I could pick no flaw and was soon viewing myself with much complacency, for my exceedingly ladylike appearance meant that success was nominally certain.
During that trip was the only time I ever blessed my then slight form and effeminate voice. Hard service during the war and years of army life on our Western frontier since, have changed all that, and lost me every trace of that hated "prettiness," which at that time had gained me from my associates the sobriquet I so detested, and caused me so much genuine anguish of soul and many downfalls of pride.
Fully satisfied, I divested myself of my borrowed apparel and darkening the windows, just as the sun rose over the mountains, I was soon oblivious to everything around me.
CHAPTER VIII.
I was conscious of nothing more until Ned's voice sounded in my ears. I had ordered him to waken me at ten o'clock, no matter how soundly I was sleeping or how much I might expostulate with him at the time. I guess the poor fellow did have a rather hard time awakening me. Being on a civilized bed seemed to have obliterated the feeling of caution which had kept me on the qui vive since the beginning of my trip, and his voice in my ears at first roused me only to a semi-consciousness and faint impression of my surroundings, so accustomed was I to Ned's lingering awakenings. Not until his "Mars, you done said I wuz ter get you up, acaus' dis yer wa'" finally penetrated my dull ears did he rouse me effectually to present circumstances.
While thinking over my arrangements as I was dressing, I determined on taking Ned with me. It was the one additional item needed to perfect the plan I had originated, and I wondered that I had not thought of it before.
Ned belonged to our family, but during one of our long visits at S—— he had married a girl on a neighboring place and on our return home had been left behind. A high price had been offered for the girl, considerable more than she was worth, but her master would not part with her, so Ned had staid on at S—— from year to year. I doubt if he would have been willing to remain had we not been there so often, for he was deeply and honestly attached to our family.