a cumberland vendetta-第12章

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nto　the　stream　and　drifted　with　the　current。　　At　the　mouth　of　the　creek　that　ran　over　old　Gabe's　water…wheel　he　turned　the　prow　to　the　Lewallen　shore。

Not　yit！　Not　yit！　〃　he　said。　

XV

THAT　night　Rome　passed　in　the　woods；　with　his　rifle；　in　a　bed　of　leaves。　Before　daybreak　he　had　built　a　fire　in　a　deep　ravine　to　cook　his　breakfast；　and　had　scattered　the　embers　that　the　smoke　should　give　no　sign。　The　sun　was　high　when　he　crept　cautiously　in　sight　of　the　Lewallen　cabin。　It　was　much　like　his　own　home　on　the　other　shore；　except　that　the　house；　closed　and　desolate；　was　standing；　and　the　bees　were　busy。　At　the　corner　of　the　kitchen　a　rusty　axe　was　sticking　in　a　half…cut　piece　of　timber；　and　on　the　porch　was　a　heap　of　kindling　and　fire　wood…the　last　work　old　Jasper　and　his　son　had　ever　done。　In　the　Lewallens'　garden；　also；　two　graves　were　fresh；　and　the　spirit　of　neglect　and　ruin　overhung　the　place。

All　the　morning　he　waited　in　the　edge　of　the　laurel；　peering　down　the　path；　watching　the　clouds　race　with　their　shadows　over　the　mountains；　or　pacing　to　and　fro　in　his　covert　of　leaves　and　flowers。　　He　began　to　fear　at　last　that　she　was　not　coming；　that　she　was　ill；　and　once　he　started　down　the　mountain　toward　Steve　Brayton's　cabin。　　The　swift　descent　brought　him　to　his　senses；　and　he　stopped　half…way；　and　climbed　back　again　to　his　hiding…place。　　What　he　was　doing；　what　he　meant　to　do；　he　hardly　knew。　Mid…day　passed；　the　sun　fell　toward　the　mountains；　and　once　more　came　the　fierce　impulse　to　see　her；　even　though　he　must　stalk　into　the　Brayton　cabin。　　Again；　half…crazed；　he　started　impetuously　through　the　brush；　and　shrank　back；　and　stood　quiet。　　A　little　noise　down　the　path　had　reached　his　ear。　In　a　moment　he　could　hear　slow　foot…falls；　and　the　figure　of　the　girl　parted　the　pink…and…white　laurel　blossoms；　which　fell　in　a　shower　about　her　when　she　brushed　through　them。　She　passed　quite　near　him；　walking　slowly；　and　stopped　for　a　moment　to　rest　against　a　pillar　of　the　porch。　She　was　very　pale；　her　face　was　traced　deep　with　suffering；　and　she　was；　as　old　Gabe　said；　much　changed。　Then　she　went　on　toward　the　garden；　stepping　with　an　effort　over　the　low　fence；　and　leaned　as　if　weak　and　tired　against　the　apple…tree；　the　boughs　of　which　shaded　the　two　graves　at　her　feet。　　For　a　few　moments　she　stood　there；　listless；　and　Rome　watched　her　with　hungry　eyes；　at　a　loss　what　to　do。　　She　moved　presently；　and　walked　quite　around　the　graves　without　looking　at　them；　then　came　back　past　him；　and；　seating　herself　in　the　porch；　turned　her　face　to　the　river。　　The　sun　lighted　her　hair；　and　in　the　sunken；　upturned　eyes　Rome　saw　the　shimmer　of　tears。

