The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1893-04-19

those soldiers down here, yo'll have q
row, surel Don't move, connie, gou
may not care for that-it's in your line.
But folks will say that the soldiers
weren't sent to prevent rioting, but
that Connie Courtland was using his
old comrades to keep order on his
property at gov'ment expense. Hor
on! Hol' onl connle," said the little
figure, rising and waving its pretty
arms with mischievous stimulation OF
terrified depreciation. Don't shootl
OF course yo' didn't mean that but
that's about the way that soth'n men
will put 1t to yo'r government. 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 mo write to the commandant to
send an escort-not to 90 but to Cato
that 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 so'th'n man would have object
ed. But" still more demurely, and af-
fectedly smoothing out her crisp skirt
with her little hands, "yo' haven't been
troubling me much with yo'r counsel
lately"
A swift and utterly new comprehen-
sion swept over CORTLAND. For the
first time In his knowledge Of her he
had suddenly grasped what was per-
haps the true conception of her char
acterl Looking at her clearly now he
understood the meaning Of those plant
graces, so unaffected and yet always
controlled by the reasoning of an un-
biased intellect; her frank speech and
plausible intonationsl Before him stood
the true-born daughter of long race
of politiciansl All that he had heard Of
their dexterity, tact and expediency rose
here incarnate, with the added grace Of
womanhood. A quick sense Of relief
perhaps a dawning Of hope-rushed
upon him.
"But how will this insure Cato's
safety hereafter, or give protection to
the othersP" he said, fixing his eyes
upon her,
"The future won't concern yo' much,
connie, II, as yo' say here, your resig-
nation is sent in, and your successor ap-
pointed" she replied, with more grav
ity than she had previously shown.
"But you do not think will leave you
in this uncertainty" he said, passion
ately. He stopped suddenly. His brow
darkened. II forgot" he added, coldly,
"you will be well protected. Your
c0uSin-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 her
hands. When her dimples became agair
visible, she said, with an effort: Dom
yo' think, connie, that as peacemakel
my cousin was even a bigger failure
than yo'self?'
II don't understand" stammereC
CORTLAND
Don't yo' think, she continued, wip
Ing her eyes demurely, that II younG
woman, about my size, who had go
perfectly tired and sick of all thi
! fuss made about yo because yo' wer'
no'th'n man managing niggers
: II that young woman wanted to shov
her people what sort OF radical ant
abolitionist q so'th'n man Of their owl
sort might become, she'd have sent TO
Jack Dumont as a sample? Eh? Only
declare TO goodnessl Inever rcckonet
that he and Higbee would revive tha'
tom-fooling of the vendetta, and taxi
TO shootin' each other at once"
"And your sending for your cousin
was only feint TO protect ms" sait
, CORTLAND, family.
perhaps he didn't have TO be sen
, for, connie, she said, with a Sigh
, touch Of coquetry. Suppose we say
, lei him conc. He'd been hanging round
, for he has property here and wanted t,
, get me to take 1t up with mine in tn
, company. knew what his new view
, and ideas were, and thought I'd bet
ter consult Champney, who, being for
eigner, and an older resident than yo'
: was quite neutral. He didn't happel
| to tell go, connie, anything about II
did hep" she added, with grave moutl
, but an indescribable twinkle in he
eyes.
/ Courtland's face darkened "He di,
and he further told me, Miss Dows
/ that he, himself, was your suitor, ant
/ that you had refused him because Of tn
( objections of your people"
1 She raised her eyes to his swiftly ant
! dropped them. e
"And you think l ought 10 have nc
Q cepted himp" she said, slowly. I'm !
r "No! but--you lSnow--you told me-
5 he began, hurriedly, but she had alread,
I risen, and was shaking out the folds o
Y her dress. r,EJE \
"We're not talking btIstaet, connie
and business was my only excuse 70
a coming here and taking Sophy's place
Y I'll send her in 70 yo' now"
, "But, Miss Dowsl-Miss Sallyw
l She stopped y hesitated-7a sipgula
y weakness for so sell contained . natur
1 and then slowly produced from he
+ pocket q second letter-the one tina
I Courtland had directed TO the company
o II didn't read hn letter as Just toll
I yo', connie, for i reckon know what
In IL, but thought I'd bring IL toith m.
e tOo-in case yo' changedOyp mtpdPN I
h He raised himself on HIS pillow as sh
!. turned quickly away. but in that singl
3 vanishing glimpse Of her bsdghthface-
he saw what neither he nor anyone els
o had ever seen upon the face Of Sail
s Dows-a burning blushi
o 'Miss Sallyr He almost leaped fror
2 the bed, but she. was gone. There wa