a cumberland vendetta-第5章

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Ye　better　come；　ye　pieded　cow…brute。〃　Picking　up　a　cedar　piggin；　she　stepped　from　the　porch　toward　the　meek　voice　that　had　answered　her。　　Temper　and　exertion　had　brought　the　quick　blood　to　her　face。　　Her　head　was　bare；　her　thick　hair　was　loosely　coiled；　and　her　brown　arms　were　naked　almost　to　the　shoulder。　　At　the　stable　a　young　mountaineer　was　overhauling　his　riding…gear。

Air　you　goin'　to　ride　the　hoss　to…day；　Jas？〃　she　asked；　querulously。

〃That's　jes　whut　I　was　aimin'　to　do。　　I'm　a…goin'　to　town。〃

Well；　I　'lowed　I　was　goin'　to　mill　to…day。　The　co'n　is　'mos'　gone。〃

〃Well；　y'u　'lowed　wrong；〃　he　answered；　imperturbably。

Y'u're　mean；　Jas　Lewallen；〃　she　cried；　hotly；　〃　that's　whut　ye　air；　mean…dog…mean！

The　young　mountaineer　looked　up；　whistled　softly；　and　laughed。　　But　when　he　brought　his　horse　to　the　door　an　hour　later　there　was　a　bag　of　corn　across　the　saddle。

〃As　ye　air　so　powerful　sot　on　goin'　to　mill；　whether　or　no；　I'll　leave　this　hyeh　sack　at　the　bend　O'　the　road；　'n'　ye　kin　git　it　thar。　　I'll　bring　the　meal　back　ef　ye　puts　it　in　the　same　place。　　I　hates　to　see　women…folks　a…ridin'　this　horse。　　Hit　spiles　him。〃

The　horse　was　a　dapple…gray　of　unusual　beauty；　and　as　the　girl　reached　out　her　hand　to　stroke　his　throat；　he　turned　to　nibble　at　her　arm。

〃I　reckon　he'd　jes　as　lieve　have　me　ride　him　as　you；　Jas；〃　she　said。　　〃　Me　'n'　him　have　got　to　be　great　friends。　　Ye　orter　n't　to　be　so　stingy。〃

Well；　he　ain't　no　hoss　to　be　left　out'n　the　bresh　now；　'n'　I　hain't　goin'　to　'low　it。〃

Old　Jasper　had　lounged　out　of　the　kitchen　door；　and　stood　with　his　huge　bulk　against　a　shrinking　pillar　of　the　porch。　　The　two　men　were　much　alike。　　Both　had　the　same　black；　threatening　brows　meeting　over　the　bridge　of　the　nose。　　A　kind　of　grim　humor　lurked　about　the　old　man's　mouth；　which　time　might　trace　about　young　Jasper's。　　The　girl's　face　had　no　humor；　the　same　square　brows；　apart　and　clearly　marked；　gave　it　a　strong；　serious　cast；　and　while　she　had　the　Lewallen　fire；　she　favored　her　mother　enough；　so　the　neighbors　said；　〃to　have　a　mighty　mild；　takin'　way　about　her　ef　she　wanted。〃

You're　right；　Jas；〃　the　old　mountaineer　said；　〃the　hoss　air　a　sin　'n'　temptation。　　Hit　do　me　good　ever'　time　I　look　at　him。　　Thar　air　no　sech　hoss；　I　tell　ye；　this　side　o'　the　settlements。〃

The　boy　started　away；　and　the　old　man　followed；　and　halted　him　out　of　the　girl's　hearing。

〃Tell　Eli　Crump　'n'　Jim　Stover　to　watch　the　Breathitt　road　close　now；〃　he　said；　in　a　low　voice。　　〃　See　all　them　citizens　I　tol'　ye；　'n'　tell　'em　to　be　ready　when　I　says　the　word。　　Thar's　no　tellin'　whut's　goin'　to　happen。〃

