The Irish standard., 1893-01-07
RO1VaYlgVK
81 BRET HARTEl
COPYRIGHT. 1892. az NE AUTHOR

Il
soft, lazy, caressing voice had never
been lifted beyond the ireside or domes-
tic circle; that the sunny, tendriled
hair and pink ears had never inclined
to anything but whispered admiration,
and that the graceful, 1.-the, erect figure.
SO independent and self-contained, had
been satisfied to lean upon his arm for
support He was conscious that this
had been in his mind when he first saw
her; he was equally conscious that she
was more Overwhelmingly fascinating to
him in her present inaccessible intelli-
gence and practioality
II confess he said, looking into hez
eyes with a vague smile, II did not ex-
pect you would be SO forgetf,1l Of some
one who had evidently cared for you.
Meaning Mr.. Chef Brooks, or Mr..
Joyce Masterton, or both! That's Like
most yo' men, Connie. Yo' reckon
because girl pleases yon she ought to
! be grateful all her life, and yo'rs, too!
| Yo' think different now! But yo' needn't
act up to it quite SO much" She made
a little deprecating gesture with her
discouraged hand as if to ward Off any
retaliating gallaDtry: II amt speaking
| for myself. connie. Yo and me are
good enough friends, but the girls
round here think yo're a trine too much
taken up with rice and niggers. And
looking at it even in your light, connie,
| it amt 6us ness. Yo' want to keep
straight with Maj. Reed, SO it would
be just as we'll to square the ma or's
woman folks. 'Tavy and Gussie Reed
amt exactly poisonous, connie, and yo
| might see one Or the other home FROM
| church next Sunday. The Sunday after
that, just to show you amt particular,
and that yo' go in for being a regular
beau, yo' might walk home with me.
Don't be frightened--I've got better
gown than this It's new one-just
come from Nashville-and I'll wear il
for the OCCASION
He did not dare say that the quaint
frock she was then yvearing-a plain
''checked' household bingham used for
children's pinafores. with it's ribbons of
the same pattern, gathered in bows at
the smart apron pockets, had become a
part of her beauty, for he was already
hopelessly conscious that she was love
ly in anything, and he might be inn
PEELED to say SO. He thanked her grave
ly and earnestly, but without gal]antry
or effusion, and had the satisfaction of
seeing the mischief in her eyes increase
in proportion to his seriousness, and
heard her say with affected concern:
Bear up, connie. Don't let it worry
yo' till the time comes" and took his
leave.
On the following Sunday he was pres
ent at the Redlands Episcopal church,
and after the service stood with out
ward conlposure but some inward chat
ing among the gallant youth, who,
after the local fashion, had ranged
themselves outside the doors of the
building He was somewhat surprised
to find Mr.. Chanapney evidently as much
out of place as himself, but less self
contained waiting in the crowd Of ex-
pectant cavaliers. Although convinced
that the young English1nnn had come
only to see Miss Sally, he was glad to
share his awkward isolation with an
other stranger, and greeted him pleas
antly. The Bows pew being nearer to
the entrance than the Reeds, gave UP
it's occupants first. Col. CORTLAND
lifted his hat to Miss Miranda and her
niece, at the same moment that Champ
ney moved forward and ranged him
self beside them. Miss Sally, catching
Courtland's eye, showed Che whites of
her own in a backward glance of mis-
chjevous significance to indicate the fol
lowing Reeds. When they approached
CORTLAND Joined them. and finding him
self beside Miss Octavia, entered into
conversation. Apparently the sup
pressed passion and sardonic rnelan-
choly of that darl-eyed young lady
spurred him to lighter, gayer hurnor
even in proportion as Miss Sally's good
natured levity and sunny practically
made him serious. They presently fell
to the rear, with other couples, and
were soon quite alone.
A little naughty, but tall and erect
in her we'll preserved black grenadine
dress, which gave her the appearance of
a youthful but implacable widow, Miss
Reed declared she had not seen the
connie for "a coon's age" and GER
tainly had not expected to have
the honor of his company as long
as there were niggers to be elevated or
painted to look like white men. She
hoped that he and paw and Sally Bows
were happy! They hain't yet got SO
far as to put up q niger preacher
in the place of Mr.. Symes, their rector,
but she understood That there was some
talk of running Hannibal johnson,
Miss Dows' coachman, for county
Judge, next year! No? She had not
heard that the connie himself had
thought of running for the Office! he
might laugh at her as much as he
iked-he seemed to be in better spirits
than when she first saw him-only she
would like TO know if it was mo thin
style: to laugh coming home from
church? Of course if it ecas she would
have to adopt it with the Fifteenth
amendment. But just now, she no.
ticed the folks were staring at them
and Miss Sally Bows had turned round
to look! Nevertheless Miss Octavia's
..11,1. ohoo1, noaract tho oolonal-ff,a