CHAPTER XII.
WHO WAS SHE?
The colored servants had with them strong cordials that soon broughtLionel to himself.
No bones were broken, but he was lame and bruised, and it was some timebefore he could mount the gentle animal Sam Spruce had ridden in goingforth to find him. Sally saw in a moment that it was Lord Rollin, thehorse Lionel had used when riding with his cousin Rosamond.
Hotspur, after a mad gallop, had raced back riderless to the stables,stirrups dangling and saddle awry. This had sent the men out in hothaste to find out what had happened.
As soon as Lionel was fairly recovered, he looked all around.
"Where is the beautiful creature that gave me water?" he asked.
"No one gave you water, Mars' Li'nel," said the well-spoken Sam Spruce."We fetched cordial that brought you to."
"Yes, yes, I know that," Lionel replied, "but who was the lovely beingall in white, with hair like the sun, eyes like stars, lips likecherries and with flowers all about her everywhere?"
Sam looked over to Corniel, winked, and touched his brow.
Lionel caught the gesture.
"Oh, now, none of that!" he said; "my head is not wandering. She camebefore you did, some charming little thing, I tell you, that was allbrightness and flowers."
"We saw no one, Mars' Lion," began Corniel; "you was all 'lone when wecomed up. Ef there'd been anybuddy else roun', dey couldn't 'a' got 'waydout our seein' 'em."
"Oh, well, never mind," said the young master, "if none of you saw anyone, there's no use in talking, but I know what I saw, and my headwasn't light or flighty, either."
The well-trained servants did not reply, but Bill, the groom, who stoodbehind Lionel, rolled his eyes in so droll a fashion, at the same timetouching his own woolly crown, that Sam Spruce only stopped a titter bya loud cough.
But he did not deceive his bright young master.
"Oh, you fellows may grin and make up eyes all you want to," he said,good-naturedly, "but I wasn't knocked crazy all at once, and one ofthese days you may find out I saw just what I say I did. Now get me homeas fast as you can."
They helped him mount the proud but steady Lord Rollin, and in a momentmore three of them rode away, leaving Sam Spruce to walk back.
Left alone, Sam took a good look around, and Sally, who had seen themtalking but could not hear what was said, was in terror lest he shouldspy her in the branches of the oak; but Sam, who looked in otherdirections, did not look up, and, finally, wagging his head in a knowingway, he moved off, greatly to Sally's relief.
The maid was in a kind of dream all the rest of the day, and, withoutexactly knowing it, she was very happy. Shortly before noon she returnedto the house, and going directly to the mirror in the keeping-room shesaid, without vanity, but with considerable curiosity:
"I wonder if I am fair at all?" and as the mirror flashed back the imageof a maiden surely very pleasant to look upon, she chuckled:
"I don't care, very glad I am that when I first touched the Fairy Princeand looked right into his eyes, I was in my best attire, and alsodressed in flowers. I wonder did it mean anything?"
"What should it mean?" asked the faithful Fairy.
"Mistress Cory Ann might say it was a good sign," said Sally.
"Do not be a silly, taking note of signs and omens!" cried the Fairy."They bear no meaning except for simple souls that know no better thanto make them up. Wise people and signs have naught to do with eachother."
Still Sally felt happy. She was glad that in white array, with flowersand midst sunshine and songs of birds, she had first come face to facewith her Fairy Prince.
"But he had been hurt," reminded the Fairy.
"Not badly," serenely smiled Maid Sally. "He soon came around with alittle attention."
That evening Sally strolled around to her seat in the hedge, hoping andwishing that she might hear some of the reading that had always charmedher. But long she sat there before any one came to the arbor. The palestars came out in the azure heavens, and indeed the maiden had a quietnap before there came a sound to break the stillness of the prettyevening.
Then the family coach drew up before the gate, and a gay companyalighted. Sally knew by this that there had been a supper partysomewhere, and that the young people had been away.
Would they go directly to the house, she wondered, or would they strollover to the arbor for awhile?
Ah, they were coming over. She wished she might peep at them in theirfine attire, but no, it would not do to try, and besides, she could notsee them very plainly now. Pretty soon she heard Lucretia say:
"I saw fair brows grow into a frown, when it was found you were too lameto dance to-night, my brother."
"Ah, but very lucky was I to be able to go out at all to-night, afterthe hard fall of this morning," cried Lionel. "Hotspur hath no gentleplunge once his blood is up."
"Has he ever thrown you before?" asked the Lady Rosamond.
"No, nor did he in truth throw me to-day," Lionel replied. "I had leftthe saddle of my own will, but by some strange bound Hotspur tossed menearly up again, then banged me like a wisp against a tree. The heavyfall stunned me."
"And Sam thought you inclined to wander in speech after the men foundyou," remarked Rosamond.
"Which is entirely untrue!" exclaimed Lionel, with some warmth. Then headded, in a gentler tone:
"I would I might know who was the bonny maid that bent over me and gaveme cooling drops of water and bathed my face and brow."
"Dost really think there was such a person, brother?" inquired Lucretia.
