People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1893-07-21

and graces that cannot lay claim to,
returned CORTLAND, bitterly.
The doctor lifted his eyebrows slight
ly, and changed the subject.
When he had gone CORTLAND 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 Washing
ton, and some measures secured for the
protection Of the freedmen. In the
meantime 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 re-
sponsibility and according to his judg.
ment. He made no personal charges,
mentioned no names, asked for no ex-
emplary prosecution or trial of the Of
tenders, but only demanded safe
guard against a repetition Of the Of
Tense. His next letter although less
formal and official was more difficult.
1t was addressed to the commandment of
the nearest federal barracks, who was
an old friend and former companion-in-
arms. He alluded to some converse
ton they had previously exchanged in
regard to the presence of a small de-
tachment of troops at Redlands during
the elections-vhich CORTLAND at the
time however had automatically OPP
posed. He suggested it now as a mat
ter Of public eXpediency and proven
ton. When he had sealed the letters,
not caring to expose item to the es-
pionage 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 accom-
plished, the reaction consequent on his
still weak physical condition threw
him back upon himself-and his memo
ry! He had rcsolutely refused to think
of Miss Sally; he had been able to with
stand the suggestions of her in the
presence Of her handmaid-supposed to
be potent in nursing and herb-lore-
whom she had detached to wait upon
him, and he had returned politely for
NAL now.cdgements 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 cxpediency which these
events had made necessary. She would
see that he was only accepting the argu-
ments with which she had met his
previous advances Briefly, he had re-
course to that hopeless logic by whicha
man proves to himself that he has no
reason for loving 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 hide
Gus 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 shrank, 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 GOODNESS came with
the afternoon breeze that family trilled
the slanting Stats of the blind with
slumberous humming as of bees. The
golden glory of 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 infuence-or some
unseen presence-was upon him, which
he feared 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 faint rustic of
muslin skirts Miss Sally rose from an
unseen chair at the head of his bed and
stood beside him.
Don't stir, connie, l didn't sit where
! could look in yo'r face for fear
of waking yo'. But I'll change seats
now" She moved to the chair that
Sophy had vacated, drew it slightly
nearer the bed, and sat down.
st was very kind of you to come"
said CORTLAND, hesitatingly, as, with
strong effort, he drew his eyes away
from the fascinating vision, and re-
gained certain cold composure, ''but l
am afraid my illness has been greatly
magnifed. really am quite well
enough to be up and about nv bust
ness, if the doctor would permit it. But
| shall certainly manage to attend to
my duty tomorrow, and hope to be at
your service"
Meaning that yo' don't care to see
me noso, connie" she said, lightly, with
faint twinkle in her wise, sweet ewes.
Il thought of that, but as my business