the blue flower-第16节

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and　Wood…Magic　grow。　　He　heard　the　free　winds　rushing　over　the
tree…tops；　and　saw　the　trail　winding　away　before　him　in　the
green　shade。

〃You　are　very　kind；〃　said　he；　〃I　hope　you　will　not　be
disappointed　in　me。　　Sometimes　I　think；　perhaps〃

〃Not　at　all；　not　at　all；〃　said　the　other。　　〃It's　all
right。　　You're　well　fitted　for　it。　　And　then；　there's　another
thing。　　I　guess　you　like　my　daughter　Amanda　pretty　well。　　Eh？
I've　watched　you；　young　man。　　I've　had　my　eye　on　you！　　Now；　of
course；　I　can't　say　much　about　itnever　can　be　sure　of　these
kind　of　things；　you　knowbut　if　you　and　she〃

The　voice　went　on　rolling　out　words　complacently。　　But
something　strange　was　working　in　Luke's　blood；
and　other　voices　were　sounding　faintly　in　his　ears。　　He　heard
the　lisping　of　the　leaves　on　the　little　poplar…trees；　the
whistle　of　the　black　duck's　wings　as　he　circled　in　the　air；
the　distant　drumming　of　the　grouse　on　his　log；　the　rumble　of
the　water…fall　in　the　River　of　Rocks。　　The　spray　cooled　his
face。　　He　saw　the　fish　rising　along　the　pool；　and　a　stag
feeding　among　the　lily…pads。

〃I　don't　know　how　to　thank　you；　Mr。　Wilson；〃　said　he　at
last；　when　the　elder　man　stopped　talking。　　〃You　have　certainly
treated　me　most　generously。　　The　only　question　is；　whether
But　to…morrow　night；　I　think；　with　your　consent；　I　will　speak
to　your　daughter。　　To…night　I　am　going　down　to　the　store；
there　is　a　good　deal　of　work　to　do　on　the　books。〃

But　when　Luke　came　to　the　store；　he　did　not　go　in。　　He
walked　along　the　street　till　he　came　to　the　river。

The　water…side　was　strangely　deserted。　　Everybody　was　at
supper。　　A　couple　of　schooners　were　moored　at　the　wharf。　　The
Portland　steamer　had　gone　out。　　The　row…boats　hung　idle　at　their
little　dock。　　Down　the　river；　drifting　and　dancing　lightly　over
the　opalescent　ripples；　following　the　gentle　turns　of　the　current
which　flowed　past　the　end　of　the　dock　where　Luke　was　standing；
came　a　white　canoe；　empty　and　astray。



III

The　White　Canoe

〃That　looks　just　like　my　old　canoe；〃　said　he。　　〃Somebody　must
have　left　it　adrift　up　the　river。　　I　wonder　how　it　floated
down　here　without　being　picked　up。〃　　He　put　out　his　hand　and
caught　it；　as　it　touched　the　dock。

In　the　stern　a　good　paddle　of　maple…wood　was　lying；　in　the
middle　there　was　a　roll　of　blankets　and　a　pack　of　camp…stuff；　in
the　bow　a　rifle。

〃All　ready　for　a　trip；〃　he　laughed。　　〃Nobody　going　but　me？
Well；　then；　au　large！〃　　And　stepping　into　the　canoe　he
pushed　out　on　the　river。

The　saffron　and　golden　lights　in　the　sky　diffused
themselves　over　the　surface　of　the　water；　and　spread　from　the　bow
of　the　canoe　in　deeper　waves　of　purple　and　orange；　as　he　paddled
swiftly　up　stream。　　The　pale　yellow　gas…lamps　of　the　town　faded
behind　him。　　The　lumber…yards　and　factories　and　disconsolate
little　houses　of　the　outskirts　seemed　to　melt　away。　　In　a　little
while　he　was　floating　between　dark　walls　of　forest；　through　the
heart　of　the　wilderness。

