CHAPTER XI.
ON THE SALKAHATCHIE.
Scarce a leaf quivered on the branches of the magnolias, or a tress ofgray-green moss on the cypress boughs. All the world of theSalkahatchie was wrapped in siesta. The white clouds drifting onpalest turquoise were the only moving things except the water flowingbeneath, and its soft swish against the gunnels of the floating wharfmade the only sound.
The plantation home of Loringwood, facing the river, and reachedthrough the avenue of enormous live oaks, looked an enchanted palacetouched with the wand of silence.
From the wide stone steps to the wide galleries, with their flutedpillars, not a murmur but the winged insects droning in the tangledgrasses, for the wild luxuriance of rose tree and japonica, of lawnand crape myrtle, betrayed a lack of pruning knives in the immediateseason past; and to the south, where the rice fields had reached acrebeyond acre towards the swamps, there were now scattered patches offeathering young pine, creeping everywhere not forbidden to it by thehand of man.
Spring time and summer time, for almost a century, had been livedthrough under its sloping, square, dormer-windowed roof. But all theblue sky and brilliant sunshine above could not save it from asuggestion of autumn, and the shadows lengthening along the river werein perfect keeping with the entire picture--a picture of perpetualafternoon.
"Row-lock," "Row-lock," sounded the dip and click of paddles, as aboat swept close to the western bank, where the shadows fell. TwoAfro-Americans bent in rhythmic motion--bronze human machines, whosebared arms showed nothing of effort as they sent the boat cuttingthrough the still water.
A middle-aged woman in a voluminous lavender lawn and carrying aparasol of plaid silk-green, with faded pink bars, sat in the afterpart of the boat, while a slight brown-haired girl just in frontamused herself by catching at branches of willows as they passed.
"Evilena, honey, you certainly are like to do yourself a hurt reachingout like that, and if you _should_ go over!"
"But I shan't, Aunt Sajane. Do you reckon I'd risk appearing beforeGertrude Loring in a draggled gown just when she has returned from thevery heart of the civilized world? Goodness knows, we'll all lookdowdy enough to her."
Aunt Sajane (Mistress Sarah Jane Nesbitt) glanced down at her ownimmaculate lawn, a little faded but daintily laundered, and at her owntrim congress-gaitered feet.
"Oh, I didn't mean you," added the girl, laughing softly. "AuntSajane, I truly do believe that if you had nothing but gunny sacks fordresses you'd contrive to look as if you'd just come out of abandbox."
"I'd wear gunny sacks fast enough if it was to help the cause," agreedAunt Sajane, with a kindly smile. "So would you, honey."
"Honey" trailed her fingers in the waters, amber-tinted from the rootsof the cypress trees.
"If a letter from mama comes today we will just miss it."
"Only by a day. Brother Gideon will send it."
"But suppose he's away somewhere on business, or up there at Columbiaon state councils or conventions, or whatever they are, as he is justnow?"
"Then Pluto will fetch it right over," and she glanced at one of theblack men, who showed his teeth for an instant and bent his head inassent.
"Don't see why Judge Clarkson was _ever_ named Gideon," protested thegirl. "It's a hard, harsh sort of name, and he's as--as--"
"Soft?" queried the judge's sister, with an accompaniment of easylaughter. The youngest of the two oarsmen grinned. Pluto maintained awell-bred indifference.
"No!" and the girl flung a handful of willow leaves over the lavenderlawn. "He is--well--just about right, the judge is; so gentle, soconsiderate, so altogether magnificent in his language. I've adoredhim as far back as when he fought the duel with the Northern man whoreflected some way on our customs; that was starting a war for hisstate all alone, before anyone else thought of it, I reckon. I musthave been very little then, for I just recollect how he used to let melook in his pockets for candy, and I was awfully afraid of the pistolsI thought he must carry there to shoot people with," and she smiled atthe childish fancy. "I tell you, Aunt Sajane, if my papa had livedthere's just one man I'd like him to favor, and that's our judge. Buthe didn't, did he?"
