a mountain europa-第7节

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〃I　was　afeard；〃　continued　the　mother；　〃　that　she　would　hev　her　hair　cut　short；　'n'　be　a…flyin'　with　ribbons；　'n'　spangled　out　like　a　rainbow；　like　old　'Lige　Hicks's　gal；　ef　I　hadn't　heerd　the　furriner　tell　her　it　was　'　beastly。'　　Thar　ain't　no　fear　now；　fer　what　that　furriner　don't　like；　Easter　don't　nother。〃

For　an　instant　the　mountaineer's　eyes　had　flashed　on　Clayton；　but　when　the　latter；　a　trifle　embarrassed；　looked　up；　Raines　apparently　had　heard　nothing。　　Easter　did　not　reappear　until　the　mountaineer　was　gone。

There　were　othcr　hopeful　signs。　　Whenever　Clayton　spoke　of　his　friends；　she　always　listened　eagerly；　and　asked　innumerable　questions　about　them。　　If　his　attention　was　caught　by　any　queer　custom　or　phrase　of　the　mountain　dialect；　she　was　quick　to　ask　in　return　how　he　would　say　the　same　thing；　and　what　the　custom　was　in　the　settlemints。〃　　She　even　made　feeble　attempts　to　model　her　own　speech　after　his。

In　a　conscious　glow　that　he　imagined　was　philanthropy；　Clayton　began　his　task　of　elevation。　　She　was　not　so　ignorant　as　he　had　supposed。　　Apparently　she　had　been　taught　by　somebody；　but　when　asked　by　whom；　she　hesitated　answering；　and　he　had　taken　it　for　granted　that　what　she　knew　she　had　puzzled　out　alone。　He　was　astonished　by　her　quickness；　her　docility；　and　the　passionate　energy　with　which　she　worked。　　Her　instant　obedience　to　every　suggestion；　her　trust　in　every　word　he　uttered；　made　him　acutely　and　at　times　uncomfortably　conscious　of　his　responsibility。　　At　the　same　time　there　was　in　the　task　something　of　the　pleasure　that　a　young　sculptor　feels　when；　for　the　first　time；　the　clay　begins　to　yield　obedience　to　his　fingers；　and　something　of　the　delight　that　must　have　thrilled　Pygmalion　when　he　saw　his　statue　tremulous　with　conscious　life。

VI

THE　possibility　of　lifting　the　girl　above　her　own　people；　and　of　creating　a　spirit　of　discontent　that　might　embitter　her　whole　life；　had　occurred　to　Clayton；　but　at　such　moments　the　figure　of　Raines　came　into　the　philanthropic　picture　forming　slowly　in　his　mind；　and　his　conscience　was　quieted。　　He　could　see　them　together；　the　gradual　change　that　Easter　would　bring　about　in　him；　the　influence　of　the　two　on　their　fellows。　　The　mining…camp　grew　into　a　town　with　a　modest　church　on　the　outskirts；　and　a　cottage　where　Raines　and　Easter　were　installed。　　They　stood　between　the　old　civilization　and　the　new；　understanding　both；　and　protecting　the　native　strength　of　the　one　from　the　vices　of　the　other；　and　training　it　after　more　breadth　and　refinement。　But　Raines　and　Easter　did　not　lend　themselves　to　the　picture　so　readily；　and　gradually　it　grew　vague　and　shadowy；　and　the　figure　of　the　mountaineer　was　blurred。

Clayton　did　not　bring　harmony　to　the　two。　At　first　he　saw　nothing　of　the　mountaineer；　and　when　they　met　at　the　cabin　Raines　remained　only　a　short　time。　　If　Easter　cared　for　him　at　all；　she　did　not　show　it。　　How　he　was　regarded　by　the　mother；　Clayton　had　learned　long　ago；　when；　in　answer　to　one　of　his　questions；　she　had　said；　with　a　look　at　Easter；　that　〃　Raines　was　the　likeliest　young　feller　in　them　mountains　〃；　that　〃he　knew　morn'n　anybody　round　thar〃；　that　〃　he　had　spent　a　year　in　the　settlemints；　was　mighty　religious；　and　would　one　day　be　a　circuit…rider。　　Anyhow；〃　she　concluded；　〃　he　was　a　mighty　good　friend　o'　theirn。〃

