the choir invisible-第37节

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his　hair。

〃Go　now；　dear　friend！〃　she　said　calmly　but　quickly。

XXI

It　was　the　morning　of　the　wedding。

According　to　the　usage　of　the　time　the　marriage　ceremony　was　to　take　place　early　in　the　forenoon；　in　order　that　the　guests；　gathered　in　from　distant　settlements　of　the　wilderness；　might　have　a　day　for　festivity　and　still　reach　home　before　night。　Late　in　the　afternoon　the　bridal　couple；　escorted　by　many　friends；　were　to　ride　into　town　to　Joseph's　house；　and　in　the　evening　there　was　to　be　a　house…warming。

The　custom　of　the　backwoods　country　ran　that　a　man　must　not　be　left　to　build　his　house　alone；　and　one　day　some　weeks　before　this　wagons　had　begun　to　roll　in　from　this　direction　and　that　direction　out　of　the　forest；　hauling　the　logs　for　Joseph's　cabin。　Then　with　loud　laughter　and　the　writhing　of　tough　backs　and　the　straining　of　powerful　arms　and　legs；　men　old；　middle…aged；　and　young　had　raised　the　house　like　overgrown　boys　at　play；　and　then　had　returned　to　their　own　neglected　business：　so　that　to　him　was　left　only　the　finishing。He　had　finished　it　and　furnished　it　for　the　simple　scant　needs　of　pioneer　life。But　on　this；　his　wedding　morning；　he　had　hardly　left　the　town；　escorted　by　friends　on　horseback；　before　many　who　had　variously　excused　themselves　from　going　began　to　issue　from　their　homes：　women　carrying　rolls　of　linen　and　pones　of　bread；　boys　with　huge　joints　of　jerked　meat　and　dried　tongues　of　the　buffalo；　bear；　and　deer。　There　was　a　noggin；　a　piggin；　a　churn；　a　homemade　chair；　there　was　a　quilt　from　a　grandmother　and　a　pioneer　cradlea　mere　trough　scooped　out　of　a　walnut　log。　An　old　pioneer　sent　the　antlers　of　a　stag　for　a　hat…rack；　and　a　buffalo　rug　for　the　young　pair　to　lie　warm　under　of　bitter；　winter　nights；　his　wife　sent　a　spinning…wheel　and　a　bundle　of　shingles　for　johnny…cakes。　Some　of　the　merchants　gave　packages　of　Philadelphia　groceries；　some　of　the　aristo…cratic　families　parted　with　heirlooms　that　had　been　laboriously　brought　over　the　mountainsa　cup　and　saucer　of　Sevres；　a　pair　of　tall　brass　candlesticks；　and　a　Venus　…mirror　framed　in　ebony。　It　was　about　three　o'clock　in　the　afternoon　when　John　Gray　jumped　on　the　back　of　a　strong　trusty　horse　at　the　stable　of　the　Indian　Queen；　leaned　over　to　shake　the　hands　of　the　friends　who　had　met　there　to　see　him　off；　and　turned　his　horse's　head　in　the　direction　of　the　path　that　led　to　the　Wilderness　Road。

But　when　he　had　gone　about　a　mile；　he　struck　into　the　forest　at　right　angles　and　rode　across　the　country　until　he　reached　that　green　woodland　pathway　which　led　from　the　home　of　the　Falconers　to　the　public　road　between　Lexington　and　Frankfort。　He　tied　his　horse　some　distance　away；　and　walking　back；　sat　down　on　the　roots　of　an　oak　and　waited。

