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！
The girl had let the rifle fall。 Moving away； she stood leaning on it in the shadow； looking down。
〃You want to know what call I hev to watch ye； 'n' see that no harm comes to ye。 Yer dad give me the right。 You know how he hates furriners； 'n' whut he would do ef he happened to run across this furriner atter he has been drinkin'。 I'm a…meddlin' because I hev told him that I am goin' to take keer o' ye； 'n' I mean to do it…ef ye hates me fer it。 I'm a…watchin' ye； Easter；〃 he continued； 〃 'n' I want ye to know it。 I knowed the furriner begun comm' here cause ye air not like gals in the settlemints。 Y'u air as cur'us to him as one o' them bugs an' sich…like that he's always a…pickin' up in the woods。 I hevn't said nuthin' to yer dad； fer fear o' his harmin' the furriner； but I hev seed that ye like him； an' hit's time now fer me to meddle。 Ef he was in love with ye； do ye think he would marry ye？ I hev been in the settle…mints。 Folks thar air not as we citizens air。 They air bigoted 'n' high…heeled； 'n' they look down on us。 I tell ye； too… 'n' hit air fer yer own good…he air in love with somebody in the settlemints。 I hev heerd it； 'n' I hev seed him a…lookin' at a picter in his room ez a man don't look at his sister。 They say hit's her。
〃Thar's one thing more； Easter；〃 he concluded； as he stepped from the porch。 〃He is a…goin' away。 I heard him say it yestiddy。 What will ye do when he's gone ef ye lets yerself git to thinkin' so much of him now？ I've warned ye now； Easter； fer yer own good； though ye mought think I'm a…workin' fer myself。 But I know I hev done whut I ought。 I've warned ye； 'n' ye kin do whut ye please； but I'm a…watchin' ye。〃
The girl said nothing； but stood rigid； with eyes wide open and face tense； as the mountaineer's steps died away。 She was bewildered by the confused emotions that swayed her。 Why had she not indignantly denied that she was in love with the 〃furriner〃？ Raines had not hinted it as a suspicion。 He had spoken it outright as a fact； and he must have thought that her silence confirmed it。 He had said that the 〃furriner〃 cared nothing for her； and had dared to tell her that she was in love with him。 Her cheeks began to bum。 She would call him back and tell him that she cared no more for the 〃furriner 〃 than she did for him。 She started from the steps； but paused； straining her eyes through the darkness。 It was too late； and； with a helpless little cry； she began pacing the porch。 She had scarcely heard what was said after the mountaineer's first accusation； so completely had that enthralled her mind； now fragments came back to her。 There was something about a picture…ah！ she remembered that picture。 Passing through the camp one afternoon； she had glanced in at a window and had seen a rifle once her own。 Turning in rapid wonder about the room； her eye lighted upon a picture on a table near the window。 She had felt the refined beauty of the girl； and it had impressed her with the same timidity that Clayton had when she first knew him。 Fascinated； she had looked till a … movement in the room made her shrink away。 But the face had clung in her memory ever since； and now it came before her vividly。 Clayton was in love with her。 Well； what did that matter to her？
There was more that Raines said。 〃Goin' away。〃 Raines meant the 〃 furriner；〃 of course。 How did he know？ Why had Clayton not told her？ She did not believe it。 But why not？ He had once told her that he would go away some time； why not now？ But why…why did not Clayton tell her？ Perhaps he was going to her。 She almost stretched out her hands in a sudden； fierce desire to clutch the round throat and sink her nails into the soft flesh that rose before her mind。 She had forgotten that he had ever told her that he must go away； so little had it impressed her at the time。 She had never thought of a possible change in their relations or in their lives。 She tried to think what her life would be after he was gone； and she was frightened； she could not imagine her old life resumed。 When Clayton came； it was as though she had risen from sleep in a dream； and had lived in it thereafter without questioning its reality。 Into his hands she had delivered her life and herself with the undoubting faith of a child。 She had never thought of their relations at all。 Now the awakening had come。 The dream was shattered。 For the first time her eye was turned inward； where a flood of light brought into terrible distinctness the tumult that began to rage so suddenly within。
