a sappho of green springs-第7章

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〃Now；　ChloeI　mean　aunt　Dinahdo　take　EuniceI　mean　Victorine

and　Unaaway；　andyou　knowtidy　them；　and　you；　Sarahit's

Sarah；　isn't　it？lay　some　refreshment　in　the　parlor　for　this

gentleman。　　And；　Bob；　tell　your　sister　Cynthia　to　come　here　with

Eunice。〃　　As　Bob　still　remained　staring　at　Mr。　Bowers；　she　added；

in　weary　explanation；　〃Mr。　Bowers　brought　me　over　from　the　Summit

woods　in　his　buggyit　was　so　hot。　　Thereshake　hands　and　thank

him；　and　run　awaydo！〃



They　crossed　a　broad　but　scantily…furnished　hall。　　Everywhere　the

same　look　of　hopeless　incompleteness；　temporary　utility；　and

premature　decay；　most　of　the　furniture　was　mismatched　and

misplaced；　many　of　the　rooms　had　changed　their　original　functions

or　doubled　them；　a　smell　of　cooking　came　from　the　library；　on　whose

shelves；　mingled　with　books；　were　dresses　and　household　linen；　and

through　the　door　of　a　room　into　which　Mrs。　Delatour　retired　to

remove　her　duster　Mr。　Bowers　caught　a　glimpse　of　a　bed；　and　of　a

table　covered　with　books　and　papers；　at　which　a　tall；　fair　girl　was

writing。　　In　a　few　moments　Mrs。　Delatour　returned；　accompanied　by

this　girl；　and　Eunice；　her　short…lipped　sister。　　Bob；　who　joined

the　party　seated　around　Mr。　Bowers　and　a　table　set　with　cake；　a

decanter；　and　glasses；　completed　the　group。　　Emboldened　by　the

presence　of　the　tall　Cynthia　and　his　glimpse　of　her　previous

literary　attitude；　Mr。　Bowers　resolved　to　make　one　more　attempt。



〃I　suppose　these　yer　young　ladies　sometimes　go　to　the　wood；　too？〃

As　his　eye　rested　on　Cynthia；　she　replied：



〃Oh；　yes。〃



〃I　reckon　on　account　of　the　purty　shadows　down　in　the　brush；　and

the　soft　light；　eh？　and　all　that？〃　he　continued；　with　a　playful

manner　but　a　serious　accession　of　color。



〃Why；　the　woods　belong　to　us。　　It's　mar's　property！〃　broke　in

Eunice　with　a　flash　of　teeth。



〃Well；　Lordy；　I　wanter　know！〃　said　Mr。　Bowers；　in　some　astonishment。

〃Why；　that's　right　in　my　line；　too！　　I've　been　sightin'　timber　all

along　here；　and　that's　how　I　dropped　in　on　yer　mar。〃　　Then；　seeing　a

look　of　eagerness　light　up　the　faces　of　Bob　and　Eunice；　he　was

encouraged　to　make　the　most　of　his　opportunity。　　〃Why；　ma'am；〃　he

went　on；　cheerfully；　〃I　reckon　you're　holdin'　that　wood　at　a　pretty

stiff　figger；　now。〃



〃Why？〃　asked　Mrs。　Delatour；　simply。



Mr。　Bowers　delivered　a　wink　at　Bob　and　Eunice；　who　were　still

watching　him　with　anxiety。　　〃Well；　not　on　account　of　the　actool

timber；　for　the　best　of　it　ain't　sound；〃　he　said；　〃but　on　account

of　its　bein'　famous！　　Everybody　that　reads　that　pow'ful　pretty　poem

about　it　in　the　'Excelsior　Magazine'　wants　to　see　it。　　Why；　it

would　pay　the　Green　Springs　hotel…keeper　to　buy　it　up　for　his

customers。　　But　I　s'pose　you　reckon　to　keep　italong　with　the

poetessin　your　famerly？〃



Although　Mr。　Bowers　long　considered　this　speech　as　the　happiest　and

most　brilliant　effort　of　his　life；　its　immediate　effect　was　not；

perhaps；　all　that　could　be　desired。　　The　widow　turned　upon　him　a

restrained　and　darkening　face。　　Cynthia　half　rose　with　an　appealing

〃Oh；　mar！〃　and　Bob　and　Eunice；　having　apparently　pinched　each　other

to　the　last　stage　of　endurance；　retired　precipitately　from　the　room

in　a　prolonged　giggle。



〃I　have　not　yet　thought　of　disposing　of　the　Summit　woods；　Mr。

Bowers；〃　said　Mrs。　Delatour；　coldly；　〃but　if　I　should　do　so；　I　will

consult　you。　　You　must　excuse　the　children；　who　see　so　little

company；　they　are　quite　unmanageable　when　strangers　are　present。

Cynthia；　WILL　you　see　if　the　servants　have　looked　after　Mr。

Bowers's　horse？　　You　know　Bob　is　not　to　be　trusted。〃



