a charmed life-第1章

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！




A　Charmed　Life

by　Richard　Harding　Davis




She　loved　him　so；　that　when　he　went　away　to　a　little　war　in　which
his　country　was　interested　she　could　not　understand；　nor　quite
forgive。

As　the　correspondent　of　a　newspaper；　Chesterton　had　looked　on　at
other　wars；　when　the　yellow　races　met；　when　the　infidel　Turk
spanked　the　Christian　Greek；　and　one　he　had　watched　from　inside　a
British　square；　where　he　was　greatly　alarmed　lest　he　should　be
trampled　upon　by　terrified　camels。　　This　had　happened　before　he　and
she　had　met。　　After　they　met；　she　told　him　that　what　chances　he　had
chosen　to　take　before　he　came　into　her　life　fell　outside　of　her
jurisdiction。　　But　now　that　his　life　belonged　to　her；　this　talk　of
his　standing　up　to　be　shot　at　was　wicked。　　It　was　worse　than
wicked；　it　was　absurd。

When　the　Maine　sank　in　Havana　harbor　and　the　word　〃war〃　was
appearing　hourly　in　hysterical　extras；　Miss　Armitage　explained　her
position。

〃You　mustn't　think；〃　she　said；　〃that　I　am　one　of　those　silly　girls
who　would　beg　you　not　to　go　to　war。〃

At　the　moment　of　speaking　her　cheek　happened　to　be　resting　against
his；　and　his　arm　was　about　her；　so　he　humbly　bent　his　head　and
kissed　her；　and　whispered　very　proudly　and　softly；　〃No；　dearest。〃

At　which　she　withdrew　from　him　frowning。

〃No！　　I'm　not　a　bit　like　those　girls；〃　she　proclaimed。　　〃I　merely
tell　you　YOU　CAN'T　GO！　　My　gracious！〃　she　cried；　helplessly。　　She
knew　the　words　fell　short　of　expressing　her　distress；　but　her
education　had　not　supplied　her　with　exclamations　of　greater
violence。

〃My　goodness！〃　she　cried。　　〃How　can　you　frighten　me　so？　　It's　not
like　you；〃　she　reproached　him。　　〃You　are　so　unselfish；　so　noble。
You　are　always　thinking　of　other　people。　　How　can　you　talk　of　going
to　warto　be　killedto　me？　　And　now；　now　that　you　have　made　me
love　you　so？〃

The　hands；　that　when　she　talked　seemed　to　him　like　swallows　darting
and　flashing　in　the　sunlight；　clutched　his　sleeve。　　The　fingers；
that　he　would　rather　kiss　than　the　lips　of　any　other　woman　that
ever　lived；　clung　to　his　arm。　　Their　clasp　reminded　him　of　that　of
a　drowning　child　he　had　once　lifted　from　the　surf。

〃If　you　should　die；〃　whispered　Miss　Armitage。　　〃What　would　I　do。
What　would　I　do！〃

〃But　my　dearest；〃　cried　the　young　man。　　〃My　dearest　ONE！　　I've　GOT
to　go。　　It's　our　own　war。　　Everybody　else　will　go；〃　he　pleaded。
〃Every　man　you　know；　and　they're　going　to　fight；　too。　　I'm　going
only　to　look　on。　　That's　bad　enough；　isn't　it；　without　sitting　at
home？　　You　should　be　sorry　I'm　not　going　to　fight。〃

〃Sorry！〃　exclaimed　the　girl。　　〃If　you　love　me〃

〃If　I　love　you；〃　shouted　the　young　man。　　His　voice　suggested　that
he　was　about　to　shake　her。　　〃How　dare　you？〃

She　abandoned　that　position　and　attacked　from　one　more　logical。

〃But　why　punish　me？〃　she　protested。　　〃Do　I　want　the　war？　　Do　I　want
to　free　Cuba？　　No！　　I　want　YOU；　and　if　you　go；　you　are　the　one　who
is　sure　to　be　killed。　　You　are　so　bigand　so　brave；　and　you　will
be　rushing　in　wherever　the　fighting　is；　and　thenthen　you　will
die。〃　　She　raised　her　eyes　and　looked　at　him　as　though　seeing　him
from　a　great　distance。　　〃And；〃　she　added　fatefully；　〃I　will　die；
too；　or　maybe　I　will　have　to　live；　to　live　without　you　for　years；
for　many　miserable　years。〃

Fearfully；　with　great　caution；　as　though　in　his　joy　in　her　he　might
crush　her　in　his　hands；　the　young　man　drew　her　to　him　and　held　her
close。　　After　a　silence　he　whispered。　　〃But；　you　know　that　nothing
can　happen　to　me。　　Not　now；　that　God　has　let　me　love　you。　　He　could
not　be　so　cruel。　　He　would　not　have　given　me　such　happiness　to　take
it　from　me。　　A　man　who　loves　you；　as　I　love　you；　cannot　come　to　any
harm。　　And　the　man　YOU　love　is　immortal；　immune。　　He　holds　a
charmed　life。　　So　long　as　you　love　him；　he　must　live。〃

