a girl of the limberlost- 第58部分

only　good　looks　to　offer；　and　when　anger　overtook　her；

beauty　went　out　like　a　snuffed　candle。



〃I　want　you　to　love　me。　　I　want　some　consideration。

I　even　crave　respect。　　I've　kept　myself　clean。　　So　far

as　I　know　how　to　be；　I　am　honest　and　scrupulous。　

It　wouldn't　hurt　me　to　feel　that　you　took　some　interest

in　these　things。　　Rather　fierce　temptations　strike　a　man；

every　few　days；　in　this　world。　　I　can　keep　decent；　for　a

woman　who　cares　for　decency；　but　when　I　do；　I'd　like

to　have　the　fact　recognized；　by　just　enough　of　a　show　of

appreciation　that　I　could　see　it。　　I　am　tired　of　this　one…

sided　business。　　After　this；　I　want　to　get　a　little　in　return

for　what　I　give。　　Elnora；　you　have　love；　tenderness；

and　honest　appreciation　of　the　finest　in　life。　　Take　what

I　offer；　and　give　what　I　ask。〃



〃You　do　not　ask　much；〃　said　Elnora。



〃As　for　not　loving　you　as　I　did　Edith；〃　continued

Philip；　〃as　I　said　before；　I　hope　not！　　I　have　a　newer

and　a　better　idea　of　loving。　　The　feeling　I　offer　you　was

inspired　by　you。　　It　is　a　Limberlost　product。　　It　is　as

much　bigger；　cleaner；　and　more　wholesome　than　any　feeling

I　ever　had　for　Edith　Carr；　as　you　are　bigger　than　she；

when　you　stand　before　your　classes　and　in　calm　dignity

explain　the　marvels　of　the　Almighty；　while　she　stands

on　a　ballroom　floor；　and　gives　way　to　uncontrolled　temper。　

Ye　gods；　Elnora；　if　you　could　look　into　my　soul；　you

would　see　it　leap　and　rejoice　over　my　escape！　　Perhaps　it

isn't　decent；　but　it's　human；　and　I'm　only　a　common

human　being。　　I'm　the　gladdest　man　alive　that　I'm　free！　

I　would　turn　somersaults　and　yell　if　I　dared。　　What　an　escape！　

Stop　straining　after　Edith　Carr's　viewpoint　and　take　a　look

from　mine。　　Put　yourself　in　my　place　and　try　to　study　out

how　I　feel。



〃I　am　so　happy　I　grow　religious　over　it。　　Fifty　times

a　day　I　catch　myself　whispering；　‘My　soul　is　escaped！'　