Young　Jasper　nodded　his　head；　and　struck　his　horse　into　a　gallop。　　The　old　man　lighted　his　pipe；　and　turned　back　to　the　house。　　The　girl；　bonnet　in　hand；　was　starting　for　the　valley。

〃Thar　ain't　no　use　goin'　to　Gabe　Bunch's　fer　yer　grist；〃　he　said。　　〃　The　mill　on　Dead　Crick's　a…runnin'　ag'in；　'n'　I　don't　want　ye　over　thar　axin　favors；　specially　jes　now。〃

〃I　lef'　somethin'　fer　ye　to　eat；　dad；〃　she　replied；　〃　ef　ye　gits　hungry　before　I　git　back。〃

You　heerd　me？　〃　he　called　after　her；　knitting　his　brows。

Yes；　dad；　I　heerd　ye；〃　she　answered；　adding　to　herself；　〃　But　I　don't　heed　ye。〃　　In　truth；　the　girl　heeded　nobody。　　It　was　not　her　way　to　ask　consent；　even　her　own；　nor　to　follow　advice。　At　the　bend　of　the　road　she　found　the　bag；　and　for　an　instant　she　stood　wavering。　　An　impulse　turned　her　to　the　river；　and　she　loosed　the　boat；　and　headed　it　across　the　swift；　shallow　water　from　the　ford　and　straight　toward　the　mill。　At　every　stroke　of　her　paddle　the　water　rose　above　the　prow　of　the　boat；　and；　blown　into　spray；　flew　back　and　drenched　her；　the　wind　loosed　her　hair；　and；　tugging　at　her　skirts；　draped　her　like　a　statue；　and　she　fought　them；　wind　and　water；　with　mouth　set　and　a　smile　in　her　eyes。　　One　sharp　struggle　still；　where　the　creek　leaped　into　freedom；　the　mouth　grew　a　little　firmer；　the　eyes　laughed　more；　the　keel　grated　on　pebbles；　and　the　boat　ran　its　nose　into　the　withered　sedge　on　the　Stetson　shore。

A　tall　gray　figure　was　pouring　grain　into　the　hopper　when　she　reached　the　door　of　the　mill。　She　stopped　abruptly；　Rome　Stetson　turned；　and　again　the　two　were　face　to　face。　　No　greeting　passed。　　The　girl　lifted　her　head　with　a　little　toss　that　deepened　the　set　look　about　the　mountaineer's　mouth；　her　lax　figure　grew　tense　as　though　strung　suddenly　against　some　coming　harm；　and　her　eyes　searched　the　shadows　without　once　resting　on　him。

Whar's　Uncle　Gabe？　〃　　She　spoke　shortly；　and　as　to　a　stranger。

Gone　to　town；〃　said　Rome；　composedly。　He　had　schooled　himself　for　this　meeting。

When's　he　comm'　back？

Not　'fore　night；　I　reckon。〃

Whar's　Isom？

Isom's　sick。〃

Well；　who's　tendin'　this　mill？

For　answer　he　tossed　the　empty　bag　into　the　corner　and；　without　looking　at　her；　picked　up　another　bag。

〃I　reckon　ye　see　me；　don't　ye？　〃　he　asked；　coolly。　　〃　Hev　a　cheer；　and　rest　a　spell。　　Hit's　a　purty　long　climb　whar　you　come　from。〃

The　girl　was　confused。　　She　stayed　in　the　doorway；　a　little　helpless　and　suspicious。　　What　was　Rome　Stetson　doing　here？　　His　mastery　of　the　situation；　his　easy　confidence；　puzzled　and　irritated　her。　　Should　she　leave？　　The　mountaineer　was　a　Stetson；　a　worm　to　tread　on　if　it　crawled　across　the　path。　　It　would　be　like　backing　down　before　an　enemy。　　He　might　laugh　at　her　after　she　was　gone；　and；　at　that　thought；　she　sat　down　in　the　chair　with　composed　face；　looking　through　the　door　at　the　tumbling　water；　which　broke　with　a　thousand　tints　under　the　sun；　but　able　still　to　see　Rome；　sidewise；　as　he　moved　about　the　hopper；　whistling　softly。

