a girl of the limberlost-第29节
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Wesley thought fast。 In the warm darkness of the barn
the horses crunched their corn； a rat gnawed at a corner of
the granary； and among the rafters the white pigeon cooed
a soft sleepy note to his dusky mate。
〃DiddidI steal？〃 wavered Billy。
Wesley's big hands closed until he almost hurt the boy。
〃No！〃 he said vehemently。 〃That is too big a word。
You made a mistake。 You were trying to be a fine
little man； but you went at it the wrong way。 You only
made a mistake。 All of us do that； Billy。 The world
grows that way。 When we make mistakes we can see them；
that teaches us to be more careful the next time； and
so we learn。〃
〃How wouldn't it be a mistake？〃
〃If you had told Aunt Margaret what you wanted to do； and
asked her for the cookies she would have given them to you。〃
〃But I was 'fraid she wouldn't； and you ist had to have it。〃
〃Not if it was wrong for me to have it； Billy。 I don't
want it that much。〃
〃Must I take it back？〃
〃You think hard； and decide yourself。〃
〃Lift me down；〃 said Billy； after a silence； 〃I got
to put this in the jar； and tell her。〃
Wesley set the boy on the floor； but as he did so he
paused one second and strained him close to his breast。
Margaret sat in her chair sewing； Billy slipped in and
crept beside her。 The little face was lined with tragedy。
〃Why Billy； whatever is the matter？〃 she cried as she
dropped her sewing and held out her arms。 Billy stood back。
He gripped his little fists tight and squared his shoulders。
〃I got to be shut up in the closet；〃 he said。
〃Oh Billy！ What an unlucky day！ What have you
done now？〃
〃I stold！〃 gulped Billy。 〃He said it was ist a mistake；
but it was worser 'an that。 I took something you told
me I wasn't to have。〃
〃Stole！〃 Margaret was in despair。 〃What； Billy？〃
〃Cookies！〃 answered Billy in equal trouble。
〃Billy！〃 wailed Margaret。 〃How could you？〃
〃It was for him and you；〃 sobbed Billy。 〃He said
he couldn't eat it 'fore me； but out in the barn it's all
dark and I couldn't see。 I thought maybe he could there。
Then we might put out the light and you could have yours。
He said I only made it worse； cos I mustn't take things；
so I got to go in the closet。 Will you hold me tight a
little bit first？ He did。〃
Margaret opened her arms and Billy rushed in and clung
to her a few seconds； with all the force of his being；
then he slipped to the floor and marched to the closet。
Margaret opened the door。 Billy gave one glance at
the light； clinched his fists and； walking inside； climbed
on a box。 Margaret closed the door。
Then she sat and listened。 Was the air pure enough？
Possibly he might smother。 She had read something once。
Was it very dark？ What if there should be a mouse in
the closet and it should run across his foot and
frighten him into spasms。 Somewhere she had heard
Margaret leaned forward with tense face and listened。
Something dreadful might happen。 She could bear it
no longer。 She arose hurriedly and opened the door。
Billy was drawn up on the box in a little heap； and he
lifted a disapproving face to her。
〃Shut that door！〃 he said。 〃I ain't been in here near
long enough yet！〃
CHAPTER X
WHEREIN ELNORA HAS MORE FINANCIAL TROUBLES；
AND MRS。 COMSTOCK AGAIN HEARS THE SONG OF THE LIMBERLOST
The following night Elnora hurried to Sintons'。
She threw open the back door and with anxious
eyes searched Margaret's face。
〃You got it！〃 panted Elnora。 〃You got it！ I can
see by your face that you did。 Oh； give it to me！〃
〃Yes； I got it； honey； I got it all right； but don't be
so fast。 It had been kept in such a damp place it needed
glueing； it had to have strings； and a key was gone。
I knew how much you wanted it； so I sent Wesley right
to town with it。 They said they could fix it good as
new； but it should be varnished； and that it would take
several days for the glue to set。 You can have it Saturday。〃
〃You found it where you thought it was？ You know
it's his？〃
〃Yes； it was just where I thought； and it's the same
violin I've seen him play hundreds of times。 It's all
right； only laying so long it needs fixing。〃
〃Oh Aunt Margaret！ Can I ever wait？〃
〃It does seem a long time； but how could I help it？
You couldn't do anything with it as it was。 You see；
it had been hidden away in a garret； and it needed cleaning