The　eyes　of　the　girl　smiled　up　at　him　through　her　tears。　　She
lifted　her　lips　to　his。　　〃Then　you　will　never　die！〃　she　said。

She　held　him　away　from　her。　　〃Listen！〃　she　whispered。　　〃What　you
say　is　true。　　It　must　be　true；　because　you　are　always　right。　　I
love　you　so　that　nothing　can　harm　you。　　My　love　will　be　a　charm。
It　will　hang　around　your　neck　and　protect　you；　and　keep　you；　and
bring　you　back　to　me。　　When　you　are　in　danger　my　love　will　save
you。　　For；　while　it　lives；　I　live。　　When　it　dies〃

Chesterton　kissed　her　quickly。

〃What　happens　then；〃　he　said；　〃doesn't　matter。〃

The　war　game　had　run　its　happy…go…lucky　course　briefly　and
brilliantly；　with　〃glory　enough　for　all；〃　even　for　Chesterton。
For；　in　no　previous　campaign　had　good　fortune　so　persistently　stood
smiling　at　his　elbow。　　At　each　moment　of　the　war　that　was　critical；
picturesque；　dramatic；　by　some　lucky　accident　he　found　himself
among　those　present。　　He　could　not　lose。　　Even　when　his　press　boat
broke　down　at　Cardenas；　a　Yankee　cruiser　and　two　Spanish　gun…boats；
apparently　for　his　sole　benefit；　engaged　in　an　impromptu　duel
within　range　of　his　megaphone。　　When　his　horse　went　lame；　the
column　with　which　he　had　wished　to　advance；　passed　forward　to　the
front　unmolested；　while　the　rear　guard；　to　which　he　had　been　forced
to　join　his　fortune；　fought　its　way　through　the　stifling
underbrush。

Between　his　news　despatches；　when　he　was　not　singing　the　praises　of
his　fellow…countrymen；　or　copying　lists　of　their　killed　and
wounded；　he　wrote　to　Miss　Armitage。　　His　letters　were　scrawled　on
yellow　copy　paper　and　consisted　of　repetitions　of　the　three　words；
〃I　love　you；〃　rearranged；　illuminated；　and　intensified。

Each　letter　began　much　in　the　same　way。　　〃The　war　is　still　going
on。　　You　can　read　about　it　in　the　papers。　　What　I　want　you　to　know
is　that　I　love　you　as　no　man　ever〃　　And　so　on　for　many　pages。

From　her　only　one　of　the　letters　she　wrote　reached　him。　　It　was
picked　up　in　the　sand　at　Siboney　after　the　medical　corps；　in　an
effort　to　wipe　out　the　yellow…fever；　had　set　fire　to　the　post…
office　tent。

She　had　written　it　some　weeks　before　from　her　summer　home　at
Newport；　and　in　it　she　said：　〃When　you　went　to　the　front；　I　thought
no　woman　could　love　more　than　I　did　then。　　But；　now　I　know。　　At
least　I　know　one　girl　who　can。　　She　cannot　write　it。　　She　can　never
tell　you。　　You　must　just　believe。

〃Each　day　I　hear　from　you；　for　as　soon　as　the　paper　comes；　I　take
it　down　to　the　rocks　and　read　your　cables；　and　I　look　south　across
the　ocean　to　Cuba；　and　try　to　see　you　in　all　that　fighting　and　heat
and　fever。　　But　I　am　not　afraid。　　For　each　morning　I　wake　to　find　I
love　you　more；　that　it　has　grown　stronger；　more　wonderful；　more
hard　to　bear。　　And　I　know　the　charm　I　gave　you　grows　with　it；　and
is　more　powerful；　and　that　it　will　bring　you　back　to　me　wearing　new
honors；　'bearing　your　sheaves　with　you。'

〃As　though　I　cared　for　your　new　honors。　　I　want　YOU；　YOU；　YOUonly
YOU。〃

When　Santiago　surrendered　and　the　invading　army　settled　down　to
arrange　terms　of　peace；　and　imbibe　fever；　and　General　Miles　moved
to　Porto　Rico；　Chesterton　moved　with　him。

In　that　pretty　little　island　a　command　of　regulars　under　a　general
of　the　regular　army　had；　in　a　night　attack；　driven　back　the
Spaniards　from　Adhuntas。　　The　next　afternoon　as　the　column　was　in
line　of　march；　and　the　men　were　shaking　themselves　into　their
accoutrements；　a　dusty；　sweating　volunteer　staff　officer　rode　down
the　main　street　of　Adhuntas；　and　with　the　authority　of　a　field
marshal；　held　up　his　hand。