Once　she　looked　around；　fancying　she　saw　a　smile　on　his　sober　face。　　Their　eyes　came　near　meeting；　and　she　turned　quite　away。

Ever　seed　a　body　out'n　his　head？

The　girl's　eyes　rounded　with　a　start　of　surprise。

Well；　it's　plumb　cur'us。　　Isom's　been　that　way　lately。　　Isom's　sick；　ye　know。　　Uncle　Gabe's　got　the　rheumatiz；　'n'　Isom's　mighty　fond　o'　Uncle　Gabe；　'n'　the　boy　pestered　me　till　I　come　down　to　he'p　him。　　Hit　p'int'ly　air　strange　to　hear　him　talkin'。　　He's　jes　a…ravin'　'bout　hell　'n'　heaven；　'n'　the　sin　o'　killin'　folks。　　You'd　ha'　thought　he　hed　been　convicted；　though　none　o'　our　fambly　hev　been　much　atter　religion。　He　says　as　how　the　wrath　uv　a　livin'　God　is　a…goin'　to　sweep　these　mount　ins；　ef　some　mighty　tall　repentin'　hain't　done。　　Of　co'se　he　got　all　them　notions　from　Gabe。　　But　Isom　al'ays　was　quar；　'n'　seed　things　hisself。　　He　ain't　no　fool！〃

The　girl　was　listening。　　Morbidly　sensitive　to　the　supernatural；　she　had　turned　toward　him；　and　her　face　was　relaxed　with　fear　and　awe。

〃He's　havin'　dreams　'n'　sech…like　now；　'n'　I　reckon　thar's　nothing　he's　seed　or　heerd　that　he　don'　talk　about。　　He's　been　a…goin'　on　about　you；〃　he　added；　abruptly。　　The　girl's　hands　gave　a　nervous　twitch。　〃Oh；　he　don't　say　nothin'　ag'in'　ye。　　I　reckon　he　tuk　a　fancy　to　ye。　Mam　was　plumb　distracted；　not　knowin'　whar　he　had　seed　ye。　　She　thought　it　was　like　his　other　talk；　'n'　I　never　let　on…a…knowin'　how　mam　was。〃　　A　flush　rose　like　a　flame　from　the　girl's　throat　to　her　hair。　　〃　But　hit's　this；〃　Rome　went　on　in　an　unsteady　tone；　〃that　he　talks　most　about；　'n'　I'm　sorry　myself　that　trouble's　a…comm'。〃　　He　dropped　all　pretence　now。　　〃I've　been　a…watchin'　fer　ye　over　thar　on　t'　other　shore　a　good　deal　lately。　　I　didn't　know　ye　at　fust；　Marthy　〃…he　spoke　her　name　for　the　first　time…'　'n'　Gabe　says　y'u　didn't　know　me。　　I　remembered　ye；　though；　'n'　I　want　to　tell　ye　now　what　I　tol'　ye　then：　　I've　got　nothin'　ag'in　you。　　I　was　hopin'　ye　mought　come　over　ag'in…hit　was　sorter　cur'us　that　y'u　was　the　same　gal…the　same　gal…〃

His　self…control　left　him；　he　was　halting　in　speech；　and　blundering　he　did　not　know　where。　Fumbling　an　empty　bag　at　the　hopper；　he　had　not　dared　to　look　at　the　girl　till　he　heard　her　move。　　She　had　risen；　and　was　picking　up　her　bag。　　The　hard　antagonism　of　her　face　calmed　him　instantly。

Hain't　ye　goin'　to　have　yer　grist　ground？

Not　hyeh；〃　she　answered；　quickly。

〃Why；　gal　　　　〃　He　got　no　further。　Martha　was　gone；　and　he　followed　her　to　the　bank；　bewildered。