As　for　you；　take　all　the　time　you　want。　　If　you　prefer　to

be　alone；　I'll　take　the　next　train　and　stay　away　as　long　as

I　can　bear　it；　but　I'll　come　back。　　You　can　be　most　sure

of　that。　　Straight　as　your　pigeons　to　their　loft；　I'll　come

back　to　you；　Elnora。　　Shall　I　go？〃



〃Oh；　what's　the　use　to　be　extravagant？〃　murmured　Elnora。









CHAPTER　XXII





WHEREIN　PHILIP　AMMON　KNEELS　TO　ELNORA；

AND　STRANGERS　COME　TO　THE　LIMBERLOST





The　month　which　followed　was　a　reproduction　of

the　previous　June。　　There　were　long　moth　hunts；

days　of　specimen　gathering；　wonderful　hours　with

great　books；　big　dinners　all　of　them　helped　to　prepare；

and　perfect　nights　filled　with　music。　　Everything　was　as

it　had　been；　with　the　difference　that　Philip　was　now　an

avowed　suitor。　　He　missed　no　opportunity　to　advance

himself　in　Elnora's　graces。　　At　the　end　of　the　month

he　was　no　nearer　any　sort　of　understanding　with　her

than　he　had　been　at　the　beginning。　　He　revelled　in　the

privilege　of　loving　her；　but　he　got　no　response。　

Elnora　believed　in　his　love；　yet　she　hesitated　to

accept　him；　because　she　could　not　forget　Edith　Carr。



One　afternoon　early　in　July；　Philip　came　across　the

fields；　through　the　Comstock　woods；　and　entered　the　garden。　

He　inquired　for　Elnora　at　the　back　door　and　was　told　that

she　was　reading　under　the　willow。　　He　went　around　the

west　end　of　the　cabin　to　her。　　She　sat　on　a　rustic

bench　they　had　made　and　placed　beneath　a　drooping　branch。　

He　had　not　seen　her　before　in　the　dress　she　was　wearing。　

It　was　clinging　mull　of　pale　green；　trimmed　with　narrow

ruffles　and　touched　with　knots　of　black　velvet；　a　simple

dress；　but　vastly　becoming。　　Every　tint　of　her　bright　hair；

her　luminous　eyes；　her　red　lips；　and　her　rose…flushed

face；　neck；　and　arms　grew　a　little　more　vivid　with　the

delicate　green　setting。



He　stopped　short。　　She　was　so　near；　so　temptingly

sweet；　he　lost　control。　　He　went　to　her　with　a　half…

smothered　cry　after　that　first　long　look；　dropped　on　one

knee　beside　her　and　reached　an　arm　behind　her　to　the　bench

back；　so　that　he　was　very　near。　　He　caught　her　hands。



〃Elnora！〃　he　cried　tensely；　〃end　it　now！　　Say　this

strain　is　over。　　I　pledge　you　that　you　will　be　happy。　

You　don't　know！　　If　you　only　would　say　the　word；　you

would　awake　to　new　life　and　great　joy！　　Won't　you　promise

me　now；　Elnora？〃



The　girl　sat　staring　into　the　west　woods；　while　strong

in　her　eyes　was　her　father's　look　of　seeing　something

invisible　to　others。　　Philip's　arm　slipped　from　the　bench

around　her。　　His　fingers　closed　firmly　over　hers。　

Elnora；〃　he　pleaded；　〃you　know　me　well　enough。　

You　have　had　time　in　plenty。　　End　it　now。　　Say　you　will

be　mine！〃　　He　gathered　her　closer；　pressing　his　face　against

hers；　his　breath　on　her　cheek。　　〃Can't　you　quite　promise

yet；　my　girl　of　the　Limberlost？〃



Elnora　shook　her　head。　　Instantly　he　released　her。



〃Forgive　me；〃　he　begged。　　〃I　had　no　intention　of　thrusting

myself　upon　you；　but；　Elnora；　you　are　the　veriest　Queen

of　Love　this　afternoon。　　From　the　tips　of　your　toes　to

your　shining　crown；　I　worship　you。　　I　want　no　woman　save　you。　

You　are　so　wonderful　this　afternoon；　I　couldn't　help　urging。　

Forgive　me。　　Perhaps　it　was　something　that　came　this

morning　for　you。　　I　wrote　Polly　to　send　it。　　May　we　try

if　it　fits？　　Will　you　tell　me　if　you　like　it？〃



He　drew　a　little　white　velvet　box　from　his　pocket　and

showed　her　a　splendid　emerald　ring。



〃It　may　not　be　right；〃　he　said。　　〃The　inside　of　a　glove

finger　is　not　very　accurate　for　a　measure；　but　it　was　the

best　I　could　do。　　I　wrote　Polly　to　get　it；　because　she　and

mother　are　home　from　the　East　this　week；　but　next　they

will　go　on　to　our　cottage　in　the　north；　and　no　one　knows

what　is　right　quite　so　well　as　Polly。〃　　He　laid　the　ring

in　Elnora's　hand。　　〃Dearest；〃　he　said；　〃don't　slip　that

on　your　finger；　put　your　arms　around　my　neck　and　promise　me；

all　at　once　and　abruptly；　or　I'll　keel　over　and　die　of　sheer　joy。〃



