an episode of fiddletown-第7部分

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that　had　gathered　in　her　eye。　　And　then　it　chanced　that；　in　turning

over　some　clothes；　she　came　upon　the　child's　slipper　with　a　broken

sandal　string。　　She　uttered　a　great　cry　herethe　first　she　had

utteredand　caught　it　to　her　breast；　kissing　it　passionately　again

and　again；　and　rocking　from　side　to　side　with　a　motion　peculiar　to

her　sex。　　And　then　she　took　it　to　the　window；　the　better　to　see　it

through　her　now　streaming　eyes。　　Here　she　was　taken　with　a　sudden

fit　of　coughing　that　she　could　not　stifle　with　the　handkerchief　she

put　to　her　feverish　lips。　　And　then　she　suddenly　grew　very　faint。

The　window　seemed　to　recede　before　her；　the　floor　to　sink　beneath

her　feet；　and　staggering　to　the　bed；　she　fell　prone　upon　it　with

the　sandal　and　handkerchief　pressed　to　her　breast。　　Her　face　was

quite　pale；　the　orbit　of　her　eyes　dark；　and　there　was　a　spot　upon

her　lip；　another　on　her　handkerchief；　and　still　another　on　the

white　counterpane　of　the　bed。



The　wind　had　risen；　rattling　the　window　sashes　and　swaying　the

white　curtains　in　a　ghostly　way。　　Later；　a　gray　fog　stole　softly

over　the　roofs；　soothing　the　wind…roughened　surfaces；　and　in…

wrapping　all　things　in　an　uncertain　light　and　a　measureless　peace。

She　lay　there　very　quietfor　all　her　troubles；　still　a　very　pretty

bride。　　And　on　the　other　side　of　the　bolted　door　the　gallant

bridegroom；　from　his　temporary　couch；　snored　peacefully。





A　week　before　Christmas　Day；　1870；　the　little　town　of　Genoa；　in　the

State　of　New　York；　exhibited；　perhaps　more　strongly　than　at　any

other　time；　the　bitter　irony　of　its　founders　and　sponsors。　　A

driving　snowstorm　that　had　whitened　every　windward　hedge；　bush；

wall；　and　telegraph　pole；　played　around　this　soft　Italian　Capital；

whirled　in　and　out　of　the　great　staring　wooden　Doric　columns　of　its

post　office　and　hotel；　beat　upon　the　cold　green　shutters　of　its

best　houses；　and　powdered　the　angular；　stiff；　dark　figures　in　its

streets。　　From　the　level　of　the　street；　the　four　principal　churches

of　the　town　stood　out　starkly；　even　while　their　misshapen　spires

were　kindly　hidden　in　the　low；　driving　storm。　　Near　the　railroad

station；　the　new　Methodist　chapel；　whose　resemblance　to　an　enormous

locomotive　was　further　heightened　by　the　addition　of　a　pyramidal

row　of　front　steps；　like　a　cowcatcher；　stood　as　if　waiting　for　a

few　more　houses　to　be　hitched　on　to　proceed　to　a　pleasanter

location。　　But　the　pride　of　Genoathe　great　Crammer　Institute　for

Young　Ladiesstretched　its　bare　brick　length　and　reared　its　cupola

plainly　from　the　bleak　Parnassian　hill　above　the　principal　avenue。

There　was　no　evasion　in　the　Crammer　Institute　of　the　fact　that　it

was　a　public　institution。　　A　visitor　upon　its　doorsteps；　a　pretty

face　at　its　window；　were　clearly　visible　all　over　the　township。



The　shriek　of　the　engine　of　the　four…o'clock　Northern　express

brought　but　few　of　the　usual　loungers　to　the　depot。　　Only　a　single

passenger　alighted；　and　was　driven　away　in　the　solitary　waiting

sleigh　toward　the　Genoa　Hotel。　　And　then　the　train　sped　away　again；

with　that　passionless　indifference　to　human　sympathies　or　curiosity

peculiar　to　express　trains；　the　one　baggage　truck　was　wheeled　into

the　station　again；　the　station　door　was　locked；　and　the

stationmaster　went　home。



The　locomotive　whistle；　however；　awakened　the　guilty　consciousness

of　three　young　ladies　of　the　Crammer　Institute；　who　were　even　then

surreptitiously　regaling　themselves　in　the　bakeshop　and

confectionery　saloon　of　Mistress　Phillips　in　a　by…lane。　　For　even

the　admirable　regulations　of　the　Institute　failed　to　entirely

develop　the　physical　and　moral　natures　of　its　pupils。　　They

conformed　to　the　excellent　dietary　rules　in　public；　and　in　private

drew　upon　the　luxurious　rations　of　their　village　caterer。　　They

attended　church　with　exemplary　formality；　and　flirted　informally

during　service　with　the　village　beaux。　　They　received　the　best　and

most　judicious　instruction　during　school　hours；　and　devoured　the

trashiest　novels　during　recess。　　The　result　of　which　was　an

aggregation　of　quite　healthy；　quite　human；　and　very　charming　young

creatures　that　reflected　infinite　credit　on　the　Institute。　　Even

Mistress　Phillips；　to　whom　they　owed　vast　sums；　exhilarated　by　the

exuberant　spirits　and　youthful　freshness　of　her　guests；　declared

that　the　sight　of　〃them　young　things〃　did　her　good；　and　had　even

