sally dows-第15章

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Dowsa　burning　blush！

〃Miss　Sally！〃　　He　almost　leaped　from　the　bed；　but　she　was　gone。
There　was　another　rustle　at　the　doorthe　entrance　of　Sophy。

〃Call　her　back；　Sophy；　quick！〃　he　said。

The　negress　shook　her　turbaned　head。　　〃Not　much；　honey！　　When　Miss
Sally　say　she　goesshe　done　gone；　shuah！〃

〃But；　Sophy！〃　　Perhaps　something　in　the　significant　face　of　the
girl　tempted　him；　perhaps　it　was　only　an　impulse　of　his　forgotten
youth。　　〃Sophy！〃　appealingly〃tell　me！is　Miss　Sally　engaged　to
her　cousin？〃

〃Wat　dat？〃　said　Sophy　in　indignant　scorn。　　〃Miss　Sally　engaged　to
dat　Dumont！　　What　fo'？　　Yo'　're　crazy！　　No！〃

〃Nor　Champney？　　Tell　me；　Sophy；　has　she　a　LOVER？〃

For　a　moment　the　whites　of　Sophy's　eyes　were　uplifted　in　speechless
scorn。　　〃Yo'　ask　dat！　　Yo'　lyin'　dar　wid　dat　snake…bit　arm！　　Yo'
lyin'　dar；　and　Miss　Sallywho　has　only　to　whistle　to　call　de　fust
quality　in　de　State　raoun　hercoming　and　going　here　wid　you；　and
trotting　on　yo'r　arrantsand　yo'　ask　dat！　　Yes！　she　has　a　lover；
and　what's　me'；　she　CAN'T　HELP　IT；　and　yo'　're　her　lover；　and
what's　me'；　YO'　can't　help　it　either！　　And　yo'　can't　back　out　of　it
nowbo'fe　of　yo'nebber！　　Fo'　yo'　're　hers；　and　she's　yo'rsfo'
ebber。　　For　she　sucked　yo'　blood。〃

〃What！〃　gasped　Courtland；　aghast　at　what　he　believed　to　be　the
sudden　insanity　of　the　negress。

〃Yes！　　Whar's　yo'r　eyes？　whar's　yo'r　years？　who's　yo'　dat　yo'
didn't　see　nor　heah　nuffin？　　When　dey　dragged　yo'　outer　de　swamp
dat　nightwid　de　snake…bite　freshen　yo'r　armdidn't　SHE；　dat　poh
chile！dat　same　Miss　Sallyfrow　herself　down　on　yo'；　and　put　dat
baby　mouf　of　hers　to　de　wound　and　suck　out　de　pizen　and　sabe　de
life　ob　yo'　at　de　risk　ob　her　own？　　Say？　　And　if　dey's　any　troof　in
Hoodoo；　don't　dat　make　yo'　one　blood　and　one　soul！　　Go　way；　white
man！　　I'm　sick　of　yo'。　　Stop　dar！　　Lie　down　dar！　　Hol'　on；　co'nnle；
for　massy's　sake。　　Well；　darI'll　call　her　back！〃

And　she　did！


〃Look　heredon't　you　knowit　rather　took　me　by　surprise；〃　said
Champney；　a　few　days　later；　with　a　hearty　grip　of　the　colonel's
uninjured　hand；　〃but　I　don't　bear　malice；　old　fellow；　and；　by　Jove！
it　was　SUCH　a　sensible；　all…round；　business…like　choice　for　the
girl　to　make　that　no　wonder　we　never　thought　of　it　before。　　Hang　it
all；　you　see　a　fellow　was　always　so　certain　it　would　be　something
out　of　the　way　and　detrimental；　don't　you　know；　that　would　take　the
fancy　of　a　girl　like　thatsomebody　like　that　cousin　of　hers　or
Higbee；　or　even　ME；　by　Jove　that　we　never　thought　of　looking　beyond
our　nosesnever　thought　of　the　BUSINESS！　　And　YOU　all　the　time　so
cold　and　silent　and　matter…of…fact　about　it！　　But　I　congratulate
you！　　You've　got　the　business　down　on　a　safe　basis　now；　and　what's
more；　you've　got　the　one　woman　who　can　run　it。〃

They　say　he　was　a　true　prophet。　　At　least　the　Syndicate　affairs
prospered；　and　in　course　of　time　even　the　Reeds　and　the　Higbees
participated　in　the　benefits。　　There　were　no　more　racial
disturbances；　only　the　districts　polled　a　peaceful　and　SMALLER
Democratic　majority　at　the　next　election。　　There　were　not　wanting
those　who　alleged　that　Colonel　Courtland　had　simply　become　MRS。
COURTLAND'S　SUPERINTENDENT；　that　she　had　absorbed　him　as　she　had
every　one　who　had　come　under　her　influence；　and　that　she　would　not
rest　until　she　had　made　him　a　Senator　（to　represent　Mrs。　Courtland）
in　the　councils　of　the　nation。　　But　when　I　last　dined　with　them　in
Washington；　ten　years　ago；　I　found　them　both　very　happy　and
comfortable；　and　I　remember　that　Mrs。　Courtland's　remarks　upon
Federal　and　State　interests；　the　proper　education　of　young　girls；
and　the　management　of　the　family；　were　eminently　wise　and　practical。