〃General　Miles's　compliments；　sir；〃　he　panted；　〃and　peace　is
declared！〃

Different　men　received　the　news　each　in　a　different　fashion。　　Some
whirled　their　hats　in　the　air　and　cheered。　　Those　who　saw　promotion
and　the　new　insignia　on　their　straps　vanish；　swore　deeply。
Chesterton　fell　upon　his　saddle…bags　and　began　to　distribute　his
possessions　among　the　enlisted　men。　　After　he　had　remobilized；　his
effects　consisted　of　a　change　of　clothes；　his　camera；　water…bottle；
and　his　medicine　case。　　In　his　present　state　of　health　and　spirits
he　could　not　believe　he　stood　in　need　of　the　medicine　case；　but　it
was　a　gift　from　Miss　Armitage；　and　carried　with　it　a　promise　from
him　that　he　always　would　carry　it。　　He　had　〃packed〃　it　throughout
the　campaign；　and　for　others　it　had　proved　of　value。

〃I　take　it　you　are　leaving　us；〃　said　an　officer　enviously。

〃I　am　leaving　you　so　quick；〃　cried　Chesterton　laughing；　〃that　you
won't　even　see　the　dust。　　There's　a　transport　starts　from　Mayaguez
at　six　to…morrow　morning；　and；　if　I　don't　catch　it；　this　pony　will
die　on　the　wharf。〃

〃The　road　to　Mayaguez　is　not　healthy　for　Americans；〃　said　the
general　in　command。　　〃I　don't　think　I　ought　to　let　you　go。　　The
enemy　does　not　know　peace　is　on　yet；　and　there　are　a　lot　of
guerillas〃

Chesterton　shook　his　head　in　pitying　wonder。

〃Not　let　me　go！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃Why；　General；　you　haven't　enough
men　in　your　command　to　stop　me；　and　as　for　the　Spaniards　and
guerillas！　　I'm　homesick；〃　cried　the　young　man。　　〃I'm　so　damned
homesick　that　I　am　liable　to　die　of　it　before　the　transport　gets　me
to　Sandy　Hook。〃

〃If　you　are　shot　up　by　an　outpost；〃　growled　the　general；　〃you　will
be　worse　off　than　homesick。　　It's　forty　miles　to　Mayaguez。　　Better
wait　till　daylight。　　Where's　the　sense　of　dying；　after　the
fighting's　over？〃

〃If　I　don't　catch　that　transport　I　sure　WILL　die；〃　laughed
Chesterton。　　His　head　was　bent　and　he　was　tugging　at　his　saddle
girths。　　Apparently　the　effort　brought　a　deeper　shadow　to　his　tan；
〃but　nothing　else　can　kill　me！　　I　have　a　charm；　General；〃　he
exclaimed。

〃We　hadn't　noticed　it；〃　said　the　general。

The　staff　officers；　according　to　regulations；　laughed。

〃It's　not　that　kind　of　a　charm；〃　said　Chesterton。　　〃Good…by；
General。〃

The　road　was　hardly　more　than　a　trail；　but　the　moon　made　it　as
light　as　day；　and　cast　across　it　black　tracings　of　the　swinging
vines　and　creepers；　while　high　in　the　air　it　turned　the　polished
surface　of　the　palms　into　glittering　silver。　　As　he　plunged　into
the　cool　depths　of　the　forest　Chesterton　threw　up　his　arms　and
thanked　God　that　he　was　moving　toward　her。　　The　luck　that　had
accompanied　him　throughout　the　campaign　had　held　until　the　end。
Had　he　been　forced　to　wait　for　a　transport；　each　hour　would　have
meant　a　month　of　torment；　an　arid；　wasted　place　in　his　life。　　As　it
was；　with　each　eager　stride　of　El　Capitan；　his　little　Porto　Rican
pony；　he　was　brought　closer　to　her。　　He　was　so　happy　that　as　he
galloped　through　the　dark　shadows　of　the　jungle　or　out　into　the
brilliant　moonlight　he　shouted　aloud　and　sang；　and　again　as　he
urged　El　Capitan　to　greater　bursts　of　speed；　he　explained　in
joyous；　breathless　phrases　why　it　was　that　he　urged　him　on。

〃For　she　is　wonderful　and　most　beautiful；〃　he　cried；　〃the　most
glorious　girl　in　all　the　world！　　And；　if　I　kept　her　waiting；　even
for　a　moment；　El　Capitan；　I　would　be　unworthyand　I　might　lose
her！　　So　you　see　we　ride　for　a　great　prize！〃

The　Spanish　column　that；　the　night　before；　had　been　driven　from
Adhuntas；　now　in　ignorance　of　peace；　occupied　both　sides　of　the
valley　through　which　ran　the　road　to　Mayaguez；　and　in　ambush　by　the
road　itself　had　placed　an　outpost　of　two　men。　　One　was　a　sharp…
shooter　of　the　picked　corps　of　the　Guardia　Civile；　and　one　a
sergeant　of　the　regiment　that　lay　hidden　in　the　heights。　　If　the