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