eben holden-第20节

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lling　of　the　silver　string：

'Come　ye　disconsolate　where'er　ye　languish。'

It　was　a　new　voice；　a　revelation；　a　light　where　darkness　had　been；　to　Hope　and　to　me。　We　stood　listening　far　into　the　night；　forgetful　of　everything；　even　the　swift　flight　of　the　hours。

Loud；　impassioned　chords　rose　into　the　moonlit　sky　and　sank　to　a　faint　whisper　of　melody；　when　we　could　hear　the　gossip　of　the　birds　in　the　belfry　and　under　the　eaves；　trembling　tones　of　supplication；　wailing　notes　of　longing　and　regret　swept　through　the　silent　avenues　of　the　churchyard；　thrilling　us　with　their　eloquence。　For　the　first　time　we　heard　the　music　of　Handel；　of　Mendelssohn；　of　Paganini；　and　felt　its　power；　then　knowing　neither　name　nor　theme。　Hour　by　hour　he　played　on　for　the　mere　joy　of　it。　When　we　shook　hands　with　the　elder　and　tiptoed　to　the　buggy　he　was　still　playing。　We　drove　slowly　and　listened　a　long　way　down　the　road。　I　could　hear　the　strains　of　that　ballad；　then　new　to　me；　but　now　familiar；　growing　fainter　in　the　distance：

O　ye'll　tak'　the　high　road　an'　I'll　tak'　the　low　road　An'　I'll　be　in　Scotland　afore　ye；　But　me　an'　me　true　love　will　never　meet　again　On　the　bonnie；　bonnie　banks　o'　Loch　Lomond。

what　connection　it　may　have　had　with　the　history　of　poor　Nick　Goodall*1　I　have　often　wondered。

As　the　last　note　died　into　silence　I　turned　to　Hope；　and　she　was　crying。

'Why　are　you　crying？'　I　asked；　in　as　miserable　a　moment　as　I　have　ever　known。

'It's　the　music；'　she　said。

*1　Poor　Nick　Coodall　died　in　the　almshouse　of　Jefferson　County　some　thirty　years　ago。　A　better　account　of　this　incident　was　widely　printed　at　that　time。

We　both　sat　in　silence；　then；　hearing　only　the　creak　of　the　buggy　as　it　sped　over　the　sandy　road。　Well　ahead　of　us　I　saw　a　man　who　suddenly　turned　aside；　vaulting　over　the　fence　and　running　into　the　near　woods。

'The　night　man！'　I　exclaimed；　pulling　up　a　moment　to　observe　him。

Then　a　buggy　came　in　sight；　and　presently　we　heard　a　loud　'hello'　from　David　Brower；　who；　worried　by　our　long　stay；　had　come　out　in　quest　of　us。

Chapter　14

Hope's　love　of　music　became　a　passion　after　that　night。　Young　Mr　Livingstone；　'the　city　chap'　we　had　met　at　the　church；　came　over　next　day。　His　enthusiasm　for　her　voice　gave　us　all　great　hope　of　it。　David　Brower　said　he　would　take　her　away　to　the　big　city　when　she　was　older。　They　soon　decided　to　send　her　in　September　to　the　big　school　in　Hillsborough。

'She's　got　t'　be　a　lady；'　said　David　Brower；　as　he　drew　her　into　his　lap　the　day　we　had　all　discussed　the　matter。　'She's　leamt　everything　in　the　'rithinetic　an'　geography　an'　speller。　I　want　her　t'　learn　somethin'　more　scientific。'

'Now　you're　talkin'；'　said　Uncle　Eb。　'There's　lots　o'　things　ye　can't　learn　by　cipherin'。　Nuthin's　too　good　fer　Hope。'

'I'd　like　t'　know　what　you　men　expect　of　her　anyway；'　said　Elizabeth　Brower。

'A　high　stepper；'　said　Uncle　Eb。　'We　want　a　slick　coat；　a　kind　uv　a　toppy　head；　an　a　lot　O'　ginger。　So't　when　we　hitch　'er　t'　the　pole　bime　bye　we　shan't　be　'shamed　o'　her。'

'Eggzac'ly；'　said　David　Brower；　laughing。　'An'　then　she　shall　have　the　best　harness　in　the　market。'

