tales of trail and town-第24章

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apparently　a　genuine　forest　as　wild　as　one　of　his　own　〃oak

bottoms。〃　　Gnarled　roots　and　twisted　branches　flung　themselves

across　his　path；　his　mustang's　hoofs　sank　in　deep　pits　of　moss　and

last　year's　withered　leaves；　trailing　vines　caught　his　heavy…

stirruped　feet；　or　brushed　his　broad　sombrero；　the　vista　before　him

seemed　only　to　endlessly　repeat　the　same　sylvan　glade；　he　was　in

fancy　once　more　in　the　primeval　Western　forest；　and　encompassed　by

its　vast；　dim　silences。　　He　did　not　know　that　he　had　in　fact　only

penetrated　an　ancient　park　which　in　former　days　resounded　to　the

winding　fanfare　of　the　chase；　and　was　still；　on　stated　occasions；

swept　over　by　accurately　green…coated　Parisians　and　green…plumed

Dianes；　who　had　come　down　by　train！　　To　him　it　meant　only　unfettered

and　unlimited　freedom。



He　rose　in　his　stirrups；　and　sent　a　characteristic　yell　ringing

down　the　dim　aisles　before　him。　　But；　alas！　at　the　same　moment；　his

mustang；　accustomed　to　the　firmer　grip　of　the　prairie；　in　lashing

out；　stepped　upon　a　slimy　root；　and　fell　heavily；　rolling　over　his

clinging　and　still　unlodged　rider。　　For　a　few　moments　both　lay

still。　　Then　Dick　extricated　himself　with　an　oath；　rose　giddily；

dragged　up　his　horse；who；　after　the　fashion　of　his　race；　was

meekly　succumbing　to　his　reclining　position；and　then　became　aware

that　the　unfortunate　beast　was　badly　sprained　in　the　shoulder；　and

temporarily　lame。　　The　sudden　recollection　that　he　was　some　miles

from　the　road；　and　that　the　sun　was　sinking；　concentrated　his

scattered　faculties。　　The　prospect　of　sleeping　out　in　that　summer

woodland　was　nothing　to　the　pioneer…bred　Dick；　he　could　make　his

horse　and　himself　comfortable　anywherebut　he　was　delaying　his

arrival　at　Havre。　　He　must　regain　the　high　road；or　some　wayside

inn。　　He　glanced　around　him；　the　westering　sun　was　a　guide　for　his

general　direction；　the　road　must　follow　it　north　or　south；　he　would

find　a　〃clearing〃　somewhere。　　But　here　Dick　was　mistaken；　there

seemed　no　interruption　of；　no　encroachment　upon　this　sylvan　tract；

as　in　his　western　woods。　　There　was　no　track　or　trail　to　be　found；

he　missed　even　the　ordinary　woodland　signs　that　denoted　the　path　of

animals　to　water。　　For　the　park；　from　the　time　a　Northern　Duke　had

first　alienated　it　from　the　virgin　forest；　had　been　rigidly

preserved。



Suddenly；　rising　apparently　from　the　ground　before　him；　he　saw　the

high　roof…ridges　and　tourelles　of　a　long；　irregular；　gloomy

building。　　A　few　steps　further　showed　him　that　it　lay　in　a　cup…like

depression　of　the　forest；　and　that　it　was　still　a　long　descent　from

where　he　had　wandered　to　where　it　stood　in　the　gathering　darkness。

His　mustang　was　moving　with　great　difficulty；　he　uncoiled　his

lariat　from　the　saddle…horn；　and；　selecting　the　most　open　space；

tied　one　end　to　the　trunk　of　a　large　tree；the　forty　feet　of

horsehair　rope　giving　the　animal　a　sufficient　degree　of　grazing

freedom。



Then　he　strode　more　quickly　down　the　forest　side　towards　the

building；　which　now　revealed　its　austere　proportions；　though　Dick

could　see　that　they　were　mitigated　by　a　strange；　formal　flower…

garden；　with　quaint　statues　and　fountains。　　There　were　grim　black

allees　of　clipped　trees；　a　curiously　wrought　iron　gate；　and　twisted

iron　espaliers。　　On　one　side　the　edifice　was　supported　by　a　great

stone　terrace；　which　seemed　to　him　as　broad　as　a　Parisian

boulevard。　　Yet　everywhere　it　appeared　sleeping　in　the　desertion

and　silence　of　the　summer　twilight。　　The　evening　breeze　swayed　the

lace　curtains　at　the　tall　windows；　but　nothing　else　moved。　　To　the

