a cumberland vendetta-第4节

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Old　Gabe　gave　some　of　the　coins　back。

〃Y'u　know　whut　my　price　al'ays　is；〃　he　said。

I'm　obleeged；〃　answered　the　girl；　flushing。

〃Co'n　hev　riz　on　our　side。　　I　thought　mebbe　you　charged　folks　over　thar　more；　anyways。〃

〃I　sells　fer　the　same；　ef　co'n　is　high　ur　low；〃　was　the　answer。　　〃This　side　or　t'other　makes　no　diff'unce　to　me。　　I　hev　frien's　on　both　sides；　'n'　I　take　no　part　in　sech　doin's　as　air　a　shame　to　the　mountains。〃

There　was　a　quick　light　of　protest　in　the　girl's　dark　eyes；　but　the　old　miller　was　honored　by　both　factions；　and　without　a　word　she　turned　to　the　boy；　who　was　tying　the　sack。

The　boat's　loose！　〃　he　called　out；　with。　the　string　between　his　teeth；　and　she　turned　again　and　ran　out。　　Rome　stood　still。

Kerry　the　sack　out；　boy；　'n'　holp　the　gal。〃　Old　Gabe's　voice　was　stern；　and　the　young　mountaineer　doggedly　swung　the　bag　to　his　shoulders。　　The　girl　had　caught　the　rope；　and　drawn　the　rude　dugout　along　the　shore。

〃Who　axed　ye　to　do　that？〃　she　asked；　angrily。

Rome　dropped　the　bag　into　the　boat；　and　merely　looked　her　in　the　face。

〃Look　hyeh；　Rome　Stetson〃…the　sound　of　his　name　from　her　lips　almost　startled　him…〃I'll　hev　ye　understan'　that　I　don't　want　to　be　bounden　to　you；　nor　none　o'　yer　kin。〃

Turning；　she　gave　an　impatient　sweep　with　her　paddle。　　The　prow　of　the　canoe　dipped　and　was　motionless。　　Rome　had　caught　the　stern；　and　the　girl　wheeled　in　hot　anger。　　Her　impulse　to　strike　may　have　been　for　the　moment　and　no　longer；　or　she　may　have　read　swiftly　no　unkindness　in　the　mountaineer's　steady　look；　for　the　uplifted　oar　was　stayed　in　the　air；　as　though　at　least　she　would　hear　him。

〃I've　got　nothin'　ag'in'　you；〃　he　said；　slowly；　Jas　Lewallen　hev　been　threatenin'　me；　'n'　I　thought　it　was　him；　'n'　I　was　ready　fer　him；　when　you　come　into　the　mill。　　I　wouldn't　hurt　you　nur　no　other　woman。　　Y'u　ought　to　know　it；　'n'　ye　do　know　it。〃

The　words　were　masterful；　but　said　in　a　way　that　vaguely　soothed　the　girl's　pride；　and　the　oar　was　let　slowly　into　the　water。

〃I　reckon　y'u　air　a　friend　o'　his；〃　he　added；　still　quietly。　　〃I've　seed　ye　goin'　up　thar；　but　I've　got　nothin'　ag'in'　ye；　whoever　ye　be。〃

She　turned　on　him　a　sharp　look　of　suspicion。　〃I　reckon　I　do　be　a　friend　o'　hisn；〃　she　said；　deliberately；　and　then　she　saw　that　he　was　in　earnest。　　A　queer　little　smile　went　like　a　ray　of　light　from　her　eyes　to　her　lips；　and　she　gave　a　quick　stroke　with　her　paddle。　　The　boat　shot　into　the　current；　and　was　carried　swiftly　toward　the　Cumberland。　　The　girl　stood　erect；　swaying　through　light　and　shadow　like　a　great　scarlet　flower　blowing　in　the　wind；　and　Rome　watched　her　till　she　touched　the　other　bank。　Swinging　the　sack　out；　she　stepped　lightly　after　it；　and；　without　looking　behind　her；　disappeared　in　the　bushes。

The　boy　Isom　was　riding　away　when　Rome；　turned；　and　old　Gabe　was　watching　from　the　door　of　the　mill。

Who　is　that　gal？　〃　he　asked；　slowly。　　It　seemed　somehow　that　he　had　known　her　a　long　while　ago。　　A　puzzled　frown　overlay　his　face；　and　the　old　miller　laughed。

