a mountain europa-第12部分

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s　that　had　almost　been　destroyed　by　his　trip　home　were　rekindled　by　her　tasteful　appearance；　her　delicacy　of　feeling；　and　by　her　beauty；　which　he　had　not　overrated。　He　asked　that　his　sister　might　meet　him　in　Louisville　after　the　wedding…whenever　that　should　be。　They　two　could　decide　then　what　should　be　done。　　His　own　idea　was　to　travel；　and　so　great　was　his　confidence　in　Easter；　he　believed　that；　in　time；　he　could　take　her　to　New　York　without　fear。

XII

IT　was　plain　that　Raines…to　quiet　the　old　　man's　uneasiness；　perhaps…had　told　him　of　his　last　meeting　with　Clayton；　and　that；　during　the　absence　of　the　latter；　some　arrangements　for　the　wedding　had　been　made；　even　by　Easter；　who　in　her　trusting　innocence　had　perhaps　never　thought　of　any　other　end　to　their　relations。　In　consequence；　there　was　an　unprecedented　stir　among　the　mountaineers。　　The　marriage　of　a　citizen　　with　a　〃　furriner　〃　was　an　unprecedented　event；　and　the　old　mountaineer；　who　began　to　take　some　pride　in　the　alliance；　emphasized　it　at　every　opportunity。

　At　the　mines　Clayton's　constant　visits　to　the　mountain　were　known　to　everybody；　but　little　attention　had　been　paid　to　them。　　Now；　however；　when　the　rumor　of　the　wedding　seemed　confirmed　by　his　return　and　his　silence；　every　one　was　alert　with　a　curiosity　so　frankly　shown　that　he　soon　became　eager　to　get　away　from　the　mountains。　　Accordingly；　he　made　known　his　wish　to　Easter's　parents　that　the　marriage　should　take　place　as　soon　as　possible。　Both　received　the　suggestion　with　silent　assent。　Then　had　followed　　many　difficulties。　Only　as　a　great　concession　to　the　ideas　and　customs　　of　〃　fur…riners〃　would　the　self…willed　old　mountaineer　agree　that　　the　ceremony　should　take　place　at　night；　and　that　after　the　supper　　and　the　dance；　the　two　should　leave　Jellico　at　daybreak。　　Mountain　marriages　were　solemnized　in　the　daytime；　and　wedding　　journeys　were　unknown。　The　old　man　did　not　understand　why　Clayton　　should　wish　to　leave　the　mountains；　and　the　haste　of　the　latter　　seemed　to　give　him　great　offence。　When　Clayton　had　ventured　to　suggest；　　instead；　that　the　marriage　should　be　quiet；　and　that　he　and　Easter　　should　remain　on　the　mountain　a　few　days　before　leaving；　he　fumed　with　anger；　　and　thereafter　any　suggestion　from　the　young　engineer　was　met　with　a　suspicion　　that　looked　ominous。　　Raines　was　away　on　his　circuit；　and　would　not　return　　until　just　before　the　wedding；　so　that　from　him　Clayton　could　get　no　help。　　Very　wisely；　then；　he　interfered　no　more；　but　awaited　the　day　with　dread。

It　was　nearing　dusk　when　he　left　the　camp　on　his　wedding…night。　　Half…way　up　the　mountain　he　stopped　to　lean　against　the　kindly　breast　of　a　bowlder　blocking　the　path。　　It　was　the　spot　where　he　had　seen　Easter　for　the　first　time。　The　mountains　were　green　again；　as　they　were　then；　but　the　scene　seemed　sadly　changed。　The　sun　was　gone；　　the　evening…star　had　swung　its　white　light　like　a　censer　above　Devil's　Den；　　the　clouds　were　moving　swiftly　through　the　darkening　air；　　like　a　frightened　flock　seeking　a　fold；　and　the　night　was　closing　fast　　over　the　cluster　of　faint　camp…fires。　The　spirit　brooding　over　mountain　　and　sky　was　unspeakably　sad；　and　with　a　sharp　pain　at　his　heart　Clayton　　turned　from　it　and　hurried　on。　　Mountain；　sky；　and　valley　were　soon　lost　　in　the　night。　　When　he　reached　the　cabin　rays　of　bright　light　were　flashing　　from　chink　and　crevice　into　the　darkness；　and　from　the　kitchen　came　the　sounds　　of　busy　preparation。　Already　many　guests　had　arrived。　　A　group　of　men　　who　stood　lazily　talking　in　the　porch　became　silent　as　he　approached；　but；　recognizing　none　of　them；　he　entered　the　cabin。　A　dozen　women　were　seated　about　the　room；　and　instantly　their　eyes　were　glued　upon　him。　　As　the　kitchen　door　swung　open　he　saw　Easter's　mother　bending　over　the　fireplace；　a　table　already　heavily　laden；　and　several　women　bustling　about　it。　Above　his　head　he　heard　laughter；　a　hurried　tramping　of　feet；　and　occasional　cries　of　surprise　and　delight。　He　paused　at　the　threshold；　hardly　knowing　what　to　do；　and　when　he　turned　a　titter　from　one　corner　showed　that　his　embarrassment　was　seen。　On　the　porch　he　was　seized　by　　Easter's　father；　who　drew　him　back　into　the　room。　The　old　mountaineer's　　face　was　flushed；　and　he　had　been　drinking　heavily。

