eben holden-第26章

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'And　when　he　says：　〃will　you　wait　for　me　and　keep　me　always　in　your　heart？〃　what　should　be　her　answer；'　I　continued。

'Always！'　she　said。

'Hope；　this　is　our　own　story；'　I　whispered。　'Does　it　need　any　further　correction？'

'It's　too　short　…　that's　all；'　she　answered；　as　our　lips　met　again。

Just　then　Uncle　Eb　opened　the　door；　suddenly。

'Tut　tut！'　he　said　tuning　quickly　about

'Come　in；　Uncle　Eb；'　said　Hope；　'come　right　in；　we　want　to　see　you。

In　a　moment　she　had　caught　him　by　the　arm。

'Don'　want　'o　break　up　the　meetin'；'　said　he　laughing。

'We　don't　care　if　you　do　know；'　said　Hope；　'we're　not　ashamed　of　it。'

'Hain't　got　no　cause　t'　be；'　he　said。　'Go　it　while　ye're　young　'n　full　'o　vinegar！　That's　what　I　say　every　time。　It's　the　best　fun　there　is。　I　thought　I'd　like　t'　hev　ye　both　come　up　t'　my　room；　fer　a　minute；　'fore　yer　mother　'n　father　come　back；'　he　said　in　a　low　tone　that　was　almost　a　whisper。

Then　he　shut　one　eye；　suggestively；　and　beckoned　with　his　head；　as　we　followed　him　up　the　stairway　to　the　little　room　in　which　he　slept。　He　knelt　by　the　bed　and　pulled　out　the　old　skin…covered　trunk　that　David　Brower　had　given　him　soon　after　we　came。　He　felt　a　moment　for　the　keyhole；　his　hand　trembling；　and　then　I　helped　him　open　the　trunk。　From　under　that　sacred　suit　of　broadcloth；　worn　only　on　the　grandest　occasions；　he　fetched　a　bundle　about　the　size　of　a　man's　head。　It　was　tied　in　a　big　red　handkerchief。　We　were　both　sitting　on　the　floor　beside　him。

'Heft　it；'　he　whispered。

I　did　so　and　found　it　heavier　than　I　expected。

'What　is　it？'　I　asked。

'Spondoolix；'　he　whispered。

Then　he　untied　the　bundle　…　a　close　packed　hoard　of　bankbills　with　some　pieces　of　gold　and　silver　at　the　bottom。

'Hain't　never　hed　no　use　fer　it；'　he　said　as　he　drew　out　a　layer　of　greenbacks　and　spread　them　with　trembling　fingers。　Then　he　began　counting　them　slowly　and　carefully。

'There！'　he　whispered；　when　at　length　he　had　counted　a　hundred　dollars。　'There　Hope！　take　thet　an'　put　it　away　in　yer　wallet。　Might　come　handy　when　ye're　'way　fr'm　hum。'

She　kissed　him　tenderly。

'Put　it　'n　yer　wallet　an'　say　nothin'　…　not　a　word　t'　nobody；'　he　said。

Then　he　counted　over　a　like　amount　for　me。

'Say　nothin'；'　he　said；　looking　up　at　me　over　his　spectacles。　'Ye'll　hev　t'　spile　a　suit　o'　clothes　purty　often　if　them　fellers　keep　a　fightin'　uv　ye　all　the　time。'

Father　and　mother　were　coming　in　below　stairs　and；　hearing　them；　we　helped　Uncle　Eb　tie　up　his　bundle　and　stow　it　away。　Then　we　went　down　to　meet　them。

Next　morning　we　bade　Hope　goodbye　at　the　cars　and　returned　to　our　home　with　a　sense　of　loss　that；　for　long；　lay　heavy　upon　us　all。

Chapter　27

Uncle　Eb　and　David　were　away　buying　cattle；　half　the　week；　but　Elizabeth　Brower　was　always　at　home　to　look　after　my　comfort。　She　was　up　betimes　in　the　morning　and　singing　at　her　work　long　before　I　was　out　of　bed。　when　the　breakfast　was　near　ready　she　came　to　my　door　with　a　call　so　fall　of　cheerfulness　and　good…nature　it　was　the　best　thing　in　the　day。　And　often；　at　night；　I　have　known　her　to　come　into　my　room　when　I　was　lying　awake　with　some　hard　problem；　to　see　that　I　was　properly　covered　or　that　my　window　was　not　open　too　far。　As　we　sat　alone　together；　of　an　evening；　I　have　seen　her　listen　for　hours　while　I　was　committing　the　Odes　of　Horace　with　a　curiosity　that　finally　gave　way　to　resignation。　Sometimes　she　would　look　over　my　shoulder　at　the　printed　page　and　try　to　discern　some　meaning　in　it　when　Uncle　Eb　was　with　us　he　would　often　sit　a　long　time　his　head　turned　attentively　as　the　lines　came　rattling　off　my　tongue。