There　was　clearly　nothing　else　for　Mr。　Bowers　to　do　but　to　take　his

leave；　which　he　did　respectfully；　if　not　altogether　hopefully。　　But

when　he　had　reached　the　lane；　his　horse　shied　from　the　unwonted

spectacle　of　Bob；　swinging　his　hat；　and　apparently　awaiting　him；

from　the　fork　of　a　wayside　sapling。



〃Hol'　up；　mister。　　Look　here！〃



Mr。　Bowers　pulled　up。　　Bob　dropped　into　the　road；　and；　after　a

backward　glance　over　his　shoulder；　said：



〃Drive　'longside　the　fence　in　the　shadder。〃　　As　Mr。　Bowers　obeyed；

Bob　approached　the　wheels　of　the　buggy　in　a　manner　half　shy；　half

mysterious。　　〃You　wanter　buy　them　Summit　woods；　mister？〃



〃Well；　per'aps；　sonny。　　Why？〃　smiled　Mr。　Bowers。



〃Coz　I'll　tell　ye　suthin'。　　Don't　you　be　fooled　into　allowin'　that

Cynthia　wrote　that　po'try。　　She　didn'tno　more'n　Eunice　nor　me。

Mar　kinder　let　ye　think　it；　'cos　she　don't　want　folks　to　think　SHE

did　it。　　But　mar　wrote　that　po'try　herself；　wrote　it　out　o'　them

thar　woodsall　by　herself。　　Thar's　a　heap　more　po'try　thar；　you

bet；　and　jist　as　good。　　And　she's　the　one　that　kin　write　ityou

hear　me？　　That's　my　mar；　every　time！　　You　buy　that　thar　wood；　and

get　mar　to　run　it　for　po'try；　and　you'll　make　your　pile；　sure！　　I

ain't　lyin'。　　You'd　better　look　spry：　thar's　another　feller

snoopin'　'round　yereonly　he　barked　up　the　wrong　tree；　and　thought

it　was　Cynthia；　jist　as　you　did。〃



〃Another　feller？〃　repeated　the　astonished　Bowers。



〃Yes；　a　rig'lar　sport。　　He　was　orful　keen　on　that　po'try；　too；　you

bet。　　So　you'd　better　hump　yourself　afore　somebody　else　cuts　in。

Mar　got　a　hundred　dollars　for　that　pome；　from　that　editor　feller

and　his　pardner。　　I　reckon　that's　the　rig'lar　price；　eh？〃　he　added；

with　a　sudden　suspicious　caution。



〃I　reckon　so；〃　replied　Mr。　Bowers；　blankly。　　〃Butlook　here；　Bob！

Do　you　mean　to　say　it　was　your　motheryour　MOTHER；　Bob；　who　wrote

that　poem？　　Are　you　sure？〃



〃D'ye　think　I'm　lyin'？〃　said　Bob；　scornfully。　　〃Don't　I　know？

Don't　I　copy　'em　out　plain　for　her；　so　as　folks　won't　know　her

handwrite？　　Go　'way！　you're　loony！〃　　Then；　possibly　doubting　if

this　latter　expression　were　strictly　diplomatic　with　the　business

in　hand；　he　added；　in　half…reproach；　half…apology；　〃Don't　ye　see　I

don't　want　ye　to　be　fooled　into　losin'　yer　chance　o'　buying　up　that

Summit　wood？　　It's　the　cold　truth　I'm　tellin'　ye。〃



Mr。　Bowers　no　longer　doubted　it。　　Disappointed　as　he　undoubtedly

was　at　first；and　even　self…deceived；he　recognized　in　a　flash

the　grim　fact　that　the　boy　had　stated。　　He　recalled　the　apparition

of　the　sad…faced　woman　in　the　woodher　distressed　manner；　that　to

his　inexperienced　mind　now　took　upon　itself　the　agitated　trembling

of　disturbed　mystic　inspiration。　　A　sense　of　sadness　and　remorse

succeeded　his　first　shock　of　disappointment。



〃Well；　are　ye　going　to　buy　the　woods？〃　said　Bob；　eying　him　grimly。

〃Ye'd　better　say。〃



Mr。　Bowers　started。　　〃I　shouldn't　wonder；　Bob；〃　he　said；　with　a

smile；　gathering　up　his　reins。　　〃Anyhow；　I'm　comin'　back　to　see

your　mother　this　afternoon。　　And　meantime；　Bob；　you　keep　the　first

chance　for　me。〃



He　drove　away；　leaving　the　youthful　diplomatist　standing　with　his

bare　feet　in　the　dust。　　For　a　minute　or　two　the　young　gentleman

amused　himself　by　a　few　light　saltatory　steps　in　the　road。　　Then　a

smile　of　scornful　superiority；　mingled　perhaps　with　a　sense　of

previous　slights　and　unappreciation；　drew　back　his　little　upper

lip；　and　brightened　his　mottled　cheek。



〃I'd　like　ter　know；〃　he　said；　darkly；　〃what　this　yer　God…forsaken

famerly　would　do　without　ME！〃





CHAPTER　V





It　is　to　be　presumed　that　the　editor　and　Mr。　Hamlin　mutually　kept