But　as　for　Easter；　she　treated　him　with　unvarying　indifference；　though　Clayton　noticed　she　was　more　quiet　and　reserved　in　the　mountaineer's　presence；　and；　what　was　unintelligible　to　him；　she　refused　to　speak　of　her　studies　when　Raines　was　at　the　cabin；　and　warned　her　mother　with　an　angry　frown　when　the　latter　began　telling　the　mountaineer　of　〃whut　a　change　had　come　over　Easter；　and　how　she　reckoned　the　gal　was　a…gittin'　eddicated　enough　fer　to　teach　anybody　in　the　mountains；　she　was　a…larnin'　so　much。〃

After　that　little　incident；　he　met　Raines　at　the　cabin　oftener。　The　mountaineer　was　always　taciturn；　though　he　listened　closely　when　anything　was　said；　and　even　when　addressed　by　Easter's　mother　his　attention；　Clayton　noticed；　was　fixed　on　Easter　and　himself。　　He　felt　that　he　was　being　watched；　and　it　irritated　him。　He　had　tried　to　be　friendly　with　the　mountaineer；　but　his　advances　were　received　with　a　reserve　that　was　almost　suspicion。　　As　time　went　on；　the　mountaineer's　visits　increased　in　frequency　and　in　length；　and　at　last　one　night　he　stayed　so　long　that；　for　the　first　time；　Clayton　left　him　there。

Neither　spoke　after　the　young　engineer　was　gone。　　The　mountaineer　sat　looking　closely　at　Easter；　who　was　listlessly　watching　the　moon　as　it　rose　above　the　Cumberland　Range　and　brought　into　view　the　wavering　outline　of　Pine　Mountain　and　the　shadowed　valley　below。　　It　was　evident　from　his　face　and　his　eyes；　which　glowed　with　the　suppressed　fire　of　some　powerful　emotion　within；　that　he　had　remained　for　a　purpose；　and　when　he　rose　and　said；　〃I　reckon　I　better　be　a…goin'；　Easter；〃　his　voice　was　so　unnatural　that　the　girl　looked　up　quickly。


Hit　air　late；〃　she　said；　after　a　slight　pause。

His　face　flushed；　but　he　set　his　lips　and　caught　the　back　of　his　chair；　as　though　to　steady　himself。

〃I　reckon；〃　he　said；　with　slow　bitterness；　〃that　hit　would　'a'　been　early　long　as　the　furriner　was　hyeh。〃

The　girl　was　roused　instantly；　but　she　said　nothing；　and　he　continued；　in　a　determined　tone：

〃Easter；　thar's　a　good　deal　I've　wanted　to　say　to　ye　fer　a　long　time；　but　I　hev　kept　a…puttin'　hit　off　until　I'm　afeard　maybe　hit　air　too　late。　But　I'm　a…goin'　to　say　hit　now；　and　I　want　ye　to　listen。〃　He　cleared　his　throat　huskily。　〃　Do　ye　know；　Easter；　what　folks　in　the　mountains　is　a…sayin'？

The　girl's　quick　insight　told　her　what　was　coming；　and　her　face　hardened。

〃Have　ye　ever　knowed　me；　Sherd　Raines；　to　keer　what　folks　in　the　mountains　say？　I　reckon　ye　mean　as　how　they　air　a…talkin'　about　me

That's　what　I　mean；〃　said　the　mountaineer…〃　you　'n'　him。〃

〃Whut　air　they　a…sayin'？〃　she　asked；　defiantly。　Raines　watched　her　narrowly。

〃They　air　a…sayin'　as　how　he　air　a…comin'　up　here　mighty　often；　as　how　Easter　Hicks；　who　hev　never　keered　fer　no　man；　air　in　love　with　this　furriner　from　the　settlemints。〃

The　girl　reddened；　in　spite　of　her　assumed　indifference。

〃They…　say；　too；　as　how　he　air　not　in　love　with　her；　'n'　that　somebody　oughter　warn　Easter　that　he　air　not　a…meanin'　good　to　her。　　You　hev　been　seed　a…walkin'　in　the　mountains　together。〃