Hope　did　not　seem　to　comprehend　all　the　rustic　metaphors　that　had　been　applied　to　her。　A　look　of　puzzled　amusement　came　over　her　face；　and　then　she　ran　away　into　the　garden；　her　hair　streaming　from　under　her　white　sun…bonnet。

'Never　see　sech　a　beauty！　Beats　the　world；'　said　Uncle　Eb　in　a　whisper；　whereat　both　David　and　Elizabeth　shook　their　heads。

'Lord　o'　mercy！　Don't　let　her　know　it；'　Elizabeth　answered；　in　a　low　tone。　'She's　beginning　to　have…'

Just　then　Hope　came　by　us　leading　her　pet　filly　that　had　been　born　within　the　month。　Immediately　Mrs　Brower　changed　the　subject。

'To　have　what？'　David　enquired　as　soon　as　the　girl　was　out　of　hearing。

'Suspicions；'　said　Elizabeth　mournflllly。　'Spends　a　good　deal　of　her　time　at　the　looking…glass。　I　think　the　other　girls　tell　her　and　then　that　young　Livingstone　has　been　turning　her　head。'

'Turning　her　head！'　he　exclaimed。

'Turning　her　head；'　she　answered。　'He　sat　here　the　other　day　and　deliberately　told　her　that　he　had　never　seen　such　a　complexion　and　such　lovely　hair。'

Elizabeth　Brower　mocked　his　accent　with　a　show　of　contempt　that　feebly　echoed　my　own　emotions。

'That's　the　way　o'　city　folks；　mother；'　said　David。

'It's　a　bad　way；'　she　answered。　'I　do　not　thank　he　ought　to　come　here。　Hope's　a　child　yet；　and　we　mustn't　let　her　get　notions。'

'I'll　tell　him　not　t'　come　any　more；'　said　David；　as　he　and　Uncle　Eb　rose　to　go　to　their　work

'I'm　'fraid　she　ought　not　to　go　away　to　school　for　a　year　yet；'　said　Elizabeth；　a　troubled　look　in　her　face。

'Pshaw；　mother！　Ye　can't　keep　her　under　yer　wing　alwus；'　said　he。　'Well；　David；　you　know　she　is　very　young　and　uncommonly　…　'　she　hesitated。

'Han'some；'　said　he；　'we　might　as　well　own　up　if　she　is　our　child。'

'If　she　goes　away；'　continued　Elizabeth；　'some　of　us　ought　t'　go　with　her。'

Then　Uncle　Eb　and　David　went　to　their　work　in　the　fields　and　I　to　my　own　task　That　very　evening　they　began　to　talk　of　renting　the　farm　and　going　to　town　with　the　children。

I　had　a　stent　of　cording　wood　that　day　and　finished　it　before　two　o'clock　Then　I　got　my　pole　of　mountain　ash；　made　hook　and　line　ready；　dug　some　worms　and　went　fishing。　I　cared　not　so　much　for　the　fishing　as　for　the　solitude　of　the　woods。　I　had　a　bit　of　thing　to　do。　In　the　thick　timber　there　was　a　place　where　Tinkle　brook　began　to　hurry　and　break　into　murmurs　on　a　pebble　bar；　as　if　its　feet　were　tickled。　A　few　more　steps　and　it　burst　into　a　peal　of　laughter　that　lasted　half　the　year　as　it　tumbled　over　narrow　shelves　of　rock　into　a　foamy　pool。　Many　a　day　I　had　sat　fishing　for　hours　at　the　little　fall　under　a　birch　tree；　among　the　brakes　and　moss。　No　ray　of　sunlight　ever　got　to　the　dark　water　below　me　…　the　lair　of　many　a　big　fish　that　had　yielded　to　the　temptation　of　my　bait。　Here　I　lay　in　the　cool　shade　while　a　singular　sort　of　heart　sickness　came　over　me。　A　wild　partridge　was　beating　his　gong　in　the　near　woods　all　the　afternoon。　The　sound　of　the　water　seemed　to　break　in　the　tree…tops　and　fall　back　upon　me。　I　had　lain　there　thinking　an　hour　or　more　when　I　caught　the　jar　of　approaching　footsteps。　Looking　up　I　saw　Jed　Feary　coming　through　the　bushes；　pole　in　hand。

