a mountain europa-第11部分

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wood…thrush…his　favorite…from　the　edge　of　the　forest；　even　the　mid…air　song　of　a　meadow…lark　above　his　head；　were　unheeded　as；　with　face　haggard　with　thought　and　travel；　he　turned　doggedly　from　the　road　and　up　the　mountain　toward　Easter's　home。　The　novelty　and　ethnological　zeal　that　had　blinded　him　to　the　disagreeable　phases　of　mountain　life　were　gone；　so　was　the　pedestal　from　which　he　had　descended　to　make　a　closer　study　of　the　people。　　For　he　felt　now　that　he　had　gone　among　them　with　an　unconscious　condescension；　his　interest　seemed　now　to　have　been　little　more　than　curiosity…a　pastime　to　escape　brooding　over　his　own　change　of　fortune。　And　with　Easter…ah；　how　painfully　clear　his　mental　vision　had　grown！　Was　it　the　tragedy　of　wasting　possibilities　that　had　drawn　him　to　her…to　help　her…or　was　it　his　own　miserable　selfishness；　after　all？

No　one　was　visible　when　he　reached　the　cabin。　The　calm　of　mountain　　and　sky　enthralled　it　as　completely　as　the　cliff　that　towered　behind　it。　　　The　day　still　lingered；　and　the　sunlight　rested　lightly　on　each　neighboring　crest。　　As　he　stepped　upon　the　porch　there　was　a　slight　noise　within　the　cabin；　and；　　peering　into　the　dark　interior；　he　called　Easter's　name。　There　was　no　answer；　　and　he　sank　wearily　into　a　chair；　his　thoughts　reverting　homeward。　　　By　this　time　his　mother　and　sister　must　know　why　he　had　come　back　to　the　mountains。　　He　could　imagine　their　consternation　and　grief。　Perhaps　that　was　only　the　beginning；　　he　might　be　on　the　eve　of　causing　them　endless　unhappiness。　　He　had　thought　to　　involve　them　as　little　as　possible　by　remaining　in　the　mountains；　but　the　thought　　of　living　there　was　now　intolerable　in　the　new　relations　he　would　sustain　　to　the　people。　What　should　he　do？　where　go？　As　he　bent　fQrward　in　perplexity；　　there　was　a　noise　again　in　the　cabin…this　time　the　stealthy　tread　of　　feet…and　before　he　could　turn；　a　rough　voice　vibrated　threateningly　in　his　ears：　

Say　who　ye　air；　and　what　yer　business　is；　mighty　quick；　er　ye　hain't　got　a　minute　to　live。〃

Clayton　looked　up；　and　to　his　horror　saw　the　muzzle　of　a　rifle　pointed　straight　at　his　head。　At　the　other　end　of　it；　and　standing　in　the　door；　was　a　short；　stocky　figure；　a　head　of　bushy　hair；　　and　a　pair　of　small；　crafty　eyes。　The　fierceness　and　suddenness　of　the　voice；　　in　the　great　silence　about　him；　and　its　terrible　earnestness；　left　him　almost　paralyzed。

〃Come；　who　air　ye？　　Say　quick；　and　don't　move；　nother〃

Clayton　spoke　his　name　with　difficulty。　The　butt　of　the　rifle　dropped　to　the　floor；　and　with　a　harsh　laugh　its　holder　advanced　to　him　with　hand　outstretched：

So　ye　air　Easter's　feller；　air　ye？　Well；　I'm　yer　dad…that's　to　be。　Shake。〃

Clayton　shuddered。　Good　heavens！　this　was　Easter's　father！　More　than　once　or　twice；　his　name　had　never　been　mentioned　at　the　cabin。

I　tuk　ye　fer　a　raider；〃　continued　the　old　mountaineer；　not　noticing　Clayton's　repulsion；　〃'n'　ef　ye　had　'a'　been；　ye　wouldn't　be　nobody　now。　I　reckon　Easter　hain't　told　ye　much　about　me；　'n'　I　reckon　she　hev　a　right　to　be　a　leetle　ashamed　of　me。　　I　had　a　leetle　trouble　down　thar　in　the　valley…I　s'pose　you've　heerd　about　it…'n'　I've　had　to　keep　kind　o'　quiet。　　I　seed　ye　once　afore；　'n'　I　come　near　shootin'　ye；　thinkin'　ye　was　a　raider。　　Am　mighty　glad　I　didn't；　fer　Easter　is　powerful　sot　on　ye。　Sherd　thought　I　could　resk　comm'　down　to　the　wed…din'。　They　hev　kind　o'　give　up　the　s'arch；　'n'　none　o'　the　boys　won't　tell　on　me。　We'll　have　an　old…timer；　I　tell　ye。　Ye　folks　　from　the　settle…mints　air　mighty　high…heeled；　but　old　Bill　Hicks　　don't　allus　go　bar'footed。　　He　kin　step　purty　high；　'n'　he's　a…goin'　　to　do　it　at　that　weddin'。　Hev　somefin？〃　he　asked；　suddenly　pulling　　out　a　flask　of　colorless　liquid。　〃Ez　ye　air　to　be　one　o'　the　fambly；　　I　don't　mind　tellin'　ye　thar's　the　very　moonshine　that　caused　the　　leetle　trouble　down　in　the　valley。〃