"It is quite as true as that I sit here this moment! Whether a woodFairy or a forest nymph I cannot tell, but a heartsome creature, all inwhite except for flowers of brightest hue, dropped water into my mouthand laved my hot brow."
"The other servants thought you wandered slightly," again venturedRosamond, "and as no one was in sight when they rode up, where couldyour nymph or Fairy have vanished so soon? Was not she with you but amoment before?"
"Only an instant before, my cousin. But never shall I yield to the ideathat I wandered or that my eyes deceived me as to the vision upon whichthey rested. Some day I hope to see my dear Fairy again, and when I do,I shall know her."
Sally held her breath for very rapture. Ah, how strange, how sweetlystrange! _He_, her Fairy Prince, had called her _his_ dear Fairy! Couldit be? Yes, it was true, true!
"But, remember, he knows naught of you," came the sad voice that alwayskept her down.
"See to it," cried her cheerful Fairy, "that should he ever see and knowyou, there will be naught for which to be ashamed."
"I will try," said Maid Sally.
But if Sally had been careful not to have the Fairy Prince see herbefore, doubly unwilling was she now that he should catch a glimpse ofher.
And not much danger of it was there except on Sundays, when he appearedat meeting. But Sally managed to stand behind the person in front ofher, so that not a peep at her face did the young gentleman of Inglesideget, when during the last singing the congregation turned about andfaced the choir.
But under her broad-rimmed hat it is doubtful if Sally's features wouldhave reminded him of the nymph of the pine woods. And so cautious wasMaid Sally that not another peep did her Fairy Prince get at heranywhere during the rest of his vacation.
And but seldom did the careful maid go over to the beloved perch betweenhedge and wall. From her window she more than once saw Lionel go flyingby on Hotspur's back, for the Southern lad rode as if by nature theswift, noble horses always to be found in the stables.
Then companies of young people would go forth on picnics, driving inwagons through the woods; or riding parties would be formed, whenHotspur would be left at home, while Lord Rollin, Lady Grace, and otherfine horses would bear young men and maidens to the make-believe hunt,or on the long, breezy ride.
And then again there came a fair September day, when Sally went to thequay, and away and away sailed the Fairy Prince, going back to
hisstudies and the books that were to fit him for the life that lay aheadand the days that were to come.
And back went Maid Sally to Mistress Kent, with the chief part of her"History of America," and the founding of the Colonies safely lodged inthe mind-cells under her red-gold hair.
And although Ingleside seemed deserted with the sailing away of its onlyson, the old charm yet lingered about his home.
One Saturday night in late October, Sally wandered over to thewell-known plantation. Bill was combing and rubbing down the horses,Hotspur, Lord Rollin, Springer, Lady Grace, and Crazy Jim.
Sally knew them all, could call half a dozen of them by their names. Itsent a pang of regret to her little young heart, seeing the animalsthat would feel the hand of their young master on the bridles no morefor nearly a year to come.
A little farther on Sam Spruce was picking at a banjo, and trolling in asweet tenor an old plantation song.
Everything seemed pleasant yet tinged with sadness, for all reminded herof the absent Prince. Not many children have the depths of imaginationthat had Maid Sally. But she would be thirteen in the winter, hers was avery loving, longing young heart, and she was almost alone in the world,for such children as sometimes came around Slipside Row were notcompanions for her or such as she could like.
And on this lovely, dreamy night, she strolled on and on, until she cameclose to Mammy Leezer seated flat on the grass, talking away to herselfas fast as her tongue could go. Her back was turned to Sally, and in thegrowing twilight she was not likely to see the lonely child.
Mammy's pipe was in her hand, and every minute or two she would stop andtake a long breath at it, sending a spire of curling smoke above herhead. Sally could hear plainly what she was saying, and as usual thesound of her sweet voice was comforting.
"No," she said, "I doan't like it one mite seein' my young Mars' Lionfly in' off to Inglan', and hearin' all sorts ob talk 'bout wars an'rumors o' wars. What dat chile got to do with sech tings, I like toknow? Lorr sakes, it ain't but yes'day I trot 'im on my ole knee firstto Bosting, den to Lynn, den to Salum, and home, home agin! And Lorra-massy! how dat lil trollop screech and scream when I put him on my bigshoe and sing dat trip song!"
Mammy stopped, held her pipe in a hand that rested on her knee, andsoftly wagging one foot, she began, in a slow, dreamy, singsong:
"Trip-a-trop-a-tronjes, De-vorkens-in-de-boonjes, De-koejes-in-de-klaver, De-Paarden-in-de-haver, De-eenjes-in-de-waterplass, So-pop!-my-lil-pick'ninny-goes!"
"Lorr, Lorr! I can hear dat poor lil monkey now, done choke a-larfin',when his ole Mammy toss him up inten her lap."
But Mammy's soliloquy was rudely broken in upon. Hotspur came tearingover the lawn, Bill in hot pursuit.
"Horrors unner hemlocks!" screamed Mammy, as the wild horse bolted by ata perfectly safe distance, then of his own accord pranced back to thestable yard.
Up got Mammy and trundled away. And back toward Slipside Row went Sally,laughing at Mammy's queer fright, but feeling thankful enough that shewas only frightened, not hurt.
Maid Sally Page 12