The morning call., 1892-10-09

receive me-" returned CORTLAND, handing
the letter and his card TO the girl.
She received it with still greater access of
dignity and marked deliberation.
IT'S clean gone outer my mind, sab, ef
Miss Sally is IN de resumption OF Visitahs
at dis houah. In fac, sah," she continued,
with intensified gravity and an exaggera-
ton OF thOughtfulneSs as the sounds of Miss
Sally's hammering came shamelessly from
the wall, Il doahn know eXacly il she's en-
gagged playin' de harp, practicin' de Ian
guages or paintin' 10 oil and watah
colors, O. givin' audiences to ef1ishals from
de courthouse. 1t might be de hOuah for de
one or de odder. But I'll communicate wild
her. sah in de budw0h on de uppah fio'
She backed dexterouSly, so as to keep the
slipper behind her, but with no diminution
Of dignity, out OF side door. In another
moment the hammering ceased, followed by
the sound Of rapid whispering without; a
few tiny twigs and leaves slowly rustled 10
the ground. and then there was complete
silence. CORTLAND ventured TO walk TO the
fateful window again.
Presently he heard faint rustic at the
other end Of the room, and he turned. A
sudden tremulOusuess swept along his pulses
and they seemed TO pause; he drew deep
breath that was almost sigh, and re-
manned mOtOnless.
He had no preconceiyed fancy OF falling
In love with Miss Sally at first sight. nor
had be dreamed such q thing possible.
Even the giTllsh face that he had seen in
the l0cket, although 1t had stirred him with
a singular emotion, had not suggested that.
And the ideal he had evolved from it was
never a potent presence. But the exQuis-
itely pretty face and figure before him, al
though IL might have been painted from his
own fancy Of her, was still something more
and something unexpected All that had
gone before had never prepared him for the
beautiful girl that now stood there. 1t was
a poor explanation to say that Miss Sally
was four or five years older than her
picture, and that later experiences, enlarged
capacity, a different life and new ambition
had impressed her youthful face with re-
fined nobility It was a weird fancy to
imagine that the blood of those who had
died for her had in some vague. mysterious
way impaired an actual fascination TO her,
yet 1t was fact that even familiar spec
tatoT like SOphy saw in her young mistress
very pretty young lady with the softest
pink complexion, the silkiest hair-that
looked as the floss of the Indian corn
might look if cuTled. or golden spider threads
il materialiZed. and eyes that were in bright
gray harmony with both; that the irock Of
India muslin, albeit home made, fitted
Miss Sally's figure perfectly - from the
azure bows on her shoulders TO the ribbon
around her waist, and that the hem Of its
billowy skirt showed a foot which every
body knew was the smallest foot south OF
Mason and Dixon's Incl But it was some
thing more intangible than this which kept
CORTLAND GREATNESS and silent.
"Pm not Miss Miranda Dows," said the
vision, with frankness that was half child
like and half practical, as she extended a
little hand, but | can talk fahm' with yO'
about as we'll as auDty, and l reckon from
what Major Reed says heab, holding uD
the letter between her fingers, "as long as
yo' get persimums yo' don't mind what kind
O. cole yO' knock 'em down with"
The voice that carried this speech was so
fresh, so clear and sweet, that / am afraid
CORTLAND thought little OF its oddly or its
dialectieal transgressions. But it brought
him his own tongue quite Internationally and
quietly.
81 don't know what was In that note,
Miss BOWS. but l can hardly believe that
Major Reed ever put my present good for
tune quite in that way"
Miss Sally laughed. Then with charm
ing exaggeTation ste waved her little hand
toward the sofa. There! 70 naturally
wanted little room for that Eel, but
now that yo've got iE off-and mighty DoOty
ii was, togo can sit down." And with
that she sank down at one end of the sofa,
prettily arranged white biliow CT skirt so
as to leave ample room for CORTLAND, and,
locking her fingers over her knees, looked
demurely expectant.
"But let me hope that am not disturbing
you unseemly," said CORTLAND. catching
sight OF the fateful little slipper beneath
her skirt and remembering the window.
81 was so preoceupied In thinking OF your
aunt as the business manager OF those
estates that 1 quite forgot that she might
have lsdy's hour for receiving"
"We haven't got any company hours. "
said Miss Sally, land we haven't just now
any servants for company manners. for
we're short-handed in the fields and barns.
When yo' come was mailing up the laths
for the vines outside because we couldn't
ha far
she added, with faint accession OF mis-
chief in her voice. "yo' came to talk about
the farmP"
Eyes" said CORTLAND, rising, ''but not to
interrupt the work on it. viii you let me
help you nail up the laths on the wall?
have some experience that way-and we
can talk as we work. Do oblige me-"
The young girl looked at hira brightly.
"Weli, now there's nothing mean about
that. Yo' mean ii for sure?"
Perfectly. shall feel so much less as
IL was enjoying your company under false
pretenses."
"Yo' just wait here. then"
She Jumped from the sofa. ran out OF the
room and returned presently, tying the
strings OF long, striped cotton blouse
evidently habiament of Sophy's-behind
her back as she returned. 1t was gathered
unher her oval chin by tape also tied be-
hind her, while her fair hair was tucked
under the usual red bandana handkerchief
Of the negro housemaid. 1t is scarcely
necessary to add that the effect was be-
witching.
"But,6 said Miss Sally. cycling her guests
smaftly fitting frockc0at, "yo'll spoil yo'r
pooty clothes surel Take off yo' coat
don't mind me-and work in yo'r shirt
sleeves"
CORTLAND obedlently flung aside his coat
and followed his active hostess through the
French window to the platform ioutslde.
Above them wooden ledge or eornice, pro-
of the building. II was on this that Miss
Sally had evidently found foothold while
she was mailing up atrellis-work of iaths be-
"a fn11 - he