Cato follow； and lit the lamp above
his desk。 The negro remained standing gloomily but respectfully by
the window。
〃Cato； do you know anything of Mr。 DumontMiss Dows' cousin？〃
The negro's white teeth suddenly flashed in the lamplight。 〃Ya！
ha！ I reckon； sah。〃
〃Then he's a great friend of your people？〃
〃I don't know about dat； sah。 But he's a pow'ful enemy of de Reeds
and de Higbees！〃
〃On account of his views； of course？〃
〃'Deed no！〃 said Cato with an astounded air。 〃Jess on account of
de vendetta！〃
〃The vendetta？〃
〃Yes； sah。 De old blood quo'll of de families。 It's been goin' on
over fifty years； sah。 De granfader； fader； and brudder of de
Higbees was killed by de granfader； fader； and brudder of de
Doomonts。 De Reeds chipped in when all de Higbees was played out；
fo' dey was relations； but dey was chawed up by some of de Dowses；
first cousins to de Doomonts。〃
〃What？ Are the Dows in this vendetta？〃
〃No； sah。 No mo'。 Dey's bin no man in de family since Miss
Sally's fader dieddat's let de Do