a mountain europa-第14节
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timid air。 Had an angel been lowered to mortal view； the waiting people would not have been stricken with more wonder。 Raines's face relaxed into a look almost of awe； and even Hicks for the instant was stunned into reverence。 Mountain eyes had never beheld such loveliness so arrayed。 It was simple enough…the garment…all white； and of a misty texture； yet it formed a mysterious vision to them。 About the girl's brow was a wreath of pink and white laurel。 A veil had not been used。 It would hide her face； she said； and she did not see why that should be done。 For an instant she stood poised so lightly that she seemed to sway like a vision； as the candle…lights quivered about her； with her hands clasped in front of her； and her eyes wandering about the room till they lighted upon Clayton with a look of love that seemed to make her conscious only of him。 Then； with quickening breath； lips parted slightly； cheeks slowly flushing； and shining eyes still upon him； she moved slowly across the room until she stood at his side。
Raines gathered himself together as from a dream； and stepped before the pair。 Broken and husky at first； his voice trembled in spite of himself； but thereafter there was no hint of the powerful emotions at play within him。 Only as he joined their hands； his eyes rested an instant with infinite tenderness on Easter's face…as though the look were a last farewell…and his voice deepened with solemn earnestness when he bade Clayton protect and cherish her until death。 There was a strange mixture in those last words of the office and the man…of divine authority and personal appeal…and Clay。 ton was deeply stirred。 The benediction over4 the young preacher was turning away； when some one called huskily from the rear of the cabin：
〃Whyn't ye kiss the bride？
It was Easter's father； and the voice； rough as it was； brought a sensation of relief to all。 The young mountaineer's features contracted with swift pain； and as Easter leaned toward him； with subtle delicacy； he touched； not her lips； but her forehead； as reverently as though she had been a saint。
Instantly the fiddles began； the floor was cleared； the bridal party hurried into the kitchen； and the cabin began to shake beneath dancing feet。 Hicks was fulfilling his word； and in the kitchen his wife had done her part。 Everything known to the mountaineer palate was piled in profusion on the table； but Clayton and Easter ate nothing。 To him the whole evening was a nightmare； which the solemn moments of the marriage had made the more hideous。 He was restless and eager to get away。 The dancing was becoming more furious； and above the noise rose Hicks's voice prompting the dancers。 The ruder ones still hung about the doors； regarding Clayton curiously； or with eager eyes upon the feast。 Easter was vaguely troubled； and conflicting with the innocent pride and joy in her eyes were the questioning glances she turned to Clayton's darkening face。 At last they were hurried out； and in came the crowd like hungry wolves。
Placing Clayton and Easter in a corner of the room； the attendants themselves took part in the dancing； and such dancing Clayton had never seen。 Doors and windows were full of faces； and the room was crowded； from the kitchen came coarse laughter and the rattling of dishes。
Occasionally Hicks would disappear with several others； and would return with his face redder than ever。
Easter became uneasy。 Once she left Clayton's side and expostulated with her father； but he shook her from his arm roughly。 Raines saw this； and a moment later he led the old mountaineer from the room。 Thereafter the latter was quieter； but only for a little while。 Several times the kitchen was filled and emptied； and ever was the crowd unsteadier。 Soon even Raines's influence was of no avail； and the bottle was passed openly from guest to guest。
〃Whyn't ye dance？〃
Clayton felt his arm grasped； and Hicks stood swaying before him。
〃Whyn't ye dance？〃 he repeated。 〃 Can't ye dance？ Mebbe ye air too good…like Sherd。 Well； Easter kin； Hyar； Mart； come 'n' dance with the gal。 She air the best dancer in these parts。〃
Clayton had his hand upon Easter as though to forbid her。 The mountaineer saw the movement； and his face flamed； but before he could speak； the girl pressed Clayton's arm； and； with an appealing glance； rose to her feet。
That's right；〃 said her father； approvingly； but with a look of drunken malignancy toward Clayton。 〃Now；〃 he called out； in a loud voice； 〃I want this couple to have the floor； 'n' everybody to look on 'n' see what is dancin'。 Start the fiddles； boys。〃
