the golden road-第1节

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The　Golden　Road　

by　L。　M。　Montgomery





〃Life　was　a　rose…lipped　comrade
　With　purple　flowers　dripping　from　her　fingers。〃
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　Author。


TO
THE　MEMORY　OF
Aunt　Mary　Lawson
WHO　TOLD　ME　MANY　OF　THE　TALES
REPEATED　BY　THE
STORY　GIRL



FOREWORD


Once　upon　a　time　we　all　walked　on　the　golden　road。　　It　was　a　fair　highway；　through　the　Land　of　Lost　Delight；　shadow　and　sunshine　were　blessedly　mingled；　and　every　turn　and　dip　revealed　a　fresh　charm　and　a　new　loveliness　to　eager　hearts　and　unspoiled　eyes。

On　that　road　we　heard　the　song　of　morning　stars；　we　drank　in　fragrances　aerial　and　sweet　as　a　May　mist；　we　were　rich　in　gossamer　fancies　and　iris　hopes；　our　hearts　sought　and　found　the　boon　of　dreams；　the　years　waited　beyond　and　they　were　very　fair；　life　was　a　rose…lipped　comrade　with　purple　flowers　dripping　from　her　fingers。

We　may　long　have　left　the　golden　road　behind；　but　its　memories　are　the　dearest　of　our　eternal　possessions；　and　those　who　cherish　them　as　such　may　haply　find　a　pleasure　in　the　pages　of　this　book；　whose　people　are　pilgrims　on　the　golden　road　of　youth。



THE　GOLDEN　ROAD


CHAPTER　I

A　NEW　DEPARTURE


〃I've　thought　of　something　amusing　for　the　winter；〃　I　said　as　we　drew　into　a　half…circle　around　the　glorious　wood…fire　in　Uncle　Alec's　kitchen。

It　had　been　a　day　of　wild　November　wind；　closing　down　into　a　wet；　eerie　twilight。　　Outside；　the　wind　was　shrilling　at　the　windows　and　around　the　eaves；　and　the　rain　was　playing　on　the　roof。　　The　old　willow　at　the　gate　was　writhing　in　the　storm　and　the　orchard　was　a　place　of　weird　music；　born　of　all　the　tears　and　fears　that　haunt　the　halls　of　night。　　But　little　we　cared　for　the　gloom　and　the　loneliness　of　the　outside　world；　we　kept　them　at　bay　with　the　light　of　the　fire　and　the　laughter　of　our　young　lips。

We　had　been　having　a　splendid　game　of　Blind…Man's　Buff。　　That　is；　it　had　been　splendid　at　first；　but　later　the　fun　went　out　of　it　because　we　found　that　Peter　was；　of　malice　prepense；　allowing　himself　to　be　caught　too　easily；　in　order　that　he　might　have　the　pleasure　of　catching　Felicitywhich　he　never　failed　to　do；　no　matter　how　tightly　his　eyes　were　bound。　　What　remarkable　goose　said　that　love　is　blind？　　Love　can　see　through　five　folds　of　closely…woven　muffler　with　ease！

〃I'm　getting　tired；〃　said　Cecily；　whose　breath　was　coming　rather　quickly　and　whose　pale　cheeks　had　bloomed　into　scarlet。　　〃Let's　sit　down　and　get　the　Story　Girl　to　tell　us　a　story。〃

But　as　we　dropped　into　our　places　the　Story　Girl　shot　a　significant　glance　at　me　which　intimated　that　this　was　the　psychological　moment　for　introducing　the　scheme　she　and　I　had　been　secretly　developing　for　some　days。　　It　was　really　the　Story　Girl's　idea　and　none　of　mine。　　But　she　had　insisted　that　I　should　make　the　suggestion　as　coming　wholly　from　myself。

〃If　you　don't；　Felicity　won't　agree　to　it。　　You　know　yourself；　Bev；　how　contrary　she's　been　lately　over　anything　I　mention。　　And　if　she　goes　against　it　Peter　will　toothe　ninny！and　it　wouldn't　be　any　fun　if　we　weren't　all　in　it。〃

〃What　is　it？〃　asked　Felicity；　drawing　her　chair　slightly　away　from　Peter's。

〃It　is　this。　　Let　us　get　up　a　newspaper　of　our　ownwrite　it　all　ourselves；　and　have　all　we　do　in　it。　　Don't　you　think　we　can　get　a　lot　of　fun　out　of　it？〃

