eben holden-第26节

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'There's　a　man　dyin'　here；'　said　David　Brower；　in　a　low　tone。　'Ye　needn't　rub　no　more。

'He's　dead；'　Elizabeth　whispered；　holding　his　hand　tenderly；　and　looking　into　his　half…closed　eyes。　Then　for　a　moment　she　covered　her　own　with　her　handkerchief；　while　David；　in　a　low；　calm　tone；　that　showed　the　depth　of　his　feeling；　told　us　what　to　do。

Uncle　Eb　and　I　watched　that　night；　while　Tip　Taylor　drove　away　to　town。　The　body　lay　in　the　parlour　and　we　sat　by　the　stove　in　the　room　adjoining。　In　a　half…whisper　we　talked　of　the　sad　event　of　the　day。

'Never　oughter　gone　out　a　day　like　this；'　said　Uncle　Eb。　'Don'　take　much　t'　freeze　an　ol'　man。'

'Got　to　thinking　of　what　happened　yesterday　and　forgot　the　cold；'　I　said。

'Bad　day　t'　be　absent…minded；'　whispered　Uncle　Eb；　as　he　rose　and　tiptoed　to　the　window　and　peered　through　the　frosty　panes。　'May　o'　got　faint　er　sumthin'。　Ol'　hoss　brought　'im　right　here　…　been　here　s'　often　with　'in'。'

He　took　the　lantern　and　went　out　a　moment。　The　door　creaked　upon　its　frosty　hinges　when　he　opened　it。

'Thirty　below　zero；'　he　whispered　as　he　came　in。　'Win's　gone　down　a　leetle　bit；　mebbe。'

Uncanny　noises　broke　in　upon　the　stliness　of　the　old　house。　Its　timbers；　racked　in　the　mighty　grip　of　the　cold；　creaked　and　settled。　Sometimes　there　came　a　sbarp；　breaking　sound；　like　the　crack　of　bones。

'If　any　man　oughter　go　t'　Heaven；　he　had；'　said　Uncle　Eb；　as　he　drew　on　his　boots。

'Think　he's　in　Heaven？'　I　asked。

'Hain't　a　doubt　uv　it；'　said　he；　as　he　chewed　a　moment；　preparing　for　expectoration。

'What　kind　of　a　place　do　you　think　it　is？'　I　asked。

'Fer　one　thing；'　he　said；　deliberately；　'nobody'll　die　there；　'less　he'd　ought　to；　don't　believe　there's　goin'　t'　be　any　need　o'　swearin'　er　quarrellin'。　To　my　way　o'　thinkin'　it'll　be　a　good　deal　like　Dave　Brower's　flirm　…　nice；　smooth　land　and　no　stun　on　it；　an；　hills　an'　valleys　an'　white　clover　aplenty；　an'　wheat　an'　corn　higher'n　a　man's　head。　No　bull　thistles；　no　hard　winters；　no　narrer　contracted　fools；　no　long　faces；　an'　plenty　o'　work。　Folks　sayin'　〃How　d'y　do〃　'stid　o'　〃goodbye〃；　all　the　while　…　comin'　'stid　o'　gain'。　There's　goin'　t'　be　some　kind　o'　ftln　there。　I　ain'　no　idee　what　'tis。　Folks　like　it　an'　I　kind　o'　believe　'at　when　God's　gin　a　thing　t'；　everybody　he　thinks　purty　middlin'　well　uv　it。'

'Anyhow；　it　seems　a　hard　thing　to　die；'　I　remarked。

'Seems　so；'　he　said　thoughtfully。　'Jes'　like　ever'thing　else　…　them　'at　knows　much　about　it　don'　have　a　great　deal　t'　say。　Looks　t'　me　like　this：　I　cal'ate　a　man　hes　on　the　everidge　ten　things　his　heart　is　sot　on　…　what　is　the　word　I　want　…？'

