a cumberland vendetta-第15节

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n　I　seed　ye　comm'　through　the　bushes　jes　now；　so　white　'n'　sickly…like；　I　couldn't　hardly　git　breath；　a…thinkin'　I　was　the　cause　of　all　yer　misery。　That's　all！〃　　He　stretched　out　his　arms。　Shoot；　gal；　ef　ye　don't　believe　me。　　I'd　jes　as　lieve　die；　ef　ye　thinks　I'm　lyin'　to　ye；　'n'　ef　ye　hates　me　fer　whut　I　hain't　done。〃

The　gun　had　fallen　to　the　earth。　The　girl；　trembling　at　the　knees；　sank　to　her　seat　on　the　porch；　and；　folding　her　arms　against　the　pillar；　pressed　her　forehead　against　them；　her　face　unseen。　　Rome　stooped　to　pick　up　the　weapon。

〃I'm　goin'　'way　now；〃　he　went　on；　slowly；　after　a　little　pause；　〃but　I　couldn't　leave　hyeh　without　seem'　you。　　I　wanted　ye　to　know　the　truth；　'n'　I　'lowed　y'u'd　believe　me　ef　I　tol'　ye　myself。　　I've　been　a…waitin'　thar　in　the　lorrel　fer　ye　sence　mornin'。　Uncle　Gabe　tol'　me　ye　come　hyeh　ever'　day。　He　says　I've　got　to　go。　I've　been　hopin'　I　mought　come　out　o'　the　bushes　some　day。　　But　Uncle　Gabe　says　ever'body's　ag'in'　me　more'　n　ever；　'n'　that　the　soldiers　mean　to　ketch　me。　The　gov'ner　out　thar　in　the　settlements　says　as　how　he'll　give　five　hundred　dollars　fer　me；　livin'　or　dead。　He'll　nuver　git　me　livin'…I've　swore　that…'n'　as　I　hev　done　nothin'　sech　as　folks　on　both　sides　hev　done　who　air　walkin'　roun'　free；　I　hain't　goin'　to　give　up。　Hit's　purty　hard　to　leave　these　mount'ins。　Reckon　I'll　nuver　see　'em　ag'in。　Been　livin'　like　a　catamount　over　thar　on　the　knob。　　I　could　jes　see　you　over　hyeh；　'n'　I　reckon　I　hain't　done　much　'cept　lay　over　thar　on　a　rock　'n'　watch　ye　movin'　round。　　Hit's　mighty　good　to　feel　that　ye　believe　me；　'n'　I　want　ye　to　know　that　I　been　stayin'　over　thar　fer　nothin'　on　earth　but　jes　to　see　you　ag'in；　'n'　I　want　ye　to　know　that　I　was　a…sorrowin'　fer　ye　when　y'u　was　sick；　'n'　a…pinin'　to　see　ye；　'n'　a…hopin'　some　day　y'u　mought　kinder　git　over　yer　hate　fer　me。〃　He　had　been　talking　with　low　tenderness；　half　to　himself；　and　with　his　face　to　the　river；　and　he　did　not　see　the　girl's　tears　falling　to　the　porch。　Her　sorrow　gave　way　in　a　great　sob　now；　and　he　turned　with　sharp　remorse；　and　stood　quite　near　her。

〃Don't　cry；　Marthy；〃　he　said。　〃God　knows　hit's　hard　to　think　I've　brought　all　this　on　ye　when　I'd　give　all　these　mount　'ins　to　save　ye　from　it。　Whut　d'　ye　say？　Don't　cry。〃

The　girl　was　trying　to　speak　at　last；　and　Rome　bent　over　to　catch　the　words。

〃I　hain't　cryin'　fer　myself；〃　she　said；　faintly；　and　then　she　said　no　more；　but　the　first　smile　that　had　passed　over　Rome's　face　for　many　a　day　passed　then；　and　he　put　out　one　big　hand；　and　let　it　rest　on　the　heap　of　lustrous　hair。

〃Marthy；　I　hate　to　go　'way；　leavin'　ye　hyeh　with　nobody　to　take　keer　o'　ye。　You're　all　alone　hyeh　in　the　mount'ins；　I'm　all　alone；　'n'　I　reckon　I'll　be　all　alone　wharever　I　go；　ef　you　stay　hyeh。　I　got　a　boat　down　thar　on　the　river；　'n'　I'm　goin'　out　West　whar　Uncle　Rufe　use　to　live。　　I　know　I　hain't　good　fer　nothin'　much　〃…he　spoke　almost　huskily；　he　could　scarcely　get　the　words　to　his　lips…〃　but　I　want　ye　to　go　with　me。　Won't　ye？〃

The　girl　did　not　answer；　but　her　sobbing　ceased　slowly；　while　Rome　stroked　her　hair；　and　at　last　she　lifted　her　face；　and　for　a　moment　looked　to　the　other　shore。　Then　she　rose。　There　is　a　strange　pride　in　the　Kentucky　mountaineer。

〃As　you　say；　Rome；　thar's　nobody　left　but　you；　'n'　nobody　but　me；　but　they　burned　you　out；　we　hain't　even…yit。〃　　Her　eyes　were　on　Thunderstruck　Knob；　where　the　last　sunlight　used　to　touch　the　Stetson　cabin。

〃Hyeh；　Rome！〃　He　knew　what　she　meant；　and　he　kneeled　at　the　pile　of　kindling…wood　near　the　kitchen　door。　　Then　they　stood　back　and　waited。　　The　sun　dipped　below　a　gap　in　the　mountains；　the　sky　darkened；　and　the　flames　rose　to　the　shingled　porch；　and　leaped　into　the　gathering　dusk。　On　the　outer　edge　of　the　quivering　light；　where　it　touched　the　blossomed　laurel；　the　two　stood　till　the　blaze　caught　the　eaves　of　the　cabin；　and　then　they　turned　their　faces　where；　burning　to　ashes　in　the　west；　was　another　fire；　whose　light　blended　in　the　eyes　of　each　with　a　light　older　and　more　lasting　than　its　own…the　light　eternal。







THE　END