It was dancing。 The young mountaineer was a slender； active fellow； not without grace； and Easter seemed hardly to touch the floor。 They began very slowly at first； till Easter； glancing aside at Clayton and seeing his face deepen with interest； and urged by the remonstrance of het father； the remarks of the onlookers； and the increasing abandon of the music； gave herself up to the dance。 The young mountaineer was no mean partner。 Forward and back they glided； their swift feet beating every note of the music； Faster receding before her partner； and now advancing toward him； now whirling away with a disdainful toss of her head and arms； and now giving him her hand and whirling till her white skirts floated from the floor。 At last； with head bent coquettishly toward her partner； she danced around him； and when it seemed that she would be caught by his outstretched hands she slipped from his clasp； and； with burning cheeks； flashing eyes； and bridal wreath showering its pink…flecked petals about her； flew to Clayton's side。
Mebbe ye don't like that；〃 cried Hicks； turning to Raines； who had been gravely watching the scene。
Raines said nothing in reply； but only looked the drunken man in the face。
〃You two；〃 he continued； indicating Clayton with an angry shake of his head； 〃 air a…tryin' to spile ever'body's fun。 Both of ye air too high…heeled fer us folks。 Y'u hev got mighty good now that ye air a preacher；〃 he added； with a drunken sneer； irritated beyond endurance by Raines's silence and his steady look。 〃I want ye to know Bill Hicks air a…runnin' things here； 'n' I don't want no meddlin'。 I'll drink right here in front o' ye 〃…holding a bottle defiantly above his head…〃 'n' I mean to dance； too； I warn ye now；〃 he added； staggering toward the door； 〃I don't want no med…dlin'。〃
Easter had buried her face in her hands。 Her mother stood near her husband； helplessly trying to get him away； and fearing to arouse him more。 Raines was the most composed man in the room； and a few moments later； when dancing was resumed； Clayton heard his voice at his ear：
〃You'd better go upstairs 'n' wait till it's time to go；〃 he said。 〃 He hev got roused ag'in ye； and ag'in me too。 I'll keep out o' his way so as not to aggravate him； but I'll stay hyar fer fear something will happen。 Mebbe he'll sober up a little； but I'm afeard he'll drink more'n ever。〃
A moment later； unseen by the rest； the two mounted the stairway to the little room where Easter's girlhood had been passed。 To Clayton the peace of the primitive little chamber was an infinite relief。 A dim light showed a rude bed in one corner and a pine table close by； whereon lay a few books and a pen and an ink…bottle。 Above； the roof rose to a sharp angle； and the low； unplastered walls were covered with pietures cut from the books he had given her。 A single window opened into the night over the valley and to the mountains beyond。 Two small cane…bottom chairs were near this； and in these they sat down。 In the east dark clouds were moving swiftly across the face of the moon； checking its light anJ giving the dim valley startling depth and blackness。 Rain…drops struck the roof at intervals； a shower of apple…blossoms rustled against the window and drifted on； and below the muffled sound of music and shuffling feet was now and then pierced by the shrill calls of the prompter。 There was something ominous in the persistent tread of feet and the steady flight of the gloomy clouds； and quivering with vague fears； Easter sank down from her chair to Clayton's feet； and burst into tears； as he put his arms tenderly about her。
Has he ever treated you badly？
〃 No； no；〃 she answered； 〃it's only the whiskey。〃
It was not alone of her father's behavior that she was thinking。 Memories were busy within her； and a thousand threads of feeling were tightening her love of home； the only home she had ever known。 Now she was leaving it for a strange world of which she knew nothing； and the thought pierced her like a physical pain。
〃Are we ever coming back ag'in？〃 she asked； with sudden fear。
Yes； dear；〃 answered Clayton； divining her thoughts； 〃whenever you wish。〃
After that she grew calmer； and remained quiet so long that she seemed to have fallen asleep like a tired child relieved of its fears。 Leaning forward； he looked into the darkness。 It was after midnight； surely。 The clouds had become lighter； more luminous； and gradually the moon broke through them； lifting the pall from the valley； playing about the edge of the forest； and quivering at last on the window。 As he bent back to look at the sleeping girl； the moonl