'Fishin'？'　he　asked。

'Only　thinking；'　I　answered。

'Couldn't　be　in　better　business；'　said　he　as　he　sat　down　beside　me。

More　than　once　he　had　been　my　father　confessor　and　I　was　glad　he　had　come。

'In　love？'　he　asked。　'No　boy　ever　thinks　unless　he's　in　love。'

'In　trouble；'　said　I。

'Same　thing；'　he　answered；　lighting　his　pipe。　'Love　is　trouble　with　a　bit　of　sugar　in　it　…　the　sweetest　trouble　a　man　can　have。　what's　the　matter？'

'It's　a　great　secret；'　I　said；　'I　have　never　told　it。　I　am　in　love。'

'Knew　it；'　he　said；　puffing　at　his　pipe　and　smiling　in　a　kindly　way。　'Now　let's　put　in　the　trouble。'

'She　does　not　love　me；'　I　answered。

'Glad　of　it；'　he　remarked。　'I've　got　a　secret　t；　tell　you。'

'What's　that？'　I　enquired。

'Wouldn't　tell　anybody　else　for　the　world；　my　boy；'　he　said；　'it's　between　you　an'　me。'

'Between　you　an'　me；'　I　repeated。

'Well；'　he　said；　you're　a　fool。'

'That's　no　secret；'　I　answered　much　embarrassed。

'Yes　it　is；'　he　insisted；　'you're　smart　enough　an'　ye　can　have　most　anything　in　this　world　if　ye　take　the　right　road。　Ye've　grown　t'　be　a　great　big　strapping　fellow　but　you're　only　…　sixteen？'

'That's　all；'　I　said　mournfully。

'Ye're　as　big　a　fool　to　go　falling　in　love　as　I'd　be。　Ye're　too　young　an'　I'm　too　old。　I　say　to　you；　wait。　Ye've　got　to　go　t'　college。'

'College！'　I　exclaimed；　incredulously。

'Yes！　an'　thet's　another　secret；'　said　he。　I　tol'　David　Brower　what　I　thought　o'　your　writing　thet　essay　on　bugs　in　pertickier　…　an'　I　tol'　'im　what　people　were　sayin'　o'　your　work　in　school。'

'What　d'　he　say？'　I　asked。

'Said　Hope　had　tol'　him　all　about　it　…　that　she　was　as　proud　o'　you　as　she　was　uv　her　curls；　an'　I　believe　it。　〃Well；〃　says　I；　〃y'　oughter　sen'　that　boy　t'　college。〃　〃Goin'　to；〃　says　he。　〃He'll　go　t'　the　'Cademy　this　fall　if　he　wants　to。　Then　he　can　go　t'　college　soon's　he's　ready。〃　Threw　up　my　hat　an'　shouted　I　was　that　glad。'

As　he　spoke　the　old　man's　face　kindled　with　enthusiasm。　In　me　he　had　one　who　understood　him；　who　saw　truth　in　his　thought；　music　in　his　verse；　a　noble　simplicity　in　his　soul。　I　took　his　hand　in　mine　and　thanked　him　heartily。　Then　we　rose　and　came　away　together。

'Remember；'　he　said；　as　we　parted　at　the　corner；　'there's　a　way　laid　out　fer　you。　In　God's　time　it　will　lead　to　every　good　thing　you　desire。　Don't　jump　over　the　fence。　Don't　try　t'　pass　any　milestun　'fore　ye've　come　to　it。　Don't　mope。　Keep　yer　head　cool　with　philosophy；　yer　feet　warm　with　travel　an'　don't　worry　bout　yer　heart。　It　won't　turn　t'　stun　if　ye　do　keep　it　awhile。　Allwus　hev　enough　of　it　about　ye　t'　do　business　with。　Goodbye！'

Chapter　15

Gerald　Brower；　who　was　a　baby　when　I　came　to　live　at　Faraway；　and　was　now　eleven；　had　caught　a　cold　in　seed　time；　and　he　had　never　quite　recovered。　His　coughing　had　begun　to　keep　him　awake；　and　one　night　it　brought　alarm　to　the　whole　household。　Elizabeth　Brower　was　up　early　in　the　mornin