〃You　a…axin'　who　she　be；　'n'　she　a…axin　who　you　be；　'n'　both　o'　ye　a…knowin'　one　'nother　sence　ye　was　knee…high。　　Why；　boy；　hit's　old　Jasper's　gal…Marthy！

VI

IN　a　flash　of　memory　Rome　saw　the　girl　as　vividly　as　when　he　last　saw　her　years　ago。　They　had　met　at　the　mill；　he　with　his　father；　she　with　hers。　　There　was　a　quarrel；　and　the　two　men　were　held　apart。　　But　the　old　sore　as　usual　was　opened；　and　a　week　later　Rome's　father　was　killed　from　the　brush。　　He　remembered　his　mother's　rage　and　grief；　her　calls　for　vcngeance；　the　uprising；　the　fights；　plots；　and　ambushes。　　He　remembered　the　look　the　girl　had　given　him　that　long　ago；　and　her　look　that　day　was　little　changed。

When　fighting　began；　she　had　been　sent　for　safety　to　the　sister　of　her　dead　mother　in　another　county。　　When　peace　came；　old　Jasper　married　again　and　the　girl　refused　to　come　home。　　Lately　the　step…mother；　too；　had　passed　away；　and　then　she　came　back　to　live。　　All　this　the　old　miller　told　in　answer　to　Rome's　questions　as　the　two　walked　away　in　the　twilight。　This　was　why　he　had　not　recognized　her；　and　why　her　face　yet　seemed　familiar　even　when　he　crossed　the　river　that　morning。　

〃Uncle　Gabe；　how　do　you　reckon　the　gal　knowed　who　I　was？〃

〃She　axed　me。〃

〃She　axed　you！　　Whar？〃

Over　thar　in　the　mill。〃　　The　miller　was　watching　the　young　mountaineer　closely。　　The　manner　of　the　girl　was　significant　when　she　asked　who　Rome　was；　and　the　miller　knew　but　one　reason　possible　for　his　foolhardiness　that　morning。

〃Do　you　mean　to　say　she　have　been　over　hyeh　afore？〃

〃Why；　yes；　come　to　think　about　it；　three　or　four　times　while　Isom　was　sick；　and　whut　she　come　fer　I　can't　make　out。　　The　mill　over　thar　wasn't　broke　long；　'n'　why　she　didn't　go　thar　or　bring　more　co'n　at　a　time；　to　save　her　the　trouble　o'　so　many　trips；　I　can't　see　to　save　me。

Young　Stetson　was　listening　eagerly。　　Again　the　miller　cast　his　bait。

Mebbe　she's　spyin'。〃

Rome　faced　him；　alert　with　suspicion；　but　old　Gabe　was　laughing　silently。

〃Don't　you　be　a　fool；　Rome。　　The　gal　comes　and　goes　in　that　boat；　'n'　she　couldn't　see　a　soul　without　my　knowin'　it。　　She　seed　ye　ridin'　by　one　day；　'n'　she　looked　mighty　cur'us　when　I　tole　her　who　ye　was。〃

Old　Gabe　stopped　his　teasing；　Rome's　face　was　so　troubled；　and　himself　grew　serious。

〃Rome；〃　he　said；　earnestly；　〃I　wish　to　the　good　Lord　ye　wasn't　in　sech　doin's。　　Ef　that　had　been　young　Jas　'stid　o'　Marthy；　I　reckon　ye　would　'a'　killed　him　right　thar。〃

〃I　wasn't　going　to　let　him　kill　me；〃　was　the　sullen　answer。

The　two　had　stopped　at　a　rickety　gate　swinging　open　on　the　road。　　The　young　mountaineer　was　pushing　a　stone　about　with　the　toe　of　his　boot。　　He　had　never　before　listened　to　remonstrance　with　such　patience；　and　old　Gabe　grew　bold。

〃You've　been　drinkin'　ag'in；　Rome；〃　he　said；　sharply；　〃　'n'　I　know　it。　　Hit's　been　moonshine　that's　whooped　you　Stetsons；　not　the　Lewallens；　long　as　I　kin　rickollect；　'n'　it　ull　be　moonshine　ag'in　ef　ye　don't　let　it　alone。〃

