a mountain europa-第15节

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forest；　and　quivering　at　last　on　the　window。　As　he　bent　back　to　look　at　the　sleeping　girl；　the　moonlight　fell　softly　upon　her　face；　revealing　its　purity　of　color；　and　touching　the　loosened　folds　of　her　hair；　and　shining　through　a　tear…drop　which　had　escaped　from　her　closed　lashes。　How　lovely　the　face　was！　How　pure！　　How　child…like　with　all　its　　hidden　strength！　　How　absolute　her　confidence　in　him！　How　great　　her　love！　It　was　of　her　love　that　he　thought；　not　of　his　own；　　but　with　a　new　realization　of　her　dependence　upon　him　for　happiness；　　his　clasp　tightened　about　her　almost　unconsciously。　She　stirred　slightly；　　and；　bending　his　head　lower；　Clayton　whispered　in　her　ear：

Have　you　been　asleep；　dear？

She　lifted　her　face　and　looked　tenderly　into　his　eyes；　shaking　her　head　slowly；　and　then；　as　he　bent　over　again；　she　clasped　her　arms　about　his　neck　and　strained　his　face　to　hers。

Not　until　the　opening　of　the　door　at　the　stair…way　stirred　them　did　they　notice　that　the　music　and　dancing　below　had　ceased。　The　door　was　instantly　closed　again　after　a　slight　sound　of　scuffling；　and　in　the　moment　of　stillness　that　followed；　they　heard　Raines　say　calmly：

〃No；　you　can't　go　up　thar。〃

A　brutal　oath　answered　him；　and　Easter　started　to　her　feet　when　she　heard　her　father's　voice；　terrible　with　passion；　but　Clayton　held　her　back；　and　hurried　down　the　stairway。

〃Ef　ye　don't　come　away　from　that　door；〃　he　could　hear　Hicks　saying；　〃　'n'　stop　this　meddlin'；　I'll　kill　you　'stid　o'　the　furriner。〃

As　Clayton　thrust　the　door　open；　Raines　was　standing　a　few　feet　from　the　stairway。　　The　drunken　man　was　struggling　in　the　grasp　of　　several　mountaineers；　who　were　coaxing　and　dragging　him　across　the　room。　　　About　them　were　several　other　men　scarcely　able　to　stand；　and　behind　　these　a　crowd　of　shrinking　women。

Git　back！　git　back！　〃　said　Raines；　in　low；　hurried　tones。

But　Hicks　had　caught　sight　of　Clayton。　For　a　moment　he　stood　still；　glaring　at　him。　Then；　with　a　furious　effort；　he　wrenched　himself　from　the　men　who　held　him；　and　thrust　his　hand　into　his　pocket；　backing　against　the　wall。　The　crowd　fell　away　from　him　as　a　weapon　was　drawn　and　levelled　with　unsteady　hand　at　Clayton。　Raines　sprang　forward；　Clayton　felt　his　arm　clutched；　and　a　figure　darted　past　him。　The　flash　came；　and　when　Raines　wrenched　the　weapon　from　the　mountaineer's　grasp　the　latter　was　standing　rigid；　with　horror…stricken　eyes　fixed　upon　the　smoke；　in　which　Easter's　white　face　showed　like　an　apparition。　　As　the　smoke　drifted　aside；　the　girl　was　seen　with　both　hands　at　her　breast。　　Then；　while　a　silent　terror　held　every　one；　she　turned；　and；　with　outstretched　hands；　tottered　toward　Clayton；　and　as　he　caught　her　in　his　arms；　a　low　moan　broke　from　her　lips。

Some　one　hurried　away　for　a　physician；　but　the　death…watch　was　over　before　he　came。

　For　a　long　time　the　wounded　girl　lay　apparently　unconscious；　her　face　white　and　quiet。　Only　when　a　wood…thrush　called　from　the　woods　close　by　were　her　lids　half　raised；　and　as　Clayton　pushed　the　shutter　open　above　her　and　lifted　her　gently；　she　opened　her　eyes　with　a　grateful　look　and　turned　her　face　eagerly　to　the　cool　air。

The　dawn　was　breaking。　　The　east　was　already　aflame　with　bars　of　rosy　light；　gradually　widening。　Above　them　a　single　star　was　poised；　and　in　the　valley　below　great　white　mists　were　stirring　from　sleep。　　For　a　moment　she　seemed　to　be　listlessly　watching　the　white；　shapeless　things；　trembling　as　with　life；　and　creeping　silently　into　wood　and　up　glen；　and　then　her　lashes　drooped　wearily　together。

The　door　opened　as　Clayton　let　her　sink　upon　the　bed；　breathing　as　if　asleep；　and　he　turned；　expecting　the　physician。　　　Raines；　too；　rose　eagerly；　stopped　suddenly；　and　shrank　back　with　a　shudder　of　repulsion　as　the　figure　of　the　wretched　father　crept；　half　crouching；　within。

Sherd！

The　girl's　tone　was　full　of　gentle　reproach；　and　so　soft　that　it　reached　only　Clayton's　ears。

Sherd！

This　time　his　name　was　uttered　with　an　appeal　ever　so　gentle。

Pore　dad！　　Pore　dad！　〃　she　whispered。　Her　clasp　tightened　suddenly　on　Clayton's　hand；　and　her　eyes　were　held　to　his；　even　while　the　light　in　them　was　going　out。

A　week　later　two　men　left　the　cabin　at　dusk。

Half…way　down　the　slope　they　came　to　one　of　the　unspeakably　mournful　little　burying…grounds　wherein　the　mountain　people　rest　after　their　narrow　lives。　　It　was　unhedged；　uncared　for；　and　a　few　crumbling　boards　for　headstones　told　the　living　generation　where　the　dead　were　at　rest。　　For　a　moment　they　paused　to　look　at　a　spot　under　a　great　beech　where　the　earth　had　been　lately　disturbed。

〃It　air　shorely　hard　to　see；〃　said　one　in　a　low；　slow　voice；　〃why　she　was　taken；　'n1　him　left；　why　she　should　hev　to　give　her　life　fer　the　life　he　took。　　But　He　knows；　He　knows；〃　the　mountaineer　continued；　with　unfaltering　trust；　and　then；　after　a　moment's　struggle　to　reconcile　fact　with　faith：　〃The　Lord　took　whut　He　keered　fer　most；　'n'　she　was　ready；　'n'　he　wasn　t。

The　other　made　no　reply；　and　they　kept　on　in　silence。　　Upon　a　spur　of　the　mountain　beneath　which　the　little　mining…town　had　sunk　to　quiet　for　the　night　they　parted　with　a　hand…clasp。　Not　till　then　was　the　silence　broken。

〃Thar　seems　to　be　a　penalty　fer　lovin'　too　''much　down　hyar；〃　said　one；　　〃　'n'　I　reckon；〃　he　added；　slowly；　〃that　both　of　us　hev　got　hit　to　pay。〃

Turning；　the　speaker　retraced　his　steps。　The　other　kept　on　toward　the　lights　below。







End