THE　CONSPIRACY　OF　MRS。　BUNKER。


PART　I。


On　the　northerly　shore　of　San　Francisco　Bay　a　line　of　bluffs
terminates　in　a　promontory；　at　whose　base；　formed　by　the　crumbling
debris　of　the　cliff　above；　there　is　a　narrow　stretch　of　beach；　salt
meadow；　and　scrub　oak。　　The　abrupt　wall　of　rock　behind　it　seems　to
isolate　it　as　completely　from　the　mainland　as　the　sea　before　it
separates　it　from　the　opposite　shore。　　In　spite　of　its　contiguity
to　San　Francisco；opposite　also；　but　hidden　by　the　sharp　re…
entering　curve　of　coast；the　locality　was　wild；　uncultivated；　and
unfrequented。　　A　solitary　fisherman's　cabin　half　hidden　in　the
rocks　was　the　only　trace　of　habitation。　　White　drifts　of　sea…gulls
and　pelican　across　the　face　of　the　cliff；　gray　clouds　of　sandpipers
rising　from　the　beach；　the　dripping　flight　of　ducks　over　the　salt
meadows；　and　the　occasional　splash　of　a　seal　from　the　rocks；　were
the　only　signs　of　life　that　could　be　seen　from　the　decks　of　passing
ships。　　And　yet　the　fisherman's　cabin　was　occupied　by　Zephas　Bunker
and　his　young　wife；　and　he　had　succeeded　in　wresting　from　the　hard
soil　pasturage　for　a　cow　and　goats；　while　his　lateen…sailed
fishing…boat　occasionally　rode　quietly　in　the　sheltered　cove　below。

Three　years　ago　Zephas　Bunker；　an　ex…whaler；　had　found　himself
stranded　on　a　San　Francisco　wharf　and　had　〃hired　out〃　to　a　small
Petaluma　farmer。　　At　the　end　of　a　year　he　had　acquired　little　taste
for　the　farmer's　business；　but　considerable　for　the　farmer's
youthful　daughter；　who；　equally　weary　of　small　agriculture；　had
consented　to　elope　with　him　in　order　to　escape　it。　　They　were
married　at　Oakland；　he　put　his　scant　earnings　into　a　fishing…boat；
discovered　the　site　for　his　cabin；　and　brought　his　bride　thither。
The　novelty　of　the　change　pleased　her；　although　perhaps　it　was　but
little　advance　on　her　previous　humble　position。　　Yet　she　preferred
her　present　freedom　to　the　bare　restricted　home　life　of　her　past；
the　perpetual　presence　of　the　restless　sea　was　a　relief　to　the　old
monotony　of　the　wheat　field　and　its　isolated　drudgery。　　For　Mary's
youthful　fancy；　thinly　sustained　in　childhood　by　the　lightest
literary　food；　had　neither　been　stimulated　nor　disillusioned　by　her
marriage。　　That　practical　experience　which　is　usually　the　end　of
girlish　romance　had　left　her　still　a　child　in　sentiment。　　The　long
absences　of　her　husband　in　his　fishing…boat　kept　her　from　wearying
of　or　even　knowing　his　older　and　unequal　companionship；　it　gave　her
a　freedom　her　girlhood　had　never　known；　yet　added　a　protection　that
suited　her　still　childish　dependency；　while　it　tickled　her　pride
with　its　equality。　　When　not　engaged　in　her　easy　household　duties
in　her　three…roomed　cottage；　or　the　care　of　her　rocky　garden　patch；
she　found　time　enough　to　indulge　her　fancy　over　the　mysterious　haze
that　wrapped　the　invisible　city　so　near　and　yet　unknown　to　her；　in
the　sails　that　slipped　in　and　out　of　the　Golden　Gate；　but　of　whose
destination　she　knew　nothing；　and　in　the　long　smoke　trail　of　the
mail　steamer　which　had　yet　brought　her　no　message。　　Like　all
dwellers　by　the　sea；　her　face　and　her　thoughts　were　more　frequently
turned　towards　it；　and　as　with　them；　it　also　seemed　to　her　that
whatever　change　was　coming　into　her　life　would　come　across　that
vast　unknown　expanse。　　But　it　was　here　that　Mrs。　Bunker　was
mistaken。