Everyone　looked　rather　blank　and　amazed；　except　the　Story　Girl。　　She　knew　what　she　had　to　do；　and　she　did　it。

〃What　a　silly　idea！〃　she　exclaimed；　with　a　contemptuous　toss　of　her　long　brown　curls。　　〃Just　as　if　WE　could　get　up　a　newspaper！〃

Felicity　fired　up；　exactly　as　we　had　hoped。

〃I　think　it's　a　splendid　idea；〃　she　said　enthusiastically。　　〃I'd　like　to　know　why　we　couldn't　get　up　as　good　a　newspaper　as　they　have　in　town！　　Uncle　Roger　says　the　Daily　Enterprise　has　gone　to　the　dogsall　the　news　it　prints　is　that　some　old　woman　has　put　a　shawl　on　her　head　and　gone　across　the　road　to　have　tea　with　another　old　woman。　　I　guess　we　could　do　better　than　that。　　You　needn't　think；　Sara　Stanley；　that　nobody　but　you　can　do　anything。〃

〃I　think　it　would　be　great　fun；〃　said　Peter　decidedly。　　〃My　Aunt　Jane　helped　edit　a　paper　when　she　was　at　Queen's　Academy；　and　she　said　it　was　very　amusing　and　helped　her　a　great　deal。〃

The　Story　Girl　could　hide　her　delight　only　by　dropping　her　eyes　and　frowning。

〃Bev　wants　to　be　editor；〃　she　said；　〃and　I　don't　see　how　he　can；　with　no　experience。　　Anyhow；　it　would　be　a　lot　of　trouble。〃

〃Some　people　are　so　afraid　of　a　little　bother；〃　retorted　Felicity。

〃I　think　it　would　be　nice；〃　said　Cecily　timidly；　〃and　none　of　us　have　any　experience　of　being　editors；　any　more　than　Bev；　so　that　wouldn't　matter。〃

〃Will　it　be　printed？〃　asked　Dan。

〃Oh；　no；〃　I　said。　　〃We　can't　have　it　printed。　　We'll　just　have　to　write　it　outwe　can　buy　foolscap　from　the　teacher。〃

〃I　don't　think　it　will　be　much　of　a　newspaper　if　it　isn't　printed；〃　said　Dan　scornfully。

〃It　doesn't　matter　very　much　what　YOU　think；〃　said　Felicity。

〃Thank　you；〃　retorted　Dan。

〃Of　course；〃　said　the　Story　Girl　hastily；　not　wishing　to　have　Dan　turned　against　our　project；　〃if　all　the　rest　of　you　want　it　I'll　go　in　for　it　too。　　I　daresay　it　would　be　real　good　fun；　now　that　I　come　to　think　of　it。　　And　we'll　keep　the　copies；　and　when　we　become　famous　they'll　be　quite　valuable。〃

〃I　wonder　if　any　of　us　ever　will　be　famous；〃　said　Felix。

〃The　Story　Girl　will　be；〃　I　said。

〃I　don't　see　how　she　can　be；〃　said　Felicity　skeptically。　　〃Why；　she's　just　one　of　us。〃

〃Well；　it's　decided；　then；　that　we're　to　have　a　newspaper；〃　I　resumed　briskly。　　〃The　next　thing　is　to　choose　a　name　for　it。　　That's　a　very　important　thing。〃

〃How　often　are　you　going　to　publish　it？〃　asked　Felix。

〃Once　a　month。〃

〃I　thought　newspapers　came　out　every　day；　or　every　week　at　least；〃　said　Dan。

〃We　couldn't　have　one　every　week；〃　I　explained。　　〃It　would　be　too　much　work。〃

〃Well；　that's　an　argument；〃　admitted　Dan。　　〃The　less　work　you　can　get　along　with　the　better；　in　my　opinion。　　No；　Felicity；　you　needn't　say　it。　　I　know　exactly　what　you　want　to　say；　so　save　your　breath　to　cool　your　porridge。　　I　agree　with　you　that　I　never　work　if　I　can　find　anything　else　to　do。〃


