the bohemian girl-第11节
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afraid of losing it； that's what's the matter with you！ And you
will； Clara Vavrika； you will！ When I used to know youlisten；
you've caught a wild bird in your hand； haven't you； and felt its
heart beat so hard that you were afraid it would shatter its
little body to pieces？ Well； you used to be just like that； a
slender； eager thing with a wild delight inside you。 That is how
I remembered you。 And I come back and find youa bitter
woman。 This is a perfect ferret fight here； you live by biting
and being bitten。 Can't you remember what life used to be？ Can't
you remember that old delight？ I've never forgotten it； or known
its like； on land or sea。〃
He drew the horse under the shadow of the straw stack。
Clara felt him take her foot out of the stirrup； and she slid
softly down into his arms。 He kissed her slowly。 He was a
deliberate man； but his nerves were steel when he wanted
anything。 Something flashed out from him like a knife out of a
sheath。 Clara felt everything slipping away from her； she was
flooded by the summer night。 He thrust his hand into his pocket；
and then held it out at arm's length。 〃Look；〃 he said。 The
shadow of the straw stack fell sharp across his wrist； and in the
palm of his hand she saw a silver dollar shining。 〃That's my
pile；〃 he muttered； 〃will you go with me？〃
Clara nodded； and dropped her forehead on his shoulder。
Nils took a deep breath。 〃Will you go with me tonight？〃
〃Where？〃 she whispered softly。
〃To town； to catch the midnight flyer。〃
Clara lifted her head and pulled herself together。 〃Are you
crazy； Nils？ We couldn't go away like that。〃
〃That's the only way we ever will go。 You can't sit on the
bank and think about it。 You have to plunge。 That's the way
I've always done； and it's the right way for people like you and
me。 There's nothing so dangerous as sitting still。 You've only
got one life； one youth； and you can let it slip through your
fingers if you want to； nothing easier。 Most people do that。
You'd be better off tramping the roads with me than you are
here。〃 Nils held back her head and looked into her eyes。 〃But
I'm not that kind of a tramp； Clara。 You won't have to take in
sewing。 I'm with a Norwegian shipping line； came over on
business with the New York offices； but now I'm going straight
back to Bergen。 I expect I've got as much money as the Ericsons。
Father sent me a little to get started。 They never knew about
that。 There； I hadn't meant to tell you； I wanted you to come on
your own nerve。〃
Clara looked off across the fields。 〃It isn't that； Nils；
but something seems to hold me。 I'm afraid to pull against it。
It comes out of the ground； I think。〃
〃I know all about that。 One has to tear loose。 You're not
needed here。 Your father will understand； he's made like us。 As
for Olaf； Johanna will take better care of him than ever you
could。 It's now or never； Clara Vavrika。 My bag's at the
station； I smuggled it there yesterday。〃
Clara clung to him and hid her face against his shoulder。
〃Not tonight；〃 she whispered。 〃Sit here and talk to me tonight。
I don't want to go anywhere tonight。 I may never love you like
this again。〃
Nils laughed through his teeth。 〃You can't come that on me。
That's not my way； Clara Vavrika。 Eric's mare is over there
behind the stacks； and I'm off on the midnight。 It's goodbye； or
off across the world with me。 My carriage won't wait。 I've
written a letter to Olaf； I'll mail it in town。 When he reads it
he won't bother usnot if I know him。 He'd rather have the
land。 Besides； I could demand an investigation of his
administration of Cousin Henrik's estate； and that would be bad
for a public man。 You've no clothes； I know； but you can sit up
tonight； and we can get everything on the way。 Where's your old
dash； Clara Vavrika？ What's become of your Bohemian blood？ I used
to think you had courage enough for anything。 Where's your
nervewhat are you waiting for？〃
Clara drew back her head； and he saw the slumberous fire in
her eyes。 〃For you to say one thing； Nils Ericson。〃
〃I never say that thing to any woman； Clara Vavrika。〃 He
leaned back； lifted her gently from the ground； and whispered
through his teeth： 〃But I'll never； never let you go； not to any
man on earth but me！ Do you understand me？ Now； wait here。〃
Clara sank down on a sheaf of wheat and covered her face
with her hands。 She did not know what she was going to do
whether she would go or stay。 The great； silent country seemed
to lay a spell upon her。 The ground seemed to hold her as if by
roots。 Her knees were soft under her。 She felt as if she could
not bear separation from her old sorrows； from her old discontent。
They were dear to her； they had kept her alive； they were
a part of her。 There would be nothing left of her if she were
wrenched away from them。 Never could she pass beyond that skyline
against which her restlessness had beat so many times。 She felt
as if her soul had built itself a nest there on that horizon at
which she looked every morning and every evening； and it was dear
to her； inexpressibly dear。 She pressed her fingers against her
eyeballs to shut it out。 Beside her she heard the tramping of
horses in the soft earth。 Nils said nothing to her。 He put his
hands under her arms and lifted her lightly to her saddle。 Then
he swung himself into his own。
〃We shall have to ride fast to catch the midnight train。 A
last gallop； Clara Vavrika。 Forward！〃
There was a start； a thud of hoofs along the moonlit road； two
dark shadows going over the hill； and then the great； still land
stretched untroubled under the azure night。 Two shadows had
passed。
VII
A year after the flight of Olaf Ericson's wife； the night
train was steaming across the plains of Iowa。 The conductor was
hurrying through one of the day coaches； his lantern on his arm；
when a lank； fair…haired boy sat up in one of the plush seats and
tweaked him by the coat。
〃What is the next stop； please； sir？〃
〃Red Oak； Iowa。 But you go through to Chicago； don't you？〃
He looked down； and noticed that the boy's eyes were red and his
face was drawn； as if he were in trouble。
〃Yes。 But I was wondering whether I could get off at the
next place and get a train back to Omaha。〃
〃Well； I suppose you could。 Live in Omaha？〃
〃No。 In the western part of the State。 How soon do we get
to Red Oak？〃
〃Forty minutes。 You'd better make up your mind； so I can
tell the baggageman to put your trunk off。〃
〃Oh； never mind about that！ I mean； I haven't got any；〃 the
boy added； blushing。
〃Run away；〃 the conductor thought； as he slammed the coach
door behind him。
Eric Ericson crumpled down in his seat and put his brown hand
to his forehead。 He had been crying； and he had had no supper； and
his head was aching violently。 〃Oh； what shall I do？〃 he thought；
as he looked dully down at his big shoes。 〃Nils will be ashamed of
me； I haven't got any spunk。〃
Ever since Nils had run away with his brother's wife； life at
home had been hard for little Eric。 His mother and Olaf both
suspected him of complicity。 Mrs。 Ericson was harsh and
faultfinding； constantly wounding the boy's pride； and Olaf was
always setting her against him。
Joe Vavrika heard often from his daughter。 Clara had always
been fond of her father； and happiness made her kinder。 She wrote
him long accounts of the voyage to Bergen； and of the trip she and
Nils took through Bohemia to the little town where her father had
grown up and where she herself was born。 She visited all her
kinsmen there； and sent her father news of his brother； who was a
priest； of his sister； who had married a horse…breederof their
big farm and their many children。 These letters Joe always managed
to read to little Eric。 They contained messages for Eric and
Hilda。 Clara sent presents； too； which Eric never dared to take
home and which poor little Hilda never even saw； though she loved
to hear Eric tell about them when they were out getting the eggs
together。 But Olaf once saw Eric coming out of Vavrika's house
the old man had never
