eben holden-第41章

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'Never　see　the　beat　o'that　man！'was　the　remark　of　Elizabeth；　as　she　poured　the　tea。　'Jes'like　a　boy　ev　ry　Crissmus　time。　Been　so　excited　fer　a　week　couldn't　hardly　contain　himself。　

'Ketched　him　out　'n　the　barn　if　other　day　laffin'like　a　fool；'said　David。　'Thought　he　was　crazy。　

We　sat　by　the　fire　after　the　supper　dishes　were　put　away；　talking　of　all　the　Christmas　Days　we　could　remember。　Hope　and　I　thought　our　last　in　Faraway　best　of　all　and　no　wonder；　for　we　had　got　then　the　first　promise　of　the　great　gift　that　now　made　us　happy。　Elizabeth；　sitting　in　her　easy…chair；　told　of　Christmas　in　the　olden　time　when　her　father　had　gone　to　the　war　with　the　British。

David　sat　near　me；　his　face　in　the　firelight　…　the　broad　brow　wrinkled　into　furrows　and　framed　in　locks　of　iron…grey。　He　was　looking　thoughtfully　at　the　fire。　Uncle　Eb　came　soon；　stamping　and　shaking　the　snow　out　of　his　great　fur　coat。

'Col'night；'he　said；　warming　his　hands。

Then　he　carried　his　coat　and　cap　away；　returning　shortly；　with　a　little　box　in　his　hand。

'Jes'thought　I　d　buy　this　fer　fun；'said　he；　holding　it　down　to　the　firelight。　'Dummed　if　I　ever　see　the　like　uv　it。　Whoa！'he　shouted；　as　the　cover　flew　open；　releasing　a　jumping…jack。　'Quicker　n　a　grasshopper！　D　ye　ever　see　sech　a　sassy　little　critter？　

Then　he　handed　it　to　Elizabeth。

'Wish　ye　Merry　Christmas；　Dave　Brower！'said　he。

'Ain't　as　merry　as　I　might　be；'said　David。

'Know　what's　the　matter　with　ye；'said　Unde　Eb。　'Searchin'after　trouble　…　thet's　what　ye　re　doin　。　Findin'lots　uv　it　right　there　'n　the　fire。　Trouble　's　goiti't'git　mighty　scurce　'round　here　this　very　selfsame　night。　Ain't　goin't'be　nobody　lookin'fer　it　…　thet's　why。　Fer　years　ye　ve　been　takin'care　o'somebody　et　'II　take　care　'o　you；　long's　ye　live　…　sartin　sure。　Folks　they　said　ye　was　fools　when　ye　took　'em　in。　Man　said　I　was　a　fool　once。　Aiwuss　hed　a　purty　fair　idee　o'myself　sence　then。　When　some　folks　call　ye　a　fool　's　a　ruther　good　sign　ye　ain't　Ye　ve　waited　a　long　time　fer　yer　pay　…　ain　t　much　longer　if　wait　now。　

There　was　a　little　quaver　in　his　voice；　We　all　looked　at　him　in　silence。　Uncle　Eb　drew　out　his　wallet　with　trembling　hands；　his　fine　old　face　lit　with　a　deep　emotion。　David　looked　up　at　him　as　iihe　wondered　what　joke　was　coming；　until　he　saw　his　excitement。

'Here's　twenty　thousan'dollars；'said　Unde　Eb；　'a　reel；　genuwine　bank　check！'jist　as　good　as　gold。　Here　'tis！　A　Crissmus　present　fer　you　'n　Elizabeth。　An'may　God　bless　ye　both！　

David　looked　up　incredulously。　Then　he　took　the　bit　of　paper。　A　big　tear　rolled　down　his　cheek。

'Why；　Holden！　Whatdoes　this　mean？'he　asked。

''At　the　Lord　pays　Flis　debts；'said　Uncle　Eb。　'Read　it。　

Hope　had　lighted　the　lamp。

David　rose　and　put　on　his　spectacles。　One　eyebrow　had　lifted　above　the　level　of　the　other。　He　held　the　check　to　the　lamplight。　Elizabeth　stood　at　his　elbow。

