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！
dislikes。 But it was a very curious thing that this antipathy should
be alleged as the reason for his singular mode of life。 All sorts of
explanations were suggested； not one of them in the least
satisfactory； but serving to keep the curiosity of inquirers active
until they were superseded by a new theory。 One story was that
Maurice had a great fear of dogs。 It grew at last to a connected
narrative； in which a fright in childhood from a rabid mongrel was
said to have given him such a sensitiveness to the near presence of
dogs that he was liable to convulsions if one came close to him。
This hypothesis had some plausibility。 No other creature would be so
likely to trouble a person who had an antipathy to it。 Dogs are very
apt to make the acquaintance of strangers； in a free and easy way。
They are met with everywhere；in one's daily walk； at the thresholds
of the doors one enters； in the gentleman's library； on the rug of my
lady's sitting…room and on the cushion of her carriage。 It is true
that there are few persons who have an instinctive repugnance to this
〃friend of man。〃 But what if this so…called antipathy were only a
fear； a terror； which borrowed the less unmanly name？ It was a fair
question； if； indeed； the curiosity of the public had a right to ask
any questions at all about a harmless individual who gave no offence；
and seemed entitled to the right of choosing his way of living to
suit himself； without being submitted to espionage。
There was no positive evidence bearing on the point as yet。 But one
of the village people had a large Newfoundland dog； of a very
sociable disposition； with which he determined to test the question。
He watched for the time when Maurice should leave his house for the
woods or the lake； and started with his dog to meet him。 The animal
walked up to the stranger in a very sociable fashion； and began
making his acquaintance； after the usual manner of well…bred dogs；
that is； with the courtesies and blandishments by which the canine
Chesterfield is distinguished from the ill…conditioned cur。 Maurice
patted him in a friendly way； and spoke to him as one who was used to
the fellowship of such companions。 That idle question and foolish
story were disposed of； therefore； and some other solution must be
found； if possible。
A much more common antipathy is that which is entertained with regard
to cats。 This has never been explained。 It is not mere aversion to
the look of the creature； or to any sensible quality known to the
common observer。 The cat is pleasing in aspect； graceful in
movement； nice in personal habits； and of amiable disposition。 No
cause of offence is obvious； and yet there are many persons who
cannot abide the presence of the most innocent little kitten。 They
can tell； in some mysterious way； that there is a cat in the room
when they can neither see nor hear the creature。 Whether it is an
electrical or quasi…magnetic phenomenon； or whatever it may be； of
the fact of this strange influence there are too many well…
authenticated instances to allow its being questioned。 But suppose
Maurice Kirkwood to be the subject of this antipathy in its extremest
degree； it would in no manner account for the isolation to which he
had condemned himself。 He might shun the firesides of the old women
whose tabbies were purring by their footstools； but these worthy
dames do not make up the whole population。
These two antipathies having been disposed of； a new suggestion was
started； and was talked over with a curious sort of half belief； very
much as ghost stories are told in a circle of moderately instructed
and inquiring persons。 This was that Maurice was endowed with the
unenviable gift of the evil eye。 He was in frequent communication
with Italy； as his letters showed； and had recently been residing in
that country； as was learned from Paolo。 Now everybody knows that
the evil eye is not rarely met with in Italy。 Everybody who has ever
read Mr。 Story's 〃Roba di Roma〃 knows what a terrible power it is
which the owner of the evil eye exercises。 It can blight and destroy
whatever it falls upon。 No person's life or limb is safe if the
jettatura； the withering glance of the deadly organ； falls upon him。
It must be observed that this malign effect may follow a look from
the holiest personages； that is； if we may assume that a monk is such
as a matter of course。 Certainly we have a right to take it for
granted that the late Pope； Pius Ninth； was an eminently holy man；
and yet he had the name of dispensing the mystic and dreaded
jettatura as well as his blessing。 If Maurice Kirkwood carried that
destructive influence； so that his clear blue eyes were more to be
feared than the fascinations of the deadliest serpent； it could
easily be understood why he kept his look away from all around him
whom he feared he might harm。
No sensible person in Arrowhead Village really believed in the evil
eye； but it served the purpose of a temporary hypothesis； as do many
suppositions which we take as a nucleus for our observations without
putting any real confidence in them。 It was just suited to the
romantic notions of the more flighty persons in the village； who had
meddled more or less with Spiritualism； and were ready for any new
fancy； if it were only wild enough。
The riddle of the young stranger's peculiarity did not seem likely to
find any very speedy solution。 Every new suggestion furnished talk
for the gossips of the village and the babble of the many tongues in
the two educational institutions。 Naturally； the discussion was
liveliest among the young ladies。 Here is an extract from a letter
of one of these young ladies； who； having received at her birth the
ever…pleasing name of Mary； saw fit to have herself called Mollie in
the catalogue and in her letters。 The old postmaster of the town to
which her letter was directed took it up to stamp； and read on the
envelope the direction to 〃Miss Lulu Pinrow。〃 He brought the stamp
down with a vicious emphasis； coming very near blotting out the
nursery name； instead of cancelling the postage…stamp。 〃Lulu！〃 he
exclaimed。 〃I should like to know if that great strapping girl isn't
out of her cradle yet！ I suppose Miss Louisa will think that belongs
to her； but I saw her christened and I heard the name the minister
gave her； and it was n't 'Lulu；' or any such baby nonsense。〃 And so
saying； he gave it a fling to the box marked P； as if it burned his
fingers。 Why a grown…up young woman allowed herself to be cheapened
in the way so many of them do by the use of names which become them
as well as the frock of a ten…year…old schoolgirl would become a
graduate of the Corinna Institute； the old postmaster could not
guess。 He was a queer old man。
The letter thus scornfully treated runs over with a young girl's
written loquacity：
〃Oh； Lulu； there is such a sensation as you never saw or heard of
'in all your born days；' as mamma used to say。 He has been at the
village for some time； but lately we have hadoh； the weirdest
stories about him！ 'The Mysterious Stranger is the name some give
him； but we girls call him the Sachem； because he paddles about in an
Indian canoe。 If I should tell you all the things that are said
about him I should use up all my paper ten times over。 He has never
made a visit to the Institute； and none of the girls have ever spoken
to him； but the people at the village say he is very； very handsome。
We are dying to get a look at him； of coursethough there is a
horrid story about himthat he has the evil eye did you ever hear
about the evil eye？ If a person who is born with it looks at you；
you die； or something happensawfulis n't it？
〃The rector says he never goes to church； but then you know a good
many of the people that pass the summer at the village never dothey
think their religion must have vacationsthat's what I've heard they
sayvacations； just like other hard workit ought not to be hard
work； I'm sure； but I suppose they feel so about it。 Should you feel
afraid to have him look at you？ Some of the girls say they would n't
have him for the whole world； but I shouldn't mind itespecially if
I had on my eyeglasses。 Do you suppose if there is anything in the
evil eye it would go through glass？ I don't believe it。 Do you
think blue eye…glasses would be better than common ones？ Don't laugh
at methey tell such weird stories！ The TerrorLurida Vincent； you
know…makes fun of all they say about it； but then she 'knows
everything and doesn't believe anything；' the girls sayWell； I
should be awfully scared； I know； if anybody that had the evil eye
should look at mebutoh； I don't knowbut if it was a young man
and if he was veryvery good…lookingI thinkperhaps I would run
the riskbut don't tell anybody I said any such horrid thingand
burn this letter right upthere 's a dear good girl。〃
It is to be hoped