a mountain europa-第10节

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h。

Ye　air　a…goin'　home；　I　hear；〃　he　said；　quietly。

〃Yes；〃　answered　Clayton；　〃　at　midnight。〃

Well；　I'll　walk　down　with　ye　a　piece；　ef　ye　don't　mind。　　Hit's　not　out　o'　my　way。〃

As　he　spoke　his　face　was　turned　suddenly　to　the　moonlight。　　The　lines　in　it　had　sunk　deeper；　giving　it　almost　an　aged　look；　the　eyes　were　hollow　as　from　physical　suffering　or　from　fasting。　　He　preceded　Clayton　down　the　path；　with　head　bent；　and　saying　nothing　till　they　reached　the　spur　of　the　mountain。　　Then　in　the　same　voice：

〃I　want　to　talk　to　ye　awhile；　'n'　I'd　like　to　hev　ye　step　inter　my　house。　　I　don't　mean　ye　no　harm；〃　he　added；　quickly；　〃　'n'　hit　ain't　fer。〃

Certainly；〃　said　Clayton。

The　mountaineer　turned　into　the　woods　by　a　narrow　path；　and　soon　the　outlines　of　a　miserable　little　hut　were　visible　through　the　dark　woods。　　Raines　thrust　the　door　open。　　The　single　room　was　dark　except　for　a　few　dull　coals　in　a　gloomy　cavern　which　formed　the　fireplace。

Sit　down；　ef　ye　kin　find　a　cheer；〃　said　Raines；　〃　'n'　I'll　fix　up　the　fire。〃

Do　you　live　here　alone？〃　asked　Clayton。　He　could　hear　the　keen；　smooth　sound　of　the　mountaineer's　knife　going　through　wood。

〃Yes；〃　he　answered；　〃　fer　five　year。〃

The　coals　brightened；　tiny　flames　shot　from　them；　in　a　moment　the　blaze　caught　the　dry　fagots；　and　shadows　danced　over　the　floor；　wall；　and　ceiling；　and　vanished　as　the　mountaineer　rose　from　his　knees。　　The　room　was　as　bare　as　the　cell　of　a　monk。　　A　rough　bed　stood　in　one　corner；　a　few　utensils　hung　near　the　fireplace；　wherein　were　remnants　of　potatoes　roasting　in　the　ashes；　and　close　to　the　wooden　shutter　which　served　as　a　window　was　a　board　table。　　On　it　lay　a　large　book…a　Bible…a　pen；　a　bottle　of　ink；　and　a　piece　of　paper　on　which　were　letters　traced　with　great　care　and　difficulty。　　The　mountaineer　did　not　sit　down；　but　began　pacing　the　floor　behind　Clayton。　　Clayton　moved　his　chair；　and　Raines　seemed　unconscious　of　his　presence　as　with　eyes　on　the　floor　he　traversed　the　narrow　width　of　the　cabin。

Y'u　hevn't　seed　me　up　on　the　mount　'in　lately；　hev　ye？　〃　he　asked。　　〃I　reckon　ye　haven't　missed　me　much。　　Do　ye　know　whut　I've　been　doin'？〃　he　said；　with　sudden　vehemence；　stopping　still　and　resting　his　eyes；　which　glowed　like　an　animal's　from　the　darkened　end　of　the　cabin；　on　Clayton。

〃I've　been　tryin'　to　keep　from　killin'　ye。　Oh；　don't　move…don't　fear　now；　ye　air　as　safe　as　ef　ye　were　down　in　the　camp。　　I　seed　ye　that　night　on　the　mount'in；〃　he　continued；　pacing　rapidly　back　and　forth。　　〃I　was　waitin'　fer　ye。　　I　meant　to　tell　ye　jest　whut　I'm　goin'　to　tell　ye　ter…night；　'n'　when　Easter　come　a…tearin'　through　the　bushes；　'n'　I　seed　ye…ye…a…standin'　together　〃…the　words　seemed　to　stop　in　his　throat…〃　I　knowed　I　was　too　late。

〃I　sot　thar　fer　a　minute　like　a　rock；　'n'　when　ye　two　went　back　up　the　mount'in；　before　I　knowed　it　I　was　hyer　in　the　house　thar　at　the　fire　mouldin'　a　bullet　to　kill　ye　with　as　ye　come　back。　　All　at　oncet　I　heerd　a　voice　plain　as　my　own　is　at　this　minute：