One hope only flashed into her brain…perhaps Raines was mistaken。 But even then； if he were； Clayton must go some time； he had told her that。 On this fact every thought became centred。 It was no longer how he came； the richness of the new life he had shown her； the barrenness of the old； Raines's accusation； the shame of it…the shame of being pointed out and laughed at after Clayton's departure； it was no longer helpless wonder at the fierce emotions racking her for the first time： her whole being was absorbed in the realization which slowly forced itself into her heart and brain…some day he must go away； some day she must lose him。 She lifted her hands to her head in a dazed； ineffectual way。 The moonlight grew faint before her eyes； mountain； sky； and mist were in…distinguishably blurred； and the girl sank down upon her trembling knees； down till she lay crouched on the floor with her tearless face in her arms。
The moon rose high above her and sank down the west。 The shadows shortened and crept back to the woods； night noises grew fainter； and the mists floated up from the valley and Clung around the mountain…tops； but she stirred only when a querulous voice came from within the cabin。
〃Easter；〃 it said； 〃 ef Sherd Raines air gone； y'u better come in to bed。 Y'u've got a lot o' work to do to…morrer。〃
The voice called her to the homely duties that had once filled her life and must fill it again。 It was a summons to begin anew a life that was dead； and the girl lifted her haggard face in answer and rose wearily。
VII
ON the following Sunday morning； when Clayton walked up to the cabin； Easter and her mother were seated in the porch。 He called to them cheerily as he climbed over the fence； but only the mother answered。 Easter rose as he approached； and； without speaking； went within doors。 He thought she must be ill； so thin and drawn was her face； but her mother said； carelessly：
Oh； hit's only one o' Easter's spells。 She's been sort o' puny 'n' triflin' o' late； but I reckon she'll be all right ag'in in a day or two。〃
As the girl did not appear again； Clayton concluded that she was lying down； and went away without seeing her。 Her manner had seemed a little odd； but； attributing that to ill…ness； he thought nothing further about it。 To his surprise； the incident was repeated； and thereafter； to his wonder； the girl seemed to avoid him。 Their intimacy was broken sharply off。 When Clayton was at the cabin； either she did not appear or else kept herself busied with household duties。 Their studies ceased abruptly。 Easter had thrown her books into a corner； her mother said； and did nothing but mope all day； and though she insisted that it was only one of the girl's 〃 spells；〃 it was plain that something was wrong。 Easter's face remained thin and drawn； and acquired gradually a hard； dogged； almost sullen look。 She spoke to Clayton rarely； and then only in monosyllables。 She never looked him in the face； and if his gaze rested intently on her； as she sat with eyes downcast and hands folded； she seemed to know it at once。 Her face would color faintly； her hands fold and unfold nervously； and sometimes she would rise and go within。 He had no opportunity of speaking with her alone。 She seemed to guard against that； and； indeed； Raines's presence almost prevented it； for the mountaineer was there always； and always now the last to leave。 He sat usually in the shadow of the vine； and though his…face was unseen； Clayton could feel his eyes fixed upon him with an intensity that sometimes made him nervous。 The mountaineer had evidently begun to misinterpret his visits to the cabin。 Clayton was regarded as a rival。 In what other light； indeed； could he appear to Raines？ Friendly calls between young people of opposite sex were rare in the mountains。 When a young man visited a young woman； his intentions were supposed to be serious。 Raines was plainly jealous。
But Easter？ What was 'the reason for her odd behavior？ Could she； too； have misconstrued his intentions as Raines had？ It was impossible。 But even if she had； his manner had in no wise changed。 Some one else had aroused her suspicions； and if any one it must have been Raines。 It was not the mother； he felt sure。
For some time Clayton's mother and sister had been urging him to make a visit home。 He had asked leave of absence； but it was a busy time； and he had delayed indefinitely。 In a fort…night； however； the stress of work would be over； and then he meant to leave。 During that fortnight he was strangely troubled。 He did not leave the camp； but his mind was busied with thoughts of Easter…nothing but Easter。 Time and again he had reviewed their acquaintance minutely from the beginning； but he c