The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1893-03-29

A long sigh trilled the limp leaves of
the ailantus and as quickly subsidized. A
few heavy perpendicular raindrops
crashed and spattered through the
foliage like molten lead.
"You've just escaped the shower" :"
said Courtland, pleasantly. He had not
seen Champney since they parted in the
cemetery, six weeks before.
eyes. I--I-thought I'd like to have
little talk with you, Courtland," said
Champney. He hesitated moment be-
fore the proffered chair, and then added,
with cautious glance towards the
street: Hadn't we better go insidel"
GAS you like. But you'll find it Woe
fully hot We're quite alone here;
there's nobody in the house and this
shower will drive any loungers from
the street." He was quite frank, al
though their relations to each other in
regard to Miss Sally were still so unde-
fined as to scarcely invite his conf
dence.
Howbeit Champney took the prof
ferred chair and the glass of julep
which Courtland brought him.
"You remember my speaking to you
of Dumont?" he said, hesitatingly.
"Miss Dows' French cousin, you know2
Well-he's coming here; he's got prop
erty here-those three houses opposite
the courthouse. From what hear
he's come over with a lot of new-fangled
French ideas on the niger question
rot about equality and fraternity, don't
you know-and the highest education
and highest offices for them. You know
what the feeling is here already; you
know what happened at the last cleo
ton at Coolidgeville; how the whites
wouldn't let the niggers go to the polls
and the jolly row that was kicked uI
over it. Well it looks as if that sort oi
thing might happen here, don't yor
know, il Miss Dows takes up thest
IDEAS"
"But I've reason to suppose mean,
said Courtland, correcting himself with
some deliberation, "that anyone who
knows Miss Dows' opinions knows
these are not her views. Why SHOULD
she take them up2"
because she takes him up" returned
Champney, hurriedly, "and even If sh'
didn't believe in them herself, she'C
have to share the responsibility will
him in the eyes of every unreconstruct
ed rowdy like Tom Higbee and the res
of them. They'd make short work o
her niggers all the same"
"But don't see why she should bC
made responsible for the opinions o
her cousin, nor do exactly know wha
taking him up means, returned Court
land, quietly.
Champney moistened his dry lips will
the julep and uttered a nervous laugh
Suppose we say her husband, for that
what his coming back here means
Everybody knows that-yOu would toe
II you ever talked with her about any
thing but business"
A bright fash of lightning that lit u
the faces Of the two men would hav
revealed Champney's flushed feature
and Courtland's lack Of color, had the
been looking at each other. But the
were not, and the long reverberatin
crash of thunder which followed PR
vented any audible reply from Cour
land, and covered his agitation.
For without fully accepting Champ
ney's conclusion he was cruelty shocke
at the young mans utterance Of then
He had scrupulously respected tn
wishes Of Miss Sally and had faithful
although never hopelessly-held bac
any expression OF his own love sine
their conversation in the cemetery
But while his native truthfulness an
sense Of honor had overlooked th
seeming insincerity of her attitude Il
wards Champney, he had never just
fed his own tacit participation in l
and the concealmcnt OF his own pr
tensions before his possible rival.
was true that she had forbidden him
openly enter the lists with her admi
ers, but Champney's innocent assuml
tion of his indifference TO her and h
consequent half condolences adde
poignancy To his story. There SCENE