〃Who　seed　me？　〃　she　asked；　with　quick　suspicion。　The　mountaineer　hesitated。

I　hev；〃　he　said；　doggedly。

The　girl's　anger；　which　had　been　kindling　against　her　gossiping　fellows；　blazed　out　against　Raines。

You've　been　watchin'　me；〃　she　said；　angrily。　〃Who　give　ye　the　right　to　do　it？　What　call　hev　ye　to　come　hyar　and　tell　me　whut　folks　is　asayin'？　Is　it　any　o'　yo'　business？　I　want　to　tell　ye；　Sherd　Raines〃…her　utterance　grew　thick…〃　that　I　kin　take　keer　o'　myself；　that　I　don't　keer　what　folks　say；　'n'　I　want　ye　to　keep　away　from　me。　'N'　ef　I　sees　ye　a…hangin'　round　'n'　a…spyin'；　ye'll　be　sorry　fer　it。〃　　Her　eyes　blazed；　she　had　risen　and　drawn　herself　straight；　and　her　hands　were　clinched。

The　mountaineer　stood　motionless。　〃　Thar's　another　who's　seed　ye；〃　he　said；　quietly…〃　up　thar；〃　pointing　to　a　wooded　mountain；　the　top　of　which　was　lost　in　mist。　The　girl's　attitude　changed　instantly　into　…　vague　alarm；　and　her　eyes　flashed　upon　Raines　as　though　they　would　sear　their　way　into　the　meaning　hidden　in　his　quiet　face。　　Gradually　his　motive　seemed　to　become　clear；　and　she　advanced　a　step　toward　him。

〃So　you've　found　out　whar　dad　is　a…hidin'？〃　she　said；　her　voice　tremulous　with　rage　and　scorn。　　　　N'　ye　air　mean　and　sorry　enough　to　some　hyeh　'n'　tell　me　ye'll　give　him　up　to　the　law　ef　I　don't　knuckle　down　'n'　do　what　ye　wants　me？

She　paused　a　moment。　　Was　her　suspicion　correct？　Why　did　he　not　speak？　She　did　not　really　believe　what　she　said。　Could　it　be　true？　Her　nostrils　quivered；　she　tried　to　speak　again；　but　her　voice　was　choked　with　passion。　　With　a　sudden　movement　she　snatched　her　rifle　from　its　place；　and　the　steel　flashed　in　the　moonlight　and　ceased　in　a　shining　line　straight　at　the　mountaineer's　breast。

〃Look　hyeh；　Sherd　Raines；〃　she　said；　in　low；　unsteady　tones；　〃　I　know　you　air　religious；　'n'　I　know　as　how；　when　y'u　give　yer　word；　you'll　do　what　you　say。　Now；　I　want　ye　to　hold　up　yer　right　hand　and　sw'ar　that　you'll　never　tell　a　livin'　soul　that　you　know　whar　dad　is　a…hidin'。〃

Raines　did　not　turn　his　face；　which　was　as　emotionless　as　stone。

Air　ye　goin'　to　sw'ar？　〃　she　asked；　with　fierce　impatience。　　Without　looking　at　her；　he　began　to　speak…very　slowly：

〃Do　ye　think　I'm　fool　enough　to　try　to　gain　yer　good…will　by　a…tellin'　on　yer　dad？　We　were　on　the　mountains；　him　'n'　me；　we　seed　you　'n'　the　furriner。　　Yer　dad　thought　hit　was　a　spy；　'n'　he　whipped　up　his　gun　'n'　would　'a'　shot　him　dead　in　his　tracks　ef　I　hadn't　hindered　him。

Does　that　look　like　I　wanted　to　hurt　the　'furriner？　　I　hev　knowed　yer　dad　was　up　in　the　mountains　all　the　time；　'n'　I　hev　been　a…totin'　things　fer　him　to　eat。　　Does　that　look　like　I　wanted　to　hand　him　over　to　the　law？〃

The　girl　had　let　the　rifle　fall。　Moving　away；　she　stood　leaning　on　it　in　the　shadow；　looking　down。

〃You　want　to　know　what　call　I　h