a mountain europa-第13部分

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Why；　ye　look　like　another　man；〃　said　Easter's　mother；　who　had　been　looking　Clayton　over　with　a　quizzical　smile。　〃Is　that　the　way　folks　dress　out　in　the　settlemints？　　'N'　look　at　that　gal。　　Ef　she　hev　done　anythin'　sence　ye　hev　been　gone　but____〃　　The　rest　of　the　sentence　was　smothered　in　the　palm　of　Easter's　hand；　and　she　too　began　scrutinizing　Clayton　closely。　　The　mountaineer　said　nothing；　and　after　a　curious　glance　at　Easter　resumed　his　pipe。

You　look　like　a　pair　of　butterflies；〃　said　the　mother　when　released。　　〃Sherd　oughter　be　mighty　proud　of　his　first　marryin'。　I　s'pose　ye　know　he　air　a　preacher　now？　Ye　oughter　heerd　him　preach　last　Sunday。　　It　was　his　fust　time。　The　way　he　lighted　inter　the　furriners　was　a　caution。　　He　'lowed　he　was　a…goin'　to　fight　cyard…playin'　and　dancin'　ez　long　ez　he　hed　breath。〃

Yes；　'n'　thar's　whar　Sherd　air　a　fool。　I'm　ag'in　furriners；　too；　but　thar　hain't　no　harm　in　dancin；　n'　thar's　goin'　to　be　dancin'　at　this　weddin'　ef　I'm　alive。〃

Easter　shrank　perceptibly　when　her　father　spoke；　and　looked　furtively　at　Clayton；　who　winced；　in　spite　of　himself；　as　the　rough　voice　grated　in　his　ear。　　Instantly　her　face　grew　unhappy；　and　contained　an　appeal　for　pardon　that　he　was　quick　to　understand　and　appreciate。　Thereafter　he　concealed　his　repulsion；　and　treated　the　rough　bear　so　affably　that　Easter's　eyes　grew　moist　with　gratitude。

Darkness　was　gathering　in　the　valley　below　when　he　rose　to　go。　Easter　had　scarcely　spoken　to　him；　but　her　face　and　her　eyes；　fixed　always　upon　him；　were　eloquent　with　joy。　Once　as　she　passed　behind　him　her　hand　rested　with　a　timid；　caressing　touch　upon　his　shoulder；　and　now；　as　he　walked　away　from　the　porch；　she　called　him　back。　　He　turned；　and　she　had　gone　into　the　house。

What　is　it；　Easter？　〃　he　asked；　stepping　into　the　dark　room。　　His　hand　was　grasped　in　both　her　own　and　held　tremblingly。

Don't　mind　dad；〃　she　whispered；　softly。　Something　warm　and　moist　fell　upon　his　hand　as　she　unloosed　it；　and　she　was　gone。

That　night　he　wrote　home　in　a　better　frame　of　mind。　The　charm　of　the　girl's　personality　had　asserted　its　power　again；　and　hopes　that　had　almost　been　destroyed　by　his　trip　home　were　rekindled　by　her　tasteful　appearance；　her　delicacy　of　feeling；　and　by　her　beauty；　which　he　had　not　overrated。　He　asked　that　his　sister　might　meet　him　in　Louisville　after　the　wedding…whenever　that　should　be。　They　two　could　decide　then　what　should　be　done。　　His　own　idea　was　to　travel；　and　so　great　was　his　confidence　in　Easter；　he　believed　that；　in　time；　he　could　take　her　to　New　York　without　fear。

XII

IT　was　plain　that　Raines…to　quiet　the　old　　man's　uneasiness；　perhaps…had　told　him　of　his　last　meeting　with　Clayton；　and　that；　during　the　absence　of　the　latter；　some　arrangements　for　the　wedding　had　been　made；　even　by　Easter；　who　in　her　trusting　innocence　had　perhaps　never　thought　of　any　other　end　to　their　relations。　In　consequence；　there　was　an　unprecedented　stir　among　the　mountaineers。　　The　marriage　of　a　citizen　　with　a　〃　furriner　〃　was　an　unprecedented　event；　and　the　old　mountaineer；　who　began　to　take　some　pride　in　the　alliance；　emphasized　it　at　every　opportunity。

