按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
JUST DAVID
JUST DAVID
BY ELEANOR H。｛HODGMAN｝ PORTER
1
… Page 2…
JUST DAVID
CHAPTER I
THE MOUNTAIN HOME
Far up on the mountain…side stood alone in the clearing。 It was roughly
yet warmly built。 Behind it jagged cliffs broke the north wind； and
towered gray…white in the sunshine。 Before it a tiny expanse of green
sloped gently away to a point where the mountain dropped in another
sharp descent； wooded with scrubby firs and pines。 At the left a footpath
led into the cool depths of the forest。 But at the right the mountain fell
away again and disclosed to view the picture David loved the best of all：
the far…reaching valley； the silver pool of the lake with its ribbon of a river
flung far out； and above it the grays and greens and purples of the
mountains that climbed one upon another's shoulders until the topmost
thrust their heads into the wide dome of the sky itself。
There was no road； apparently； leading away from the cabin。 There
was only the footpath that disappeared into the forest。 Neither； anywhere；
was there a house in sight nearer than the white specks far down in the
valley by the river。
Within the shack a wide fireplace dominated one side of the main
room。 It was June now； and the ashes lay cold on the hearth； but from the
tiny lean…to in the rear came the smell and the sputter of bacon sizzling
over a blaze。 The furnishings of the room were simple； yet； in a way； out
of the common。 There were two bunks； a few rude but comfortable chairs；
a table； two music…racks； two violins with their cases； and everywhere
books； and scattered sheets of music。 Nowhere was there cushion； curtain；
or knickknack that told of a woman's taste or touch。 On the other hand；
neither was there anywhere gun； pelt； or antlered head that spoke of a
man's strength and skill。 For decoration there were a beautiful copy of the
2
… Page 3…
JUST DAVID
Sistine Madonna； several photographs signed with names well known out
in the great world beyond the mountains； and a festoon of pine cones such
as a child might gather and hang。
From the little lean…to kitchen the sound of the sputtering suddenly
ceased； and at the door appeared a pair of dark； wistful eyes。
〃Daddy！〃 called the owner of the eyes。
There was no answer。
〃Father； are you there？〃 called the voice； more insistently。
From one of the bunks came a slight stir and a murmured word。 At the
sound the boy at the door leaped softly into the room and hurried to the
bunk in the corner。 He was a slender lad with short； crisp curls at his ears；
and the red of perfect health in his cheeks。 His hands； slim； long； and with
tapering fingers like a girl's； reached forward eagerly。
〃Daddy； come！ I've done the bacon all myself； and the potatoes and the
coffee； too。 Quick； it's all getting cold！〃
Slowly； with the aid of the boy's firm hands； the man pulled himself
half to a sitting posture。 His cheeks； like the boy's； were redbut not with
health。 His eyes were a little wild； but his voice was low and very tender；
like a caress。
〃Davidit's my little son David！〃
〃Of course it's David！ Who else should it be？〃 laughed the boy。
〃Come！〃 And he tugged at the man's hands。
The man rose then； unsteadily； and by sheer will forced himself to
stand upright。 The wild look left his eyes； and the flush his cheeks。 His
face looked suddenly old and haggard。 Yet with fairly sure steps he
crossed the room and entered the little kitchen。
Half of the bacon was black； the other half was transparent and like
tough jelly。 The potatoes were soggy； and had the unmistakable taste that
comes from a dish that has boiled dry。 The coffee was lukewarm and
muddy。 Even the milk was sour。
David laughed a little ruefully。
〃Things aren't so nice as yours； father；〃 he apologized。 〃I'm afraid I'm
3
… Page 4…
JUST DAVID
nothing but a discord in that orchestra to…day！ Somehow； some of the
stove was hotter than the rest； and burnt up the bacon in spots； and all the
water got out of the potatoes； too；though THAT didn't matter； for I just
put more cold in。 I forgot and left the milk in the sun； and it tastes bad now；
but I'm sure next time it'll be betterall of it。〃
The man smiled； but he shook his head sadly。
〃But there ought not to be any 'next time；' David。〃
〃Why not？ What do you mean？ Aren't you ever going to let me try
again； father？〃 There was real distress in the boy's voice。
The man hesitated。 His lips parted with an indrawn breath； as if behind
them lay a rush of words。 But they closed abruptly； the words still unsaid。
Then； very lightly； came these others：
〃Well； son； this isn't a very nice way to treat your supper； is it？ Now； if
you please； I'll take some of that bacon。 I think I feel my appetite coming
back。〃
If the truant appetite 〃came back；〃 however； it could not have stayed；
for the man ate but little。 He frowned； too； as he saw how little the boy ate。
He sat silent while his son cleared the food and dishes away； and he was
still silent when； with the boy； he passed out of the house and walked to
the little bench facing the west。
Unless it stormed very hard； David never went to bed without this last
look at his 〃Silver Lake；〃 as he called the little sheet of water far down in
the valley。
〃Daddy； it's gold to…nightall gold with the sun！〃 he cried rapturously；
as his eyes fell upon his treasure。 〃Oh； daddy！〃
It was a long…drawn cry of ecstasy； and hearing it； the man winced； as
with sudden pain。
'Daddy； I'm going to play itI've got to play it！〃 cried the boy；
bounding toward the cabin。 In a moment he had returned； violin at his
chin。
The man watched and listened； and as he watched and listened； his
face became a battle…ground whereon pride and fear； hope and despair； joy
4
… Page 5…
JUST DAVID
and sorrow； fought for the mastery。
It was no new thing for David to 〃play〃 the sunset。 Always； when he
was moved； David turned to his violin。 Always in its quivering strings he
found the means to say that which his tongue could not express。
Across the valley the grays and blues of the mountains had become all
purples now。 Above； the sky in one vast flame of crimson and gold； was a
molten sea on which floated rose…pink cloud…boats。 Below； the valley with
its lake and river picked out in rose and gold against the shadowy greens
of field and forest； seemed like some enchanted fairyland of loveliness。
And all this was in David's violin； and all this； too； was on David's
uplifted； rapturous face。
As the last rose…glow turned to gray and the last strain quivered into
silence； the man spoke。 His voice was almost harsh with self…control。
〃David； the time has come。 We'll have to give it upyou and I。〃
The boy turned wonderingly； his face still softly luminous。
〃Give what up？〃
〃Thisall this。〃
〃This！ Why； father； what do you mean？ This is home！〃
The man nodded wearily。
〃I know。 It has been home； but； David； you didn't think we could
always live here； like this； did you？〃
David laughed softly； and turned his eyes once more to the distant sky…
line。
Why not？〃 he asked dreamily。 〃What better place could there be？ I like
it； daddy。〃
The man drew a troubled breath； and stirred restlessly。 The teasing
pain in his side was very bad to…night； and no change of position eased it。
He was ill； very ill； and he knew it。 Yet he also knew that； to David；
sickness； pain； and death meant nothingor； at most； words that had
always been lightly； almost unconsciously passed over。 For the first time
he wondered if； after all； his trainingsome of ithad been w