'Why；　mother！'said　he。　'Is　this　from　our　boy？　From　Nehemiah？　Why；　Nehemiah　is　dead！'he　added；　looking　over　his　spectacles　at　Uncle　Eb。

'Nehemiah　is　not　dead；'said　the　latter。

'Nehemiah　not　dead！'he　repeated；　looking　down　at　the　draft。　They　turned　it　in　the　light；　reading　over　and　over　again　the　happy　tidings　pinned　to　one　corner　of　it。　Then　they　looked　into　each　other's　eyes。

Elizabeth　put　her　arms　about　David's　neck　and　laid　her　head　upon　his　shoulder　and　not　one　of　us　dare　trust　himself　to　speak　for　a　little。　Uncle　Eb　broke　the　silence。

'Got　another　present；'he　said。　'S　a　good　deal　better　'n　gold　er　silver　　tall；　bearded　man　came　in。

'Mr　Trumbull！'Hope　exclaimed；　rising。

'David　an'　Elizabeth　Brower；'said　Uncle　Eb；　'the　dead　hes　come　if　life。　I　give　ye　back　yer　son　…　Nehemiah。　

Then　he　swung　his　cap　high　above　his　head；　shouting　in　a　loud　voice：

'Merry　Crissmus！　Merry　Crissmus！　

The　scene　that　followed　I　shall　not　try　to　picture。　It　was　so　full　of　happiness　that　every　day　of　our　lives　since　then　has　been　blessed　with　it　and　with　a　peace　that　has　lightened　every　sorrow；　of　it；　I　can'truly　say　that　it　passeth　all　understanding。

'Look　here；　folks！'said　Uncle　Eb；　after　awhile；　as　he　got　his　flute；　'my　feelin's　hey　been　teched　hard。　If　I　don't　hey　some　jollification　　I'll　bust。　Bill　Brower；　limber　up　yer　leather　a　leetle　bit。　

Chapter　44

Nehemiah；　whom　I　had　known　as　John　Trumbull；　sat　a　long　time　between　his　father　and　mother；　holding　a　hand　of　each；　and　talking　in　a　low　tone；　while　Hope　and　I　were　in　the　kitchen　with　Uncle　Eb。　Now　that　father　and　son　were　side　by　side　we　saw　how　like　they　were　and　wondered　we　bad　never　guessed　the　truth。

'Do　you　remember？'said　Nehemiah；　when　we　returned。　'Do　you　remember　when　you　were　a　little　boy；　coming　one　night　to　the　old　log　house　on　Bowman's　Hill　with　Uncle　Eb？　

'I　remember　it　very　well；'I　answered。

'That　was　the　first　time　I　ever　saw　you；'he　said。

'Why'you　are　not　the　night　man？'

'I　was　the　night　man；'he　answered。

I　stared　at　him　with　something　of　the　old；　familiar　thrill　that　had　always　come　at　the　mention　of　him　years　agone。

'He's　grown　a　leetle　since　then；'said　Uncle　Eb。

'I　thought　so　the　night　I　carried　him　off　the　field　at　Bull　Run；'said　Nehemiah。

'Was　that　you？'I　asked　eagerly。

'It　was；'he　answered。　'I　came　over　from　Washington　that　afternoon。　Your　colonel　told　me　you　had　been　wounded。　

'Wondered　who　you　were；　but　I　could　not　get　you　to　answer。　I　have　to　thank　you　for　my　life。　

Hope　put　her　arms　about　his　neck　and　kissed　him。

'Tell　us；'said　she；　'how　you　came　to　be　the　night　man。　'

