Kitty's Conquest

by Charles King

  CHAPTER V.

  One bright, beautiful evening late in February, it was my good fortuneto find myself once more within "twenty minutes of Sandbrook"; this timeon no hurried visit, but with the deliberate intention of accepting thecordial invitation of the judge and Harrod to spend a month with them. Iwas to make their home my headquarters while attending to the limitedamount of law business that called me to that vicinity. I had heardseveral times from the plantation since Vinton's letter, and the verylast news I had received was penned by Miss Pauline's own fair hand,telling me in a sweet, happy, womanly letter of what neither you, whohave had patience enough to read this, nor I could be in the leastdegree surprised to learn,--her engagement to Major Vinton. The majorhimself, she wrote, had been summoned as a witness before acourt-martial, and would be gone several days, but back in time towelcome me. Then came a page about Amory: "He has entirely recovered;that is to say, he is as strong and active as ever; but still--I don'tknow how to express it exactly--he is not the same man he was beforethat night. You know that the wound in his shoulder was a very slightone, and that his injuries were mainly shocks and bruises received bybeing thrown and dragged by his wounded horse. When he was well enoughto drive about, the major used to bring him here frequently; and Ireally thought that he and Kitty were going to become great friends, forthey wore off much of the old embarrassment and seemed to be gettingalong so nicely. Then he used to ride over and spend entire afternoonswith us; and then, all of a sudden, he stopped coming; only visits usnow when he _has_ to; and is so changed, so constrained and moody that Idon't know what to make of it. I really believe that Kitty was growingto like him ever so much; and she wonders, I know, at this suddenchange. Even when he _does_ come he avoids and barely looks at her."

  It was strange; and I puzzled over it for some time. Matchmaking washardly in my line of business, yet no spinster aunt could have takenmore interest in the affair than myself. I was really anxious to getback to the plantation and see what could be made of it.

  Harrod and the carriage were at the station to meet me, and a rapiddrive in the cool night air soon brought us to the dear old house again;and there on the broad piazza, in the broad, cheerful stream of lightfrom the hall, stood the judge, Vinton, and Pauline; and in a moment Ihad sprung from the carriage and was receiving their warm and charmingwelcome. Vinton was as happy in his quiet, undemonstrative way as mancould be, and the fond, proud light in his dark eyes as he looked downat the graceful form leaning so trustfully upon his arm, was a sightthat made me envious. Presently Kitty came down; but not the Kitty ofold. Ah! little girl, what is it that has made those soft eyes so heavy,so sad? What has taken all the color from those round, velvety cheeks?What has become of the ringing, light-hearted laugh that came bubblingup from heart-springs that seemed inexhaustible in their freshness,their gladness? It is of no use to smile and chatter and prate aboutyour pleasure at seeing this antiquarian again. It is of no use to tossyour little head and look at me with something of the old coquettishlight in your eyes. You can't deceive me, little Kit; you are changed,sadly changed. I, who have been away so long a time, can see what othersonly partially notice.

  During the evening we all gathered in the parlor, talking over theevents of my previous visit. Kitty had early tired of any share in theconversation, and sat silent and absent, taking little heed of what wassaid, though once or twice, when we were not speaking of Amory, sherallied for a moment and made an effort. She had taken a chair near thewindow, and was more than half the time gazing dreamily out towards theroad. At last Vinton said he must get back to camp, bade us allgood-night; his orderly came round with the horses, and Pauline went outto see him off, everybody else just at that particular moment findingsomething of extreme interest which detained him or her in the parlor.

  It is odd how long it takes to say good-night under those circumstances.Fully fifteen minutes elapsed before the spurred boot-heels were heardgoing down the steps; then there was another slight detention,--cause,unknown; time, three minutes and a half,--and finally the clatter ofhoofs as they rode off, twenty-seven minutes by the clock after the timewhen the major had announced that he must be off at once,--couldn't stayanother minute.

  When the hoof-beats had died away, Pauline came back to us radiant,lovely; and even that tease Harrod could not find it in his heart to sayone word on the subject of the major's unaccountable display ofunmilitary tardiness, though he looked vastly as though he would liketo. Good-nights were exchanged, and soon after I found myself cosilyensconced in my old quarters in the wing.

  About noon on the following day Mars trotted up the road, and, throwinghis horse's rein over the gate-post, came "clinking" up the walk. Hisheels were decorated with a pair of huge Mexican spurs, with littlependants of steel attached to the rowels in such a way as to cause ajingling with every movement. I had gone out on the piazza to meet him,and he quickened his pace and waved his cap with a cheery "How are you,Mr. Brandon?" the moment he caught sight of me. As he sprang up thesteps I saw that he had at least lost none of his old activity; andthough thinner and a trifle paler than when I first met him, it was notat first glance noticeable.