　At　the　mines　Clayton's　constant　visits　to　the　mountain　were　known　to　everybody；　but　little　attention　had　been　paid　to　them。　　Now；　however；　when　the　rumor　of　the　wedding　seemed　confirmed　by　his　return　and　his　silence；　every　one　was　alert　with　a　curiosity　so　frankly　shown　that　he　soon　became　eager　to　get　away　from　the　mountains。　　Accordingly；　he　made　known　his　wish　to　Easter's　parents　that　the　marriage　should　take　place　as　soon　as　possible。　Both　received　the　suggestion　with　silent　assent。　Then　had　followed　　many　difficulties。　Only　as　a　great　concession　to　the　ideas　and　customs　　of　〃　fur…riners〃　would　the　self…willed　old　mountaineer　agree　that　　the　ceremony　should　take　place　at　night；　and　that　after　the　supper　　and　the　dance；　the　two　should　leave　Jellico　at　daybreak。　　Mountain　marriages　were　solemnized　in　the　daytime；　and　wedding　　journeys　were　unknown。　The　old　man　did　not　understand　why　Clayton　　should　wish　to　leave　the　mountains；　and　the　haste　of　the　latter　　seemed　to　give　him　great　offence。　When　Clayton　had　ventured　to　suggest；　　instead；　that　the　marriage　should　be　quiet；　and　that　he　and　Easter　　should　remain　on　the　mountain　a　few　days　before　leaving；　he　fumed　with　anger；　　and　thereafter　any　suggestion　from　the　young　engineer　was　met　with　a　suspicion　　that　looked　ominous。　　Raines　was　away　on　his　circuit；　and　would　not　return　　until　just　before　the　wedding；　so　that　from　him　Clayton　could　get　no　help。　　Very　wisely；　then；　he　interfered　no　more；　but　awaited　the　day　with　dread。

It　was　nearing　dusk　when　he　left　the　camp　on　his　wedding…night。　　Half…way　up　the　mountain　he　stopped　to　lean　against　the　kindly　breast　of　a　bowlder　blocking　the　path。　　It　was　the　spot　where　he　had　seen　Easter　for　the　first　time。　The　mountains　were　green　again；　as　they　were　then；　but　the　scene　seemed　sadly　changed。　The　sun　was　gone；　　the　evening…star　had　swung　its　white　light　like　a　censer　above　Devil's　Den；　　the　clouds　were　moving　swiftly　through　the　darkening　air；　　like　a　frightened　flock　seeking　a　fold；　and　the　night　was　closing　fast　　over　the　cluster　of　faint　camp…fires。　The　spirit　brooding　over　mountain　　and　sky　was　unspeakably　sad；　and　with　a　sharp　pain　at　his　heart　Clayton　　turned　from　it　and　hurried　on。　　Mountain；　sky；　and　valley　were　soon　lost　　in　the　night。　　When　he　reached　the　cabin　rays　of　bright　light　were　flashing　　from　chink　and　crevice　into　the　darkness；　and　from　the　kitchen　came　the　sounds　　of　busy　preparation。　Already　many　guests　had　arrived。　　A　group　of　men　　who　stood　lazily　talking　in　the　porch　became　silent　as　he　approached；　but；　recognizing　none　of　them；　he　entered　the　cabin。　A　dozen　women　were　seated　about　the　room；　and　instantly　their　eyes　were　glued　upon　him。　　As　the　kitchen　door　swung　open　he　saw　Easter's　mother　bending　over　the　fireplace；　a　table　already　heavily　laden；　and　several　women　bustling　about　it。　Above　his　head　he　heard　laughter；　a　hurried　tramping　of　feet；　and　occasional　cries　of　surprise　and　delight。　He　paused　at　the　threshold；　hardly　knowing　what　to　do；　and　when　he　turned　a　titter　from　one　corner　showed　that　his　embarrassment　was　seen。　On　the　porch　he　was　seized　by　　Easter's　father；　who　drew　him　back　into　the　room。　The　old　mountaineer's　　face　was　flushed；　and　he　had　been　drinking　heavily。

