Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1893-01-13

n
me voice came again from the Window
it struck him as being singularly sweet
and clear.
"Sophy. is that your"
CORTLAND discreetly retired to the
hall To his great relief voice from
the outside answered: "Whar. Miss
SallyP"
What did you move the ladder forP
You might have killed me!'
'Fo' God, Miss Sally, didn't move no
adderI"
Don't ten me, but go down and get
ny slipper. And bring up some more
nails"
CORTLAND waited silently in the hall
In few moments he heard a heavy
footstep outside the rear window. This
was his opportunity. Reentering the
parlor somewhat ostentatiously, he con-
fronted tall negro girl who was pass
ing through the room carrying a tiny
said, politely, but could not find any
one to announce me. Is Miss Bows at
home?"
The girl instantly whipped the slip
per behind her. lis yo' wantin' Miss
Mirandy Dows?" she asked, with great
dignity, "oah Miss Sally Dows-her
niece? Miss Mirandy's bin gone to At
Atlanta for week"
81 have a letter for Miss Miranda, but
shall be very glad if Miss Sally Bows
will receive me-" returned CORTLAND,
handing the letter and his card to the
girl.
She received it with still greater ac-
cess of dignity and marked elaboration.
Its clean gone outer my mind, sab, eff
Miss Sally is in de resumption of visi-
tab, at dis houah. In fac, sah," she con-
tinued with intensified gravity and an
exaggeration of thoughtfulness as the
sounds of Miss Sally's hammering came
shamelessly from the wall, 81 doahn
know exac'ly eff she's engaged playin'
de harp, practisin' de languages or
paintin' in oil and watah colors, O. Civ
in audiences to offishals from the court
house. 1t might be de houah for de one
or de odder. But I'll communicate wild
her, sab, in de budwoh on the uppah
fo'." She backed dexterously, so as to
keep the slipper behind her, but with
no diminution of dignity, out of a side
door. In another moment the hammer
ing ceased, followed by the sound of
rapid whispering without; a few tiny
twigs and leaves slowly rustled to the
ground. and then there was complete
silence. He 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 tremulousness swept
along his pulses, and then they seemed
to pause. He drew a deep breath that
was almost a sigh, and remained mo-
tionless
He had no preconceived fancy of fall
ing in love with Miss Sally at first sight,
nor had he dreamed such thing posi-
bic. Even the girlish face that he had
seen in the loclzet, although it had
stirred him with a singular emotion,
had not suggested that, and the idea
| he had evolved from it was never
a potent presence. But the ex-
quisitely pretty face and figure before
| him, although it might have been
painted from his own fancy of her, was
still something more and something I'M
expected. All that had gone before
had never prepared him for the beauti-
| full 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, en-
largcd capacity, a different life and new
ambition had impressed her youthful
| face with q refined 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 it was
a fact that even familiar spectator
~ .o,,
very pretty young lady with the softest
pink complexion, the sillzest hair-that
looked as the floss of the Indian corn
might look if curled, or golden spider
threads, if materialized-and eyes that