"No, he didn't," said Aunt Sajane. "The McVeigh men were all dark,down to Kenneth, and he gets his fairness from your ma." Then sheadded, kindly, "the judge will be very proud of your admiration."
"Hope he'll care enough about it to hurry right along after us. Hedoes put in a powerful lot of his time in Charleston and Columbialately," and the tone was one of childish complaint.
"Why, honey, how you suppose our soldier boys would be provided forunless some of the representative men devote their time to the work?It's a consolation to me that Gideon is needed for civil service justnow, for if he wasn't he wouldn't be so near home as he is; he'd besomewhere North with a regiment, and I reckon that wouldn't suit youany better."
"No, it wouldn't," agreed the girl, "though I do like a man who willfight, of course. _Any_ girl does."
"Oh, Honey!"
"Yes they do, too. But just now I don't want him either fighting or inlegislature. I want him right along with us at Loringwood. If he isn'tthere to talk to Mr. Loring it won't be possible to have a word alonewith Gertrude all the time we stay. How he _does_ depend on her, andwhat an awful time she must have had all alone with him in Paris whilehe was at that hospital, or whatever it was."
"Not many girls so faithful as Gertrude Loring," agreed Aunt Sajane."Not that he has ever shown much affection for her, either,considering she is his own brother's child. But she certainly hasshown a Christian sense of duty towards him. Well, you see, they arethe only ones left of the family. It's natural, I suppose."
"_I_ would think it natural to run away and leave him, like Aleck andScip did."
Aunt Sajane cast a warning glance towards the two oarsmen.
"Well, I would," insisted the girl. "I wonder no more of them ran awaywhen they thought he was coming home. How he must have raved! _I_shouldn't wonder if it prostrated him again. You know old DoctorAllison said it was just a fit of temper caused--"
"Yes, yes, honey; but you know we are to sleep under his rooftonight."
"I'll sleep under Gertrude's half of it," laughed the girl. "It's nouse reminding me of my bad manners, Aunt Sajane. But as long as I canremember anyone, I've had two men in my mind. One always grunted at meand told me to take my doll somewhere else or be quiet. That wasKenneth's guardian, Matthew Loring. The other man always had sugarkisses in his pocket for me and gave me my first dog and my only pony.That was Judge Clarkson. You see if my judge had not been so lovelythe other would not have seemed so forbidding. It was the contrast didit. I wonder--I wonder if he ever had a sweetheart?"
"Gideon Clarkson? Lots of them," said his sister, promptly.
"I meant Mr. Loring."
"Nonsense, honey, nonsense."
"And nonsense means no," decided the girl. "I thought it would becurious if he had," then an interval of silence, broken only by thedip of the oars. "Gertrude's note said a Paris doctor is with them, afriend of Kenneth and mama. Well, I only hope _he_ isn't a crusty oldsweetheartless man. But of course he is if Mr. Loring chose him. I'mwild to know how they got through the blockade. Oh, dear, how I wishit was Ken!"
"I don't suppose you wish it any more than the boy himself," said AuntSajane, with a sigh. "There's a good many boys scattered from home,these days, who would be glad to be home again."
"But not unless they gain what they went for," declared the girl inpatriotic protest.
The older woman sighed, and said nothing. Her enthusiasms of a yearago had been shrouded by the crape of a mourning land; the glory ofconquest would be compensation, perhaps, and would be gained, nodoubt. But the price to be paid chilled her and left her without wordswhen Evilena revelled in the glories of the future.
"Loringwood line," said Pluto, motioning towards a great ditch leadingstraight back from the river.
Evilena shrugged her shoulders with a little pretense of chi
ll, andlaughed.
"That is only a reminder of what I used to feel when Gertrude's unclecame to our house. I wonder if this long dress will prevent him fromgrunting at me or ordering me out of the room if I talk too much."
