a mountain europa-第8部分

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d　nothing　but　mope　all　day；　and　though　she　insisted　that　it　was　only　one　of　the　girl's　〃　spells；〃　it　was　plain　that　something　was　wrong。　Easter's　face　remained　thin　and　drawn；　and　acquired　gradually　a　hard；　dogged；　almost　sullen　look。　She　spoke　to　Clayton　rarely；　and　then　only　in　monosyllables。　She　never　looked　him　in　the　face；　and　if　his　gaze　rested　intently　on　her；　as　she　sat　with　eyes　downcast　and　hands　folded；　she　seemed　to　know　it　at　once。　Her　face　would　color　faintly；　her　hands　fold　and　unfold　nervously；　and　sometimes　she　would　rise　and　go　within。　He　had　no　opportunity　of　speaking　with　her　alone。　She　seemed　to　guard　against　that；　and；　indeed；　Raines's　presence　almost　prevented　it；　for　the　mountaineer　was　there　always；　and　always　now　the　last　to　leave。　He　sat　usually　in　the　shadow　of　the　vine；　and　though　his…face　was　unseen；　Clayton　could　feel　his　eyes　fixed　upon　him　with　an　intensity　that　sometimes　made　him　nervous。　The　mountaineer　had　evidently　begun　to　misinterpret　his　visits　to　the　cabin。　Clayton　was　regarded　as　a　rival。　In　what　other　light；　indeed；　could　he　appear　to　Raines？　Friendly　calls　between　young　people　of　opposite　sex　were　rare　in　the　mountains。　　When　a　young　man　visited　a　young　woman；　his　intentions　were　supposed　to　be　serious。　　Raines　was　plainly　jealous。

But　Easter？　What　was　'the　reason　for　her　odd　behavior？　　Could　she；　too；　have　misconstrued　his　intentions　as　Raines　had？　It　was　impossible。　　But　even　if　she　had；　his　manner　had　in　no　wise　changed。　　Some　one　else　had　aroused　her　suspicions；　and　if　any　one　it　must　have　been　Raines。　　It　was　not　the　mother；　he　felt　sure。

For　some　time　Clayton's　mother　and　sister　had　been　urging　him　to　make　a　visit　home。　He　had　asked　leave　of　absence；　but　it　was　a　busy　time；　and　he　had　delayed　indefinitely。　In　a　fort…night；　however；　the　stress　of　work　would　be　over；　and　then　he　meant　to　leave。　During　that　fortnight　he　was　strangely　troubled。　　He　did　not　leave　the　camp；　but　his　mind　was　busied　with　thoughts　of　Easter…nothing　but　Easter。　　Time　and　again　he　had　reviewed　their　acquaintance　minutely　from　the　beginning；　but　he　could　find　no　cause　for　the　change　in　her。　　When　his　work　was　done；　he　found　himself　climbing　the　mountain　once　more。　　He　meant　to　solve　the　mystery　if　possible。　　He　would　tell　Easter　that　he　was　going　home。　　Surely　she　would　betray　some　feeling　then。

At　the　old　fence　which　he　had　climbed　so　often　he　stopped；　as　was　his　custom；　to　rest　a　moment；　with　his　eyes　on　the　wild　beauty　before　him…the　great　valley；　with　mists　floating　from　its　gloomy　depths　into　the　tremulous　moonlight；　far　through　the　radiant　space　the　still；　dark　masses　of　the　Cumberland　lifted　in　majesty　against　the　east；　and　in　the　shadow　of　the　great　cliff　the　vague　outlines　of　the　old　cabin；　as　still　as　the　awful　silence　around　it。　　A　light　was　visible；　but　he　could　hear　no　voices。　　Still；　he　knew　he　would　find　the　occupants　seated　in　the　porch；　held　by　that　strange　quiet　which　nature　imposes　on　those　who　dwell　much　alone　with　her。　　He　had　not　been　to　the　cabin　for　several　weeks；　and　when　he　spoke　Easter　did　not　return　his　greeting；　Raines　nodded　almost　surlily；　but　from　the　mother　came；　as　always；　a　cordial　welcome。

