the golden road-第38节

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eall　mine　in　my　dream　never　to　be　mine　in　real　lifehow　I　love　you！〃

The　Alice　behind　him　could　bear　no　more。　　She　gave　a　little　choking　cry　that　betrayed　her　presence。　　Jasper　Dale　sprang　up　and　gazed　upon　her。　　He　saw　her　standing　there；　amid　the　languorous　shadows　of　August；　pale　with　feeling；　wide…eyed；　trembling。

For　a　moment　shyness　wrung　him。　　Then　every　trace　of　it　was　banished　by　a　sudden；　strange；　fierce　anger　that　swept　over　him。　　He　felt　outraged　and　hurt　to　the　death；　he　felt　as　if　he　had　been　cheated　out　of　something　incalculably　preciousas　if　sacrilege　had　been　done　to　his　most　holy　sanctuary　of　emotion。　　White；　tense　with　his　anger；　he　looked　at　her　and　spoke；　his　lips　as　pale　as　if　his　fiery　words　scathed　them。

〃How　dare　you？　　You　have　spied　on　meyou　have　crept　in　and　listened！　　How　dare　you？　　Do　you　know　what　you　have　done；　girl？　　You　have　destroyed　all　that　made　life　worth　while　to　me。　　My　dream　is　dead。　　It　could　not　live　when　it　was　betrayed。　　And　it　was　all　I　had。　　Oh；　laugh　at　memock　me！　　I　know　that　I　am　ridiculous！　　What　of　it？　　It　never　could　have　hurt　you！　　Why　must　you　creep　in　like　this　to　hear　me　and　put　me　to　shame？　　Oh；　I　love　youI　will　say　it；　laugh　as　you　will。　　Is　it　such　a　strange　thing　that　I　should　have　a　heart　like　other　men？　　This　will　make　sport　for　you！　　I；　who　love　you　better　than　my　life；　better　than　any　other　man　in　the　world　can　love　you；　will　be　a　jest　to　you　all　your　life。　　I　love　youand　yet　I　think　I　could　hate　youyou　have　destroyed　my　dreamyou　have　done　me　deadly　wrong。〃

〃Jasper！　　Jasper！〃　cried　Alice；　finding　her　voice。　　His　anger　hurt　her　with　a　pain　she　could　not　endure。　　It　was　unbearable　that　Jasper　should　be　angry　with　her。　　In　that　moment　she　realized　that　she　loved　himthat　the　words　he　had　spoken　when　unconscious　of　her　presence　were　the　sweetest　she　had　ever　heard；　or　ever　could　hear。　　Nothing　mattered　at　all；　save　that　he　loved　her　and　was　angry　with　her。

〃Don't　say　such　dreadful　things　to　me；〃　she　stammered；　〃I　did　not　mean　to　listen。　　I　could　not　help　it。　　I　shall　never　laugh　at　you。　　Oh；　Jasper〃she　looked　bravely　at　him　and　the　fine　soul　of　her　shone　through　the　flesh　like　an　illuminating　lamp〃I　am　glad　that　you　love　me！　　and　I　am　glad　I　chanced　to　overhear　you；　since　you　would　never　have　had　the　courage　to　tell　me　otherwise。　　Glad　glad！　　Do　you　understand；　Jasper？〃

Jasper　looked　at　her　with　the　eyes　of　one　who；　looking　through　pain；　sees　rapture　beyond。

〃Is　it　possible？〃　he　said；　wonderingly。　　〃AliceI　am　so　much　older　than　youand　they　call　me　the　Awkward　Manthey　say　I　am　unlike　other　people〃

〃You　ARE　unlike　other　people；〃　she　said　softly；　〃and　that　is　why　I　love　you。　　I　know　now　that　I　must　have　loved　you　ever　since　I　saw　you。〃

〃I　loved　you　long　before　I　saw　you；〃　said　Jasper。

He　came　close　to　her　and　drew　her　into　his　arms；　tenderly　and　reverently；　all　his　shyness　and　awkwardness　swallowed　up　in　the　grace　of　his　great　happiness。　　In　the　old　garden　he　kissed　her　lips　and　Alice　entered　into　her　own。



