by shore and sedge(沙滩和苔草旁)-第4节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃leavin' alone the vanities o' dress； it's ez much as one can do to keep a
clean rag on with the children climbin' over ye。 Sit by； and I'll be back in a
minit。〃 She retired to the back room； and in a few moments returned with
smoothed hair and a palm…leaf broche shawl thrown over her shoulders；
which not only concealed the ravages made by time and maternity on the
gown beneath； but to some extent gave her the suggestion of being a
casual visitor in her own household。 It must be confessed that for the rest
11
… Page 12…
BY SHORE AND SEDGE
of the evening Sister Hiler rather lent herself to this idea； possibly from the
fact that it temporarily obliterated the children； and quite removed her
from any responsibility in the unpicturesque household。 This effect was
only marred by the absence of any impression upon Gideon； who scarcely
appeared to notice the change； and whose soft eyes seemed rather to
identify the miserable woman under her forced disguise。 He prefaced the
meal with a fervent grace； to which the widow listened with something of
the conscious attitude she had adopted at church during her late husband's
ministration； and during the meal she ate with a like consciousness of
〃company manners。〃
Later that evening Selby Hiler woke up in his little truckle bed；
listening to the rising midnight wind； which in his childish fancy he
confounded with the sound of voices that came through the open door of
the living…room。 He recognized the deep voice of the young minister；
Gideon； and the occasional tearful responses of his mother； and he was
fancying himself again at church when he heard a step； and the young
preacher seemed to enter the room； and going to the bed leaned over it and
kissed him on the forehead； and then bent over his little brother and sister
and kissed them too。 Then he slowly re…entered the living…room。 Lifting
himself softly on his elbow； Selby saw him go up towards his mother； who
was crying； with her head on the table； and kiss her also on the forehead。
Then he said 〃Good…night；〃 and the front door closed； and Selby heard his
footsteps crossing the lot towards the barn。 His mother was still sitting
with her face buried in her hands when he fell asleep。
She sat by the dying embers of the fire until the house was still again；
then she rose and wiped her eyes。 〃Et's a good thing；〃 she said； going to
the bedroom door； and looking in upon her sleeping children； 〃et's a mercy
and a blessing for them andforme。 But buthe mighthevsaidhe
loved me！〃
III
Although Gideon Deane contrived to find a nest for his blanket in the
mouldy straw of the unfinished barn loft； he could not sleep。 He restlessly
watched the stars through the cracks of the boarded roof； and listened to
12
… Page 13…
BY SHORE AND SEDGE
the wind that made the half…open structure as vocal as a sea…shell； until
past midnight。 Once or twice he had fancied he heard the tramp of horse…
hoofs on the far…off trail； and now it seemed to approach nearer； mingled
with the sound of voices。 Gideon raised his head and looked through the
doorway of the loft。 He was not mistaken： two men had halted in the road
before the house； and were examining it as if uncertain if it were the
dwelling they were seeking； and were hesitating if they should rouse the
inmates。 Thinking he might spare the widow this disturbance to her
slumbers； and possibly some alarm； he rose quickly； and descending to the
inclosure walked towards the house。 As he approached the men advanced
to meet him； and by accident or design ranged themselves on either side。 A
glance showed him they were strangers to the locality。
〃We're lookin' fer the preacher that lives here；〃 said one； who seemed
to be the elder。 〃A man by the name o' Hiler； I reckon！〃
〃Brother Hiler has been dead two years；〃 responded Gideon。 〃His
widow and children live here。〃
The two men looked at each other。 The younger one laughed； the elder
mumbled something about its being 〃three years ago；〃 and then turning
suddenly on Gideon； said：
〃P'r'aps YOU'RE a preacher？〃
〃I am。〃
〃Can you come to a dying man？〃
〃I will。〃
The two men again looked at each other。 〃But；〃 continued Gideon；
softly； 〃you'll please keep quiet so as not to disturb the widow and her
children； while I get my horse。〃 He turned away； the younger man made a
movement as if to stop him； but the elder quickly restrained his hand。 〃He
isn't goin' to run away；〃 he whispered。 〃Look；〃 he added； as Gideon a
moment later reappeared mounted and equipped。
〃Do you think we'll be in time？〃 asked the young preacher as they rode
quickly away in the direction of the tules。
The younger repressed a laugh； the other answered grimly； 〃I reckon。〃
〃And is he conscious of his danger？〃
〃I reckon。〃
13
… Page 14…
BY SHORE AND SEDGE
Gideon did not speak again。 But as the onus of that silence seemed to
rest upon the other two； the last speaker； after a few moments' silent and
rapid riding； continued abruptly； 〃You don't seem curious？〃
〃Of what？〃 said Gideon； lifting his soft eyes to the speaker。 〃You tell
me of a brother at the point of death； who seeks the Lord through an
humble vessel like myself。 HE will tell me the rest。〃
A silence still more constrained on the part of the two strangers
followed； which they endeavored to escape from by furious riding； so that
in half an hour the party had reached a point where the tules began to sap
the arid plain； while beyond them broadened the lagoons of the distant
river。 In the foreground； near a clump of dwarfed willows； a camp…fire was
burning； around which fifteen or twenty armed men were collected； their
horses picketed in an outer circle guarded by two mounted sentries。 A
blasted cotton…wood with a single black arm extended over the tules stood
ominously against the dark sky。
The circle opened to receive them and closed again。 The elder man
dismounted and leading Gideon to the blasted cotton…wood； pointed to a
pinioned man seated at its foot with an armed guard over him。 He looked
up at Gideon with an amused smile。
〃You said it was a dying man；〃 said Gideon； recoiling。
〃He will be a dead man in half an hour；〃 returned the stranger。
〃And you？〃
〃We are the Vigilantes from Alamo。 This man；〃 pointing to the
prisoner； 〃is a gambler who killed a man yesterday。 We hunted him here；
tried him an hour ago； and found him guilty。 The last man we hung here；
three years ago； asked for a parson。 We brought him the man who used to
live where we found you。 So we thought we'd give this man the same
show； and brought you。〃
〃And if I refuse？〃 said Gideon。
The leader shrugged his shoulders。
〃That's HIS lookout； not ours。 We've given him the chance。 Drive
ahead； boys；〃 he added； turning to the others； 〃the parson allows he won't
take a hand。〃
〃One moment；〃 said Gideon； in desperation； 〃one moment； for the
14
… Page 15…
BY SHORE AND SEDGE
sake of that God you have brought me here to invoke in behalf of this
wretched man。 One moment； for the sake of Him in whose presence you
must stand one day as he does now。〃 With passionate earnestness he
pointed out the vindictive impulse they were mistaking for Divine justice；
with pathetic fervency he fell upon his knees and implored their mercy for
the culprit。 But in vain。 As at the camp…meeting of the day before； he was
chilled to find his words seemed to fall on unheeding and unsympathetic
ears。 He looked around on their abstracted faces； in their gloomy savage
enthusiasm for expiatory sacrifice； he was horrified to find the same
unreasoning exaltation that had checked his exhortations