"Remember, Evilena, he has been an invalid for four years, and isexcusable for almost any eccentricity."
"How did you all excuse his eccentricities before he got sick, AuntSajane?"
Receiving no reply, the girl comforted herself with the appreciativesmile of the oarsmen, who were evidently of her mind as to the planterunder discussion, and a mile further they ran the boat through thereeds and lily pads to the little dock at Loringwood.
Mrs. Nesbitt shook out the folds of her crisp lawn, adjusted herbonnet and puffs and sighed, as they walked up the long avenue.
"I can remember when the lily pads never could get a chance to growthere on account of the lot of company always coming in boats," shesaid, regretfully, "and I've heard that the old Lorings lived likekings here long ago; wild, reckless, magnificent men; not at all likethe Lorings now; and oh, my, how the place has been neglected of late.Not a sign of life about the house. Now, in _Tom_ Loring's time--"
They had reached the foot of the steps when the great double doorsswung back and a woman appeared on the threshold and inclined her headin greeting.
"Well, Margeret, I am glad to see some one alive," declared Mrs.Nesbitt; "the place is so still."
"Yes; just look at Pluto and Bob," said Evilena, motioning towards theboatmen. "One would think a ghost had met them at the landing, theyare so subdued."
The brown eyed, grey haired woman in the door glanced at the twocolored men who were following slowly along a path towards the back ofthe house.
"Yes, Miss Lena, it is quiet," she agreed. "Please step in MistressNesbitt. I'll have Raquel show you right up to your rooms, for MissLoring didn't think you could get here for an hour yet, and she feltobliged to ride over to the north corner, but won't be gone long."
"And Mr. Loring--how is he?"
"Mr. Loring is very much worn out. He's gone asleep now. Doctor sayshe's not to be seen just yet."
"Oh, yes; the doctor. I'll see him directly after I've rested alittle. He speaks English, I hope. Are you coming up, honey?"
"Not yet. I'll keep a lookout for Gertrude."
Margeret had touched a bell and in response a little black girl hadappeared, who smiled and ducked her head respectfully.
"Howdy, Miss Sajane? Howdy, Miss Lena?" she exclaimed, her black eyesdancing. "I dunno how come it come, I nevah heerd you all, for I donegot--"
"Raquel, you show Mistress Nesbitt to the west room," said the quiettones of Margeret, and Raquel's animation subsided into wordless grinsas she gathered up the sunshade, reticule and other belongings, andpreceded Mistress Nesbitt up the stairs.
"If there's anything I can do for you just send Raquel for me."
"Thank you, Margeret. I'll remember."
Margeret crossed the hall to the parlor door and opened it.
"If you'd rather rest in here, Miss Lena--"
"No, no; I'll go look for Gertrude. Don't mind me. I remember all therooms well enough to make myself at home till she comes."
Margeret inclined her head slightly and moved along the hall to thedoor of the dining room, which she entered.
Evilena looked after her with a dubious smile in the blue-gray eyes.
"I wonder if I could move as quietly as that even with my feet_bare_," and she tried walking softly on the polished oak floor, butthe heels of her shoes would persist in giving out little clickingsounds as Margeret's had not.
"It's no use. No living person with shoes on could walk silently asthat woman. She's just a ghost who--_a-gh-gh_!"
Her attempt at silent locomotion had brought her to the door of thelibrary, directly opposite the dining room. As she turned to retraceher steps that door suddenly opened and a hand grasped her shoulder.
"Oh, ho! This time I've caught you, have I? you--oh, murder!"
Her half uttered scream had been checked by the sound of a voice whichmemory told her was not that of her bugbear, the invalid master of thehouse. It was, instead, a strange gentleman, who was young, and evenattractive; whose head was a mass of reddish curls, and whose austeregaze changed quickly to an embarrassed stare as her hat slipped backand he saw her face. The girl was the first to recover herself.
