Then something lashed me across the face, striking me to the ground.
When I stood up, I was alone. Running into the house, I found Mr.
Flowers.
"You are hurt!" he cried. "Slashed across the face with a riding whip.
But you should have stayed on the gallery. Belle ought to have known
better than to wear that dress. I told her not to, but you know how
headstrong those girls are."
"That is not getting her back. Get a lantern. We have got to find her."
"We will go through the fields. There is a short cut. You light the
lantern while I get a shawl for her. God, but it's cold and there's a
black cloud over the moon."
I carried the shawl and almost had to run behind him as he carried the
lantern over the hill. We came to the corner of the schoolhouse at
last. Halfway to the tombstone, we stumbled over a body. It was Sam,
still alive but gasping for breath.
"They done come back. Colonel and his lady. I'se gwine home now, case
the Colonel won't call fer me no more."
Hand on wrist, I look at the white face of the man holding the lantern.
"He is dead!" I whispered.
"We have to find Belle," he cried, and went toward the grave.
There we found her sleeping, one hand on the stone, at rest.
Sitting on the ground he held her in his arms, crying.
I took the lantern and examined the clay earth outside the fence.
Hoofprints of two shod horses, side by side.
"She ran up here to tease you, Doctor. It was too much for her heart.
She slashed you across the face in play, and then ran here, thinking
you would follow her. That explains everything, doesn't it, Doctor?"
"It should," I said gently, trying to unlock his arms from the lovely
thing he held. "It should, but the Colonel will ride no more."
* * * * *