'Treasures？'　I　suggested。

'Thet's　it；'　said　he。　'Ev'ry　one　hes　about　ten　treasures。　Some　hev　more　…　some　less。　Say　one's　his　strength；　one's　his　plan；　the　rest　is　them　he　loves；　an'　the　more　he　loves　the　better　'tis　fer　him。　Wall；　they　begin　t'　go　one　by　one。　Some　die；　some　turn　agin'　him。　Fin's　it　hard　t'　keep　his　allowance。　When　he's　only　nine　he's　lost　eggzac'ly　one…tenth　uv　his　dread　o'　dyin'。　Bime　bye　he　counts　up　…　one…two…three…four…five…an'　thet's　all　ther　is　left。　He　figgers　it　up　carefial。　His　strength　is　gone；　his　plan's　a　fillure；　mebbe；　an'　this　one's　dead　an'　thet　one's　dead；　an'　t'other　one　better　be。　Then　's　'bout　half…ways　with　him。　If　he　lives　till　the　ten　treasures　is　all　gone；　God　gives　him　one　more　…　thet's　death。　An'　he　can　swop　thet　off　an'　git　back　all　he's　lost。　Then　he　begins　t'　think　it's　a　purty　dum　good　thing；　after　all。　Purty　good　thing；　after　all；'　he　repeated；　gaping　as　he　spoke。

He　began　nodding　shortly；　and　soon　he　went　asleep　in　his　chair。

Chapter　20

We　went　back　to　our　work　again　shortly；　the　sweetness　and　the　bitterness　of　life　fresh　in　our　remembrance。　When　we　came　back；　'hook　an'　line'；　for　another　vacation；　the　fields　were　aglow　with　colour；　and　the　roads　where　Dr　Bigsby　had　felt　the　sting　of　death　that　winter　day　were　now　over　drifted　with　meadow…music　and　the　smell　of　clover。　I　had　creditably　taken　examination　for　college；　where　I　was　to　begin　my　course　in　the　fall；　with　a　scholarship。　Hope　had　made　remarkable　progress　in　music　and　was　soon　going　to　Ogdensburg　for　instruction。

A　year　had　gone；　nearly；　since　Jed　Feary　had　cautioned　me　about　falling　in　love。　I　had　kept　enough　of　my　heart　about　me　'to　do　business　with'；　but　I　had　continued　to　feel　an　uncomfortable　absence　in　the　region　of　it。　Young　men　at　HilIsborough　…　many　of　whom；　I　felt　sure；　had　a　smarter　look　than　I　…　had　bid　stubbornly　for　her　favour。　I　wondered；　often；　it　did　not　turn　her　head　…　this　tribute　of　rustic　admiration。　But　she　seemed　to　be　all　unconscious　of　its　cause　and　went　about　her　work　with　small　conceit　of　herself。　Many　a　time　they　had　tried　to　take　her　from　my　arm　at　the　church　door　…　a　good…natured　phase　of　youthful　rivalry　there　in　those　days　…　but　she　had　always　said；　laughingly；　'No；　thank　you；'　and　clung　all　the　closer　to　me。　Now　Jed　Feary　had　no　knowledge　of　the　worry　it　gave　me；　or　of　the　penl　it　suggested。　I　knew　that；　if　I　felt　free　to　tell　him　all；　he　would　give　me　other　counsel。　I　was　now　seventeen　and　she　a　bit　older；　and　had　I　not　heard　of　many　young　men　and　women　who　had　been　engaged　…　aye；　even　married　…　at　that　age？　Well；　as　it　happened；　a　day　before　she　left　us；　to　go　to　her　work　in　Ogdensburg；　where　she　was　to　live　with　her　uncle；　I　made　an　end　of　delay。　I　considered　carefully　what　a　man　ought　to　say　in　the　circumstances；　and　I　thought　I　had　near　an　accurate　notion。　We　were　in　the　garden　…　together　…　the　playground　of　our　childhood。

'Hope；　I　have　a　secret　to　tell　you；'　I　said。

'A　secret；'　she　exclaimed　eagerly。　'I　love　secrets。'

'A　great　secret；'　I　repeated；　as　I　felt　my　face　burning。

'Why　…　it　must　be　something　awful！'

'Not　very；'　I　stammered。　Having　missed　my　cue　from　the　beginning；　I　was　now　utterly　confused。

'William！'　she　exclaimed；　'what　is　the　matter　of　you。'

'I　…　I　am　in　love；'　said　I；　very　awkwardiy。

'Is　that　all？'　she　answered；　a　trace　of　humour　in　her　tone。　'I　thought　it　was　bad　news。'