　　　　〃'Remember　it　is　harder　still　　　　　　　To　have　no　work　to　do；〃'


quoted　Cecily　reprovingly。

〃I　don't　believe　THAT；〃　rejoined　Dan。　　〃I'm　like　the　Irishman　who　said　he　wished　the　man　who　begun　work　had　stayed　and　finished　it。〃

〃Well；　is　it　decided　that　Bev　is　to　be　editor？〃　asked　Felix。

〃Of　course　it　is；〃　Felicity　answered　for　everybody。

〃Then；〃　said　Felix；　〃I　move　that　the　name　be　The　King　Monthly　Magazine。〃

〃That　sounds　fine；〃　said　Peter；　hitching　his　chair　a　little　nearer　Felicity's。

〃But；〃　said　Cecily　timidly；　〃that　will　leave　out　Peter　and　the　Story　Girl　and　Sara　Ray；　just　as　if　they　didn't　have　a　share　in　it。　　I　don't　think　that　would　be　fair。〃

〃You　name　it　then；　Cecily；〃　I　suggested。

〃Oh！〃　Cecily　threw　a　deprecating　glance　at　the　Story　Girl　and　Felicity。　　Then；　meeting　the　contempt　in　the　latter's　gaze；　she　raised　her　head　with　unusual　spirit。

〃I　think　it　would　be　nice　just　to　call　it　Our　Magazine；〃　she　said。　　〃Then　we'd　all　feel　as　if　we　had　a　share　in　it。〃

〃Our　Magazine　it　will　be；　then；〃　I　said。　　〃And　as　for　having　a　share　in　it；　you　bet　we'll　all　have　a　share　in　it。　　If　I'm　to　be　editor　you'll　all　have　to　be　sub…editors；　and　have　charge　of　a　department。〃

〃Oh；　I　couldn't；〃　protested　Cecily。

〃You　must；〃　I　said　inexorably。　　〃'England　expects　everyone　to　do　his　duty。'　That's　our　mottoonly　we'll　put　Prince　Edward　Island　in　place　of　England。　　There　must　be　no　shirking。　　Now；　what　departments　will　we　have？　　We　must　make　it　as　much　like　a　real　newspaper　as　we　can。〃

〃Well；　we　ought　to　have　an　etiquette　department；　then；〃　said　Felicity。　　〃The　Family　Guide　has　one。〃

〃Of　course　we'll　have　one；〃　I　said；　〃and　Dan　will　edit　it。〃

〃Dan！〃　exclaimed　Felicity；　who　had　fondly　expected　to　be　asked　to　edit　it　herself。

〃I　can　run　an　etiquette　column　as　well　as　that　idiot　in　the　Family　Guide；　anyhow；〃　said　Dan　defiantly。　　〃But　you　can't　have　an　etiquette　department　unless　questions　are　asked。　　What　am　I　to　do　if　nobody　asks　any？〃

〃You　must　make　some　up；〃　said　the　Story　Girl。　　〃Uncle　Roger　says　that　is　what　the　Family　Guide　man　does。　　He　says　it　is　impossible　that　there　can　be　as　many　hopeless　fools　in　the　world　as　that　column　would　stand　for　otherwise。〃

〃We　want　you　to　edit　the　household　department；　Felicity；〃　I　said；　seeing　a　cloud　lowering　on　that　fair　lady's　brow。　　〃Nobody　can　do　that　as　well　as　you。　　Felix　will　edit　the　jokes　and　the　Information　Bureau；　and　Cecily　must　be　fashion　editor。　　Yes；　you　must；　Sis。　　It's　easy　as　wink。　And　the　Story　Girl　will　attend　to　the　personals。　　They're　very　important。　　Anyone　can　contribute　a　personal；　but　the　Story　Girl　is　to　see　there　are　some　in　every　issue；　even　if　she　has　to　make　them　up；　like　Dan　with　the　etiquette。〃

〃Bev　will　run　the　scrap　book　department；　besides　the　editorials；〃　said　the　Story　Girl；　seeing　that　I　was　too　modest　to　say　it　myself。

〃Aren't　you　going　to　have　a　story　page？〃　asked　Peter。

〃We　will；　if　you'll　be　fiction　and　poetry　editor；〃　I　said。

Peter；　in　his　secret　soul；　was　dismayed；　but　he　w