unsophisticated　Western　man　it　looked　like　a　scene　on　the　stage。



His　progress　was；　however；　presently　checked　by　the　first　sight　of

preservation　he　had　met　in　the　forest；a　thick　hedge；　which

interfered　between　him　and　a　sloping　lawn　beyond。　　It　was　up　to　his

waist；　yet　he　began　to　break　his　way　through　it；　when　suddenly　he

was　arrested　by　the　sound　of　voices。　　Before　him；　on　the　lawn；　a

man　and　woman；　evidently　servants；　were　slowly　advancing；　peering

into　the　shadows　of　the　wood　which　he　had　just　left。　　He　could　not

understand　what　they　were　saying；　but　he　was　about　to　speak　and

indicate　by　signs　his　desire　to　find　the　road　when　the　woman；

turning　towards　her　companion；　caught　sight　of　his　face　and

shoulders　above　the　hedge。　　To　his　surprise　and　consternation；　he

saw　the　color　drop　out　of　her　fresh　cheeks；　her　round　eyes　fix　in

their　sockets；　and　with　a　despairing　shriek　she　turned　and　fled

towards　the　house。　　The　man　turned　at　his　companion's　cry；　gave　the

same　horrified　glance　at　Dick's　face；　uttered　a　hoarse　〃Sacre！〃

crossed　himself　violently；　and　fled　also。



Amazed；　indignant；　and　for　the　first　time　in　his　life　humiliated；

Dick　gazed　speechlessly　after　them。　　The　man；　of　course；　was　a

sneaking　coward；　but　the　woman　was　rather　pretty。　　It　had　not　been

Dick's　experience　to　have　women　run　from　him！　　Should　he　follow

them；　knock　the　silly　fellow's　head　against　a　tree；　and　demand　an

explanation？　　Alas；　he　knew　not　the　language！　　They　had　already

reached　the　house　and　disappeared　in　one　of　the　offices。　　Well！　let

them　gofor　a　mean　〃lowdown〃　pair　of　country　bumpkins：HE　wanted

no　favors　from　them！



He　turned　back　angrily　into　the　forest　to　seek　his　unlucky　beast。

The　gurgle　of　water　fell　on　his　ear；　hard　by　was　a　spring；　where　at

least　he　could　water　the　mustang。　　He　stooped　to　examine　it；　there

was　yet　light　enough　in　the　sunset　sky　to　throw　back　from　that

little　mirror　the　reflection　of　his　thin；　oval　face；　his　long；

curling　hair；　and　his　pointed　beard　and　mustache。　　Yes！　this　was

his　face；the　face　that　many　women　in　Paris　had　agreed　was

romantic　and　picturesque。　　Had　those　wretched　greenhorns　never　seen

a　real　man　before？　　Were　they　idiots；　or　insane？　　A　sudden

recollection　of　the　silence　and　seclusion　of　the　building　suggested

certainly　an　asylum；but　where　were　the　keepers？



It　was　getting　darker　in　the　wood；　he　made　haste　to　recover　his

horse；　to　drag　it　to　the　spring；　and　there　bathe　its　shoulder　in

the　water　mixed　with　whiskey　taken　from　his　flask。　　His　saddle…bag

contained　enough　bread　and　meat　for　his　own　supper；　he　would　camp

for　the　night　where　he　was；　and　with　the　first　light　of　dawn　make

his　way　back　through　the　wood　whence　he　came。　　As　the　light　slowly

faded　from　the　wood　he　rolled　himself　in　his　saddle…blanket　and　lay

down。



But　not　to　sleep。　　His　strange　position；　the　accident　to　his　horse；

an　unusual　irritation　over　the　incident　of　the　frightened

servants；trivial　as　it　might　have　been　to　any　other　man；and；

above　all；　an　increasing　childish　curiosity；　kept　him　awake　and

restless。　　Presently　he　could　see　also　that　it　was　growing　lighter

beyond　the　edge　of　the　wood；　and　that　the　rays　of　a　young　crescent

moon；　while　it　plunged　the　forest　into　darkness　and　impassable

shadow；　evidently　was　illuminating　the　hollow　below。　　He　threw

aside　his　blanket；　and　made　his　way　to　the　hedge　again。　　He　was

right；　he　could　see　the　quaint；　formal　lines　of　the　old　garden　more

distinctly；the　broad　terrace；　the　queer；　dark　bulk　of　the　house；

with　lights　now　gleaming　from　a　few　of　its　open　windows。



Before　one　of　these　windows　opening　on　the　terrace　was　a　small；