"Yes, you certainly did catch me this time," she gasped.
"My dear young lady, I'm a blundering idiot. I beg your pardon mosthumbly. I thought it was that Raquel, and I--"
"Oh, Raquel?" and she backed to the opposite wall, regarding him withdoubt and question in her eyes.
"Exactly. Allow me to explain. Raquel, in company with some other impsof all shades, have developed an abnormal interest in the unpacking ofvarious boxes today, and especially a galvanic battery in here,which--"
"Battery? In _there_?" and Evilena raised on her tip-toes to surveythe room over his shoulder. "I know some boys of Battery B, but Inever saw them without uniforms."
"Uniform, is it? Well, now, you see, I've only been a matter of hoursin the country, and small chance to look up a tailor. Are--are they anecessity to the preservation of life here?"
He spoke with a doubtful pretense of timidity, and looked at herquizzically. She smiled, but made a little grimace, a curve of thelips and nod of the head conveying decision.
"You will learn it is the only dress for a man that makes life worthliving, for him, around here," she replied. "Every man who is notsuperannuated or attached to the state government in some way has towear a uniform unless he wants his loyalty questioned."
The un-uniformed man smiled at her delightful patriotic frankness.
"Faith, now, I've no objection to the questions if you are appointedquestioner. But let me get you a chair. Even when on picket duty andchallenging each new comer, you are allowed a more restful attitudethan your present one, I hope. You startled me into forgetting--"
"_I_ startled _you_? Well!"
"Oh, yes. I was the one to do the bouncing out and nabbing you, wasn'tI? Well, now, I can't believe you were the more frightened of the two,for all that. Have this chair, please; it is the most comfortable. Yousee, I fancied Raquel had changed under my touch from dusky brown toangelic white. The hat hid your face, you know, until you turnedaround, and then--"
"Well?" At the first tone of compliment she had forgotten all thestrangeness of their meeting, and remembered only the coquetry sonaturally her own. With or without the uniform of her country, he wasat least a man, and there had been a dearth of men about theirplantation, "The Terrace," of late.
"Well," he repeated after her, "when you tipped the hat back I thoughtin a wink of all the fairy stories of transformation I used to heartold by the old folks in Ireland."
"Do you really mean that you believe fairy stories?" Her tone wassevere and her expression chiding.
"On my faith I believed them all that minute."
Her eyes dropped to the toe of her slipper. It was all verydelightful, this tete-a-tete with the complimentary unknown, and to bethought a fairy! She wished she had gone up with Aunt Sajane andbrushed her hair. Still--
"I was sure it was Mr. Loring who had hold of me until I lookedaround," she confessed, "and that frightened me just as much as thewickedest fairy or goblin could ever do."
"Indeed, now, would it?"
She glanced around to see if her indiscreet speech had been overheardand then nodded assent.
"Oh, you needn't smile," she protested; and his face at once becamecomically grave. "_You_ didn't have him for a bug-a-boo when you werelittle, as I did. That doctor of his gave orders that no one was tosee him just now, and I am glad Gertrude will be back before we areadmitted. With Gertrude to back me up I could be brave as--as--"
"A sheep," suggested the stranger.
"I was going to say a lion, but lions are big, and I'm not very."
"No, you are not," he agreed. "Sad, isn't it?"
Then the
y both laughed. She was elated, bubbling over with delight, atmeeting some one in Loringwood who actually laughed.
"Gertrude's note last night never told us she had company, and I hadgloomy forebodings of Uncle Matthew and Uncle Matthew's doctor, towhom I would not dare speak a word, and the relief of finding realpeople here is a treat, so please don't mind if I'm silly."
"I shan't--when you are," he agreed, magnanimously. "But prayenlighten me as to why you will be unable to exchange words with themedical stranger? He's no worse a fellow than myself."
