options-第20节

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lder　　than　the　hermit；　and　looked　five　years　younger。

〃You're　Hamp　Ellison；　in　spite　of　those　whiskers　and　that　going…away　　bathrobe；〃　he　shouted。　　〃I　read　about　you　on　the　bill　of　fare　at　the　　inn。　　They've　run　your　biography　in　between　the　cheese　and　'Not　　Responsible　for　Coats　and　Umbrellas。'　　What　'd　you　do　it　for；　Hamp？　　　And　ten　years；　toogeewhilikins！〃

〃You're　just　the　same；〃　said　the　hermit。　　〃Come　in　and　sit　down。　　Sit　　on　that　limestone　rock　over　there；　it's　softer　than　the　granite。〃

〃I　can't　understand　it；　old　man；〃　said　Binkley。　　〃I　can　see　how　you　　could　give　up　a　woman　for　ten　years；　but　not　ten　years　for　a　woman。　　　Of　course　I　know　why　you　did　it。　　Everybody　does。　　Edith　Carr。　　She　　jilted　four　or　five　besides　you。　　But　you　were　the　only　one　who　took　　to　a　hole　in　the　ground。　　The　others　had　recourse　to　whiskey；　the　　Klondike；　politics；　and　that　similia　similibus　cure。　　But；　sayHamp；　　Edith　Carr　was　just　about　the　finest　woman　in　the　worldhigh…toned　　and　proud　and　noble；　and　playing　her　ideals　to　win　at　all　kinds　of　　odds。　　She　certainly　was　a　crackerjack。〃

〃After　I　renounced　the　world；〃　said　the　hermit；　〃I　never　heard　of　her　　again。〃

〃She　married　me；〃　said　Binkley。

The　hermit　leaned　against　the　wooden　walls　of　his　ante…cave　and　　wriggled　his　toes。

〃I　know　how　you　feel　about　it；〃　said　Binkley。　　〃What　else　could　she　　do？　　There　were　her　four　sisters　and　her　mother　and　old　man　Carryou　　remember　how　he　put　all　the　money　he　had　into　dirigible　balloons？　　Well；　　everything　was　coming　down　and　nothing　going　up　with　'em；　as　　you　might　say。　　Well；　I　know　Edith　as　well　as　you　doalthough　I　　married　her。　　I　was　worth　a　million　then；　but　I've　run　it　up　since　to　　between　five　and　six。　　It　wasn't　me　she　wanted　as　much　aswell；　it　　was　about　like　this。　　She　had　that　bunch　on　her　hands；　and　they　had　to　　be　taken　care　of。　　Edith　married　me　two　months　after　you　did　the　　ground…squirrel　act。　　I　thought　she　liked　me；　too；　at　the　time。〃

〃And　now？〃　inquired　the　recluse。

〃We're　better　friends　than　ever　now。　　She　got　a　divorce　from　me　two　　years　ago。　　Just　incompatibility。　　I　didn't　put　in　any　defence。　　Well；　　well；　well；　Hamp；　this　is　certainly　a　funny　dugout　you've　built　here。　　　But　you　always　were　a　hero　of　fiction。　　Seems　like　you'd　have　been　the　　very　one　to　strike　Edith's　fancy。　　Maybe　you　didbut　it's　the　bank　…　　roll　that　catches　'em；　my　boyyour　caves　and　whiskers　won't　do　it。　　　Honestly；　Hamp；　don't　you　think　you've　been　a　darned　fool？〃

The　hermit　smiled　behind　his　tangled　beard。　　He　was　and　always　had　　been　so　superior　to　the　crude　and　mercenary　Binkley　that　even　his　　vulgarities　could　not　anger　him。　　Moreover；　his　studies　and　　meditations　in　his　retreat　had　raised　him　far　above　the　little　　vanities　of　the　world。　　His　little　mountain…side　had　been　almost　an　　Olympus；　over　the　edge　of　which　he　saw；　smiling；　the　bolts　hurled　in　　the　valleys　of　man　below。　　Had　his　ten　years　of　renunciation；　of　　thought；　of　devotion　to　an　ideal；　of　living　scorn　of　a　sordid　world；　　been　in　vain？　　Up　from　the　world　had　come　to　him　the　youngest　and　　beautifulestfairer　than　Edithone　and　three…seventh　times　lovelier　　than　the　seven…years…served　Rachel。　　So　the　hermit　smiled　in　his　　beard。

