"The future won't concern YO' much, co'nnle, if as yo' say here yo'r resignation is sent in, and yo'r successor appointed," she replied, with more gravity than she had previously shown.
"But you do not think I will leave YOU in this uncertainty," he said passionately.He stopped suddenly, his brow darkened."Iforgot," he added coldly, "you will be well protected.Your--COUSIN--will give you the counsel of race--and--closer ties."To his infinite astonishment, Miss Sally leaned forward in her chair and buried her laughing face in both of her hands.When her dimples had become again visible, she said with an effort, "Don't yo' think, co'nnle, that as a peacemaker my cousin was even a bigger failure than yo'self?""I don't understand," stammered Courtland.
"Don't yo' think," she continued, wiping her eyes demurely, "that if a young woman about my size, who had got perfectly tired and sick of all this fuss made about yo', because yo' were a No'th'n man, managing niggers--if that young woman wanted to show her people what sort of a radical and abolitionist a SO'TH'N man of their own sort might become, she'd have sent for Jack Dumont as a sample? Eh? Only, I declare to goodness, I never reckoned that he and Higbee would revive the tomfooling of the vendetta, and take to shootin' each other at once.""And your sending for your cousin was only a feint to protect me?"said Courtland faintly.
"Perhaps he didn't have to be SENT for, co'nnle," she said, with a slight touch of coquetry."Suppose we say, I LET HIM COME.He'd be hanging round, for he has property here, and wanted to get me to take it up with mine in the company.I knew what his new views and ideas were, and I thought I'd better consult Champney--who, being a foreigner, and an older resident than yo', was quite neutral.He didn't happen to tell YO' anything about it--did he, co'nnle?" she added with a grave mouth, but an indescribable twinkle in her eyes.
Courtland's face darkened."He did--and he further told me, Miss Dows, that he himself was your suitor, and that you had refused him because of the objections of your people."She raised her eyes to his swiftly and dropped them.
"And yo' think I ought to have accepted him?" she said slowly.
"No! but--you know--you told me"--he began hurriedly.But she had already risen, and was shaking out the folds of her dress.
"We're not talking BUSINESS co'nnle--and business was my only excuse for coming here, and taking Sophy's place.I'll send her in to yo', now.""But, Miss Dows!--Miss Sally!"
She stopped--hesitated--a singular weakness for so self-contained a nature--and then slowly produced from her pocket a second letter--the one that Courtland had directed to the company."I didn't read THIS letter, as I just told yo' co'nnle, for I reckon I know what's in it, but I thought I'd bring it with me too, in case YO' CHANGEDYO'R MIND."
He raised himself on his pillow as she turned quickly away; but in that single vanishing glimpse of her bright face he saw what neither he nor any one else had ever seen upon the face of Sally Dows--a burning blush!
"Miss Sally!" He almost leaped from the bed, but she was gone.
There was another rustle at the door--the entrance of Sophy.
"Call her back, Sophy, quick!" he said.