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！
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