It　had　been　a　sparkling　summer　morning。　　The　waves　were　running
before　the　dry　northwest　trade　winds　with　crystalline　but　colorless
brilliancy。　　Sheltered　by　the　high；　northerly　bluff；　the　house　and
its　garden　were　exposed　to　the　untempered　heat　of　the　cloudless　sun
refracted　from　the　rocky　wall　behind　it。　　Some　tarpaulin　and　ropes
lying　among　the　rocks　were　sticky　and　odorous；　the　scrub　oaks　and
manzanita　bushes　gave　out　the　aroma　of　baking　wood；　occasionally　a
faint　pot…pourri　fragrance　from　the　hot　wild　roses　and　beach　grass
was　blown　along　the　shore；　even　the　lingering　odors　of　Bunker's
vocation；　and　of　Mrs。　Bunker's　cooking；　were　idealized　and　refined
by　the　saline　breath　of　the　sea　at　the　doors　and　windows。　　Mrs。
Bunker；　in　the　dazzling　sun；　bending　over　her　peas　and　lettuces
with　a　small　hoe；　felt　the　comfort　of　her　brown　holland　sunbonnet。
Secure　in　her　isolation；　she　unbuttoned　the　neck　of　her　gown　for
air；　and　did　not　put　up　the　strand　of　black　hair　that　had　escaped
over　her　shoulder。　　It　was　very　hot　in　the　lee　of　the　bluff；　and
very　quiet　in　that　still　air。　　So　quiet　that　she　heard　two　distinct
reports；　following　each　other　quickly；　but　very　faint　and　far。
She　glanced　mechanically　towards　the　sea。　　Two　merchant…men　in
midstream　were　shaking　out　their　wings　for　a　long　flight；　a　pilot
boat　and　coasting　schooner　were　rounding　the　point；　but　there　was
no　smoke　from　their　decks。　　She　bent　over　her　work　again；　and　in
another　moment　had　forgotten　it。　　But　the　heat；　with　the　dazzling
reflection　from　the　cliff；　forced　her　to　suspend　her　gardening；　and
stroll　along　the　beach　to　the　extreme　limit　of　her　domain。　　Here
she　looked　after　the　cow　that　had　also　strayed　away　through　the
tangled　bush　for　coolness。　　The　goats；　impervious　to　temperature；
were　basking　in　inaccessible　fastnesses　on　the　cliff　itself　that
made　her　eyes　ache　to　climb。　　Over　an　hour　passed；　she　was
returning；　and　had　neared　her　house；　when　she　was　suddenly　startled
to　see　the　figure　of　a　man　between　her　and　the　cliff。　　He　was
engaged　in　brushing　his　dusty　clothes　with　a　handkerchief；　and
although　he　saw　her　coming；　and　even　moved　slowly　towards　her；
continued　his　occupation　with　a　half…impatient；　half…abstracted
air。　　Her　feminine　perception　was　struck　with　the　circumstance　that
he　was　in　deep　black；　with　scarcely　a　gleam　of　white　showing　even
at　his　throat；　and　that　he　wore　a　tall　black　hat。　　Without　knowing
anything　of　social　customs；　it　seemed　to　her　that　his　dress　was
inconsistent　with　his　appearance　there。

〃Good…morning；〃　he　said；　lifting　his　hat　with　a　preoccupied　air。
〃Do　you　live　here？〃

〃Yes；〃　she　said　wonderingly。

〃Anybody　else？〃

〃My　husband。〃

〃I　mean　any　other　people？　　Are　there　any　other　houses？〃　he　said
with　a　slight　impatience。

〃No。〃

He　looked　at　her　and　then　towards　the　sea。　　〃I　expect　some　friends
who　are　coming　for　me　in　a　boat。　　I　suppose　they　can　land　easily
here？〃

〃Didn't　you　yourself　land　here　just　now？〃　she　said　quickly。

He　half　hesitated；　and　then；　as　if　scorning　an　equivocation；　made　a
hasty　gesture　over　her　shoulder　and　said　bluntly；　〃No；　I　came　over
the　cliff。〃

〃Down　the　cliff？〃　she　repeated　incredulously。

〃Yes；〃　he　said；　glancing　at　his　clothes；　〃it　was　a　rough　scramble；
but　the　goats　showed　me　the　way。〃

〃And　you　were　up　on　the　bluff　all　the　time？〃　she　went　on　curiously。

〃Yes。　　You　seeI〃he　stopped　suddenly　at　what　seemed　to　be　the
beginning　of　a　prearranged　and　plausible　explanation；　as　if
impatient　of　its　weakness　or　hypocrisy；　and　said　briefly；　〃Yes；　I
was　there。〃

Like　most　women；　more　observant　of　his　face　and　figure；　she　did　not
miss　this　lack　of　explanation。　　He　was　a　very　good…looking　man　of
middle　age；　with　a　thin；　proud；　high…bred　face；　which　in　a　country
of　bearded　men　had　the　further　distinction　of　being　smoothly
shaven。　　She　had　never　seen　any　one　like　him　before。　　She　thought
he　looked　like　an　illustration　of　some　novel　she　had　read；　but　also
somewhat　melancholy；　worn；　and　tired。

〃Won't　you　come　in　and　rest　yourself？〃　she　said；　motioning　to　the
cabin。

〃Thank　you；〃　he　said；　still　half　absently。　　〃Perhaps　I'd　better。
It　may　be　some　time　yet　before　they　come。〃

She　led