the house behind the cedars(雪松后的房子)-第14节
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！
once upon a household footing with the family；his views of marriage
changed entirely。 It now seemed to him the duty； as well as the high and
holy privilege of a young man； to marry and manfully to pay his debt to
society。 When in Rena's presence； he could not imagine how he had ever
47
… Page 48…
THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
contemplated the possibility of marriage with Blanche Leary；she was
utterly； entirely； and hopelessly unsuited to him。 For a fair man of
vivacious temperament； this stately dark girl was the ideal mate。 Even
his mother would admit this； if she could only see Rena。 To win this
beautiful girl for his wife would be a worthy task。 He had crowned her
Queen of Love and Beauty； since then she had ascended the throne of his
heart。 He would make her queen of his home and mistress of his life。
To Rena this brief month's courtship came as a new education。 Not
only had this fair young man crowned her queen； and honored her above
all the ladies in town； but since then he had waited assiduously upon her；
had spoken softly to her； had looked at her with shining eyes； and had
sought to be alone with her。 The time soon came when to touch his hand
in greeting sent a thrill through her frame；a time when she listened for
his footstep and was happy in his presence。 He had been bold enough at
the tournament； he had since become somewhat bashful and constrained。
He must be in love； she thought； and wondered how soon he would speak。
If it were so sweet to walk with him in the garden； or along the shaded
streets； to sit with him； to feel the touch of his hand； what happiness would
it not be to hear him say that he loved herto bear his name； to live with
him always。 To be thus loved and honored by this handsome young man；
she could hardly believe it possible。 He would never speakhe would
discover her secret and withdraw。 She turned pale at the thought；ah；
God！ something would happen；it was too good to be true。 The Prince
would never try on the glass slipper。
Tryon first told his love for Rena one summer evening on their way
home from church。 They were walking in the moonlight along the quiet
street； which； but for their presence； seemed quite deserted。
〃Miss WarwickRowena；〃 he said； clasping with his right hand the
hand that rested on his left arm； 〃I love you！ Do youlove me？〃
To Rena this simple avowal came with much greater force than a more
formal declaration could have had。 It appealed to her own simple nature。
Indeed； few women at such a moment criticise the form in which the most
fateful words of lifebut oneare spoken。 Words； while pleasant； are
really superfluous。 Her whispered 〃Yes〃 spoke volumes。
48
… Page 49…
THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
They walked on past the house； along the country road into which the
street soon merged。 When they returned； an hour later； they found
Warwick seated on the piazza； in a rocking…chair； smoking a fragrant cigar。
〃Well； children；〃 he observed with mock severity； 〃you are late in
getting home from church。 The sermon must have been extremely long。〃
〃We have been attending an after…meeting；〃 replied Tryon joyfully；
〃and have been discussing an old text； ‘Little children； love one another；'
and its corollary； ‘It is not good for man to live alone。' John； I am the
happiest man alive。 Your sister has promised to marry me。 I should like
to shake my brother's hand。〃
Never does one feel so strongly the universal brotherhood of man as
when one loves some other fellow's sister。 Warwick sprang from his
chair and clasped Tryon's extended hand with real emotion。 He knew of
no man whom he would have preferred to Tryon as a husband for his
sister。
〃My dear Georgemy dear sister；〃 he exclaimed； 〃I am very； very glad。
I wish you every happiness。 My sister is the most fortunate of women。〃
〃And I am the luckiest of men；〃 cried Tryon。
〃I wish you every happiness；〃 repeated Warwick； adding； with a touch
of solemnity； as a certain thought； never far distant； occurred to him； 〃I
hope that neither of you may ever regret your choice。〃
Thus placed upon the footing of an accepted lover； Tryon's visits to the
house became more frequent。 He wished to fix a time for the marriage；
but at this point Rena developed a strange reluctance。
〃Can we not love each other for a while？〃 she asked。 〃To be engaged
is a pleasure that comes but once； it would be a pity to cut it too short。〃
〃It is a pleasure that I would cheerfully dispense with；〃 he replied； 〃for
the certainty of possession。 I want you all to myself； and all the time。
Things might happen。 If I should die； for instance； before I married
you〃
〃Oh； don't suppose such awful things；〃 she cried； putting her hand over
his mouth。
He held it there and kissed it until she pulled it away。
〃I should consider；〃 he resumed； completing the sentence； 〃that my life
49
… Page 50…
THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
had been a failure。〃
〃If I should die；〃 she murmured； 〃I should die happy in the knowledge
that you had loved me。〃
〃In three weeks；〃 he went on； 〃I shall have finished my business in
Clarence； and there will be but one thing to keep me here。 When shall it
be？ I must take you home with me。〃
〃I will let you know；〃 she replied； with a troubled sigh； 〃in a week
from to…day。〃
〃I'll call your attention to the subject every day in the mean time；〃 he
asserted。 〃I shouldn't like you to forget it。〃
Rena's shrinking from the irrevocable step of marriage was due to a
simple and yet complex cause。 Stated baldly； it was the consciousness of
her secret； the complexity arose out of the various ways in which it
seemed to bear upon her future。 Our lives are so bound up with those of
our fellow men that the slightest departure from the beaten path involves a
multiplicity of small adjustments。 It had not been difficult for Rena to
conform her speech； her manners； and in a measure her modes of thought；
to those of the people around her； but when this readjustment went beyond
mere externals and concerned the vital issues of life； the secret that
oppressed her took on a more serious aspect； with tragic possibilities。 A
discursive imagination was not one of her characteristics； or the danger of
a marriage of which perfect frankness was not a condition might well have
presented itself before her heart had become involved。 Under the
influence of doubt and fear acting upon love； the invisible bar to happiness
glowed with a lambent flame that threatened dire disaster。
〃Would he have loved me at all；〃 she asked herself； 〃if he had known
the story of my past？ Or； having loved me； could he blame me now for
what I cannot help？〃
There were two shoals in the channel of her life； upon either of which
her happiness might go to shipwreck。 Since leaving the house behind the
cedars； where she had been brought into the world without her own
knowledge or consent； and had first drawn the breath of life by the
involuntary contraction of certain muscles； Rena had learned； in a short
time； many things； but she was yet to learn that the innocent suffer with
50
… Page 51…
THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
the guilty； and feel the punishment the more keenly because unmerited。
She had yet to learn that the old Mosaic formula； 〃The sins of the fathers
shall be visited upon the children；〃 was graven more indelibly upon the
heart of the race than upon the tables of Sinai。
But would her lover still love her； if he knew all？ She had read so