Rome　made　no　denial；　no　defence。　　〃Uncle　Gabe；〃　he　said　slowly；　still　busied　with　the　stone；　〃　hev　that　gal　been　over　hyeh　sence　y'u　tol'　her　who　I　was？〃

The　old　man　was　waiting　for　the　pledge　that　seemed　on　his　lips；　but　he　did　not　lose　his　temper。

Not　till　to…day；〃　he　said；　quietly。

Rome　turned　abruptly；　and　the　two　separated　with　no　word　of　parting。　　For　a　moment　the　miller　watched　the　young　fellow　striding　away　under　his　rifle。

〃I　have　been　atter　peace　a　good　while；〃　he　said　to　himself；　〃　but　I　reckon　thar's　a　bigger　hand　a…workin'　now　than　mine。〃　Then　he　lifted　his　voice。　　〃Ef　Isom's　too　sick　to　come　down　to　the　mill　to…morrer；　I　wish　you'd　come　'n'　holp　me。〃

Rome　nodded　back　over　his　shoulder；　and　went　on；　with　head　bent；　along　the　river　road。　Passing　a　clump　of　pines　at　the　next　curve；　he　pulled　a　bottle　from　his　pocket。

〃Uncle　Gabe's　about　right；　I　reckon；〃　he　said；　half　aloud；　and　he　raised　it　above　his　head　to　hurl　it　away；　but　checked　it　in　mid…air。　　For　a　moment　he　looked　at　the　colorless　liquid；　then；　with　quick　nervousness；　pulled　the　cork　of　sassafras　leaves；　gulped　down　the　pale　moonshine；　and　dashed　the　bottle　against　the　trunk　of　a　beech。　The　fiery　stuff　does　its　work　in　a　hurry。　　He　was　thirsty　when　he　reached　the　mouth　of　a　brook　that　tumbled　down　the　mountain　along　the　pathway　that　would　lead　him　home；　and　he　stooped　to　drink　where　the　water　sparkled　in　a　rift　of　dim　light　from　overhead。　　Then　he　sat　upright　on　a　stone；　with　his　wide　hat…brim　curved　in　a　crescent　over　his　forehead；　his　hands　caught　about　his　knees；　and　his　eyes　on　the　empty　air。

He　was　scarcely　over　his　surprise　that　the　girl　was　young　Lewallen's　sister；　and　the　discovery　had　wrought　a　curious　change。　　The　piquant　impulse　of　rivalry　was　gone；　and　something　deeper　was　taking　its　place。　　He　was　confused　and　a　good　deal　troubled；　thinking　it　all　over。　He　tried　to　make　out　what　the　girl　meant　by　looking　at　him　from　the　mountain…side；　by　waving　her　bonnet　at　him；　and　by　coming　to　old　Gabe's　mill　when　she　could　have　gone　to　her　own。　　To　be　sure；　she　did　not　know　then　who　he　was；　and　she　had　stopped　coming　when　she　learned；　but　why　had　she　crossed　again　that　day？　　Perhaps　she　too　was　bantering　him；　and　he　was　at　once　angry　and　drawn　to　her；　for　her　mettlesome　spirit　touched　his　own　love　of　daring；　even　when　his　humiliation　was　most　bitter…when　she　told　him　he　warred　on　women；　when　he　held　out　to　her　the　branch　of　peace　and　she　swept　it　aside　with　a　stroke　of　her　oar。　But　Rome　was　little　conscious　of　the　weight　of　subtle　facts　like　these。　　His　unseeing　eyes　went　back　to　her　as　she　combed　her　hair。　He　saw　the　color　in　her　cheeks；　the　quick　light　in　her　eyes；　the　naked；　full　throat　once　more；　and　the　wavering　forces　of　his　unsteady　brain　centred　in　a　stubborn　resolution…to　see　it　all　again。　　He　would　make　Isom　stay　at　home；　if　need　be；　and　he　would　take　the　boy's　place　at　the　mill。　　If　she　came　there　no　more；　he　would　cross　the　river　again。　　Come　peace　or　war；　be　she　friend　or　enemy；　he　would　see　her。　　His　thirst　was　fierce　again；　and；　with　this　half…drunken　determination　in　his　heart；　he　stooped　once　more　to　drink　from　the　cheerful　little　stream。　　As　he　rose；　a　loud　curse　smote　the