'Cur'us　talk！'　he　said；　one　evening；　as　I　paused　a　moment；　while　he　crossed　the　room　for　a　drink　of　water。　'Don'　seem　t'　make　no　kind　O'　sense。　I　can　make　out　a　word　here　'n　there　but　fer　good；　sound；　common　sense　I　call　it　a　purtythin　crop。'

Hope　wrote　me　every　week　for　a　time。　A　church　choir　had　offered　her　a　place　soon　after　she　went　to　the　big　city。　She　came　home　intending　to　surprise　us　all；　the　first　summer　but　unfortunately；　I　had　gone　away　in　the　woods　with　a　party　of　surveyors　and　missed　her。　We　were　a　month　in　the　wilderness　and　came　out　a　little　west　of　Albany　where　I　took　a　boat　for　New　York　to　see　Hope。　I　came　down　the　North　River　between　the　great　smoky　cities；　on　either　side　of　it；　one　damp　and　chilly　morning。　The　noise；　the　crowds；　the　immensity　of　the　town　appalled　me。　At　John　Fuller's　I　found　that　Hope　had　gone　home　and　while　they　tried　to　detain　me　longer　I　came　back　on　the　night　boat　of　the　same　day。　Hope　and　I　passed　each　other　in　that　journey　and　I　did　not　see　her　until　the　summer　preceding　my　third　and　last　year　in　college　…　the　faculty　having　allowed　me　to　take　two　years　in　one。　Her　letters　had　come　less　frequently　and　when　she　came　I　saw　a　grand　young　lady　of　fine　manners；　her　beauty　shaping　to　an　ampler　mould；　her　form　straightening　to　the　dignity　of　womanhood。

At　the　depot　our　hands　were　cold　and　trembling　with　excitement　…　neither　of　us；　I　fancy；　knowing　quite　how　far　to　go　in　our　greeting。　Our　correspondence　had　been　true　to　the　promise　made　her　mother　…　there　had　not　been　a　word　of　love　in　it　…　only　now　and　then　a　suggestion　of　our　tender　feeling。　We　hesitated　only　for　the　briefest　moment。　Then　I　put　my　arm　about　her　neck　and　kissed　her。

'I　am　so　glad　to　see　you；'　she　said。

Well；　she　was　charming　and　beautiful；　but　different；　and　probably　not　more　different　than　was　I。　She　was　no　longer　the　laughing；　simple…mannered　child　of　Faraway；　whose　heart　was　as　one's　hand　before　him　in　the　daylight。　She　had　now　a　bit　of　the　woman's　reserve　…　her　prudence；　her　skill　in　hiding　the　things　of　the　heart。　I　loved　her　more　than　ever；　but　somehow　I　felt　it　hopeless　…　that　she　had　grown　out　of　my　life。　She　was　much　in　request　among　the　people　of　Hillsborough；　and　we　went　about　a　good　deal　and　had　many　callers。　But　we　had　little　time　to　ourselves。　She　seemed　to　avoid　that；　and　had　much　to　say　of　the　grand　young　men　who　came　to　call　on　her　in　the　great　city。　Anyhow　it　all　hurt　me　to　the　soul　and　even　robbed　me　of　my　sleep。　A　better　lover　than　I　would　have　made　an　end　of　dallying　and　got　at　the　truth；　come　what　might。　But　I　was　of　the　Puritans；　and　not　of　the　Cavaliers；　and　my　way　was　that　which　God　had　marked　for　me；　albeit　I　must　own　no　man　had　ever　a　keener　eye　for　a　lovely　woman　or　more　heart　to　please　her。　A　mighty　pride　had　come　to　me　and　I　had　rather　have　thrown　my　heart　to　vultures　than　see　it　an　unwelcome　offering。　And　I　was　quite　out　of　courage　with　Hope；　she；　I　dare　say；　was　as　much　out　of　patience　with　me。

She　returned　in　the　late　summer　and　I　went　back　to　my　work　at　college　in　a　hopeless　fashion　that　gave　way　under　the　whip　of　a　strong　will。

I　made　myself　as　contented　as　possible。　I　knew　all　the　pretty　girls　and　went　about　with　some　of　them　to　the　entertainments　of　the　college　season。　At　last　came　the　long　looked　for　day　of　my　graduation　…　the　end　of　my　student　life。