For　fear　of　giving　offence；　Clayton　took　a　swallow　of　the　liquid；　which　burned　him　like　fire。　　He　had　scarcely　recovered　from　the　first　shock；　and　he　had　listened　to　the　man　and　watched　him　with　a　sort　of　enthralling　fascination。　　He　was　Easter's　father。　　He　could　even　see　a　faint　suggestion　of　Easter's　face　in　the　cast　of　the　features　before　him；　coarse　and　degraded　as　they　were。　　He　had　the　same　nervous；　impetuous　quickness；　and；　horrified　by　the　likeness；　Clayton　watched　him　sink　back　into　a　chair；　pipe　in　mouth；　and　relapse　into　a　stolidity　that　seemed　incapable　of　the　energy　and　fire　shown　scarcely　a　moment　before。　　His　life　in　the　mountains　had　made　him　as　shaggy　as　some　wild　animal。　He　was　coatless；　and　his　trousers　of　jeans　were　upheld　by　a　single　home…made　suspender。　His　beard　was　yet　scarcely　touched　with　gray；　and　his　black；　lustreless　hair　fell　from　under　a　round　hat　of　felt　with　ragged　tdges　and　uncertain　color。　The　mountaineer　did　not　speak　again　until；　　with　great　deliberation　and　care；　he　had　filled　a　cob　pipe。　　Then　he　bent　his　sharp　eyes　upon　Clayton　so　fixedly　that　the　latter　let　his　own　fall。

〃Mebbe　ye　don't　know　that　I'm　ag'in'　fur…riners；〃　he　said；　abruptly；　〃　all　o'　ye；　'n'　ef　the　Lord　hisself　hed　'a'　tol'　me　thet　my　gal　would　be　a…marryin'　one；　I　wouldn't　'a'　believed　him。　But　Sherd　hev　told　me　ye　air　all　right；　'n'　ef　Sherd　says　ye　air；　why；　ye　air；　I　reckon；　'n'　I　hevn't　got　nothin'　to　say；　though　I　hev　got　a　heap　ag'in　ye…all　o'　ye。〃

His　voice　had　a　hint　of　growing　anger　under　the　momentary　sense　of　his　wrongs；　and；　not　wishing　to　incense　him　further；　Clayton　said　nothing。

Ye　air　back　a　little　sooner　than　ye　expected；　ain't　ye？　〃　he　asked；　presently；　with　an　awkward　effort　at　good…humor。　　〃I　reckon　ye　air　gittin'　anxious。　　Well；　we　hev　been　gittin'　ready　fer　ye；　'n'　you　'n'　Easter　kin　hitch　ez　soon　ez　ye　please。　　Sherd　Raines　air　gum'　to　do　the　marryin'。　　He　air　the　best　friend　I　got。　Sherd　was　a…courtin'　the　gal；　too；　but　he　hevn't　got　no　gredge　ag'in　ye；　'n'　he　hev　promised　to　tie　ye。　　Sherd　air　a　preacher　now。　　He　hev　just　got　his　license。　He　didn't　want　to　do　it；　but　I　told　him　he　had　to。　We'll　hev　the　biggest　weddin'　ever　seed　in　these　mountains；　I　tell　ye。　Any　o'　yo'　folks　be　on　hand？〃

No；〃　answered　Clayton；　soberly；　〃I　think　not。〃

〃Well；　I　reckon　we　kin　fill　up　the　house。〃

Clayton's　heart　sank　at　the　ordeal　of　a　wedding　with　such　a　master　of　ceremonies。　He　was　about　to　ask　where　Easter　and　her　mother　were；　when；　to　his　relief；　he　saw　them　both　in　the　path　below；　approaching　the　house。　　The　girl　was　carrying　a　bucket　of　water　on　her　head。　Once　he　would　have　thought　her　picturesque；　but　now　it　pained　him　to　see　her　doing　such　rough　work。　　When　she　saw　him；　she　gave　a　cry　of　surprise　and　delight　that　made　Clayton　tingle　with　remorse。　Then　running　to　him　with　glowing　face；　she　stopped　suddenly；　and；　with　a　look　down　at　her　bare　feet　and　soiled　gown；　fled　into　the　cabin。　　Clayton　followed；　but　the　room　was　so　dark　he　could　see　nothing。