"Of _course_ not," she said, with so much fervor that her listener'ssmile was clearly a compromise with laughter. "But a doctor fromParis! Our old Doctor Allison is pompous and domineering enough, andhe never was out of the state, but this one from Europe, he is sure tooppress me with his wonderful knowledge. Indeed, I don't know who hewill find to talk to here, now, except Judge Clarkson. The judge_will_ be scholarly enough for him."
"And does he, also, oppress you with his professional knowledge?"
Evilena's laugh rang out clear as a bird's note.
"The Judge? Never! Why I just love him. He is the dearest, best--"
"I see. He's an angel entirely, and no mere mortal from Paris is to bementioned in the same breath."
"Well, he is everything charming," she insisted. "You would be sure tolike him."
"I wish I could be as sure you might change your mind and like thenew-comer from Paris."
"Do you? Oh, well, then, I'll certainly try. What is he like, nice?"
"I really can't remember ever having heard any one say so," confessedthe stranger, smiling at her.
"Well," and Evilena regarded him with wide, astonished eyes, "no oneelse likes him, yet you hoped I would. Why, I don't see how--"
The soft quick beat of horse hoofs on the white shelled roadinterrupted her, or gave opportunity for interrupting herself.
"I hope it's Gertrude. Oh, it _is_! You dear old darling."
She flounced down the steps, followed by the man, who was becoming apuzzle. He gave his hand to Miss Loring, who accepted that assistancefrom the horse block, and then he stepped aside that the embracefeminine might have no obstacle in its path.
"My dear little girl," and the mistress of Loringwood kissed her guestwith decided fondness. "How good of you to come at once--and Mrs.Nesbitt, too? I'm sorry you had to wait even a little while for awelcome, but I just had to ride over to the quarters, and then to thefar fields. Thank you, doctor, for playing host."
"_Doctor_?" gasped Evilena, gripping Miss Loring's arm. There was amoment of hesitation on the part of all three, when she said,reproachfully, looking at the smiling stranger, "Then it was you allthe time?"
"Was there no one here to introduce you?" asked Miss Loring, lookingfrom one to the other. "This is Dr. Delavan, dear, and this, doctor,is Kenneth's sister."
"Thanks. I recognized her at once, and I trust you will forgive me fornot introducing myself sooner, mademoiselle, but--well, we had so manyother more interesting things to speak of."
Evilena glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, and with her armabout Gertrude walked in silence up the steps. She wanted time tothink over what awful things she had said to him, not an easy thing todo, for Evilena said too many things to remember them all.
Margeret was in the hall. Evilena wondered by what occult messages shelearned when any one ascended those front steps. She took MissLoring's riding hat and gloves.
"Mistress Nesbitt is just resting," she said, in those soft eventones. "She left word to call her soon as you got back--she'd comedown."
"I'll go up and see her," decided Miss Loring. "Will you excuse us,doctor? And Margeret, have Chloe get us a bit of lunch. We are all alittle tired, and it is a long time till supper."
"I have some all ready, Miss Gertrude. Was only waiting till you gotback."
"Oh, very well. In five minutes we will be down."
Then, with her arm about Evilena, Miss Loring ascended the widestairway, where several portraits of vanished Lorings hung, none ofthem resembling her own face particularly.
She was what the Countess Biron had likened her to when the photographwas shown--a white lily, slender, blonde, with the peculiar andattractive combination of hazel eyes and hair of childish flaxencolor. Her features were well formed and a trifle small for herheight. She had the manner of a woman perfectly sure of herself, herposition and her own importance.
Her voice was very sweet. Sometimes there were high, clear tones init. Delaven had admired those bell-like intonations until now, when heheard her exchange words with Margeret. All at once the mellow,contralto tones of the serving woman made the voice of the lovelymistress sound metallic--precious metal, to be sure, nothing less thansilver. But in contrast was the melody, entirely human, soft,harmonious, alluring as a poet's dream of the tropics.
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