When　Binkley　had　relieved　the　hermitage　from　the　blot　of　his　presence　　and　the　first　faint　star　showed　above　the　pines；　the　hermit　got　the　　can　of　baking…powder　from　his　cupboard。　　He　still　smiled　behind　his　　beard。

There　was　a　slight　rustle　in　the　doorway。　　There　stood　Edith　Carr；　　with　all　the　added　beauty　and　stateliness　and　noble　bearing　that　ten　　years　had　brought　her。

She　was　never　one　to　chatter。　　She　looked　at　the　hermit　with　her　　large；　thinking；　dark　eyes。　　The　hermit　stood　still；　surprised　into　a　　pose　as　motionless　as　her　own。　　Only　his　subconscious　sense　of　the　　fitness　of　things　caused　him　to　turn　the　baking…powder　can　slowly　in　　his　hands　until　its　red　label　was　hidden　against　his　bosom。

〃I　am　stopping　at　the　inn；〃　said　Edith；　in　low　but　clear　tones。　　〃I　　heard　of　you　there。　　I　told　myself　that　I　must　see　you。　　I　want　to　ask　　your　forgiveness。　　I　sold　my　happiness　for　money。　　There　were　others　　to　be　provided　forbut　that　does　not　excuse　me。　　I　just　wanted　to　see　　you　and　ask　your　forgiveness。　　You　have　lived　here　ten　years；　they　　tell　me；　cherishing　my　memory！　　I　was　blind；　Hampton。　　I　could　not　see　　then　that　all　the　money　in　the　world　cannot　weigh　in　the　scales　　against　a　faithful　heart。　　Ifbut　it　is　too　late　now；　of　course。〃

Her　assertion　was　a　question　clothed　as　best　it　could　be　in　a　loving　　woman's　pride。　　But　through　the　thin　disguise　the　hermit　saw　easily　　that　his　lady　had　come　back　to　himif　he　chose。　　He　had　won　a　golden　　crownif　it　pleased　him　to　take　it。　　The　reward　of　his　decade　of　　faithfulness　was　ready　for　his　handif　he　desired　to　stretch　it　　forth。


For　the　space　of　one　minute　the　old　enchantment　shone　upon　him　with　a　　reflected　radiance。　　And　then　by　turns　he　felt　the　manly　sensations　of　　indignation　at　having　been　discarded；　and　of　repugnance　at　having　　beenas　it　weresought　again。　　And　last　of　allhow　strange　that　it　　should　have　come　at　last！the　pale…blue　vision　of　the　beautifulest　of　　the　Trenholme　sisters　illuminated　his　mind's　eye　and　left　him　without　　a　waver。

〃It　is　too　late；〃　he　said；　in　deep　tones；　pressing　the　baking…powder　　can　against　his　heart。

Once　she　turned　after　she　had　gone　slowly　twenty　yards　down　the　path。　　　The　hermit　had　begun　to　twist　the　lid　off　his　can；　but　he　hid　it　again　　under　his　sacking　robe。　　He　could　see　her　great　eyes　shining　sadly　　through　the　twilight；　but　he　stood　inflexible　in　the　doorway　of　his　　shack　and　made　no　sign。


Just　as　the　moon　rose　on　Thursday　evening　the　hermit　was　seized　by　the　　world…madness。

Up　from　the　inn；　fainter　than　the　horns　of　elf…land；　came　now　and　then　　a　few　bars　of　music　played　by　the　casino　band。　　The　Hudson　was　　broadened　by　the　night　into　an　illimitable　seathose　lights；　dimly　　seen　on　its　opposite　shore；　were　not　beacons　for　prosaic　trolley…　lines；　but　low…set　stars　millions　of　miles　away。　　The　waters　in　front　　of　the　inn　were　gay　with　firefliesor　were　they　motor…boats；　smelling　　of　gasoline　and　oil？　　Once　the　hermit　had　known　these　things　and　had　　sported　with　Amaryllis　in　the　shade　of　the　red…and…white…striped　　awnings。　　But　for　ten　years　he　had　turned　a　heedless　ear　to　these　far…　off　echoes　of　a　frivolous　world。　　But　to…night　there　was　something　　wrong。