Easter！　〃　he　called。　There　was　no　answer；　but　he　was　suddenly　seized　about　the　neck　by　a　pair　of　unseen　arms　and　kissed　by　unseen　lips　twice　in　fierce　succession；　and　before　he　could　turn　and　clasp　the　girl　she　was　laughing　softly　in　the　next　room；　with　a　barred　door　between　them。　　Clayton　waited　patiently　several　minutes；　and　then　asked：

Easter；　aren't　you　ready？

Not　yit…not　yet！〃　She　corrected　herself　with　such　vehemence　that　Clayton　laughed。　She　came　out　presently；　and　blushed　when　Clayton　looked　her　over　from　head　to　foot　with　astonishment。　　She　was　simply　and　prettily　dressed　in　white　muslin；　a　blue　ribbon　was　about　her　throat；　and　her　hair　was　gathered　in　a　Psyche　knot　that　accented　the　classicism　of　her　profile。　Her　appearance　was　really　refined　and　tasteful。　When　they　went　out　on　the　porch　he　noticed　that　her　hands　had　lost　their　tanned　appearance。　Her　feet　were　slippered；　and　she　wore　black　stockings。　　He　remembered　the　book　of　fashion…plates　he　had　once　sent　her；　it　was　that　that　had　quickened　her　instinct　of　dress。　　He　said　nothing；　but　the　happy　light　in　Easter's　face　shone　brighter　as　she　noted　his　pleased　and　puzzled　gaze。

Why；　ye　look　like　another　man；〃　said　Easter's　mother；　who　had　been　looking　Clayton　over　with　a　quizzical　smile。　〃Is　that　the　way　folks　dress　out　in　the　settlemints？　　'N'　look　at　that　gal。　　Ef　she　hev　done　anythin'　sence　ye　hev　been　gone　but____〃　　The　rest　of　the　sentence　was　smothered　in　the　palm　of　Easter's　hand；　and　she　too　began　scrutinizing　Clayton　closely。　　The　mountaineer　said　nothing；　and　after　a　curious　glance　at　Easter　resumed　his　pipe。

You　look　like　a　pair　of　butterflies；〃　said　the　mother　when　released。　　〃Sherd　oughter　be　mighty　proud　of　his　first　marryin'。　I　s'pose　ye　know　he　air　a　preacher　now？　Ye　oughter　heerd　him　preach　last　Sunday。　　It　was　his　fust　time。　The　way　he　lighted　inter　the　furriners　was　a　caution。　　He　'lowed　he　was　a…goin'　to　fight　cyard…playin'　and　dancin'　ez　long　ez　he　hed　breath。〃

Yes；　'n'　thar's　whar　Sherd　air　a　fool。　I'm　ag'in　furriners；　too；　but　thar　hain't　no　harm　in　dancin；　n'　thar's　goin'　to　be　dancin'　at　this　weddin'　ef　I'm　alive。〃

Easter　shrank　perceptibly　when　her　father　spoke；　and　looked　furtively　at　Clayton；　who　winced；　in　spite　of　himself；　as　the　rough　voice　grated　in　his　ear。　　Instantly　her　face　grew　unhappy；　and　contained　an　appeal　for　pardon　that　he　was　quick　to　understand　and　appreciate。　Thereafter　he　concealed　his　repulsion；　and　treated　the　rough　bear　so　affably　that　Easter's　eyes　grew　moist　with　gratitude。

Darkness　was　gathering　in　the　valley　below　when　he　rose　to　go。　Easter　had　scarcely　spoken　to　him；　but　her　face　and　her　eyes；　fixed　always　upon　him；　were　eloquent　with　joy。　Once　as　she　passed　behind　him　her　hand　rested　with　a　timid；　caressing　touch　upon　his　shoulder；　and　now；　as　he　walked　away　from　the　porch；　she　called　him　back。　　He　turned；　and　she　had　gone　into　the　house。

What　is　it；　Easter？　〃　he　asked；　stepping　into　the　dark　room。　　His　hand　was　grasped　in　both　her　own　and　held　tremblingly。

Don't　mind　dad；〃　she　whispered；　softly。　Something　warm　and　moist　fell　upon　his　hand　as　she　unloosed　it；　and　she　was　gone。

That　night　he　wrote　home　in　a　better　frame　of　mind。　The　charm　of　the　girl's　personality　had　asserted　its　power　again；　and　hopes　that　had　almost　been　destroyed　by　his　trip　home　were　rekindled　by　her　tasteful　appearance；　her　del