　〃'Air　you　a…thinkin'　'bout　takin'　the　life　of　a　fellow…creatur；　Sherd　Raines…you　that　air　tryin'　to　be　a　servant　o'　the　Lord？'〃

〃But　I　kept　on　a…mouldin'；　'n'　suddenly　I　seed　ye　a…layin'　in　the　road　dead；　'n'　the　heavens　opened　'n'　the　face　o'　the　Lord　was　thar；　'n'　he　raised　his　hand　to　smite　me　with　the　brand　o'　Cain…'n'　look　thar！〃

Clayton　had　sat　spellbound　by　the　terrible　earnestness　of　the　man；　and　as　the　mountaineer　swept　his　dark　hair　back　with　one　hand；　he　rose　in　sudden　horror。　　Across　the　mountaineer's　forehead　ran　a　crimson　scar　yet　unhealed。　Could　he　have　inflicted　upon　himself　this　fearful　penance？

Oh；　it　was　only　the　moulds。　　I　seed　it　all　so　plain　that　I　throwed　up　my　hands；　fergittin'　the　moulds；　'n'　the　hot　lead　struck　me　thar；　but；〃　he　continued；　solemnly；　〃I　knowed　the　Lord　hed　tuk　that　way　o'　punishin'　me　fer　the　sin　o　havin'　murder　in　my　mind；　'n'　I　fell　on　my　knees　right　thar　a…prayin'　fer　fergiveness：　'n'　since　that　night　I　hev　stayed　away　from　ye　till　the　Lord　give　me　power　to　stand　ag'in　the　temptation　o'　harmin'　ye。　　He　hev　showed　me　another　way；　'n'　now　I　hev　come　to　ye　as　he　hev　tol'　me。　　I　hevn't　tol'　ye　this　fer　nothin'。　　Y'u　in　see　now　whut　I　think　o'　Easter；　ef　I　was　tempted　to　take　the　life　o'　the　man　who　tuk　her　from　me；　'n'　I　reckon　ye　will　say　I've　got　the　right　to　ax　ye　whut　I'm　a…goin'　to。　　I　hev　knowed　the　gal　sence　she　was　a　baby。　　We　was　children　together；　and　thar　hain't　no　use　hidin'　that　I　never　keered　a　straw　fer　anuther　woman。　She　used　to　be　mighty　wilful　'n'　contrary；　but　as　soon　as　you　come　I　seed　at　oncet　that　a　change　was　comm'　over　her。　　I　mistrusted　ye；　'n'　I　warned　her　ag'in'　ye。　　But　when　I　l'arned　that　ye　was　a…teachin'　her；　and　a…doin'　whut　I　had　tried　my　best　to　do　'n'　failed；　I　let　things　run　along；　thinkin'　that　mebbe　ever'thing　would　come　out　right；　after　all。　　Mebbe　hit　air　all　right；　but　I　come　to　ye　now；　'n'　I　ax　ye　in　the　name　of　the　livin'　God；　who　is　a…watchin'　you　a…guidin'　me；　air　ye　goin'　to　leave　the　po'　gal　to　die　sorrowin'　fer　ye；　or　do　ye　aim　to　come　back　'n'　marry　her？

Raines　had　stopped　now　in　the　centre　of　the　cabin；　and　the　shadows　flickering　slowly　over　him　gave　an　unearthly　aspect　to　his　tall；　gaunt　figure；　as　he　stood　with　uplifted　arm；　pale　face；　glowing　eyes；　and　disordered　hair。

〃The　gal　hasn't　got　no　protecter…her　dad；　as　you　know；　is　a…hidin'　from　jestice　in　the　mount'ins…and　I'm　a…standin'　in　his　place；　'n'　I　ax　ye　to　do　only　whut　you　know　ye　ought。〃

There　was　nothing　threatening　in　the　mountaineer　's　attitude；　nor　dictatorial；　and　Clayton　felt　his　right　to　say　what　he　had；　in　spite　of　a　natural　impulse　to　resent　such　interference。　Besides；　there　sprang　up　in　his　heart　a　sudden　great　admiration　for　this　rough；　uncouth　fellow　who　was　capable　of　such　unselfishness；　who；　true　to　the　trust　of　her　father　and　his　God；　was　putting　aside　the　strongest　passion　of　his　life　for　what　he　believed　was　the　happiness　of　the　woman　who　had　inspired　it。　　He　saw；　too；　that　the　sacrifice　was　made　with　perfect　unconsciousness　that　it　was　unusual　or　admirable。　　He　rose　to　his　feet；　and　the　two　men　faced　each　other。

