a mountain europa- 第5部分

〃It　shoots　several　times；〃　said　Clayton。　〃Hit　does　whut？〃

Like　a　pistol；〃　he　explained；　and；　rising；　he　directed　several　shots　in　quick　succession　at　a　dead　tree　in　the　ploughed　field。　At　each　shot　a　puff　of　dust　came　almost　from　the　same　spot。

When　he　turned；　Easter　had　risen　to　her　feet　in　astonishment；　and　the　mother　was　laughing　long　and　loudly。

〃Don't　ye　wish　ye　had　a　gun　like　that；　Easter？　〃　she　cried。

Clayton　turned　quickly　to　the　girl；　and　began　explaining　the　mechanism　of　the　gun　to　her；　without　appearing　to　notice　her　embarrassment；　for　she　shrank　perceptibly　when　he　spoke　to　her。

〃Won't　you　let　me　see　your　gun？　〃　he　asked。

She　brought　out　the　old　flint…lock；　and　handed　it　to　him　almost　timidly。

This　is　very　interesting；〃　he　said。　〃　I　never　saw　one　like　it　before。〃

〃Thar　hain't　but　one　more　jest　like　that　in　the　mountains；〃　said　the　old　woman；　〃　'n'　Easter's　got　that。　My　dad　made　'em　both。〃

〃How　would　you　like　to　trade　one　for　mine；　if　you　have　two？〃　said　Clayton　to　the　girl。　〃I'll　give　you　all　my　cartridges　to　boot。〃

The　girl　looked　at　her　mother　with　hesitation。　Clayton　saw　that　both　wondered　what　he　could　want　with　the　gun；　and　he　added：

〃I'd　like　to　have　it　to　take　home　with　me。　It　would　be　a　great　curiosity。〃

〃Well；〃　said　the　mother；　〃you　kin　hev　one　ef　ye　want　hit；　and　think　the　trade's　fa'r。〃

Clayton　insisted；　and　the　trade　was　made。　The　old　woman　resumed　spinning。　　The　girl　took　her　seat　in　the　low　chair；　holding　her　new　treasure　in　her　lap；　with　her　eyes　fixed　on　it；　and　occasionally　running　one　brown　hand　down　its　shining　barrel。　Clayton　watched　her。　She　had　given　no　sign　whatever　that　she　had　ever　seen　him　before；　and　yet　a　curious　change　had　come　over　her。　Her　imperious　manner　had　yielded　to　a　singular　reserve　and　timidity。　　The　peculiar　beauty　of　the　girl　struck　him　now　with　unusual　force。　Her　profile　was　remarkably　regular　and　delicate；　her　mouth　small；　resolute；　and　sensitive；　heavy；　dark　lashes　shaded　her　downcast　eyes；　and　her　brow　suggested　a　mentality　that　he　felt　a　strong　desire　to　test。　Her　feet　were　small；　and　so　were　her　quick；　nervous　hands；　which　were　still　finely　shaped；　in　spite　of　the　hard　usage　that　had　left　them　brown　and　callous。　He　wondered　if　she　was　really　as　lovely　as　she　seemed；　if　his　standard　might　not　have　been　affected　by　his　long　stay　in　the　mountains；　if　her　picturesque　environment　might　not　have　influenced　his　judgment。　　He　tried　to　imagine　her　daintily　slippered；　clad　in　white；　with　her　loose　hair　gathered　in　a　Psyche　knot；　or　in　evening　dress；　with　arms　and　throat　bare；　but　the　pictures　were　difficult　to　make。　　He　liked　her　best　as　she　was；　in　perfect　physical　sympathy　with　the　natural　phases　about　her；　as　much　a　part　of　them　as　tree；　plant；　or　flower；　embodying　the　freedom；　grace；　and　beauty　of　nature　as　well　and　as　unconsciously　as　they。　　He　questioned　whether　she　hardly　felt　herself　to　be　apart　from　them；　and；　of　course；　she　as　little　knew　her　kinship　to　them。