CHAPTER　XXVI

UNCLE　BLAIR　COMES　HOME


It　happened　that　the　Story　Girl　and　I　both　got　up　very　early　on　the　morning　of　the　Awkward　Man's　wedding　day。　　Uncle　Alec　was　going　to　Charlottetown　that　day；　and　I；　awakened　at　daybreak　by　the　sounds　in　the　kitchen　beneath　us；　remembered　that　I　had　forgotten　to　ask　him　to　bring　me　a　certain　school…book　I　wanted。　　So　I　hurriedly　dressed　and　hastened　down　to　tell　him　before　he　went。　　I　was　joined　on　the　stairs　by　the　Story　Girl；　who　said　she　had　wakened　and；　not　feeling　like　going　to　sleep　again；　thought　she　might　as　well　get　up。

〃I　had　such　a　funny　dream　last　night；〃　she　said。　　〃I　dreamed　that　I　heard　a　voice　calling　me　from　away　down　in　Uncle　Stephen's　Walk　'Sara；　Sara；　Sara；'　it　kept　calling。　　I　didn't　know　whose　it　was；　and　yet　it　seemed　like　a　voice　I　knew。　　I　wakened　up　while　it　was　calling；　and　it　seemed　so　real　I　could　hardly　believe　it　was　a　dream。　　It　was　bright　moonlight；　and　I　felt　just　like　getting　up　and　going　out　to　the　orchard。　　But　I　knew　that　would　be　silly　and　of　course　I　didn't　go。　　But　I　kept　on　wanting　to　and　I　couldn't　sleep　any　more。　　Wasn't　it　queer？〃

When　Uncle　Alec　had　gone　I　proposed　a　saunter　to　the　farther　end　of　the　orchard；　where　I　had　left　a　book　the　preceding　evening。　　A　young　mom　was　walking　rosily　on　the　hills　as　we　passed　down　Uncle　Stephen's　Walk；　with　Paddy　trotting　before　us。　　High　overhead　was　the　spirit…like　blue　of　paling　skies；　the　east　was　a　great　arc　of　crystal；　smitten　through　with　auroral　crimsonings；　just　above　it　was　one　milk…white　star　of　morning；　like　a　pearl　on　a　silver　sea。　　A　light　wind　of　dawn　was　weaving　an　orient　spell。

〃It's　lovely　to　be　up　as　early　as　this；　isn't　it？〃　said　the　Story　Girl。　　〃The　world　seems　so　different　just　at　sunrise；　doesn't　it？　It　makes　me　feel　just　like　getting　up　to　see　the　sun　rise　every　morning　of　my　life　after　this。　　But　I　know　I　won't。　　I'll　likely　sleep　later　than　ever　tomorrow　morning。　　But　I　wish　I　could。〃

〃The　Awkward　Man　and　Miss　Reade　are　going　to　have　a　lovely　day　for　their　wedding；〃　I　said。

〃Yes；　and　I'm　so　glad。　　Beautiful　Alice　deserves　everything　good。　　Why；　Bevwhy；　Bev！　　Who　is　that　in　the　hammock？〃

I　looked。　　The　hammock　was　swung　under　the　two　end　trees　of　the　Walk。　　In　it　a　man　was　lying；　asleep；　his　head　pillowed　on　his　overcoat。　　He　was　sleeping　easily；　lightly；　and　wholesomely。　　He　had　a　pointed　brown　beard　and　thick　wavy　brown　hair。　　His　cheeks　were　a　dusky　red　and　the　lashes　of　his　closed　eyes　were　as　long　and　dark　and　silken　as　a　girl's。　　He　wore　a　light　gray　suit；　and　on　the　slender　white　hand　that　hung　down　over　the　hammock's　edge　was　a　spark　of　diamond　fire。

It　seemed　to　me　that　I　knew　his　face；　although　assuredly　I　had　never　seen　him　before。　　While　I　groped　among　vague　speculations　the　Story　Girl　gave　a　queer；　choked　little　cry。　　The　next　moment　she　had　sprung　over　the　intervening　space；　dropped　on　her　knees　by　the　hammock；　and　flung　her　arms　about　the　man's　neck。

〃Father！　　Father！〃　she　cried；　while　I　stood；　rooted　to　the　ground　in　my　amazement。

