a mountain europa-第13节
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Why； ye look like another man；〃 said Easter's mother； who had been looking Clayton over with a quizzical smile。 〃Is that the way folks dress out in the settlemints？ 'N' look at that gal。 Ef she hev done anythin' sence ye hev been gone but____〃 The rest of the sentence was smothered in the palm of Easter's hand； and she too began scrutinizing Clayton closely。 The mountaineer said nothing； and after a curious glance at Easter resumed his pipe。
You look like a pair of butterflies；〃 said the mother when released。 〃Sherd oughter be mighty proud of his first marryin'。 I s'pose ye know he air a preacher now？ Ye oughter heerd him preach last Sunday。 It was his fust time。 The way he lighted inter the furriners was a caution。 He 'lowed he was a…goin' to fight cyard…playin' and dancin' ez long ez he hed breath。〃
Yes； 'n' thar's whar Sherd air a fool。 I'm ag'in furriners； too； but thar hain't no harm in dancin； n' thar's goin' to be dancin' at this weddin' ef I'm alive。〃
Easter shrank perceptibly when her father spoke； and looked furtively at Clayton； who winced； in spite of himself； as the rough voice grated in his ear。 Instantly her face grew unhappy； and contained an appeal for pardon that he was quick to understand and appreciate。 Thereafter he concealed his repulsion； and treated the rough bear so affably that Easter's eyes grew moist with gratitude。
Darkness was gathering in the valley below when he rose to go。 Easter had scarcely spoken to him； but her face and her eyes； fixed always upon him； were eloquent with joy。 Once as she passed behind him her hand rested with a timid； caressing touch upon his shoulder； and now； as he walked away from the porch； she called him back。 He turned； and she had gone into the house。
What is it； Easter？ 〃 he asked； stepping into the dark room。 His hand was grasped in both her own and held tremblingly。
Don't mind dad；〃 she whispered； softly。 Something warm and moist fell upon his hand as she unloosed it； and she was gone。
That night he wrote home in a better frame of mind。 The charm of the girl's personality had asserted its power again； and hopes that had almost been destroyed by his trip home were rekindled by her tasteful appearance； her delicacy of feeling； and by her beauty； which he had not overrated。 He asked that his sister might meet him in Louisville after the wedding…whenever that should be。 They two could decide then what should be done。 His own idea was to travel； and so great was his confidence in Easter； he believed that； in time； he could take her to New York without fear。
XII
IT was plain that Raines…to quiet the old man's uneasiness； perhaps…had told him of his last meeting with Clayton； and that； during the absence of the latter； some arrangements for the wedding had been made； even by Easter； who in her trusting innocence had perhaps never thought of any other end to their relations。 In consequence； there was an unprecedented stir among the mountaineers。 The marriage of a citizen with a 〃 furriner 〃 was an unprecedented event； and the old mountaineer； who began to take some pride in the alliance； emphasized it at every opportunity。
At the mines Clayton's constant visits to the mountain were known to everybody； but little attention had been paid to them。 Now； however； when the rumor of the wedding seemed confirmed by his return and his silence； every one was alert with a curiosity so frankly shown that he soon became eager to get away from the mountains。 Accordingly； he made known his wish to Easter's parents that the marriage should take place as soon as possible。 Both received the suggestion with silent assent。 Then had followed many difficulties。 Only as a great concession to the ideas and customs of 〃 fur…riners〃 would the self…willed old mountaineer agree that the ceremony should take place at night； and that after the supper and the dance； the two should leave Jellico at daybreak。 Mountain marriages were solemnized in the daytime； and wedding journeys were unknown。 The old man did not understand why Clayton should wish to leave the mountains； and the haste of the latter seemed to give him great offence。 When Clayton had ventured to suggest； instead； that the marriage should be quiet； and that he and Easter should remain on the mountain a few days before leaving； he fumed with anger； and thereafter any suggestion from the young engineer was met with a suspicion that looked ominous。 Raines was away on his circuit； and would not return until just before the wedding； so that from him Clayton could get no help。 Very wisely； then； he interfered no more； but awaited the day with dread。