The　night　deepened　around　him　and　the　sky　hung　out　its
thousand　lamps。　　Odours　of　the　woods　floated　on　the　air：　the
spicy　fragrance　of　the　firs；　the　breath　of　hidden　banks　of
twin…flower。　　Muskrats　swam　noiselessly　in　the　shadows；　diving
with　a　great　commotion　as　the　canoe　ran　upon　them　suddenly。
A　horned　owl　hooted　from　the　branch　of　a　dead　pine…tree；　far
back　in　the　forest　a　fox　barked　twice。　　The　moon　crept　up
behind　the　wall　of　trees　and　touched　the　stream　with　silver。

Presently　the　forest　receded：　the　banks　of　the　river　grew
broad　and　open；　the　dew　glistened　on　the　tall　grass；　it　was
surely　the　River　of　Meadows。　　Far　ahead　of　him　in　a　bend　of
the　stream；　Luke's　ear　caught　a　new　sound：　SLOSH；　SLOSH；　SLOSH；
as　if　some　heavy　animal　were　crossing　the　wet　meadow。　　Then　a
great　splash！　　Luke　swung　the　canoe　into　the　shadow　of　the　bank
and　paddled　fast。　　As　he　turned　the　point　a　black　bear　came　out
of　the　river；　and　stood　on　the　shore；　shaking　the　water　around
him　in　glittering　spray。　　Ping！　said　the　rifle；　and　the　bear
fell。　　〃Good　luck！〃　said　Luke。　　〃I　haven't　forgotten　how；
after　all。　　I'll　take　him　into　the　canoe；　and　dress　him　up　at
the　camp。〃

Yes；　there　was　the　little　cabin　at　the　meeting　of　the
rivers。　　The　door　was　padlocked；　but　Luke　knew　how　to　pry　off
one　of　the　staples。　　Squirrels　had　made　a　litter　on　the　floor；
but　that　was　soon　swept　out；　and　a　fire　crackled　in　the　stove。
There　was　tea　and　ham　and　bread　in　the　pack　in　the　canoe。
Supper　never　tasted　better。　　〃One　more　night　in　the　old　camp；〃
said　Luke　as　he　rolled　himself　in　the　blanket　and　dropped
asleep　in　a　moment。

The　sun　shone　in　at　the　door　and　woke　him。　　〃I　must　have
a　trout　for　breakfast；〃　he　cried；　〃there's　one　waiting　for　me
at　the　mouth　of　Alder　Brook；　I　suppose。〃　　So　he　caught　up　his
rod　from　behind　the　door；　and　got　into　the　canoe　and　paddled
up　the　River　of　Rocks。　　There　was　the　broad；　dark　pool；　like　a
little　lake；　with　a　rapid　running　in　at　the　head；　and　close
beside　the　rapid；　the　mouth　of　the　brook。　　He　sent　his　fly　out　by
the　edge　of　the　alders。　　There　was　a　huge　swirl　on　the　water；　and
the　great…grandfather　of　all　the　trout　in　the　river　was
hooked。　　Up　and　down　the　pool　he　played　for　half　an　hour；
until　at　last　the　fight　was　over；　and　for　want　of　a　net　Luke
beached　him　on　the　gravel　bank　at　the　foot　of　the　pool。

〃Seven　pounds　if　it's　an　ounce；〃　said　he。　　〃This　is　my
lucky　day。　　Now　all　I　need　is　some　good　meat　to　provision　the
camp。〃

He　glanced　down　the　river；　and　on　the　second　point　below
the　pool　he　saw　a　great　black　bullmoose　with　horns　five　feet
wide。

Quietly；　swiftly；　the　canoe　went　gliding　down　the　stream；
and　ever　as　it　crept　along；　the　moose　loped　easily　before　it；
from　point　to　point；　from　bay　to　bay；　past　the　little　cabin；
down　the　River　of　the　Way　Out；　now　rustling　unseen　through　a
bank　of　tall　alders；　now　standing　out　for　a　moment　bold　and
black　on　a　beach　of　white　sandso　all　day　long　the　moose　loped
down　the　stream　and　the　white　canoe　followed。　　Just　as　the
setting　sun　was　poised　above　the　trees；　the　great　bull　stopped
and　stood　with　head　lifted。　　Luke　pushed　the　canoe　as　near　as　he
dared；　and　looked　down　for　the　rifle。　　He　had　left　it　at　the
cabin！　　The　moose　tossed　his　huge　antlers；　grunted；　and　stepped
quietly　over　the　bushes　into　the　forest。