〃Marthy！　〃　He　couldn't　help　it…the　thick；　low　cry　broke　like　a　groan　from　his　lips；　and　the　girl　was　on　her　feet；　facing　him。　　She　did　not　know　the　voice；　nor　the　shaggy；　half…wild　figure　in　the　shade　of　the　laurel；　and　she　started　back　as　if　to　run；　but　seeing　that　the　man　did　not　mean　to　harm　her；　she　stopped；　looking　for　a　moment　with　wonder　and　even　with　quick　pity　at　the　hunted　face　with　its　white　appeal。　Then　a　sudden　spasm　caught　her　throat；　and　left　her　body　rigid；　her　hands　shut；　and　her　eyes　dry　and　hard…she　knew　him。　A　slow　pallor　drove　the　flush　of　surprise　from　her　face；　and　her　lips　moved　once；　but　there　was　not　even　a　whisper　from　them。　　Rome　raised　one　hand　before　his　face；　as　though　to　ward　off　something。　〃　Don't　look　at　mc　that　way；　Marthy…my　God；　don't！　I　didn't　kill　him。　　I　sw'ar　it！　　I　give　him　a　chance　fer　his　life。　I　know；　I　know…Steve　says　he　didn't。　Thar　was　only　us　two。　　Hit　looks　ag'in'　me；　but　I　hain't　killed　one　nur　t'other。　I　let　'em　both　go。　Y'u　don't　believe　me？　〃　He　went　swiftly　toward　her；　his　gun　outstretched。　Hyeh；　gal！　　I　heerd　ye　swore　ag'　in'　me　out　thar　in　the　gyarden…'lowin'　that　you　was　goin'　to　hunt　me　down　yerself　if　the　soldiers　didn't。　Hyeh's　yer　chance！

The　girl　shrank　away　from　him；　too　startled　to　take　the　weapon；　and　he　leaned　it　against　her；　and　stood　away；　with　his　hands　behind　him。

Kill　me　ef　ye　think　I'm　a…lyin'　to　ye；〃　he　said。　〃Y'u　kin　git　even　with　me　now。　But　I　want　to　tell　ye　fust　〃…the　girl　had　caught　the　muzzle　of　the　gun　convulsively；　and　was　bending　over　it；　her　eyes　burning；　her　face　inscrutable…hit　was　a　fa'r　fight　betwixt　us；　'n'　I　whooped　him。　He　got　his　gun　then；　'n'　would　'a'　killed　me　ag'in'　his　oath　ef　he　hadn't　been　shot　fust　Hit's　so；　too；　'bout　the　crosses。　　I　made　'em；　they're　right　thar　on　that　gun；　but　whut　could　I　do　with　mam　a…standin'　right　thar　with　the　gun　'n'　Uncle　Rufe　a…tellin'　'bout　my　own　dad　layin'　in　his　blood；　'n'　Isom　'n'　the　boys　lookin'　on！　But　I　went　ag'in'　my　oath；　I　gave　him　his　life　when　I　had　the　right　to　take　it。　　I　could　'a'　killed　yer　dad　once；　'n'　I　had　the　right　to　kill　him；　too；　fer　killin'　mine；　but　I　let　him　go；　'n'　I　reckon　I　done　that　fer　ye；　too。　　'Pears　like　I　hain't　done　nothin'　sence　I　seed　ye　over　thar　in　the　mill　that　day　that　wasn't　done　fer　ye。　Somehow　ye　put　me　dead　ag'in'　my　own　kin；　'n'　tuk　away　all　my　hate　ag'in'　yourn。　　I　couldn't　fight　fer　thinkin'　I　was　fightin'　you；　'n'　when　I　seed　ye　comm'　through　the　bushes　jes　now；　so　white　'n'　sickly…like；　I　couldn't　hardly　git　breath；　a…thinkin'　I　was　the　cause　of　all　yer　misery。　That's　all！〃　　He　stretched　out　his　arms。　Shoot；　gal；　ef　ye　don't　believe　me。　　I'd　jes　as　lieve　die；　ef　ye　thinks　I'm　lyin'　to　ye；　'n'　ef　ye　hates　me　fer　whut　I　hain't　done。〃

The　gun　had　fallen　to　the　earth。　The　girl；　trembling　at　the　knees；　sank　to　her　seat　on　the　porch；　and；　folding　her　arms　against　the　pillar；　pressed　her　forehead　against　them；　her　face　unseen。　　Rome　stooped　to　pick　up　the　weapon。