He　folded　his　arms　and　looked　down　and　began　his　story。

'Years　ago　I　had　a　great　misfortune。　I　was　a　mere　boy　at　the　time。　By　accident　I　killed　another　boy　in　play。　It　was　an　old　gun　we　were　playing　with　and　nobody　knew　it　was　loaded。　I　had　often　quarrelled　with　the　other　boy　…　that　is　why　they　thought　I　had　done　it　on　purpose。　There　was　a　dance　that　night。　I　had　got　up　in　the　evening；　crawled　out　of　the　window　and　stolen　away。　We　were　in　Rickard's　stable。　I　remember　how　the　people　ran　out　with　lanterns。　They　would　have　hung　me　…　some　of　them　…　or　given　me　the　blue　beech；　if　a　boy　friend　had　not　hurried　me　away。　It　was　a　terrible　hour。　I　was　stunned；　I　could　say　nothing。　They　drove　me　to　the　'Burg；　the　boy's　father　chasing　us。　I　got　over　into　Canada；　walked　to　Montreal　and　there　went　to　sea。　It　was　foolish；　I　know；　but　I　was　only　a　boy　of　fifteen。　I　took　another　name；　I　began　a　new　life。　Nehemiah　Brower　was　like　one　dead。　In　'Frisco　I　saw　Ben　Gilman。　He　had　been　a　school　mate　in　Faraway。　He　put　his　hand　on　my　shoulder　and　called　me　the　old　name。　It　was　hard　to　deny　it　…　the　hardest　thing　I　ever　did。　I　was　homesick；　I　wanted　to　ask　him　about　my　mother　and　father　and　my　sister；　who　was　a　baby　when　I　left。　I　would　have　given　my　life　to　talk　with　him。　But　I　shook　my　head。

'〃No；〃　I　said；　〃my　name　is　not　Brower。　You　are　mistaken。〃

'Then　I　walked　away　and　Nemy　Brower　stayed　in　his　grave。

'Well；　two　years　later　we　were　cruising　from　Sidney　to　Van　Dieman's　Land。　One　night　there　came　a　big　storm。　A　shipmate　was　washed　away　in　the　dark。　We　never　saw　him　again。　They　found　a　letter　in　his　box　that　said　his　real　name　was　Nehemiah　Brower；　son　of　David　Brower；　of　Faraway；　NY；　USA。　I　put　it　there；　of　course；　and　the　captain　wrote　a　letter　to　my　father　about　the　death　of　his　son。　My　old　self　was　near　done　for　and　the　man　Trumbull　had　a　new　lease　of　life。　You　see　in　my　madness　I　had　convicted　and　executed　myself。　

He　paused　a　moment。　His　mother　put　her　hand　upon　his　shoulder　with　a　word　of　gentle　sympathy。　Then　he　went　on。

'Well；　six　years　after　I　had　gone　away；　one　evening　in　midsummer；　we　came　into　the　harbour　of　Quebec。　I　had　been　long　in　the　southern　seas。　When　I　went　ashore；　on　a　day's　leave；　and　wandered　off　in　the　fields　and　got　the　smell　of　the　north；　I　went　out　of　my　head　…　went　crazy　for　a　look　at　the　hills　o'Faraway　and　my　own　people。　Nothing　could　stop　me　then。　I　drew　my　pay；　packed　my　things　in　a　bag　and　off　I　went。　Left　the　'Burg　afoot　the　day　after；　got　to　Faraway　in　the　evening。　It　was　beautiful　…　the　scent　o'the　new　hay　that　stood　in　cocks　and　wnrows　on　the　hill　…　the　noise　o'the　crickets　…'the　smell　o'the　grain　…　the　old　house；　just　as　I　　remembered　them；　just　as　I　had　dreamed　of　them　a　thousand　times。　And　…　when　I　went　by　the　gate　Bony　…　my　old　dog　…　came　out　and　barked　at　…　me　and　I　spoke　to　him　and　he　knew　me　and　came　and　licked　my　hands；　　rubbing　upon　my　leg。　I　sat　down　with　him　there　by　the　stone　wall　and　…　the　kiss　of　that　old　dog　…　the　first　token　of　love　I　had　known　for　years'　　called　back　the　dead　and　all　that　had　been　his。　I　put　my　arms　about　his　…　neck　and　was　near　crying　out　with　joy。