〃If　you　had　told　me　this　long　ago；〃　said　Clayton；　〃I　should　have　gone　away；　but　you　seemed　distrustful　and　suspicious。　　I　did　not　expect　the　present　state　of　affairs　to　come　about；　but　since　it　has；　I　tell　you　frankly　that　I　have　never　thought　of　doing　anything　else　than　what　you　have　asked。〃

And　he　told　the　truth；　for　he　had　already　asked　himself　that　question。　　Why　should　he　not　marry　her？　　He　must　in　all　probability　stay　in　the　mountains　for　years；　and　after　that　time　he　would　not　be　ashamed　to　take　her　home；　so　strong　was　his　belief　in　her　quickness　and　adaptibility。

Raines　seemed　scarcely　to　believe　what　he　heard。　　He　had　not　expected　such　ready　acquiescence。　　He　had　almost　begun　to　fear　from　Clayton's　silence　that　he　was　going　to　refuse；　and　then…God　knows　what　he　would　have　done。

Instantly　he　stretched　out　his　hand。

〃I　hev　done　ye　great　wrong；　'n'　I　ax　yer　par…din；〃　he　said；　huskily。　　〃I　want　to　say　that　I　bear　ye　no　gredge；　'n'　thet　I　wish　ye　well。　　I　hope　ye　won't　think　hard　on　me；〃　he　continued；　〃I　he　had　a　hard　fight　with　the　devil　as　long　as　I　can　ricolect。　　I　hev　turned　back　time　'n'　ag'in；　but　thar　hain't　nothin'　ter　keep　me　from　goin'　straight　ahead　now。〃

As　Clayton　left　the　cabin；　the　mountaineer　stopped　him　for　a　moment　on　the　threshold。

〃Thar's　another　thing　I　reckon　I　ought　to　tell　ye；〃　he　said；　〃　Easter's　dad　air　powerfully　sot　ag'in　ye。　　He　thought　ye　was　an　officer　at　fust；　'n'　hit　was　hard　to　git　him　out　o'　the　idee　thet　ye　was　spyin'　fer　him；　'n'　when　he　seed　ye　goin'　to　the　house；　he　got　it　inter　his　head　that　ye　mought　be　meanin'　harm　to　Easter；　who　air　the　only　thing　alive　thet　he　keers　fer　much。　　He　promised　not　to　tech　ye；　'n'　I　knowed　he　would　keep　his　word　as　long　as　he　was　sober。　　It'll　be　all　right　now；　I　reckon；〃　he　concluded；　〃when　I　tell　him　whut　ye　aims　to　do；　though　he　hev　got　a　spite　ag'in　all　furriners。　　Far'well！　　I　wish　ye　well；　I　wish　ye　well。〃

An　hour　later　Clayton　was　in　Jellico。　　It　was　midnight　when　the　train　came　in；　and　he　went　immediately　to　his　berth。　　Striking　the　　curtain　accidentally；　he　loosed　it　from　its　fastenings；　and；　　doubling　the　pillows；　he　lay　looking　out　on　the　swiftly　passing　landscape。　　　The　moon　was　full　and　brilliant；　and　there　was　a　strange；　keen　pleasure　　in　being　whirled　in　such　comfort　through　the　night。　　　The　mists　almost　hid　the　mountains。　　They　seemed　very；　very　far　away。　　A　red　star　trembled　in　the　crest　of　Wolf　Mountain。　　　Easter's　cabin　must　be　almost　under　that　Star。　He　wondered　if　she　were　asleep。　　Perhaps　she　was　out　on　the　porch；　lonely；　suffering；　and　thinking　of　him。　　He　felt　her　kiss　and　her　tears　upon　his　hand。　　Did　he　not　love　her？　　Could　there　be　any　doubt　about　that？　　His　thoughts　turned　toRaines；　　and　he　saw　the　mountaineer　in　his　lonely　cabin；　sitting　with　his　head　bowed　　in　his　hands　in　front　of　the　dying　fire。　　He　closed　his　eyes；　　and　another　picture　rose　before　him…a　scene　at　home。　　He　had　taken　Easter　to　New　York。　　How　brilliant　the　light！　what　warmth　and　luxury！　　There　stood　his　father；　there　his　mother。　　What　gracious　dignity　they　had！　　Here　was　his　sist