and drying to make it fit to play again。 You can
have it Saturday sure。 But Elnora； you've got to promise
me that you will leave it here； or in town； and not let
your mother get a hint of it。 I don't know what she'd do。〃
〃Uncle Wesley can bring it here until Monday。 Then I will
take it to school so that I can practise at noon。 Oh； I
don't know how to thank you。 And there's more than the
violin for which to be thankful。 You've given me my father。
Last night I saw him plainly as life。〃
〃Elnora you were dreaming！〃
〃I know I was dreaming； but I saw him。 I saw him so
closely that a tiny white scar at the corner of his
eyebrow showed。 I was just reaching out to touch him
when he disappeared。〃
〃Who told you there was a scar on his forehead？〃
〃No one ever did in all my life。 I saw it last night
as he went down。 And oh； Aunt Margaret！ I saw what
she did； and I heard his cries！ No matter what she does；
I don't believe I ever can be angry with her again。 Her heart
is broken； and she can't help it。 Oh； it was terrible；
but I am glad I saw it。 Now； I will always understand。〃
〃I don't know what to make of that；〃 said Margaret。
I don't believe in such stuff at all； but you couldn't make
it up； for you didn't know。〃
〃I only know that I played the violin last night； as
he played it； and while I played he came through the
woods from the direction of Carneys'。 It was summer
and all the flowers were in bloom。 He wore gray
trousers and a blue shirt； his head was bare； and his
face was beautiful。 I could almost touch him when he sank。〃
Margaret stood perplexed。 〃I don't know what to
think of that！〃 she ejaculated。 〃I was next to the last
person who saw him before he was drowned。 It was late
on a June afternoon； and he was dressed as you describe。
He was bareheaded because he had found a quail's nest
before the bird began to brood； and he gathered the eggs
in his hat and left it in a fence corner to get on his way
home； they found it afterward。〃
〃Was he coming from Carneys'？〃
〃He was on that side of the quagmire。 Why he ever skirted
it so close as to get caught is a mystery you will have to
dream out。 I never could understand it。〃
〃Was he doing something he didn't want my mother to know？〃
〃Why？〃
〃Because if he had been； he might have cut close the
swamp so he couldn't be seen from the garden。 You know；
the whole path straight to the pool where he sank can be
seen from our back door。 It's firm on our side。
The danger is on the north and east。 If he didn't want
mother to know； he might have tried to pass on either of
those sides and gone too close。 Was he in a hurry？〃
〃Yes； he was；〃 said Margaret。 〃He had been away
longer than he expected； and he almost ran when he
started home。〃
〃And he'd left his violin somewhere that you knew； and
you went and got it。 I'll wager he was going to play；
and didn't want mother to find it out！〃
〃It wouldn't make any difference to you if you knew
every little thing； so quit thinking about it； and just be
glad you are to have what he loved best of anything。〃
〃That's true。 Now I must hurry home。 I am dreadfully late。〃
Elnora sprang up and ran down the road； but when
she approached the cabin she climbed the fence； crossed
the open woods pasture diagonally and entered at the
back garden gate。 As she often came that way when she
had been looking for cocoons her mother asked no questions。
Elnora lived by the minute until Saturday； when；
contrary to his usual custom； Wesley went to town in
the forenoon； taking her along to buy some groceries。
Wesley drove straight to the music store； and asked for
the violin he had left to be mended。
In its new coat of varnish； with new keys and strings；
it seemed much like any other violin to Sinton； but to
Elnora it was the most beautiful instrument ever made；
and a priceless treasure。 She held it in her arms； touched
the strings softly and then she drew the bow across them
in whispering measure。 She had no time to think what
a remarkably good bow it was for sixteen years' disuse。
The tan leather case might have impressed her as being
in fine condition also； had she been in a state to
question anything。 She did remember to ask for the bill
and she was gravely presented with a slip calling for
four strings； one key； and a coat of varnish； total； on