The　sleeper　stirred　and　opened　two　large；　exceedingly　brilliant　hazel　eyes。　　For　a　moment　he　gazed　rather　blankly　at　the　brown…　curled　young　lady　who　was　embracing　him。　　Then　a　most　delightful　smile　broke　over　his　face；　he　sprang　up　and　caught　her　to　his　heart。

〃SaraSaramy　little　Sara！　　To　think　didn't　know　you　at　first　glance！　　But　you　are　almost　a　woman。　　And　when　I　saw　you　last　you　were　just　a　little　girl　of　eight。　　My　own　little　Sara！〃

〃Fatherfathersometimes　I've　wondered　if　you　were　ever　coming　back　to　me；〃　I　heard　the　Story　Girl　say；　as　I　turned　and　scuttled　up　the　Walk；　realizing　that　I　was　not　wanted　there　just　then　and　would　be　little　missed。　　Various　emotions　and　speculations　possessed　my　mind　in　my　retreat；　but　chiefly　did　I　feel　a　sense　of　triumph　in　being　the　bearer　of　exciting　news。

〃Aunt　Janet；　Uncle　Blair　is　here；〃　I　announced　breathlessly　at　the　kitchen　door。

Aunt　Janet；　who　was　kneading　her　bread；　turned　round　and　lifted　floury　hands。　　Felicity　and　Cecily；　who　were　just　entering　the　kitchen；　rosy　from　slumber；　stopped　still　and　stared　at　me。

〃Uncle　who？〃　exclaimed　Aunt　Janet。

〃Uncle　Blairthe　Story　Girl's　father；　you　know。　　He's　here。〃

〃WHERE？〃

〃Down　in　the　orchard。　　He　was　asleep　in　the　hammock。　　We　found　him　there。〃

〃Dear　me！〃　said　Aunt　Janet；　sitting　down　helplessly。　　〃If　that　isn't　like　Blair！　　Of　course　he　couldn't　come　like　anybody　else。　　I　wonder；〃　she　added　in　a　tone　unheard　by　anyone　else　save　myself；　〃I　wonder　if　he　has　come　to　take　the　child　away。〃

My　elation　went　out　like　a　snuffed　candle。　　I　had　never　thought　of　this。　　If　Uncle　Blair　took　the　Story　Girl　away　would　not　life　become　rather　savourless　on　the　hill　farm？　　I　turned　and　followed　Felicity　and　Cecily　out　in　a　very　subdued　mood。

Uncle　Blair　and　the　Story　Girl　were　just　coming　out　of　the　orchard。　　His　arm　was　about　her　and　hers　was　on　his　shoulder。　　Laughter　and　tears　were　contending　in　her　eyes。　　Only　once　before　when　Peter　had　come　back　from　the　Valley　of　the　Shadowhad　I　seen　the　Story　Girl　cry。　　Emotion　had　to　go　very　deep　with　her　ere　it　touched　the　source　of　tears。　　I　had　always　known　that　she　loved　her　father　passionately；　though　she　rarely　talked　of　him；　understanding　that　her　uncles　and　aunts　were　not　whole…heartedly　his　friends。

But　Aunt　Janet's　welcome　was　cordial　enough；　though　a　trifle　flustered。　　Whatever　thrifty；　hard…working　farmer　folk　might　think　of　gay；　Bohemian　Blair　Stanley　in　his　absence；　in　his　presence　even　they　liked　him；　by　the　grace　of　some　winsome；　lovable　quality　in　the　soul　of　him。　　He　had　〃a　way　with　him〃revealed　even　in　the　manner　with　which　he　caught　staid　Aunt　Janet　in　his　arms；　swung　her　matronly　form　around　as　though　she　had　been　a　slim　schoolgirl；　and　kissed　her　rosy　cheek。

〃Sister　o'　mine；　are　you　never　going　to　grow　old？〃　he　said。　　〃Here　you　are　at　forty…five　with　the　roses　of　sixteenand　not　a　gray　hair；　I'll　wager。〃

〃Blair；　Blair；　it　is　you　who　are　always　young；〃　laughed　Aunt　Janet；　not　ill　pleased。　　〃Where　in　the　world　did　you　come　from？　And　what　is　this　I　hear　of　your　sleeping　all　night　in　the　hammock？〃

〃I've　been　painting　in　the　Lake　District　all　summer；　as