〃I'm　mighty　glad　to　see　ye；〃　she　said；　〃you　haven't　been　up　fer　a　long　time。〃

No；〃　answered　Clayton；　〃I　have　been　very　busy…getting　ready　to　go　home。〃　　He　had　watched　Easter　closely　as　he　spoke；　but　the　girl　did　not　lift　her　face；　and　she　betrayed　no　emotion；　not　even　surprise；　nor　did　Raines。　　Only　the　mother　showed　genuine　regret。　　The　girl's　apathy　filled　him　with　bitter　disappointment。　She　had　relapsed　into　barbarism　again。　He　was　a　fool　to　think　that　in　a　few　months　he　could　counteract　influences　that　had　been　moulding　her　character　for　a　century。　　His　purpose　had　been　unselfish。　　Curiosity；　the　girl's　beauty；　his　increasing　power　over　her；　had　stimulated　him；　to　be　sure；　but　he　had　been　conscientious　and　earnest。　　Somehow　he　was　more　than　disappointed；　he　was　hurt　deeply；　not　only　that　he　should　have　been　so　misunderstood；　but　for　the　lack　of　gratitude　in　the　girl。　　He　was　bewildered。　　What　could　have　happened？　　Could　Raines　really　have　poisoned　her　mind　against　him？　　Would　Easter　so　easily　believe　what　might　have　been　said　against　him　and　not　allow　him　a　hearing？

〃I've　been　expecting　to　take　a　trip　home　for　several　weeks；〃　he　found　himself　saying　a　moment　later；　〃I　think　I　shall　go　to…morrow。〃

He　hardly　meant　what　he　said；　a　momentary　pique　had　forced　the　words　from　him；　but；　once　spoken；　he　determined　to　abide　by　them。　Easter　was　stirred　from　her　lethargy　at　last；　but　Clayton's　attention　was　drawn　to　Raines　's　start　of　surprise；　and　he　did　not　see　the　girl's　face　agitated　for　an　instant；　nor　her　hands　nervously　trembling　in　her　lap。

〃Ter…morrer！　〃　　cried　the　old　　woman。　〃Why；　ye　'most　take　my　breath　away。　　I　declar'；　I'm　downright　sorry　you're　goin'；　I　hev　tuk　sech　a　shine　to　ye。　I　kind　o'　think　I'll　miss　ye　more'n　Easter。〃

Raines's　eyes　turned　to　the　girl；　as　did　Clay…ton's。　Not　a　suggestion　of　color　disturbed　the　pallor　of　the　girl's　face；　once　more　composed；　and　she　said　nothing。

You're　so　jolly　'n'　lively；〃　continued　the　mother；　'n'　ye　allus　hev　so　much　to　say。　　You　air　not　like　Easter　'n'　Sherd　hyar；　who　talk　'bout　as　much　as　two　stumps。　　I　suppose　I'll　hev　to　sit　up　'n'　talk　to　the　moon　when　you　air　gone。〃

The　mountaineer　rose　abruptly；　and；　though　he　spoke　quietly；　he　could　hardly　control　himself。

〃Ez　my　company　seems　to　be　unwelcome　to　ye；〃　he　said；　〃I　kin　take　it　away　from　ye；　'n'　I　will。〃

Before　the　old　woman　could　recover　herself；　he　was　gone。

Well；〃　she　ejaculated；　〃　whut　kin　be　the　matter　with　She　rd？　　He　hev　got　mighty　cur'us　hyar　of　late；　'n'　so　hev　Easter。　All　o'　ye　been　a…settin'　up　hyar　ez　ef　you　was　at　a　buryin'。　I'm　a…goin'　to　bed。　　You　'n'　Easter　kin　set　up　long　as　ye　please。　I　suppose　you　air　comm'　back　ag'in　to　see　us；〃　she　said；　turning　to　Clayton。

〃I　don't　know；〃　he　answered。　〃I　may　not；　but　I　sha'n't　forget　you。〃

〃Well；　I　wish　ye　good　luck。〃　Clayton　shook　hands　with　her；　and　she　went　within　doors。

　The　girl　had　risen；　too；　with　her　mother；　and　was　standing　in　the　shadow。

〃Good…by　Easter；〃　said　Clayton；　holding　out　his　hand。

As　she　turned　he　caught　one　glimpse　of　her　face　in　the　moonlight；　and　its　whiteness　startled　him。　Her　hand　was　cold　when　he　took　it；　and　her　voice　was　scarcely　audible　as　she　faintly　repeated　his　words。　She　lifted　her　face　as　their　hands　were　unclasped；　and　her　lips　quivered　mutely　as　if　trying　to　speak；　but　he　had　turned　to　go。　For　a　moment　she　watched　his　darkening　figure；　and　then　with　stifled　breath　almost　staggered　into　the　cabin。