Oh；　hyar　ye　air！　〃　he　exclaimed。　〃You're　right　on　hand；　hain't　ye？　　Hyar；　Bill；〃　he　called；　thrusting　his　head　out　of　the　door；　〃you　〃n'　Jim　'n'　Milt　come　in　hyar。〃　　Three　awkward　young　mountaineers　entered。　　〃These　fellers　air　goin'　to　help　ye。〃

They　were　to　be　his　ushers。　Clayton　shook　hands　with　them　gravely。

Oh；　we　air　about　ready　fer　ye；　'n'　we　air　only　waitin'　fer　Sherd　and　the　folks　to　come；〃　continued　the　mountaineer；　jubilantly；　winking　significantly　at　Clayton　and　his　attendants；　who　stood　about　him　at　the　fireplace。　Clayton　shook　his　head　firmly；　but　the　rest　followed　Hicks；　who　turned　at　the　door　and　repeated　the　invitation　with　a　frowning　face。　　Clayton　was　left　the　focus　of　feminine　eyes；　whose　unwavering　directness　kept　his　own　gaze　on　the　floor。　People　began　to　come　in　rapidly；　most　of　whom　he　had　never　seen　before。　The　room　was　filled；　save　for　a　space　about　him。　　Every　one　gave　him　a　look　of　curiosity　that　made　him　feel　like　some　strange　animal　on　exhibition。　　Once　more　he　tried　to　escape　to　the　porch；　and　again　he　was　met　by　Easter's　father；　who　this　time　was　accompanied　by　Raines。

　The　young　circuit…rider　was　smoothly　shaven；　and　dressed　in　dark　clothes；　and　his　calm　face　and　simple　but　impressive　manner　seemed　at　once　to　alter　the　atmosphere　of　the　room。　He　grasped　Clayton's　hand　warmly；　and　without　a　trace　of　self…consciousness。　　The　room　had　grown　instantly　quiet；　and　Raines　began　to　share　the　curious　interest　that　Clayton　had　caused；　for　the　young　mountaineer's　sermon　had　provoked　discussion　far　and　wide；　and；　moreover；　the　peculiar　relations　of　the　two　toward　Easter　were　known　and　rudely　appreciated。　Hicks　was　subdued　into　quiet　respect；　and　tried　to　conceal　his　incipient　intoxication。　　The　effort　did　not　last　long。　When　the　two　fiddlers　came；　he　led　them　in　with　a　defiant　air；　and　placed　them　in　the　corner；　bustling　about　officiously　but　without　looking　at　Raines；　whose　face　began　to　cloud。

Well；　we're　all　hyar；　I　reckon！　〃　he　exclaimed；　in　his　terrible　voice。　　〃Is　Easter　ready？　〃　he　shouted　up　the　steps。

A　confused　chorus　answered　him　affirmatively；　and　he　immediately　arranged　Clayton　in　one　corner　of　the　room　with　his　serious　attendants　on　one　side；　and　Raines；　grave　to　solemnity；　on　the　other。　　Easter's　mother　and　her　assistants　came　in　from　the　kitchen；　and　the　doors　were　filled　with　faces。　　Above；　the　tramping　of　feet　became　more　hurried；　below；　all　stood　with　expectant　faces　turned　to　the　rude　staircase。　　Clayton's　heart　began　to　throb；　and　a　strange　light　brightened　under　Raines's　heavy　brows。