It　was　a　day　when　the　beauty　of　the　earth　makes　itself　felt　like　ravishing　music　that　has　no　sound。　The　air；　warm　and　full　of　summer　fragrance；　was　of　that　ethereal　untinged　clearness　which　spreads　over　all　things　the　softness　of　velvet。　The　far…vaulted　heavens；　so　bountiful　of　light；　were　an　illimitable　weightless　curtain　of　pale…blue　velvet；　the　rolling　clouds　were　of　white　velvet；　the　grass；　the　stems　of　bending　wild　flowers；　the　drooping　sprays　of　woodland　foliage；　were　so　many　forms　of　emerald　velvet；　the　gnarled　trunks　of　the　trees　were　gray　and　brown　velvet；　the　wings　and　breasts　of　the　birds；　flitting　hither　and　thither；　were　of　gold　and　scarlet　velvet；　the　butterflies　were　stemless；　floating　velvet　blossoms。〃Farewell；　Kentucky！　farewell！〃　he　said；　looking　about　him　at　it　all。　Two　hours　passed。　The　shadows　were　lengthening　rapidly。　Over　the　forest；　like　the　sigh　of　a　spirit；　swept　from　out　the　west　the　first　intimation　of　waning　light；　of　the　mysteries　of　coming　darkness。　At　last　there　reached　his　ear　from　far　down　the　woodland　path　the　sounds　of　voices　and　laughteragain　and　againlouder　and　louderand　then　through　the　low　thick　boughs　he　caught　glimpses　of　them　coming。　Now　beneath　the　darker　arches　of　the　trees；　now　across　pale…green　spaces　shot　by　slanting　sunbeams。　Once　there　was　a　halt　and　a　merry　outcry。　Long　grape…vines　from　opposite　sides　of　the　road　had　been　tied　across　it；　and　this　barrier　had　to　cut　through。　Then　on　they　came　again：　At　the　head　of　procession；　astride　an　old　horse　that　in　his　better　days　had　belonged　to　a　mounted　rifleman；　rode　the　parson。　He　was　several　yards　ahead　of　the　others　and　quite　forgetful　of　them。　The　end　of　his　flute　stuck　neglectedly　out　of　his　waistcoat　pocket；　his　bridle　reins　lay　slack　on　the　neck　of　the　drowsy　beast；　his　hands　were　piled　on　the　pommel　of　the　saddle　as　over　his　familiar　pulpit；　his　dreamy　moss…agate　eyes　were　on　the　tree…tops　far　ahead。　In　truth　he　was　preparing　a　sermon　on　the　affection　of　one　man　for　another　and　ransacking　Scripture　for　illustrations；　and　he　meant　to　preach　this　the　following　Sunday　when　there　would　be　some　one　sadly　missed　among　his　hearers。　Nevertheless　he　enjoyed　great　peace　of　spirit　this　day：　it　was　not　John　who　rode　behind　him　as　the　bridegroom：　otherwise　he　would　as　soon　have　returned　to　the　town　at　the　head　of　the　forces　of　Armageddon。

Behind　the　parson　came　William　Penn　in　the　glory　of　a　new　bridle　and　saddle　and　a　blanket　of　crimson　cloth；　his　coat　smooth　as　satin；　his　mane　a　tumbling　cataract　of　white　silk；　bunches　of　wild　roses　at　his　ears；　his　blue…black　eyes　never　so　soft；　and　seeming　to　lift　his　feet　cautiously　like　an　elephant　bearing　an　Indian　princess。

They　were　riding　side　by　side；　the　young　husband　and　wife。　He　keeping　one　hand　on　the　pommel　of　her　saddle；　thus　holding　them　together；　while　with　the　other　he　used　his　hat　to　fan　his　face；　now　hers；　though　his　was　the　one　that　needed　it；　she　being　cool　and　quietly　radiant　with　the　thoughts　of　her　triumph　that　daythe　triumph　of　her　wedding；　of　her　own　beauty。　Furthermore　show　was　looking　ahead　to　the　house…warming　that　night　when　she　would　be　able　to　triumph　again　and　also　count　her　presents。

Then　came　Major　and　Mrs。　Falconer。　Her　face　was　hidden　by　a　veil　and　as　they　passed；　it　was　held　turned　toward　him：　he　was　talking；　uninterrupted。