It was nearing dusk when he left the camp on his wedding…night。 Half…way up the mountain he stopped to lean against the kindly breast of a bowlder blocking the path。 It was the spot where he had seen Easter for the first time。 The mountains were green again； as they were then； but the scene seemed sadly changed。 The sun was gone； the evening…star had swung its white light like a censer above Devil's Den； the clouds were moving swiftly through the darkening air； like a frightened flock seeking a fold； and the night was closing fast over the cluster of faint camp…fires。 The spirit brooding over mountain and sky was unspeakably sad； and with a sharp pain at his heart Clayton turned from it and hurried on。 Mountain； sky； and valley were soon lost in the night。 When he reached the cabin rays of bright light were flashing from chink and crevice into the darkness； and from the kitchen came the sounds of busy preparation。 Already many guests had arrived。 A group of men who stood lazily talking in the porch became silent as he approached； but； recognizing none of them； he entered the cabin。 A dozen women were seated about the room； and instantly their eyes were glued upon him。 As the kitchen door swung open he saw Easter's mother bending over the fireplace； a table already heavily laden； and several women bustling about it。 Above his head he heard laughter； a hurried tramping of feet； and occasional cries of surprise and delight。 He paused at the threshold； hardly knowing what to do； and when he turned a titter from one corner showed that his embarrassment was seen。 On the porch he was seized by Easter's father； who drew him back into the room。 The old mountaineer's face was flushed； and he had been drinking heavily。
Oh； hyar ye air！ 〃 he exclaimed。 〃You're right on hand； hain't ye？ Hyar； Bill；〃 he called； thrusting his head out of the door； 〃you 〃n' Jim 'n' Milt come in hyar。〃 Three awkward young mountaineers entered。 〃These fellers air goin' to help ye。〃
They were to be his ushers。 Clayton shook hands with them gravely。
Oh； we air about ready fer ye； 'n' we air only waitin' fer Sherd and the folks to come；〃 continued the mountaineer； jubilantly； winking significantly at Clayton and his attendants； who stood about him at the fireplace。 Clayton shook his head firmly； but the rest followed Hicks； who turned at the door and repeated the invitation with a frowning face。 Clayton was left the focus of feminine eyes； whose unwavering directness kept his own gaze on the floor。 People began to come in rapidly； most of whom he had never seen before。 The room was filled； save for a space about him。 Every one gave him a look of curiosity that made him feel like some strange animal on exhibition。 Once more he tried to escape to the porch； and again he was met by Easter's father； who this time was accompanied by Raines。
The young circuit…rider was smoothly shaven； and dressed in dark clothes； and his calm face and simple but impressive manner seemed at once to alter the atmosphere of the room。 He grasped Clayton's hand warmly； and without a trace of self…consciousness。 The room had grown instantly quiet； and Raines began to share the curious interest that Clayton had caused； for the young mountaineer's sermon had provoked discussion far and wide； and； moreover； the peculiar relations of the two toward Easter were known and rudely appreciated。 Hicks was subdued into quiet respect； and tried to conceal his incipient intoxication。 The effort did not last long。 When the two fiddlers came； he led them in with a defiant air； and placed them in the corner； bustling about officiously but without looking at Raines； whose face began to cloud。
Well； we're all hyar； I reckon！ 〃 he exclaimed； in his terrible voice。 〃Is Easter ready？ 〃 he shouted up the steps。
A confused chorus answered him affirmatively； and he immediately arranged Clayton in one corner of the room with his serious attendants on one side； and Raines； grave to solemnity； on the other。 Easter's mother and her assistants came in from the kitchen； and the doors were filled with faces。 Above； the tramping of feet became more hurried； below； all stood with expectant faces turned to the rude staircase。 Clayton's heart began to throb； and a strange light brightened under Raines's heavy brows。
〃Hurry up； thar！〃 shouted Hicks； impatiently。
A moment later two pairs of rough shoes came down the steps； and after them two slippered feet that fixed every eye in the room； until the figure and face above them slowly descended into the light。 Midway the girl paused with a timid