I　stooped　to　pick　a　rose　and　handed　itto　her。

'Well；'　she　remarked　soberly；　but　smiling　a　little；　as　she　lifted　the　rose　to　her　lips；　'is　it　anyone　I　know。'

I　felt　it　was　going　badly　with　me；　but　caught　a　sudden　inspiration。

'You　have　never　seen　her；'　I　said。

If　she　had　suspected　the　truth　I　had　turned　the　tables　on　her；　and　now　she　was　guessing。　A　quick　change　came　into　her　face；　and；　for　a　moment；　it　gave　me　confidence。

'Is　she　pretty？'　she　asked　very　seriously　as　she　dropped　the　flower　and　looked　down　crushing　it　beneath　her　foot。

'She　is　very　beautifial　…　it　is　you　I　love；　Hope。'

A　flood　of　colour　came　into　her　cheeks　then；　as　she　stood　a　moment　looking　down　at　the　flower　in　silence。

'I　shall　keep　your　secret；'　she　said　tenderly；　and　hesitating　as　she　spoke；　'and　when　you　are　through　college　…　and　you　are　older　…　and　I　am　older　…　and　you　love　me　as　you　do　now　…　I　hope　…　I　shall　love　you；　too　…　as　…　I　do　now。'

Her　lips　were　trembling　as　she　gave　me　that　sweet　assurance　…　dearer　to　me　…　far　dearer　than　all　else　I　remember　of　that　golden　time　…　and　tears　were　coursing　down　her　cheeks。　For　myself　I　was　in　a　worse　plight　of　emotion。　I　dare　say　she　remembered　also　the　look　of　my　face　in　that　moment。

'Do　not　speak　of　it　again；'　she　said；　as　we　walked　away　together　on　the　shorn　sod　of　the　orchard　meadow；　now　sown　with　apple　blossoms；　'until　we　are　older；　and；　if　you　never　speak　again；　I　shall　know　you　…　you　do　not　love　me　any　longer。'

The　dinner　horn　sounded。　We　turned　and　walked　slowly　back

'Do　I　look　all　right？'　she　asked；　turing　her　face　to　me　and　smiling　sweetly。

'All　right；'　I　said。　'Nobody　would　know　that　anyone　loved　you　…　except　for　your　beauty　and　that　one　tear　track　on　your　cheek。'

She　wiped　it　away　as　she　laughed。

'Mother　knows　anyway；'　she　said；　'and　she　has　given　me　good　advice。　Wait！'　she　added；　stopping　and　turning　to　me。　'Your　eyes　are　wet！'

I　felt　for　my　handkerchief。

'Take　mine；'　she　said。

Elder　Whitmarsh　was　at　the　house　and　they　were　all　suring　downto　dinner　as　we　came　in。

'Hello！'　said　Uncle　Eb。　'Here's　a　good…lookin'　couple。　We've　got　a　chicken　pie　an'　a　Baptis'　minister　fer　dinner　an'　both　good。　Take　yer　pew　nex'　t'　the　minister；'　he　added　as　he　held　the　chair　for　me。

Then　we　all　bowed　our　heads　and　I　felt　a　hearty　amen　for　the　elder's　words：

'O　Lord；　may　all　our　doing　and　saying　and　eating　and　driniiing　of　this　day　be　done；　as　in　Thy　sight；　for　our　eternal　happiness　…　and　for　Thy　glory。　Amen。'

Chapter　2　I

We　have　our　secrets；　but；　guard　them　as　we　may；　it　is　not　long　before　others　have　them　also。　We　do　much　taling　without　words。　I　once　knew　a　man　who　did　his　drinking　secretly　and　his　reeling　in　public；　and　thought　he　was　fooling　everybody。　That　shows　how　much　easier　it　is　for　one　to　fool　himself　than　to　fool　another。　What　is　in　a　man's　heart　is　on　his　face；　and　is　shortly　written　all　over　him。　Therein　is　a　mighty　lesson。

Of　all　people　I　ever　knew　Elizabeth　Brower　had　the　surest　eye　for　looking　into　one's　soul；　and　I；　myself；　have　some　gift　of　penetration。　I　knew　shortly　that　Mrs　Brower　…　wise　and　prudent　woman　that　she　was　…　had　suspected　my　love　for　Hope　and　her　love　for　me；　and　had　tol