Then　followed　Horatio　Turpin　and　Kitty　Poythress；　and　then　Erskine　and　his　betrothed；　he　with　fresh　feathers　of　the　hawk　and　the　scarlet　tanager　gleaming　in　his　cap　above　his　swart；　stern　aquiline　face。　Then　Peter；　beside　the　widow　Babcock；　he　openly　aflame　and　solicitous；　she　coy　and　discreetly　inviting；　as　is　the　wisdom　of　some。　Then　others　and　others　and　othersa　long　gay　pageant；　filling　the　woods　with　merry　voices　and　laughter。

They　passed　and　the　sounds　died　awaypassed　on　to　the　town　awaiting　the；　to　the　house…warming；　and　please　God；　to　long　life　and　some　real　affection　and　happiness。

Once　he　had　expected　to　ride　beside　her　at　the　head　of　this　procession。　There　had　gone　by　him　the　vision　of　his　own　life　as　it　was　to　have　been。

Long　after　the　last　sound　had　ceased　in　the　distance　he　was　sitting　at　the　root　of　the　red　oak。　The　sun　set；　the　moon　rose；　he　was　there　still。　A　loud；　impatient　neigh　from　his　horse　aroused　him。　He　sprang　lightly　up；　meaning　to　ride　all　night　and　not　to　draw　rein　until　he　had　crossed　the　Kentucky　River　and　reached　Traveller's　Rest；　the　home　of　Governor　Shelby；　where　he　had　been　invited　to　break　his　travel。

All　that　nigh　he　rode　and　at　sunrise　was　far　away。　Pausing　on　a　height　and　turning　his　horse's　head；　he　sat　a　long　time　motion…less　as　a　statue。　Then　he　struck　his　feet　into　its　flank　and　all　that　day　rode　back　again。

The　sun　was　striking　the　tree…tops　as　he　neared　the　clearing。　He　could　see　her　across　the　garden。　She　sat　quite　still；　her　face　turned　toward　the　horizon。　Against　her　breast；　opened　but　forgotten；　lay　a　book。　He　could　recognize　it。　By　that　story　she　had　judged　him　and　wished　to　guide　him。　The　smile　smote　his　eyes　like　the　hilt　of　a　knight's　sword　used　as　a　Cross　to　drive　away　the　Evil　One。　For　he　knew　the　evil　purpose　with　which　he　had　returned。

And　so　he　sat　watching　her　until　she　rose　and　walked　slowly　to　the　house。

XXII

IT　was　early　autumn　when　the　first　letters　from　him　were　received　over　the　mountains。　All　these　had　relation　to　Mount　Vernon　and　his　business　there。

To　the　Transylvania　Library　Committee　he　wrote　that　the　President　had　mad　a　liberal　subscription　for　the　buying　of　books　and　that　the　Vice…President　and　other　public　men　would　be　likely　to　contribute。

His　sonorous；　pompous　letter　to　a　member　of　the　Democratic　Society　was　much　longer　and　in　part　as　follows：

〃When　I　made　know　to　the　President　who　I　was　and　where　I　came　from；　he　regarded　me　with　a　look　at　once　so　stern　and　so　benign；　that　I　felt　like　one　of　my　school…boys　overtaken　in　some　small　rascality　and　was　almost　of　a　mind　to　march　straight　to　a　corner　of　the　room　and　stand　with　my　face　to　the　wall。　If　he　had　seized　me　by　the　coat　collar　and　trounced　me　well；　I　should　somehow　have　felt　that　he　had　the　right。　From　the　conversations　that　followed　I　am　led　to　believe　that　he　knows　the　name　of　every　prominent　member　of　the　Democratic　Society　of　Lexington；　and　that　he　understands　Kentucky　affairs　with　regard　to　national　and　international　complications　as　no　other　living　man。　While　questioning　me　on　the　subject；　he　had　the　manner　of　one　who；　from　conscientiousness；　would　further　verify　facts　which　h