The　girl's　suspicion；　lulled　by　his　plausible　explanation；　had　grown　　sharp　　again。　　The　mountaineer　knew　that　she　had　been　coming　there。　　He　was　at　the　mill　for　another　reason　than　to　take　the　boy's　place；　and　with　swift　in…tuition　she　saw　the　truth。

He　got　angry　as　she　rode　away…angry　with　himself　that　he　had　let　her　go；　and　the　same　half…tender；　half…brutal　impulse　seized　him　as　when　he　saw　her　first。　　This　time　he　yielded。　His　horse　was　at　hand；　and　the　river　not　far　below　was　narrow。　　The　bridle…path　that　led　to　the　Lewallen　cabin　swerved　at　one　place　to　a　cliff　overlooking　the　river；　and　by　hard　riding　and　a　climb　of　a　few　hundred　feet　on　foot　he　could　overtake　her　half…way　up　the　mountain　steep。

The　plan　was　no　more　than　shaped　before　he　was　in　the　saddle　and　galloping　down　the　river。　　The　set　of　his　face　changed　hardly　a　line　while　he　swam　the　stream；　and；　drenched　to　the　waist；　scaled　the　cliff。　　When　he　reached　the　spot；　he　found　the　prints　of　a　woman's　shoe　in　the　dust　of　the　path；　going　down。　　There　were　none　returning；　and　he　had　not　long　to　wait。　　A　scarlet　bit　of　color　soon　flashed　through　the　gray　bushes　below　him。　　The　girl　was　without　her　bag　of　corn。　　She　was　climbing　slowly；　and　was　looking　at　the　ground　as　though　in　deep　thought。　　Reckless　as　she　was；　she　had　come　to　realize　at　last　just　what　she　had　done。　　She　had　been　pleased　at　first；　as　would　have　been　any　woman；　when　she　saw　the　big　mountaineer　watching　her；　for　her　life　was　lonely。　She　had　waved　her　bonnet　at　him　from　mere　mischief。　She　hardly　knew　it　herself；　but　she　had　gone　across　the　river　to　find　out　who　he　was。　　She　had　shrunk　from　him　as　from　a　snake　thereafter；　and　had　gone　no　more　until　old　Jasper　had　sent　her　because　the　Lewallen　mill　was　broken；　and　because　she　was　a　woman；　and　would　be　safe　from　harm。　　She　had　met　him　then　when　she　could　not　help　herself。　　But　now　she　had　gone　of　her　own　accord。　　She　had　given　this　Stetson；　a　bitter　enemy；　a　chance　to　see　her；　to　talk　with　her。　　She　had　listened　to　him；　she　had　been　on　the　point　of　letting　him　grind　her　corn。　　And　he　knew　how　often　she　had　gone　to　the　mill；　and　he　could　not　know　that　she　had　ever　been　sent。　　Perhaps　he　thought　that　she　had　come　to　make　overtures　of　peace；　friendship；　even　more。　　The　suspicion　reddened　her　face　with　shame；　and　her　anger　at　him　was　turned　upon　herself。　Why　she　had　gone　again　that　day　she　hardly　knew。　　But　if　there　was　another　reason　than　simple　perversity；　it　was　the　memory　of　Rome　Stetson's　face　when　he　caught　her　boat　and　spoke　to　her　in　a　way　she　could　not　answer。　　The　anger　of　the　moment　came　with　every　thought　of　the　incident　afterward；　and　with　it　came　too　this　memory　of　his　look；　which　made　her　at　once　defiant　and　uneasy。　She　saw　him　now　only　when　she　was　quite　close；　and；　startled；　she　stood　still；　his　stern　look　brought　her　the　same　disquiet；　but　she　gave　no　sign　of　fear。

Whut's　the　matter　with　ye？

The　question　was　too　abrupt；　too　savage；　and　the　girl　looked　straight　at　him；　and　her　lips　tightened　with　a　resolution　not　to　speak。　　The　movement　put　him　beyond　control。

〃Y'u　puts　hell　into　me；　Marthy　Lewall