〃Hurry　up；　thar！〃　shouted　Hicks；　impatiently。

A　moment　later　two　pairs　of　rough　shoes　came　down　the　steps；　and　after　them　two　slippered　feet　that　fixed　every　eye　in　the　room；　until　the　figure　and　face　above　them　slowly　descended　into　the　light。　Midway　the　girl　paused　with　a　timid　air。　Had　an　angel　been　lowered　to　mortal　view；　the　waiting　people　would　not　have　been　stricken　with　more　wonder。　Raines's　face　relaxed　into　a　look　almost　of　awe；　and　even　Hicks　for　the　instant　was　stunned　into　reverence。　　Mountain　eyes　had　never　beheld　such　loveliness　so　arrayed。　It　was　simple　enough…the　garment…all　white；　and　of　a　misty　texture；　yet　it　formed　a　mysterious　vision　to　them。　About　the　girl's　brow　was　a　wreath　of　pink　and　white　laurel。　　A　veil　had　not　been　used。　　It　would　hide　her　face；　she　said；　and　she　did　not　see　why　that　should　be　done。　　For　an　instant　she　stood　poised　so　lightly　that　she　seemed　to　sway　like　a　vision；　as　the　candle…lights　quivered　about　her；　with　her　hands　clasped　in　front　of　her；　and　her　eyes　wandering　about　the　room　till　they　lighted　upon　Clayton　with　a　look　of　love　　that　seemed　to　make　her　conscious　only　of　him。　Then；　with　quickening　breath；　　lips　parted　slightly；　cheeks　slowly　flushing；　and　shining　eyes　still　upon　him；　　she　moved　slowly　across　the　room　until　she　stood　at　his　side。

Raines　gathered　himself　together　as　from　a　dream；　and　stepped　before　the　pair。　Broken　and　husky　at　first；　his　voice　trembled　in　spite　of　himself；　but　thereafter　there　was　no　hint　of　the　powerful　emotions　at　play　within　him。　Only　as　he　joined　their　hands；　his　eyes　rested　an　instant　with　infinite　tenderness　on　Easter's　face…as　though　the　look　were　a　last　farewell…and　his　voice　deepened　with　solemn　earnestness　when　he　bade　Clayton　protect　and　cherish　her　until　death。　　There　was　a　strange　mixture　in　those　last　words　of　the　office　and　the　man…of　divine　authority　and　personal　appeal…and　Clay。　ton　was　deeply　stirred。　　The　benediction　over4　the　young　preacher　was　turning　away；　when　some　one　called　huskily　from　the　rear　of　the　cabin：

〃Whyn't　ye　kiss　the　bride？

It　was　Easter's　father；　and　the　voice；　rough　as　it　was；　brought　a　sensation　of　relief　to　all。　The　young　mountaineer's　features　contracted　with　swift　pain；　and　as　Easter　leaned　toward　him；　with　subtle　delicacy；　he　touched；　not　her　lips；　but　her　forehead；　　as　reverently　as　though　she　had　been　a　saint。

Instantly　the　fiddles　began；　the　floor　was　cleared；　the　bridal　party　hurried　into　the　kitchen；　and　the　cabin　began　to　shake　beneath　dancing　feet。　　Hicks　was　fulfilling　his　word；　and　in　the　kitchen　his　wife　had　done　her　part。　Everything　known　to　the　mountaineer　palate　was　piled　in　profusion　on　the　table；　but　Clayton　and　Easter　ate　nothing。　　To　him　the　whole　evening　was　a　nightmare；　which　the　solemn　moments　of　the　marriage　had　made　the　more　hideous。　He　was　restless　and　eager　to　get　away。　The　dancing　was　becoming　more　furious；　and　above　the　noise　rose　Hicks's　voice　prompting　the　dancers。　　The　ruder　ones　still　hung　about　the　doors；　regarding　Clayton　curiously；　or　with　eager　eyes　upon　the　feast。　Easter　was　vaguely　troubled；　and　conflicting　with　the　innocent　pride　and　joy　in　her　eyes　were　the　questioning　glances　she　turned　to　Clayton's　darkening　face。　At　last　they　were　hurried　out；　and　in　came　the　crowd　like　hungry　wolves。

Placing　Clayton　and　Easter　in　a　corner　of　the　room；　the　attendants　themselves　took　part　in　the　dancing；　and　such　dancing　Cl