She　had　lifted　her　eyes　now；　and　had　fixed　them　with　tender　thoughtfulness　on　the　mountains。　What　did　she　see　in　the　scene　before　her；　he　wondered：　the　deep　valley；　brilliant　with　early　sunshine；　the　magnificent　sweep　of　wooded　slopes；　Pine　Mountain　and　the　peak…like　Narrows；　where　through　it　the　river　had　worn　its　patient　way；　and　the　Cumberland　Range；　lying　like　a　cloud　against　the　horizon；　and　bluer　and　softer　than　the　sky　above　it。　　He　longed　to　know　what　her　thoughts　were；　if　in　them　there　might　be　a　hint　of　what　he　hoped　to　find。　　Probably　she　could　not　tell　them；　should　he　ask　her；　so　unconscious　was　she　of　her　mental　life；　whatever　that　might　be。　　Indeed；　she　seemed　scarcely　to　know　of　her　own　existence；　there　was　about　her　a　simplicity　to　which　he　had　felt　himself　rise　only　in　the　presence　of　the　spirit　about　some　lonely　mountain…top　or　in　the　heart　of　deep　woods。　Her　gaze　was　not　vacant；　not　listless；　but　the　pensive　look　of　a　sensitive　child；　and　Clayton　let　himself　fancy　that　there　was　in　it　an　unconscious　love　of　the　beauty　before　her；　and　of　its　spiritual　suggestiveness　a　slumbering　sense；　perhaps　easily　awakened。　Perhaps　he　might　awaken　it。

The　drowsy　hum　of　the　spinning…wheel　ceased　suddenly；　and　his　dream　was　shattered。　He　wondered　how　long　they　had　sat　there　saying　nothing；　and　how　long　the　silence　might　continue。　Easter；　he　believed；　would　never　address　him。　　Even　the　temporary　intimacy　that　the　barter　of　the　gun　had　brought　about　was　gone。　The　girl　seemed　lost　in　unconsciousness。　The　mother　had　gone　to　her　loom；　　and　was　humming　softly　to　herself　as　she　passed　the　shuttle　to　and　fro。　　Clayton　turned　for　an　instant　to　watch　her；　and　the　rude　background；　　which　he　had　forgotten；　thrust　every　unwelcome　detail　upon　his　attention：　　the　old　cabin；　built　of　hewn　logs；　held　together　by　wooden　pin　and　　augur…hole；　and　shingled　with　rough　boards；　the　dark；　windowless　room；　　the　unplastered　walls；　the　beds　with　old…fashioned　high　posts；　　mattresses　of　straw；　and　cords　instead　of　slats；　the　home…made　chairs　　with　straight　backs；　tipped　with　carved　knobs；　the　mantel　filled　　with　utensils　and　overhung　with　bunches　of　drying　herbs；　a　ladder　　with　half　a　dozen　smooth…worn　steps　leading　to　the　loft；　and　a　wide；　　deep　fireplace…the　only　suggestion　of　cheer　and　comfort　in　the　gloomy　interior。　　An　open　porch　connected　the　single　room　with　the　kitchen。　　　Here；　too；　were　suggestions　of　daily　duties。　The　mother's　face　told　a　tale　　of　hardship　and　toil；　and　there　was　the　plough　in　the　furrow；　　and　the　girl's　calloused　hands　folded　in　her　lap。　With　a　thrill　　of　compassion　Clayton　turned　to　her。　What　a　pity！　what　a　pity！　　Just　now　her　face　had　the　peace　of　a　child's；　but　when　aroused；　　an　electric　fire　burned　from　her　calm　eyes　and　showed　the　ardent　temperament　that　really　lay　beneath。　If　she　were　quick　and　sympathetic…and　she　must　be；　he　who　could　tell　how　rich　the　development　possible　for　her？

〃You　hain't　seen　much　of　this　country；　I　reckon。　You　hain't　been　here　afore？

The　mother　had　broken　the　silence　at　last。

No；〃　said　Clayton；　〃but　I　like　it　very　much。〃

Do　ye？　〃　she　asked；　in　surprise。　　〃　Why；　I　'lowed　you　folks　from　the　settlemints　thought　hit　was　mighty　scraggy　down　hyeh。〃


〃Oh　no。　　These　mountains　and　woods　are　beautiful；　and　I　never　saw　lovelier　beech…trees。　The　coloring　of　their　trunks　is　so　exquisite；　and　the　shade　is　so　fine；〃　he　concluded；　lamely；　noticing　a　blank　look　on　the　old　woman's　face。　To　his　delight　the　girl；　half　turned　toward　him；　was　listening　with　puzzled　interest。

Well；〃　said　the　old　woman；　〃　beeches　is　beautiful　to　me　when　they　has　mast　enough　to　feed　the　hogs。〃