Luke　paddled　on　down　the　stream。　　It　occurred　to　him；
suddenly；　that　it　was　near　evening。　　He　wondered　a　little　how
he　should　reach　home　in　time　for　his　engagement。　　But　it　did
not　seem　strange；　as　he　went　swiftly　on　with　the　river；　to　see
the　first　houses　of　the　town；　and　the　lumber…yards；　and　the
schooners　at　the　wharf。

He　made　the　canoe　fast　at　the　dock；　and　went　up　the　Main
Street。　　There　was　the　old　shop；　but　the　sign　over　it　read；
〃Wilson　and　Woods　Company；　The　Big　Store。〃　　He　went　on　to　the
house　with　the　white　iron　images　in　the　front　yard。　　Diana　was
still　returning　from　the　chase。　　The　fountain　still　squirted
from　the　point　of　the　little　boy's　parasol。

On　the　veranda　sat　a　stout　man　in　a　rocking　chair；　reading　the
newspaper。　　At　the　side　of　the　house　two　little　girls　with
pig…tails　were　playing　croquet。　　Some　one　in　the　parlour　was
executing　〃After　the　Ball　is　Over〃　on　a　mechanical　piano。

Luke　accosted　a　stranger　who　passed　him。　　〃Excuse　me；　but
can　you　tell　me　whether　this　is　Mr。　Matthew　Wilson's　house？〃

〃It　used　to　be；〃　said　the　stranger；　〃but　old　man　Wilson
has　been　dead　these　ten　years。〃

〃And　who　lives　here　now？〃　asked　Luke。

〃Mr。　Woods：　he　married　Wilson's　daughter；〃　said　the
stranger；　and　went　on　his　way。

〃Well；〃　said　Luke　to　himself；　〃this　is　just　a　little
queer。　　Woods　was　my　name　for　a　while；　when　I　lived　here；　but
now；　I　suppose；　I'm　Luke　Dubois　again。　　Dashed　if　I　can
understand　it。　　Somebody　must　have　been　dreaming。〃

So　he　went　back　to　the　white　canoe；　and　paddled　away　up
the　river；　and　nobody　in　Scroll…Saw　City　ever　set　eyes　on　him
again。




THE　OTHER　WISE　MAN

You　know　the　story　of　the　Three　Wise　Men　of　the　East；　and　how
they　travelled　from　far　away　to　offer　their　gifts　at　the
manger…cradle　in　Bethlehem。　　But　have　you　ever　heard　the　story
of　the　Other　Wise　Man；　who　also　saw　the　star　in　its　rising；
and　set　out　to　follow　it；　yet　did　not　arrive　with　his　brethren
in　the　presence　of　the　young　child　Jesus？　　Of　the　great　desire
of　this　fourth　pilgrim；　and　how　it　was　denied；　yet
accomplished　in　the　denial；　of　his　many　wanderings　and　the
probations　of　his　soul；　of　the　long　way　of　his　seeking　and　the
strange　way　of　his　finding　the　One　whom　he　soughtI　would
tell　the　tale　as　I　have　heard　fragments　of　it　in　the　Hall　of
Dreams；　in　the　palace　of　the　Heart　of　Man。


I

In　the　days　when　Augustus　Caesar　was　master　of　many　kings　and
Herod　reigned　in　Jerusalem；　there　lived　in　the　city　of
Ecbatana；　among　the　mountains　of　Persia；　a　certain　man　named
Artaban。　　His　house　stood　close　to　the　outermost　of　the　walls
which　encircled　the　royal　treasury。　　From　his　roof　he　could　look
over　the　seven…fold　battlements　of　black　and　white　and　crimson
and　blue　and　red　and　silver　and　gold；　to　the　hill　where　the
summer　palace　of　the　Parthian　emperors　glittered　like　a　jewel　in
a　crown。

Around　the　dwelling　of　Artaban　spread　a　fai