The　road　wound　around　the　cliff　and　back　again；　and　as　Clayton　picked　his　way　along　it　he　was　oppressed　by　a　strange　uneasiness。　Easter's　face；　as　he　last　saw　it；　lay　in　his　mind　like　a　keen　reproach。　Could　he　have　been　mistaken？　Had　he　been　too　hasty？　　He　recalled　the　events　of　the　evening。　　He　began　to　see　that　it　was　significant　that　Raines　had　shown　no　surprise　when　he　spoke　of　going　home；　and　yet　had　seemed　almost　startled　by　the　suddenness　of　his　departure。　　Perhaps　the　mountaineer　knew　he　was　going。　　It　was　known　at　the　camp。　If　he　knew；　then　Easter　must　have　known。　Perhaps　she　had　felt　hurt　because　he　had　not　spoken　to　her　earlier。　What　might　Raines　not　have　told　her；　and　honestly；　too？　Perhaps　he　was　unconsciously　confirming　all　the　mountaineer　might　have　said。　　He　ought　to　have　spoken　to　her。　Perhaps　she　could　not　speak　to　him。　　He　wheeled　suddenly　in　the　path　to　return　to　the　cabin；　and　stopped　still。

Something　was　hurrying　down　through　the　undergrowth　of　the　cliffside　which　towered　darkly　behind　him。　　Nearer　and　nearer　the　bushes　crackled　as　though　some　hunted　animal　were　flying　for　life　through　them；　and　then　through　the　laurel…hedge　burst　the　figure　of　a　woman；　who　sank　to　the　ground　in　the　path　be…fore　him。　　The　flash　of　yellow　hair　and　a　white　face　in　the　moonlight　told　him　who　it　was。

〃Easter；　Easter！　〃　he　exclaimed；　in　sickening　fear。　　〃My　God！　is　that　you？　　Why；　what　is　the　matter；　child？　What　are　you　doing　here？〃

He　stooped　above　the　sobbing　girl；　and　pulled　away　her　hands　from　her　face；　tear…stained　and　broken　with　pain。　　The　limit　of　her　self…repression　was　reached　at　last；　the　tense　nerves；　strained　too　much；　had　broken；　and　the　passion；　so　long　checked；　surged　through　her　like　fire。　Ah；　God！　what　had　he　done？　　He　saw　the　truth　at　last。　　In　an　impulse　of　tenderness　he　lifted　the　girl　to　her　feet　and　held　her；　sobbing　uncontrollably；　in　his　arms；　with　her　head　against　his　breast；　and　his　cheek　on　her　hair；　soothing　her　as　though　she　had　been　a　child。

Presently　she　felt　a　kiss　on　her　forehead。　She　looked　up　with　a　sudden　fierce　joy　in　her　eyes；　and　their　lips　met。

VIII

CLAYTON　shunned　　all　self…questioning　after　that　night。　Stirred　to　the　depths　by　that　embrace　on　the　mountain…side；　he　gave　himself　wholly　up　to　the　love　or　infatuation…he　did　not　ask　which…that　enthralled　him。　Whatever　it　was；　its　growth　had　been　subtle　and　swift。　　There　was　in　it　the　thrill　that　might　come　from　taming　some　wild　creature　that　had　never　known　control；　and　the　gentleness　that　to　any　generous　spirit　such　power　would　bring。　These；　with　the　magnetism　of　the　girl's　beauty　and　personality；　and　the　influence　of　her　environment；　he　had　felt　for　a　long　time；　but　now　richer　chords　were　set　vibrating　in　response　to　her　great　love；　the　struggle　she　had　against　its　disclosure；　the　appeal　for　tenderness　and　protection　in　her　final　defeat。　　It　was　ideal；　he　told　himself；　as　he　sank　into　the　delicious　dream；　they　two　alone　with　nature；　above　all　human　life；　with　its　restraints；　its　hardships；　its　evils；　its　distress。　　For　them　was　the　freedom　of　the　open　sky　lifting　its　dome　above　the　mountains；　for　them　nothing　less　kindly　than　the　sun　shining　its　benediction；　for　their　eyes　only　the　changing　beauties　of　day　and　night；　for　their　ears　no　sound　harsher　than　the　dripping　of　dew　or　a　bird…song；　for　them　youth；　health；　beauty；　love。　　And　it　was　primeval　love；　the　love　of　the　first　woman　for　the　first　man。　　She　knew　no　convention；　no　prudery；　no　doubt。　　Her　life　was　impulse；　and　her　impulse　was　love。　　She　was　the　teacher　now；　and　he　the　taught；　and　he　stood　i