'Then　I　stole　up　to　the　house　and　looked　in　at　a　window。　There　sat　father；　at　a　table；　reading　his　paper；　and　a　little　girl　was　on　her　knees　by　mother　saying　her　prayers。　　He　stopped　a　moment；　covering　his　eyes　with　his　handkerchief。　

'That　was　Hope；'I　whispered。

'That　was　Hope；'he　went　on。　'All　the　king's　oxen　could　not　have　dragged　me　out　of　Faraway　then。　Late　at　night　I　went　off　into　the　woods。　The　old　dog　followed　to　stay　with　me　until　he　died。　If　it　had　not　been　for　him　I　should　have　been　hopeless。　I　had　with　me　enough　to　eat　for　a　time。　We　found　a　cave　in　a　big　ledge　over　back　of　Bull　Pond。　Its　mouth　was　covered　with　briars。　It　had　a　big　room　and　a　stream　of　cold　water　trickling　through　a　crevice。　I　made　it　my　home　and　a　fine　place　it　　was　…　cool　in　summer　and　warm　in　winter。　I　caught　a　cub　panther　that　fall　and　a　baby　coon。　They　grew　up　with　me　there　and　were　the　only　friends　I　had　after　Bony；　except　Uncle　Eb。　

　'Uncle　Eb！'I　exclaimed。

　'You　know　how　I　met　him；'he　continued。　'Well；　he　won　my　　confidence。　I　told　him　my　history。　I　came　into　the　clearing　almost　every　　night。　Met　him　often。　He　tried　to　persuade　me　to　come　back　to　my　　people；　but　I　could　not　do　it。　I　was　insane；　I　feared　something　…　I　did　　not　know　what。　Sometimes　I　doubted　even　my　own　identity。　Many　a　　summer　night　I　sat　talking　for　hours；　with　Uncle　Eb；　at　the　foot　of　　Lone　Pine。　O；　he　was　like　a　father　to　me！　God　knows　what　I　should　　have　done　without　him。　Well；　I　stuck　to　my　life；　or　rather　to　my　death；　O　…　there　in　the　woods　…　getting　fish　out　of　the　brooks　and　game　out　of　the　　forest；　and　milk　out　of　the　cows　in　the　pasture。　Sometimes　I　went　　through　the　woods　to　the　store　at　Tifton　for　flour　and　pork。　One　night　　Uncle　Eb　told　me　if　I　would　go　out　among　men　to　try　my　hand　at　some　　sort　of　business　he　would　start　me　with　a　thousand　dollars。　Well；　I　did　…　it。　I　had　also　a　hundred　dollars　of　my　own。　I　came　through　the　woods　　afoot。　Bought　fashionable　clothing　at　Utica；　and　came　to　the　big　city'　　you　know　the　rest。　Among　men　my　fear　has　left　me；　so　I　wonder　at　it。　I　am　a　debtor　to　love　…　the　love　of　Uncle　Eb　and　that　of　a　noble　woman　I　shall　soon　marry。　It　has　made　me　whole　and　brought　me　back　to　my　own　people。　

'And　everybody　knew　he　was　innocent　the　day　after　he　left；'said　David。

'Three　cheers　for　Uncle　Eb！'I　demanded。

And　we　gave　them。

'1　declare！'said　he。　'In　all　my　born　days　never　see　sech　fun。　It's　tree…menjious！　I　tell　ye。　Them　'et　takes　care　uv　others　ll　be　took　care　uv　…　'less　they　do　it　o'purpose。　

And　when　the　rest　of　us　had　gone　to　bed　Uncle　Eb　sat　awhile　by　the　fire　with　David。