  After the excitement of our meeting was over, however, and we werechatting over the Ku-Klux entertainments, I noticed how soon he becamejust the restless, absent, constrained fellow that Pauline haddescribed. He changed color and started every time a footstep was heardin the hall; greeted Pauline warmly when she came down, and seemed to bemore himself when talking with her, but even then his eyes wandered tothe doorway. Something was wanting; and at last he made a vigorouseffort and stammered an inquiry as to "Miss Carrington's" health.

  "Kitty is pretty well, and will be down in a minute. She was writing toAunt Mary when you came. If I were Kitty _I_ wouldn't come down to seeyou at all, Mr. Frank Amory, for you've not been near us for the lastten days, and I presume we owe this call entirely to Mr. Brandon."

  Poor fellow! he fidgets and looks woe-begone enough; tries hard to pleadconstant duties, no lack of inclination, etc., and just in the midst ofit all, the rustle of skirts and the patter of quick, light footsteps isheard in the hall, and Frank Amory starts up with the flush deepening onhis cheek and forehead, and stands facing the doorway as little Kitcomes in,--comes in with a face that flushes deeply as his own, witheyes that are raised to his but for one brief second and then seek anyother object but the young soldier before her, with a nervous,fluttering reply to his "Good-morning, Miss Carrington; I hope you'rewell?" and finally, as she subsides into an arm-chair by the window,with an air of mingled relief and apprehension that puzzles meinexpressibly. Amory, meantime, has resumed his seat (on his forage-capthis time), and plunged hastily into a description of a marvellous horsethey have just concluded to purchase for officers' use. He must be amarvel; and it is astonishing what an amount of interest Frank takes intelling Pauline all about his performances. Kitty sits by the windowlistening, but saying not a word; and after this sort of thing has beenkept up some twenty minutes Pauline excuses herself.

  "Now don't go till I come back, Frank; I'll only be gone a few minutes."And with a glance at me that seems, as Mark Twain says, "perfectlyluminous with meaning" to her, but which in my masculine stupidity Ifail to comprehend until some minutes after, that young lady makes herexit. Then Mars turns upon me, utterly absorbed in the same horse, andwith distracting volubility tells me the same rigmarole he told Pauline,every word of which I had heard. Then he asks questions about Hank Smiththat he had asked three or four times already, and just as I'm beginningto wonder whether his accident had not resulted in permanent injury tohis mental faculties a servant appears at the door.

  "Miss Summers says will Mr. Brandon please come and help her a minute."And as Mr. Brandon obligingly rises to comply with her request, Amorysprings up too, whips out his watch, and exclaims,--

  "By Jove! how time flies! I told Vinton I'd be back for afternoonstables,--_must_ be off! Good-by, Mr. Brandon; come over to camp and seeus. Good-by, Miss Carrington; sorry I ha
ve to hurry." And out he goes;clatters down the steps and back to his horse; throws the reins over theanimal's head, and vaults into his saddle; and then, with one wave ofhis hand, dashes off at a mad gallop.

  I turned again into the house, and this is what I saw in the parlor.Kitty Carrington, all alone, standing there at the window gazing afterAmory as he disappeared down the road; her tiny white hands tightlyclinching the window-sill; two great big tears just starting from eacheye and trickling slowly, heavily down her cheeks; her dainty formquivering with emotion. Little by little I am beginning to suspect thetruth in the matter, and, as I turn softly away without attracting herattention, mentally resolve to unearth the whole secret. Pretty businessfor a man of my years, you will say, but "we lawyers are curious."

  N.B.--Pauline didn't want me at all. It was a ruse to get me away.

  For the next three days matters went on in pretty much the same groove.Amory came over to dinner once and was utterly absurd,--handed Miss Kitto her chair, took his allotted place beside her; and hardly addressedone word to her through the entire repast, though he gabbled unceasinglyto every one else. Just as soon as we could finish our cigars afterdinner, and an adjournment was moved to the parlor, he declared he mustbe off; said he had a whole heap of commissary returns to make up beforemorning; and, with the briefest possible good-night to the ladies andthe judge, away he went.

  Pauline looked puzzled, Vinton amused, and Kitty--out of the window.

  That night Mr. G. S. Brandon, who has already played too inquisitive apart in this little affair, resolved, before closing his eyes for agood, old-fashioned sleep, that he might as well be hanged for a sheepas a lamb, and pry still further; but he never dreamed how odd would bethe solution.