to　their　tacit　agreement　to　respect　the　impersonality　of　the

poetess；　for　during　the　next　three　months　the　subject　was　seldom

alluded　to　by　either。　　Yet　in　that　period　White　Violet　had　sent　two

other　contributions；　and　on　each　occasion　Mr。　Hamlin　had　insisted

upon　increasing　the　honorarium　to　the　amount　of　his　former　gift。

In　vain　the　editor　pointed　out　the　danger　of　this　form　of

munificence；　Mr。　Hamlin　retorted　by　saying　that　if　he　refused　he

would　appeal　to　the　proprietor；　who　certainly　would　not　object　to

taking　the　credit　of　this　liberality。　　〃As　to　the　risks；〃　concluded

Jack；　sententiously；　〃I'll　take　them；　and　as　far　as　you're

concerned；　you　certainly　get　the　worth　of　your　money。〃



Indeed；　if　popularity　was　an　indiction；　this　had　become　suddenly

true。　　For　the　poetess's　third　contribution；　without　changing　its

strong　local　color　and　individuality；　had　been　an　unexpected

outburst　of　human　passiona　love…song；　that　touched　those　to　whom

the　subtler　meditative　graces　of　the　poetess　had　been　unknown。

Many　people　had　listened　to　this　impassioned　but　despairing　cry

from　some　remote　and　charmed　solitude；　who　had　never　read　poetry

before；　who　translated　it　into　their　own　limited　vocabulary　and

more　limited　experience；　and　were　inexpressibly　affected　to　find

that　they；　too；　understood　it；　it　was　caught　up　and　echoed　by　the

feverish；　adventurous；　and　unsatisfied　life　that　filled　that　day

and　time。　　Even　the　editor　was　surprised　and　frightened。　　Like　most

cultivated　men；　he　distrusted　popularity：　like　all　men　who　believe

in　their　own　individual　judgment；　he　doubted　collective　wisdom。

Yet　now　that　his　protegee　had　been　accepted　by　others；　he

questioned　that　judgment　and　became　her　critic。　　It　struck　him　that

her　sudden　outburst　was　strained；　it　seemed　to　him　that　in　this

mere　contortion　of　passion　the　sibyl's　robe　had　become　rudely

disarranged。　　He　spoke　to　Hamlin；　and　even　approached　the　tabooed

subject。



〃Did　you　see　anything　that　suggested　this　sort　of　business　inin

that　womanI　mean　inyour　pilgrimage；　Jack？〃



〃No；〃　responded　Jack；　gravely。　　〃But　it's　easy　to　see　she's　got

hold　of　some　hay…footed　fellow　up　there　in　the　mountains　with

straws　in　his　hair；　and　is　playing　him　for　all　he's　worth。　　You

won't　get　much　more　poetry　out　of　her；　I　reckon。〃



Is　was　not　long　after　this　conversation　that　one　afternoon；　when

the　editor　was　alone；　Mr。　James　Bowers　entered　the　editorial　room

with　much　of　the　hesitation　and　irresolution　of　his　previous　visit。

As　the　editor　had　not　only　forgotten　him；　but　even；　dissociated　him

with　the　poetess；　Mr。　Bowers　was　fain　to　meet　his　unresponsive　eye

and　manner　with　some　explanation。



〃Ye　disremember　my　comin'　here；　Mr。　Editor；　to　ask　you　the　name　o'

the　lady　who　called　herself　'White　Violet；'　and　how　you　allowed　you

couldn't　give　it；　but　would　write　and　ask　for　it？〃



Mr。　Editor；　leaning　back　in　his　chair；　now　remembered　the

occurrence；　but　was　distressed　to　add　that　the　situation　remained

unchanged；　and　that　he　had　received　no　such　permission。



〃Never　mind　THAT；　my　lad；〃　said　Mr。　Bowers；　gravely；　waving　his

hand。　　〃I　understand　all　that；　but；　ez　I've　known　the　lady　ever

since；　and　am　now　visiting　her　at　her　house　on　the　Summit；　I　reckon

it　don't　make　much　matter。〃



It　was　quite　characteristic　of　Mr。　Bowers's　smileless　earnestness

that　he　made　no　ostentation　of　this　dramatic　retort；　nor　of　the

undisguised　stupefaction　of　the　editor。



〃Do　you　mean　to　say　that　you　have　met　White　Violet；　the　author　of

these　poems？〃　repeated　the　editor。



〃Which　her　name　is　Delatour；the　widder　Delatour；ez　she　has