Oh；　hyar　ye　air！　〃　he　exclaimed。　〃You're　right　on　hand；　hain't　ye？　　Hyar；　Bill；〃　he　called；　thrusting　his　head　out　of　the　door；　〃you　〃n'　Jim　'n'　Milt　come　in　hyar。〃　　Three　awkward　young　mountaineers　entered。　　〃These　fellers　air　goin'　to　help　ye。〃

They　were　to　be　his　ushers。　Clayton　shook　hands　with　them　gravely。

Oh；　we　air　about　ready　fer　ye；　'n'　we　air　only　waitin'　fer　Sherd　and　the　folks　to　come；〃　continued　the　mountaineer；　jubilantly；　winking　significantly　at　Clayton　and　his　attendants；　who　stood　about　him　at　the　fireplace。　Clayton　shook　his　head　firmly；　but　the　rest　followed　Hicks；　who　turned　at　the　door　and　repeated　the　invitation　with　a　frowning　face。　　Clayton　was　left　the　focus　of　feminine　eyes；　whose　unwavering　directness　kept　his　own　gaze　on　the　floor。　People　began　to　come　in　rapidly；　most　of　whom　he　had　never　seen　before。　The　room　was　filled；　save　for　a　space　about　him。　　Every　one　gave　him　a　look　of　curiosity　that　made　him　feel　like　some　strange　animal　on　exhibition。　　Once　more　he　tried　to　escape　to　the　porch；　and　again　he　was　met　by　Easter's　father；　who　this　time　was　accompanied　by　Raines。

　The　young　circuit…rider　was　smoothly　shaven；　and　dressed　in　dark　clothes；　and　his　calm　face　and　simple　but　impressive　manner　seemed　at　once　to　alter　the　atmosphere　of　the　room。　He　grasped　Clayton's　hand　warmly；　and　without　a　trace　of　self…consciousness。　　The　room　had　grown　instantly　quiet；　and　Raines　began　to　share　the　curious　interest　that　Clayton　had　caused；　for　the　young　mountaineer's　sermon　had　provoked　discussion　far　and　wide；　and；　moreover；　the　peculiar　relations　of　the　two　toward　Easter　were　known　and　rudely　appreciated。　Hicks　was　subdued　into　quiet　respect；　and　tried　to　conceal　his　incipient　intoxication。　　The　effort　did　not　last　long。　When　the　two　fiddlers　came；　he　led　them　in　with　a　defiant　air；　and　placed　them　in　the　corner；　bustling　about　officiously　but　without　looking　at　Raines；　whose　face　began　to　cloud。

Well；　we're　all　hyar；　I　reckon！　〃　he　exclaimed；　in　his　terrible　voice。　　〃Is　Easter　ready？　〃　he　shouted　up　the　steps。

A　confused　chorus　answered　him　affirmatively；　and　he　immediately　arranged　Clayton　in　one　corner　of　the　room　with　his　serious　attendants　on　one　side；　and　Raines；　grave　to　solemnity；　on　the　other。　　Easter's　mother　and　her　assistants　came　in　from　the　kitchen；　and　the　doors　were　filled　with　faces。　　Above；　the　tramping　of　feet　became　more　hurried；　below；　all　stood　with　expectant　faces　turned　to　the　rude　staircase。　　Clayton's　heart　began　to　throb；　and　a　strange　light　brightened　under　Raines's　heavy　brows。

〃Hurry　up；　thar！〃　shouted　Hicks；　impatiently。

A　moment　later　two　pairs　of　rough　shoes　came　down　the　steps；　and　after　them　two　slippered　feet　that　fixed　every　eye　in　the　room；　until　the　figure　and　face　above　them　slowly　descended　into　the　light。　Midway　the　girl　paused　with　a　timid