white；　draped　table　with　fruits；　cups；　and　glasses；　and　two　or

three　chairs。　　As　he　gazed　curiously　at　these　new　signs　of　life　and

occupation；　he　became　aware　of　a　regular　and　monotonous　tap　upon

the　stone　flags　of　the　terrace。　　Suddenly　he　saw　three　figures

slowly　turn　the　corner　of　the　terrace　at　the　further　end　of　the

building；　and　walk　towards　the　table。　　The　central　figure　was　that

of　an　elderly　woman；　yet　tall　and　stately　of　carriage；　walking　with

a　stick；　whose　regular　tap　he　had　heard；　supported　on　the　one　side

by　an　elderly　Cure　in　black　soutaine；　and　on　the　other　by　a　tall

and　slender　girl　in　white。



They　walked　leisurely　to　the　other　end　of　the　terrace；　as　if

performing　a　regular　exercise；　and　returned；　stopping　before　the

open　French　window；　where；　after　remaining　in　conversation　a　few

moments；　the　elderly　lady　and　her　ecclesiastical　companion　entered。

The　young　girl　sauntered　slowly　to　the　steps　of　the　terrace；　and

leaning　against　a　huge　vase　as　she　looked　over　the　garden；　seemed

lost　in　contemplation。　　Her　face　was　turned　towards　the　wood；　but

in　quite　another　direction　from　where　he　stood。



There　was　something　so　gentle；　refined；　and　graceful　in　her　figure；

yet　dominated　by　a　girlish　youthfulness　of　movement　and　gesture；

that　Alkali　Dick　was　singularly　interested。　　He　had　probably　never

seen　an　ingenue　before；　he　had　certainly　never　come　in　contact　with

a　girl　of　that　caste　and　seclusion　in　his　brief　Parisian　experience。

He　was　sorely　tempted　to　leave　his　hedge　and　try　to　obtain　a　nearer

view　of　her。　　There　was　a　fringe　of　lilac　bushes　running　from　the

garden　up　the　slope；　if　he　could　gain　their　shadows；　he　could

descend　into　the　garden。　　What　he　should　do　after　his　arrival　he　had

not　thought；　but　he　had　one　ideahe　knew　not　whythat　if　he

ventured　to　speak　to　her　he　would　not　be　met　with　the　abrupt　rustic

terror　he　had　experienced　at　the　hands　of　the　servants。　　SHE　was　not

of　that　kind！　　He　crept　through　the　hedge；　reached　the　lilacs；　and

began　the　descent　softly　and　securely　in　the　shadow。　　But　at　the

same　moment　she　arose；　called　in　a　youthful　voice　towards　the　open

window；　and　began　to　descend　the　steps。　　A　half…expostulating　reply

came　from　the　window；　but　the　young　girl　answered　it　with　the

laughing；　capricious　confidence　of　a　spoiled　child；　and　continued

her　way　into　the　garden。　　Here　she　paused　a　moment　and　hung　over　a

rose…tree；　from　which　she　gathered　a　flower；　afterwards　thrust　into

her　belt。　　Dick　paused；　too；　half…crouching；　half…leaning　over　a

lichen…stained；　cracked　stone　pedestal　from　which　the　statue　had

long　been　overthrown　and　forgotten。



To　his　surprise；　however；　the　young　girl；　following　the　path　to　the

lilacs；　began　leisurely　to　ascend　the　hill；　swaying　from　side　to

side　with　a　youthful　movement；　and　swinging　the　long　stalk　of　a

lily　at　her　side。　　In　another　moment　he　would　be　discovered！　　Dick

was　frightened；　his　confidence　of　the　moment　before　had　all　gone；

he　would　fly；and　yet；　an　exquisite　and　fearful　joy　kept　him

motionless。　　She　was　approaching　him；　full　and　clear　in　the

moonlight。　　He　could　see　the　grace　of　her　delicate　figure　in　the

simple　white　frock　drawn　at　the　waist　with　broad　satin　ribbon；　and

its　love…knots　of　pale　blue　ribbons　on　her　shoulders；　he　could　see

the　coils　of　her　brown　hair；　the　pale；　olive　tint　of　her　oval

cheek；　the　delicate；　swelling　nostril　of　her　straight；　clear…cut

nose；　he　could　even　smell　the　lily　she　carried　in　her　little　hand。

Then；　suddenly；　she　lifted　her　long　lashes；　and　her　large　gray　eyes

met　his。



Alas！　the　same　look　of　vacant　horror　came　into　her　eyes；　and　fixed

and　dilated　their　clear　pup