a mountain woman(山妇)-第31节
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they should divide our sympathies？ The world is my country and yours；
I hope。 Is it not so？〃
Then there had also been a hapless pair of lovers； shamed before their
community； who； desperate； impoverished； and bewildered at the war
between nature and society； had been helped by her into a new part of the
world。 There had been a widow with many children； who had found
baskets of cooked food and bundles of well…made clothing on her step。
And as the days passed； with these pleasant offices； the face of the strange
woman glowed with an ever…increasing con… tent； and her dark； delicate
beauty grew。
John Hartington spent his vacation at Des Moines； having a laudable
desire to see something of the world before returning to his native town；
with his college honors fresh upon him。 Swiftest of the college runners
was John Hartington； famed for his leaping too； and measuring widest at
the chest and waist of all the hearty fellows at the university。 His blond
curls clustered above a brow almost as innocent as a child's； his frank and
brave blue eyes； his free step； his mellow laugh； bespoke the perfect
animal； unharmed by civilization； unperplexed by the closing century's
falla… cies and passions。 The wholesome oak that spreads its roots deep
in the generous soil； could not be more a part of nature than he。
Conscientious； unimaginative； direct； sincere； industrious； he was the ideal
man of his kind； and his return to town caused a flutter among the maidens
which they did not even attempt to conceal。 They told him all the chat； of
course； and； among other things； mentioned the great sensation of the year；
the coming of the woman with her mystery； the purchase of the sunny
upland； the planting it with clover and with mignonette； the building of the
house of logs； the keeping of the bees； the barren rooms； the busy； silent
life； the charities； the never…ending wonder of it all。 And then the woman …
… kind； yet different from the rest； with the foreign trick of tongue； the
slow； proud walk； the delicate； slight hands； the beautiful； beau… tiful smile；
the air as of a creature from another world。
Hartington； strolling beyond the village streets； up where the sunset
died in daffodil above the upland； saw the little cot of logs； and out before
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A Mountain Woman
it； among blood…red poppies； the woman of whom he had heard。 Her gown
of white gleamed in that eerie radi… ance； glorified； her sad great eyes bent
on him in magnetic scrutiny。 A peace and plenitude of power came
radiating from her； and reached him where he stood； sud… denly； and for
the first time in his careless life； struck dumb and awed。 She； too；
seemed suddenly abashed at this great bulk of youthful manhood； innocent
and strong。 She gazed on him； and he on her； both chained with some
mysterious enchant… ment。 Yet neither spoke； and he； turning in
bewilderment at last； went back to town； while she placed one hand on her
lips to keep from calling him。 And neither slept that night； and in the
morning when she went with milking pail and stool out to the grassy field；
there he stood at the bars； waiting。 Again they gazed； like creatures held in
thrall by some magician； till she held out her hand and said；
〃We must be friends； although we have not met。 Perhaps we ARE
old friends。 They say there have been worlds before this one。 I have not
seen you in these habili… ments of flesh and blood； and yet we may be
friends？〃
John Hartington； used to the thin jests of the village girls； and all their
simple talk； rose； nevertheless； enlightened as he was with some strange
sympathy with her； to understand and answer what she said。
〃I think perhaps it may be so。 May I come in beside you in the field？
Give me the pail。 I'll milk the cow for you。〃
She threw her head back and laughed like a girl from school； and he
laughed too； and they shook hands。 Then she sat near him while he milked；
both keeping silence； save for the p…rring noise he made with his lips to
the patient beast。 Being through； she served him with a cupful of the fra…
grant milk； but he bade her drink first； then drank himself； and then they
laughed again； as if they both had found something new and good in life。
Then she；
〃Come see how well my bees are doing。〃 And they went。 She served
him with the lucent syrup of the bees； perfumed with the mignonette；
such honey as there never was before。 He sat on the broad doorstep； near
the scarlet poppies； she on the grass； and then they talked was it one
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golden hour or two？ Ah； well； 'twas long enough for her to learn all of
his simple life； long enough for her to know that he was victor at the races
at the school； that he could play the pipe； like any shepherd of the ancient
days； and when he went he asked her if he might return。
〃Well；〃 laughed she； 〃sometimes I am lonely。 Come see me in a
week。〃
Yet he was there that day at twilight； and he brought his silver pipe；
and piped to her under the stars； and she sung ballads to him； songs of
Strephon and times when the hills were young； and flocks were fairer than
they ever be these days。
〃To…morrow； and to…morrow； and to…mor… row；〃 and still the
intercourse； still her dark loveliness waxing； still the weaving of the
mystic spell； still happiness as primi… tive and as sweet as ever Eden knew。
Then came a twilight when the sweet rain fell； and on the heavy air the
perfumes of the fields floated。 The woman stood by the window of the cot；
looking out。 Tall； graceful； full of that subtle power which drew his soul；
clothed in white linen； fra… grant from her fields； with breath freighted
with fresh milk； with eyes of flame； she was there to be adored。 And he；
being man of manliest type； forgot all that might have checked the words；
and poured his soul out at her feet。 She drew herself up like a queen； but
only that she might look queenlier for his sake； and； bending； kissed his
brow； and whispered back his vows。
And they were married。
The villagers pitied Hartington。
〃She's more than a match for him in years an' in some other ways； as
like as not；〃 they said。 〃Besides； she ain't much inclined to mention
anything about her past。 'Twon't bear the tellin' probably。〃
As for the lovers； they laughed as they went about their honest tasks；
or sat together arms encircling each at evening； now under the stars； and
now before their fire of wood。 They talked together of their farm； added a
field for winter wheat； bought other cattle； and some horses； which they
rode out over the rolling prairies side by side。 He never stopped to chat
about the town； she never ventured on the street without him by her side。
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Truth to tell； their neighbors envied them； marvelling how one could
extract a heaven out of earth； and what such perfect joy could mean。
Yet； for all their prosperity； not one ad… dition did they make to that
most simple home。 It stood there； with its bare neces… sities； made
beautiful only with their love。 But when the winter was most gone； he
made a little cradle of hard wood； in which she placed pillows of down；
and over which she hung linen curtains embroidered by her hand。
In the long evenings； by the flicker of the fire； they sat together； cheek
to cheek； and looked at this little bed； singing low songs together。
〃This happiness is terrible； my John；〃 she said to him one night； a
wondrous night； when the eastern wind had flung the tassels out on all the
budding trees of spring； and the air was throbbing with awakening life；
and balmy puffs of breeze； and odors of the earth。 〃And we are grow… ing
young。 Do you not think that we are very young and strong？〃