〃I'm　goin'　'way　now；〃　he　went　on；　slowly；　after　a　little　pause；　〃but　I　couldn't　leave　hyeh　without　seem'　you。　　I　wanted　ye　to　know　the　truth；　'n'　I　'lowed　y'u'd　believe　me　ef　I　tol'　ye　myself。　　I've　been　a…waitin'　thar　in　the　lorrel　fer　ye　sence　mornin'。　Uncle　Gabe　tol'　me　ye　come　hyeh　ever'　day。　He　says　I've　got　to　go。　I've　been　hopin'　I　mought　come　out　o'　the　bushes　some　day。　　But　Uncle　Gabe　says　ever'body's　ag'in'　me　more'　n　ever；　'n'　that　the　soldiers　mean　to　ketch　me。　The　gov'ner　out　thar　in　the　settlements　says　as　how　he'll　give　five　hundred　dollars　fer　me；　livin'　or　dead。　He'll　nuver　git　me　livin'…I've　swore　that…'n'　as　I　hev　done　nothin'　sech　as　folks　on　both　sides　hev　done　who　air　walkin'　roun'　free；　I　hain't　goin'　to　give　up。　Hit's　purty　hard　to　leave　these　mount'ins。　Reckon　I'll　nuver　see　'em　ag'in。　Been　livin'　like　a　catamount　over　thar　on　the　knob。　　I　could　jes　see　you　over　hyeh；　'n'　I　reckon　I　hain't　done　much　'cept　lay　over　thar　on　a　rock　'n'　watch　ye　movin'　round。　　Hit's　mighty　good　to　feel　that　ye　believe　me；　'n'　I　want　ye　to　know　that　I　been　stayin'　over　thar　fer　nothin'　on　earth　but　jes　to　see　you　ag'in；　'n'　I　want　ye　to　know　that　I　was　a…sorrowin'　fer　ye　when　y'u　was　sick；　'n'　a…pinin'　to　see　ye；　'n'　a…hopin'　some　day　y'u　mought　kinder　git　over　yer　hate　fer　me。〃　He　had　been　talking　with　low　tenderness；　half　to　himself；　and　with　his　face　to　the　river；　and　he　did　not　see　the　girl's　tears　falling　to　the　porch。　Her　sorrow　gave　way　in　a　great　sob　now；　and　he　turned　with　sharp　remorse；　and　stood　quite　near　her。

〃Don't　cry；　Marthy；〃　he　said。　〃God　knows　hit's　hard　to　think　I've　brought　all　this　on　ye　when　I'd　give　all　these　mount　'ins　to　save　ye　from　it。　Whut　d'　ye　say？　Don't　cry。〃

The　girl　was　trying　to　speak　at　last；　and　Rome　bent　over　to　catch　the　words。

〃I　hain't　cryin'　fer　myself；〃　she　said；　faintly；　and　then　she　said　no　more；　but　the　first　smile　that　had　passed　over　Rome's　face　for　many　a　day　passed　then；　and　he　put　out　one　big　hand；　and　let　it　rest　on　the　heap　of　lustrous　hair。

〃Marthy；　I　hate　to　go　'way；　leavin'　ye　hyeh　with　nobody　to　take　keer　o'　ye。　You're　all　alone　hyeh　in　the　mount'ins；　I'm　all　alone；　'n'　I　reckon　I'll　be　all　alone　wharever　I　go；　ef　you　stay　hyeh。　I　got　a　boat　down　thar　on　the　river；　'n'　I'm　goin'　out　West　whar　Uncle　Rufe　use　to　live。　　I　know　I　hain't　good　fer　nothin'　much　〃…he　spoke　almost　huskily；　he　could　scarcely　get　the　words　to　his　lips…〃　but　I　want　ye　to　go　with　me。　Won't　ye？〃

The　girl　did　not　answer；　but　her　sobbing　ceased　slowly；　while　Rome　stroked　her　hair；　and　at　last　she　lifted　her　face；　and　for　a　moment　looked　to　the　other　shore。　Then　she　rose。　There　is　a　strange　pride　in　the　Kentucky　mountaineer。

〃As　you　say；　Rome；　thar's　nobody　left　but　you；　'n'　nobody　but　me；　but　they　burned　you　out；　we　hain't　even…yit。〃　　Her　eyes　were　on　Thunderstruck　Knob；　where　the　last　sunlight　used　to　touch　the　Stetson　cabin。

〃Hyeh；　Rome！〃　He　knew　what　she　meant；　and　he　kneeled　at　the　pile　of　kindling…wood　near　the　kitchen　door。　　Then　they　stood　back　and　waited。　　The　sun　dipped　below　a　gap　in　the　mountains；　the　sky　darkened；　and　the　flames　rose　to　the　shingled　porch；　and　leaped　into　the　gathering　dusk。　On　the　outer　edge　of　the　quivering　light；　where　it　touched　the　blossomed　laurel；　the　two　stood　till　the　blaze　caught　the　eaves　of　the　cabin；　and　then　they　turned　their　faces　where；　burning　to　ashes　in　the　west；　was　another　fire；　whose　light　blended　in　the　eyes　of　each　with　a　light　older　and　more　lasting　than　its　own…the　light　eternal。







THE　END