the house behind the cedars(雪松后的房子)-第51节
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long。〃
Rena had a horror of snakes； with which the swamp by which the other
road ran was infested。 Snakes were a vivid reality； her presentiment was
probably a mere depression of spirits due to her condition of nervous
exhaustion。 A cloud had come up and threatened rain； and the wind was
rising ominously。 The old way was the shorter； she wanted above all
things to get to Elder Johnson's and go to bed。 Perhaps sleep would rest
her tired brainshe could not imagine herself feeling worse； unless she
should break down altogether。
She plunged into the path and hastened forward so as to reach home
before the approaching storm。 So completely was she absorbed in her
own thoughts that she scarcely noticed that Plato himself seemed
preoccupied。 Instead of capering along like a playful kitten or puppy； he
walked by her side unusually silent。 When they had gone a short
distance and were approaching a path which intersected their road at
something near a right angle； the teacher missed Plato。 He had dropped
behind a moment before； now he had disappeared entirely。 Her vague
alarm of a few moments before returned with redoubled force。
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〃Plato！〃 she called； 〃Plato！〃
There was no response； save the soughing of the wind through the
swaying treetops。 She stepped hastily forward； wondering if this were
some childish prank。 If so； it was badly timed； and she would let Plato
feel the weight of her displeasure。
Her forward step had brought her to the junction of the two paths；
where she paused doubtfully。 The route she had been following was the
most direct way home； but led for quite a distance through the forest；
which she did not care to traverse alone。 The intersecting path would
soon take her to the main road； where she might find shelter or company；
or both。 Glancing around again in search of her missing escort； she
became aware that a man was approaching her from each of the two paths。
In one she recognized the eager and excited face of George Tryon； flushed
with anticipation of their meeting； and yet grave with uncertainty of his
reception。 Advancing confidently along the other path she saw the face
of Jeff Wain； drawn； as she imagined in her anguish； with evil passions
which would stop at nothing。
What should she do？ There was no sign of Platofor aught she could
see or hear of him； the earth might have swallowed him up。 Some deadly
serpent might have stung him。 Some wandering rabbit might have
tempted him aside。 Another thought struck her。 Plato had been very
quietthere had been something on his conscienceperhaps he had
betrayed her！ But to which of the two men； and to what end？
The problem was too much for her overwrought brain。 She turned
and fled。 A wiser instinct might have led her forward。 In the two
conflicting dangers she might have found safety。 The road after all was a
public way。 Any number of persons might meet there accidentally。 But
she saw only the darker side of the situation。 To turn to Tryon for
protection before Wain had by some overt act manifested the evil purpose
which she as yet only suspected would be； she imagined； to acknowledge a
previous secret acquaintance with Tryon； thus placing her reputation at
Wain's mercy； and to charge herself with a burden of obligation toward a
man whom she wished to avoid and had refused to meet。 If； on the other
hand； she should go forward to meet Wain； he would undoubtedly offer to
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accompany her homeward。 Tryon would inevitably observe the meeting；
and suppose it prearranged。 Not for the world would she have him think
sowhy she should care for his opinion； she did not stop to argue。 She
turned and fled； and to avoid possible pursuit； struck into the underbrush at
an angle which she calculated would bring her in a few rods to another
path which would lead quickly into the main road。 She had run only a
few yards when she found herself in the midst of a clump of prickly shrubs
and briars。 Meantime the storm had burst； the rain fell in torrents。
Extricating herself from the thorns； she pressed forward； but instead of
coming out upon the road； found herself penetrating deeper and deeper
into the forest。
The storm increased in violence。 The air grew darker and darker。 It
was near evening； the clouds were dense； the thick woods increased the
gloom。 Suddenly a blinding flash of lightning pierced the darkness；
followed by a sharp clap of thunder。 There was a crash of falling timber。
Terror…stricken； Rena flew forward through the forest； the underbrush
growing closer and closer as she advanced。 Suddenly the earth gave way
beneath her feet and she sank into a concealed morass。 By clasping the
trunk of a neighboring sapling she extricated herself with an effort； and
realized with a horrible certainty that she was lost in the swamp。
Turning； she tried to retrace her steps。 A flash of lightning penetrated
the gloom around her； and barring her path she saw a huge black snake；
harmless enough； in fact； but to her excited imagination frightful in
appearance。 With a wild shriek she turned again； staggered forward a
few yards； stumbled over a projecting root； and fell heavily to the earth。
When Rena had disappeared in the underbrush； Tryon and Wain had
each instinctively set out in pursuit of her； but owing to the gathering
darkness； the noise of the storm； and the thickness of the underbrush； they
missed not only Rena but each other； and neither was aware of the other's
presence in the forest。 Wain kept up the chase until the rain drove him to
shelter。 Tryon； after a few minutes； realized that she had fled to escape
him； and that to pursue her would be to defeat rather than promote his
purpose。 He desisted； therefore； and returning to the main road； stationed
himself at a point where he could watch Elder Johnson's house； and having
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waited for a while without any signs of Rena； concluded that she had taken
refuge in some friendly cabin。 Turning homeward disconsolately as
night came on； he intercepted Plato on his way back from town； and
pledged him to inviolable secrecy so effectually that Plato； when
subsequently questioned； merely answered that he had stopped a moment
to gather some chinquapins； and when he had looked around the teacher
was gone。
Rena not appearing at supper…time nor for an hour later； the elder；
somewhat anxious； made inquiries about the neighborhood； and finding
his guest at no place where she might be expected to stop； became
somewhat alarmed。 Wain's house was the last to which he went。 He
had surmised that there was some mystery connected with her leaving
Wain's； but had never been given any definite information about the matter。
In response to his inquiries； Wain expressed surprise； but betrayed a
certain self…consciousness which did not escape the elder's eye。
Returning home； he organized a search party from his own family and
several near neighbors； and set out with dogs and torches to scour the
woods for the missing teacher。 A couple of hours later； they found her
lying unconscious in the e