Elnora　smiled。



〃I　won't！　　Not　all　those　venturesome　things　at　once；

but；　Phil；　I'm　ashamed　to　confess　that　ring　simply

fascinates　me。　　It　is　the　most　beautiful　one　I　ever　saw；

and　do　you　know　that　I　never　owned　a　ring　of　any　kind

in　my　life？　　Would　you　think　me　unwomanly　if　I　slip

it　on　for　a　second；　before　I　can　say　for　sure？　　Phil；　you

know　I　care！　　I　care　very　much！　　You　know　I　will　tell

you　the　instant　I　feel　right　about　it。〃



〃Certainly　you　will；〃　agreed　Philip　promptly。　　〃It　is

your　right　to　take　all　the　time　you　choose。　　I　can't

put　that　ring　on　you　until　it　means　a　bond　between　us。　

I'll　shut　my　eyes　and　you　try　it　on；　so　we　can　see　if

it　fits。〃　Philip　turned　his　face　toward　the　west　woods

and　tightly　closed　his　eyes。　　It　was　a　boyish　thing　to　do；

and　it　caught　the　hesitating　girl　in　the　depths　of　her

heart　as　the　boy　element　in　a　man　ever　appeals　to　a

motherly　woman。　　Before　she　quite　realized　what　she

was　doing；　the　ring　slid　on　her　finger。　　With　both　arms

she　caught　Philip　and　drew　him　to　her　breast；　holding

him　closely。　　Her　head　drooped　over　his；　her　lips　were

on　his　hair。　　So　an　instant；　then　her　arms　dropped。　

He　lifted　a　convulsed；　white　face。



〃Dear　Lord！〃　he　whispered。　　〃Youyou　didn't　mean　that；

Elnora！　　You　　What　made　you　do　it？〃



〃Youyou　looked　so　boyish！〃　panted　Elnora。　　〃I　didn't

mean　it！　　II　forgot　that　you　were　older　than　Billy。　

Looklook　at　the　ring！〃



〃‘The　Queen　can　do　no　wrong；'〃　quoted　Philip　between　his

set　teeth。　　〃But　don't　you　do　that　again；　Elnora；　unless

you　do　mean　it。　　Kings　are　not　so　good　as　queens；　and

there　is　a　limit　with　all　men。　　As　you　say；　we　will

look　at　your　ring。　　It　seems　very　lovely　to　me。　　Suppose　you

leave　it　on　until　time　for　me　to　go。　　Please　do！　　I　have

heard　of　mute　appeals；　perhaps　it　will　plead　for　me。　

I　am　wild　for　your　lips　this　afternoon。　　I　am　going　to

take　your　hands。〃



He　caught　both　of　them　and　covered　them　with　kisses。



〃Elnora；〃　he　said；　〃Will　you　be　my　wife？〃



〃I　must　have　a　little　more　time；〃　she　whispered。　　〃I　must

be　absolutely　certain；　for　when　I　say　yes；　and　give

myself　to　you；　only　death　shall　part　us。　　I　would　not

give　you　up。　　So　I　want　a　little　more　timebut；　I　think

I　will。〃



〃Thank　you；〃　said　Philip。　　〃If　at　any　time　you　feel　that

you　have　reached　a　decision；　will　you　tell　me？　　Will　you

promise　me　to　tell　me　instantly；　or　shall　I　keep　asking

you　until　the　time　comes？〃



〃You　make　it　difficult；〃　said　Elnora。　　〃But　I　will

promise　you　that。　　Whenever　the　last　doubt　vanishes；　I

will　let　you　know　instantlyif　I　can。〃



〃Would　it　be　difficult　for　you？〃　whispered　Ammon。



〃II　don't　know；〃　faltered　Elnora。



〃It　seems　as　if　I　can't　be　man　enough　to　put　this

thought　aside　and　give　up　this　afternoon；〃　said　Philip。　

〃I　am　ashamed　of　myself；　but　I　can't　help　it。　　I　am　going

to　ask　God　to　make　that　last　doubt　vanish　before　I　go

this　night。　　I　am　going　to　believe　that　ring　will　plead

for　me。　　I　am　going　to　hope　that　doubt　will　disappear　suddenly。　

I　will　be　watching。　　Every　second　I　will　be　watching。　

If　it　happens　and　you　can't　speak；　give　me　your　hand。　

Just　the　least　movement　toward　me；　I　will　understand。　

Would　it　help　you　to　talk　this　over　with　your　mother？　

Shall　I　call　her？　　Shall　I？〃



Honk！　　Honk！　　Honk！　　Hart　Henderson　set　the　horn

of　the　big　automobile　going　as　it　shot　from　behind　the

trees　lining　the　Brushwood　road。　　The　picture　of　a　vine…

covered　cabin；　a　large　drooping　tree；　a　green…clad　girl

and　a　man　bending　over　her　very　closely　flashed　into　view。　

Edith　Carr　caught　her　breath　with　a　snap。　　Polly　Ammon

gave　Tom　Levering　a　quick　touch　and　wickedly　winked

at　him。



Several　days　before；　Edith　had　returned　from　Europe　suddenly。　

She　and　Henderson　had　called　at　the　Ammon　residence　saying

that　they　were　going　to　motor　down　to　the　Limberlost　to　see

Philip　a　few　hours；　and　urged　that　Polly　and　Tom　accompany　them。　

Mrs。　Ammon　knew　that　her　husband　would　disapprove