The　casino　band　was　playing　a　waltza　waltz。　　What　a　fool　he　had　been　　to　tear　deliberately　ten　years　of　his　life　from　the　calendar　of　　existence　for　one　who　had　given　him　up　for　the　false　joys　that　wealth…　…〃tum　ti　tum　ti　tum　ti〃how　did　that　waltz　go？　　But　those　years　had　　not　been　sacrificedhad　they　not　brought　him　the　star　and　pearl　of　　all　the　world；　the　youngest　and　beautifulest　of　〃But　do　not　come　on　Thursday　evening；〃　she　had　insisted。　　Perhaps　by　　now　she　would　be　moving　slowly　and　gracefully　to　the　strains　of　that　　waltz；　held　closely　by　West…Pointers　or　city　commuters；　while　he；　who　　had　read　in　her　eyes　things　that　had　recompensed　him　for　ten　lost　　years　of　life；　moped　like　some　wild　animal　in　its　mountain　den。　　Why　　should〃

〃Damn　it；〃　said　the　hermit；　suddenly；　〃I'll　do　it！〃

He　threw　down　his　Marcus　Aurelius　and　threw　off　his　gunny…sack　toga。　　　he　dragged　a　dust…covered　trunk　from　a　corner　of　the　cave；　and　with　　difficulty　wrenched　open　its　lid。

Candles　he　had　in　plenty；　and　the　cave　was　soon　aglow。　　Clothesten　　years　old　in　cutscissors；　razors；　hats；　shoes；　all　his　discarded　　attire　and　belongings；　were　dragged　ruthlessly　from　their　renunciatory　　rest　and　strewn　about　in　painful　disorder。

A　pair　of　scissors　soon　reduced　his　beard　sufficiently　for　the　dulled　　razors　to　perform　approximately　their　office。　　Cutting　his　own　hair　　was　beyond　the　hermit's　skill。　　So　he　only　combed　and　brushed　it　　backward　as　smoothly　as　he　could。　　Charity　forbids　us　to　consider　the　　heartburnings　and　exertions　of　one　so　long　removed　from　haberdashery　　and　society。

At　the　last　the　hermit　went　to　an　inner　corner　of　his　cave　and　began　　to　dig　in　the　soft　earth　with　a　long　iron　spoon。　　Out　of　the　cavity　he　　thus　made　he　drew　a　tin　can；　and　out　of　the　can　three　thousand　dollars　　in　bills；　tightly　rolled　and　wrapped　in　oiled　silk。　　He　was　a　real　　hermit；　as　this　may　assure　you。

You　may　take　a　brief　look　at　him　as　he　hastens　down　the　little　　mountain…side。　　A　long；　wrinkled　black　frock…coat　reached　to　his　　calves。　　White　duck　trousers；　unacquainted　with　the　tailor's　goose；　a　　pink　shirt；　white　standing　collar　with　brilliant　blue　butterfly　tie；　　and　buttoned　congress　gaiters。　　But　think；　sir　and　madamten　years！　　　》From　beneath　a　narrow…brimmed　straw　hat　with　a　striped　band　flowed　his　　hair。　　Seeing　him；　with　all　your　shrewdness　you　could　not　have　guessed　　him。　　You　would　have　said　that　he　played　Hamletor　the　tubaor　　pinochleyou　would　never　have　laid　your　hand　on　your　heart　and　said：　　〃He　is　a　hermit　who　lived　ten　years　in　a　cave　for　love　of　one　ladyto　　win　another。〃

The　dancing　pavilion　extended　above　the　waters　of　the　river。　　Gay　　lanterns　and　frosted　electric　globes　shed　a　soft　glamour　within　it。　　A　　hundred　ladies　and　gentlemen　from　the　inn　and　summer　cottages　flit