The　streets　of　the　town　were　thronged；　every　student　having　the　college　colours　in　his　coat　lapel。　The　little　company　of　graduates　trembled　with　fright　as　the　people　crowded　in　to　the　church；　whispering　and　faring　themselves；　in　eager　anticipation。　As　the　former　looked　from　the　two　side　pews　where　they　sat；　many　familiar　faces　greeted　them　…　the　faces　of　fathers　and　mothers　aglow　with　the　inner　light　of　pride　and　pleasure；　the　faces　of　many　they　loved　come　to　claim　a　share　in　the　glory　of　that　day。　I　found　my　own；　I　remember；　but　none　of　them　gave　me　such　help　as　that　of　Uncle　Eb。　However　I　might　fare；　none　would　feel　the　pride　or　disgrace　of　it　more　keenly　than　he。　I　shall　never　forget　how　he　turned　his　head　to　catch　every　word　when　I　ascended　the　platform。　As　I　warmed　to　my　argument　I　could　see　him　nudging　the　arm　of　David；　who　sat　beside　him；　as　if　to　say；　'There's　the　boy　that　came　over　the　hills　with　me　in　a　pack　basket。'　when　I　stopped　a　moment；　groping　for　the　next　word；　he　leaned　forward；　embracing　his　knee；　firmly；　as　if　intending　to　draw　off　a　boot。　It　was　all　the　assistance　he　could　give　me。　when　the　exercises　were　over　I　found　Uncle　Eb　by　the　front　door　of　the　church；　waiting　for　me。

'Willie；　ye　done　noble！'　said　he。

'Did　my　very　best；　Uncle　Eb；'　I　replied。

'Liked　it　grand　…　I　did；　sartin。'　'Glad　you　liked　it；　Uncle　Eb。'

'Showed　great　larnin'。　who　was　the　man　'at　give　out　the　pictur's？'

He　meant　the　president　who　had　conferred　the　degrees。　I　spoke　the　name。

'Deceivin'　lookin'　man；　ain't　he？　Seen　him　often；　but　never　took　no　pertick'lar　notice　of　him　before。'

'How　deceiving？'　I　enquired。

'Talked　so　kind　of　plain；'　he　replied。　'I　could　understan'　him　as　easy　as　though　he'd　been　swappin'　hosses。　But　when　you　got　up；　Bill'。　why；　you　jes'　riz　right　up　in　the　air　an；　there　couldn't　no　dum　fool　tell　what　you　was　talkin'　'bout。'

Whereat　I　concluded　that　Uncle　Eb's　humour　was　as　deep　as　it　was　kindly；　but　I　have　never　been　quite　sure　whether　the　remark　was　a　compliment　or　a　bit　of　satire。

Chapter　28

The　folks　of　Faraway　have　been　carefully　if　rudely　pictured；　but　the　look　of　my　own　person；　since　I　grew　to　the　stature　of　manhood；　I　have　left　wholly　to　the　imagination　of　the　reader。　I　will　wager　he　knew　long　since　what　manner　of　man　I　was　and　has　measured　me　to　the　fraction　of　an　inch；　and　knows　even　the　colour　of　my　hair　and　eyes　from　having　been　so　long　in　my　company。　If　not　…　well；　I　shall　have　to　write　him　a　letter。

when　Uncle　Eb　and　I　took　the　train　for　New　York　that　summer　day　in　1860；　some　fifteen　years　after　we　came　down　Paradise　Road　with　the　dog　and　wagon　and　pack　basket；　my　head；　which；　in　that　far　day；　came　only　to　the　latitude　of　his　trouser　pocket；　had　now　mounted　six　inches　above　his　own。　That　is　all　I　can　say　here　on　that　branch　of　my　subject。　I　was　leaving　to　seek　my　fortune　in　the　big　city；　Uncle　Eb　was　off　for　a　holiday　and　to　see　Hope　and　bring　her　home　for　a　short　visit。　I　remember　with　what　sadness　I　looked　back　that　morning　at　mother　and　father　as　they　stood　by　the　gate　slowly　waving　their　handkerchiefs。　Our　home　at　last　was　emptied　of　its　young；　and　even　as　they　looked　the　shadow　of　old　age　must　have　fallen　suddenly　before　them。　I　knew　how　they　would　go　back　into　that　lonely　room　and　how；　while　the　clock　went　on　with　its　ticking；　Elizabeth　would　sit　down　and　cover　her　face　a　moment；　while　David　would　make　haste　to　take　up　his　chores。

We　sat　in　silence　a　long　time　after　the　train　was　off；　a　mighty　sadness　holding　our　tongues。　Uncle　Eb；　who　had　never　ridden　a　long　journey　on　the　cars　before；　had　put　on　his　grand　suit　of　broadcloth。　The　day　was　hot　and　dusty；　and　before　we　had　gone　far　he　was　sadiy　soiled。　But　a　suit　never　gave　him　any　worry；　once　it　was　on。　He　sat　calmly；　holding　his　knee　in　his　hands　and　looking　out　of　the　open　window；　a　squint　in　his　eyes　that　stood　for　some　high　degree　of　interest　in　the　scenery。

'What　do　you　think　of　this　country？'　I　enquired。

'Looks　purty　fair；'　said　he；　as　he　brushed　his　face　with　his　handkerchief　and　coughed　to　clear　his　throat　of　the　dust；　'but　'tain't　quite　so　pleasant　to　the　taste　as　some　other　parts　o'　the　country。　I　ruther　liked　the　flavour　of　Saint　Lawrence　all　through；　but　Jefferson　is　a　leetle　gritty。'

He　put　down　the　window　as　he　spoke。