Page:Randall Parrish--My Lady of the South.djvu/345

OUR PLANS MISCARRY so as to see the front of the house. I heard the crunch of gravel under a horse's hoofs, saw her wave her hand. Then her face was turned toward me.

"Lieutenant King, you may watch with me," she said, smilingly. I came slowly across the room, scarcely realizing why I should prove obedient, and yet unable to resist her invitation. She held aside the curtain with one white hand, the gentle breeze blowing her hair. Together we watched the horseman riding swiftly across the field. Just before he disappeared he glanced back, and waved his hand. Then the girl turned, and smiled into my face.

"Do you like him, Lieutenant?"-she questioned simply.

"He has certainly given me every reason for respect. If we had met under other circumstances I should have valued his friendship highly."

"I am so glad to hear you say that. To me he is the noblest man living, and I want you to think so."

"Surely," I protested, a little surprised, "you did not suppose I would dislike him because he had come into your heart in advance of me?"

"Oh, no," the blood flooding her cheeks. "You are not one to harbor such prejudice, but I am going to think of you as a friend, and I want you really to care for those whom I care for. I have already emerged that far from sectional narrowness, Lieutenant. I can call a Yankee 'friend.' Is n't it almost a miracle? You can never know how bitter I have been; how intensely I have despised everything Northern. Somehow, you [ 325 ]