Carried　back　to　his　train　of　speculations；　Clayton　started　at　this　abrupt　deliverance。　There　was　a　suspicion　of　humor　in　the　old　woman's　tone　that　showed　an　appreciation　of　their　different　standpoints。　　It　was　lost　on　Clayton；　however；　for　his　attention　had　been　caught　by　the　word　〃mast；〃　which；　by　some　accident；　he　I　had　never　heard　before。

〃　Mast；〃　he　asked；　〃　what　is　that？

The　girl　looked　toward　him　in　amazement；　and　burst　into　a　low；　suppressed　laugh。　　Her　mother　explained　the　word；　and　all　laughed　heartily。

Clayton　soon　saw　that　his　confession　of　ignorance　was　a　lucky　accident。　It　brought　Easter　and　himself　nearer　common　ground。　　She　felt　that　there　was　something；　after　all；　that　she　could　teach　him。　She　had　been　overpowered　by　his　politeness　and　deference　and　his　unusual　language；　and；　not　knowing　what　they　meant；　was　overcome　by　a　sense　of　her　inferiority。　　The　incident　gave　him　the　key　to　his　future　conduct。　A　moment　later　she　looked　up　covertly；　and；　meeting　his　eyes；　laughed　again。　　The　ice　was　broken。　He　began　to　wonder　if　she　really　had　noticed　him　so　little　at　their　first　meeting　as　not　to　recognize　him；　or　if　her　indifference　or　reserve　had　prevented　her　from　showing　the　recognition。　　He　pulled　out　his　note…book　and　began　sketching　rapidly；　conscious　that　the　girl　was　watching　him。　When　be　finished；　he　rose；　picking　up　the　old　flint…lock。

〃Won't　ye　stay　and　hev　some　dinner？；'　asked　the　old　woman。

〃No；　thank　you。〃

Come　ag'in；〃　she　said；　cordially；　adding　the　mountaineer's　farewell；　〃I　wish　ye　well。〃

〃Thank　you；　I　will。　　Good…day。〃

As　he　passed　the　girl　he　paused　a　moment　and　dropped　the　paper　into　her　lap。　　It　was　a　rude　sketch　of　their　first　meeting；　the　bull　coming　at　him　like　a　tornado。　The　color　came　to　her　face；　and　when　Clayton　turned　the　corner　of　the　house　he　heard　her　laughing。

〃What　you　laughin'　at；　Easter？〃　asked　the　mother；　stopping　her　work　and　looking　around。

For　answer　the　girl　rose　and　walked　into　the　house；　hiding　the　paper　in　her　bosom。　The　old　woman　watched　her　narrowly。

I　never　seed　ye　afeard　of　a　man　afore；〃　she　said　to　herself。　〃No；　nur　so　tickled　'bout　one；　nother。　Well；　he　air　as　accommodatin'　a　feller　as　I　ever　see；　ef　he　air　a　furriner。　But　he　was　a　fool　to　swop　his　gun　fer　hem。〃

V

THEREAFTER　Clayton　saw　the　girl　whenever　possible。　If　she　came　to　the　camp；　he　walked　up　the　mountain　with　her。　No　idle　day　passed　that　he　did　not　visit　the　cabin；　and　it　was　not　long　before　he　found　himself　strangely　interested。　　Her　beauty　and　fearlessness　had　drawn　him　at　first；　her　indifference　and　stolidity　had　piqued　him；　and　now　the　shyness　that　displaced　these　was　inconsistent　and　puzzling。　This　he　set　himself　deliberately　at　work　to　remove；　and　the　conscious　effort　gave　a　peculiar　piquancy　to　their　intercourse。　　He　had　learned　the　secret　of　association　with　the　mountaineers…to　be　as　little　unlike　them　as　possible…and　he　put　the　knowledge　into　practice。　He　discarded　coat　and　waistcoat；　wore　a　slouched　hat；　and　went　unshaven　for　weeks。　He　avoided　all　conventionalities；　and　was　as　simple　in　manner　and　speech　as　possible。　Often　when　talking　with　Easter；　her　face　was　blankly　unresponsive；　and　a　question　would　sometimes　leave　her　in　confused　silence。　He　found　it　necessary　to　use　the　simplest　Anglo…Saxon　words；　and　he　soon　fell　into　many　of　the　quaint　expressions　of　the　mountaineers　and　their　odd；　slow　way　of　speech。　This　course　was　effective；　and　in　time　the　shyness　wore　away　and　left　between　them　a　comradeship　as　pleasant　as　unique。　Sometimes　they　took　long　walks　together　on　the　mountains。　This　was　contrary　to　mountain　eti