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a mortal antipathy-第23章

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come; and as yet the enigma which had completely puzzled Arrowhead

Village and its visitors remained unsolved。  The white canoe still

wandered over the lake; alone; ghostly; always avoiding the near

approach of the boats which seemed to be coming in its direction。

Now and then a circumstance would happen which helped to keep inquiry

alive。  Good horsemanship was not so common among the young men of

the place and its neighborhood that Maurice's accomplishment in that

way could be overlooked。  If there was a wicked horse or a wild colt

whose owner was afraid of him; he would be commended to Maurice's

attention。  Paolo would lead him to his master with all due

precaution;for he had no idea of risking his neck on the back of

any ill…conditioned beast;and Maurice would fasten on his long

spurs; spring into the saddle; and very speedily teach the creature

good behavior。  There soon got about a story that he was what the

fresh…water fisherman called 〃one o' them whisperers。〃  It is a

common legend enough; coming from the Old World; but known in

American horse…talking circles; that some persons will whisper

certain words in a horse's ear which will tame him if he is as wild

and furious as ever Cruiser was。  All this added to the mystery which

surrounded the young man。  A single improbable or absurd story

amounts to very little; but when half a dozen such stories are told

about the same individual or the same event; they begin to produce

the effect of credible evidence。  If the year had been 1692 and the

place had been Salem Village; Maurice Kirkwood would have run the

risk of being treated like the Reverend George Burroughs。



Miss Lurida Vincent's curiosity had been intensely excited with

reference to the young man of whom so many stories were told。  She

had pretty nearly convinced herself that he was the author of the

paper on Ocean; Lake; and River; which had been read at one of the

meetings of the Pansophian Society。  She was very desirous of meeting

him; if it were possible。  It seemed as if she might; as Secretary of

the Society; request the cooperation of any of the visitors; without

impropriety。  So; after much deliberation; she wrote a careful note;

of which the following is an exact copy。  Her hand was bold; almost

masculine; a curious contrast to that of Euthymia; which was

delicately feminine。





PANSOPHIAN SOCIETY。



ARROWHEAD VILLAGE; August 3; 18…。



MAURICE KIRKWOOD; ESQ。



DEAR SIR;You have received; I trust; a card of invitation to the

meetings of our Society; but I think we have not yet had the pleasure

of seeing you at any of them。  We have supposed that we might be

indebted to you for a paper read at the last meeting; and listened to

with much interest。  As it was anonymous; we do not wish to be

inquisitive respecting its authorship; but we desire to say that any

papers kindly sent us by the temporary residents of our village will

be welcome; and if adapted to the wants of our Association will be

read at one of its meetings or printed in its records; or perhaps

both read and printed。  May we not hope for your presence at the

meeting; which is to take place next Wednesday evening?

Respectfully yours;



LURIDA VINCENT;

Secretary of the Pansophian Society。





To this note the Secretary received the following reply:



MISS LURIDA VINCENT;



ARROWHEAD VILLAGE; August 4; 18…。



Secretary of the Pansophian Society:



DEAR MISS VINCENT;I have received the ticket you refer to; and

desire to express my acknowledgments for the polite attention。  I

regret that I have not been and I fear shall not be able to attend

the meetings of the Society; but if any subject occurs to me on which

I feel an inclination to write; it will give me pleasure to send a

paper; to be disposed of as the Society may see fit。



Very respectfully yours;



MAURICE KIRKWOOD。





〃He says nothing about the authorship of the paper that was read the

other evening;〃 the Secretary said to herself。  〃 No matter;he

wrote it;there is no mistaking his handwriting。  We know something

about him; now; at any rate。  But why doesn't he come to our

meetings?  What has his antipathy to do with his staying away?  I

must find out what his secret is; and I will。  I don't believe it's

harder than it was to solve that prize problem which puzzled so many

teachers; or than beating Crakowitz; the great chess…player。〃



To this enigma; then; The Terror determined to bend all the faculties

which had excited the admiration and sometimes the amazement of those

who knew her in her school…days。  It was a very delicate piece of

business; for though Lurida was an intrepid woman's rights advocate;

and believed she was entitled to do almost everything that men dared

to; she knew very well there were certain limits which a young woman

like herself must not pass。



In the mean time Maurice had received a visit from the young student

at the University;the same whom he had rescued from his dangerous

predicament in the lake。  With him had called one of the teachers;

an instructor in modern languages; a native of Italy。  Maurice and

the instructor exchanged a few words in Italian。  The young man spoke

it with the ease which implied long familiarity with its use。



After they left; the instructor asked many curious questions about

him;who he was; how long he had been in the village; whether

anything was known of his history;all these inquiries with an

eagerness which implied some special and peculiar reason for the

interest they evinced。



〃I feel satisfied;〃 the instructor said; 〃that I have met that young

man in my own country。  It was a number of years ago; and of course

he has altered in appearance a good deal; but there is a look about

him ofwhat shall I call it?…apprehension;as if he were fearing

the approach of something or somebody。  I think it is the way a man

would look that was haunted; you know what I mean;followed by a

spirit or ghost。  He does not suggest the idea of a murderer;very

far from it; but if he did; I should think he was every minute in

fear of seeing the murdered man's spirit。〃



The student was curious; in his turn; to know all the instructor

could recall。  He had seen him in Rome; he thought; at the Fountain

of Trevi; where so many strangers go before leaving the city。  The

youth was in the company of a man who looked like a priest。  He could

not mistake the peculiar expression of his countenance; but that was

all he now remembered about his appearance。  His attention had been

called to this young man by seeing that some of the bystanders were

pointing at him; and noticing that they were whispering with each

other as if with reference to him。  He should say that the youth was

at that time fifteen or sixteen years old; and the time was about ten

years ago。



After all; this evidence was of little or no value。  Suppose the

youth were Maurice; what then?  We know that he had been in Italy;

and had been there a good while;or at least we infer so much from

his familiarity with the language; and are confirmed in the belief by

his having an Italian servant; whom he probably brought from Italy

when he returned。  If he wrote the paper which was read the other

evening; that settles it; for the writer says he had lived by the

Tiber。  We must put this scrap of evidence furnished by the Professor

with the other scraps; it may turn out of some consequence; sooner or

later。  It is like a piece of a dissected map; it means almost

nothing by itself; but when we find the pieces it joins with we may

discover a very important meaning in it。



In a small; concentrated community like that which centred in and

immediately around Arrowhead Village; every day must have its local

gossip as well as its general news。  The newspaper tells the small

community what is going on in the great world; and the busy tongues

of male and female; especially the latter; fill in with the

occurrences and comments of the ever…stirring microcosm。  The fact

that the Italian ; teacher had; or thought he had; seen Maurice ten

years before was circulated and made the most of;turned over and

over like a cake; until it was thoroughly done on both sides and all

through。  It was a very small cake; but better than nothing。  Miss

Vincent heard this story; as others did; and talked about it with her

friend; Miss Tower。  Here was one more fact to help along。



The two young ladies who had recently graduated at the Corinna

Institute remained; as they had always been; intimate friends。  They

were the natural complements of each other。  Euthymia represented a

complete; symmetrical womanhood。  Her outward presence was only an

index of a large; wholesome; affluent life。  She could not help being

courageous; with such a firm organization。  She could not help being

generous; cheerful; active。  She had been told often enough that she

was fair to look upon。  She knew that she
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