been　known　to　shield　them　by　shameless　equivocation。



〃Four　o'clock；　girls！　and；　if　we're　not　back　to　prayers　by　five；

we'll　be　missed；〃　said　the　tallest　of　these　foolish　virgins；　with

an　aquiline　nose；　and　certain　quiet　elan　that　bespoke　the　leader；

as　she　rose　from　her　seat。　　〃Have　you　got　the　books；　Addy？〃　　Addy

displayed　three　dissipated…looking　novels　under　her　waterproof。

〃And　the　provisions；　Carry？〃　　Carry　showed　a　suspicious　parcel

filling　the　pocket　of　her　sack。　　〃All　right；　then。　　Come；　girls；

trudgeCharge　it；〃　she　added；　nodding　to　her　host　as　they　passed

toward　the　door。　　〃I'll　pay　you　when　my　quarter's　allowance　comes。〃



〃No；　Kate；〃　interposed　Carry；　producing　her　purse；　〃let　me　pay；

it's　my　turn。〃



〃Never！〃　said　Kate；　arching　her　black　brows　loftily；　〃even　if　you

do　have　rich　relatives；　and　regular　remittances　from　California。

Never！　　Come；　girls；　forward；　march！〃



As　they　opened　the　door；　a　gust　of　wind　nearly　took　them　off　their

feet。　　Kindhearted　Mrs。　Phillips　was　alarmed。　　〃Sakes　alive；　galls！

ye　mussn't　go　out　in　sich　weather。　　Better　let　me　send　word　to　the

Institoot；　and　make　ye　up　a　nice　bed　tonight　in　my　parlor。〃　　But

the　last　sentence　was　lost　in　a　chorus　of　half…suppressed　shrieks

as　the　girls；　hand　in　hand；　ran　down　the　steps　into　the　storm；　and

were　at　once　whirled　away。



The　short　December　day；　unlit　by　any　sunset　glow；　was　failing　fast。

It　was　quite　dark　already；　and　the　air　was　thick　with　driving　snow。

For　some　distance　their　high　spirits；　youth；　and　even　inexperience

kept　them　bravely　up；　but；　in　ambitiously　attempting　a　short　cut

from　the　highroad　across　an　open　field；　their　strength　gave　out；

the　laugh　grew　less　frequent；　and　tears　began　to　stand　in　Carry's

brown　eyes。　　When　they　reached　the　road　again；　they　were　utterly

exhausted。　　〃Let　us　go　back；〃　said　Carry。



〃We'd　never　get　across　that　field　again；〃　said　Addy。



〃Let's　stop　at　the　first　house；　then；〃　said　Carry。



〃The　first　house；〃　said　Addy；　peering　through　the　gathering

darkness；　〃is　Squire　Robinson's。〃　　She　darted　a　mischievous　glance

at　Carry　that；　even　in　her　discomfort　and　fear；　brought　the　quick

blood　to　her　cheek。



〃Oh；　yes！〃　said　Kate　with　gloomy　irony；　〃certainly；　stop　at　the

squire's　by　all　means；　and　be　invited　to　tea；　and　be　driven　home

after　by　your　dear　friend　Mr。　Harry；　with　a　formal　apology　from

Mrs。　Robinson；　and　hopes　that　the　young　ladies　may　be　excused　this

time。　　No！〃　continued　Kate　with　sudden　energy。　　〃That　may　suit　YOU；

but　I'm　going　back　as　I　cameby　the　window；　or　not　at　all〃　　Then

she　pounced　suddenly；　like　a　hawk；　on　Carry；　who　was　betraying　a

tendency　to　sit　down　on　a　snowbank　and　whimper；　and　shook　her

briskly。　　〃You'll　be　going　to　sleep　next。　　Stay；　hold　your　tongues；

all　of　youwhat's　that？〃



It　was　the　sound　of　sleigh　bells。　　Coming　down　toward　them　out　of

the　darkness　was　a　sleigh　with　a　single　occupant。　　〃Hold　down　your

heads；　girls：　if　it's　anybody　that　knows　us；　we're　lost。〃　　But　it

was　not；　for　a　voice　strange　to　their　ears；　but　withal　very　kindly

and　pleasant；　asked　if　its　owner　could　be　of　any　help　to　them。　　As

they　turned　toward　him；　they　saw　it　was　a　man　wrapped　in　a　handsome

sealskin　cloak；　wearing　a　sealskin　cap；　his　face；　half…concealed　by

a　muffler　of　the　same　material；　disclosing　only　a　pair　of　long

mustaches；　and　two　keen　dark　eyes。　　〃It's　a　son　of　old　Santa

Claus！〃　whispered　Addy。　　The　girls　tittered　audibly　as　they　tumbled

into　the　sleigh；　they　had　regained　their　former　spirits。　　〃Where

shall　I　take　you？〃　said　the　stranger　quietly。　　There　was　a　hurried

whispering；　and　then　Kate　said　boldly；　〃To　the　Institute。〃　　They

drove　silently　up　the　hill；　until　the　long；　ascetic　building　loomed

up　before　them。　　The　stranger　reined　up　suddenly。　　〃You　know　the

way　better　than　I；〃　he　said。　　〃Where　do　you　go　in？〃　　〃Through　the

back　window；〃　said　Kate　with　sudden　and　appalling　frankness。　　〃I

see！〃　responded　their　strange　driver　quietly　and；　alighting

quickly；　removed　the　bells　from　the　horses。　　〃We　can　drive　as　near

as　you　please　now；〃　he　added　by　way　of　explanation。　　〃He　certainly

is　a　son　of　Santa　Claus；〃　whispered　Addy。　　〃Hadn't　we　better　ask

after　his　father？〃　　〃Hush！〃　said　Kate　decidedly。　　〃He　is　an　angel；

I　dare　say。〃　　She　added　with　a　delicious　irrelevance；　which　was；

however；　perfectly　understood　by　her　feminine　auditors；　〃We　are

looking　like　three　frights。〃



Cautiously　skirting　the　fences；　they　at　last　pulled　up　a　few　feet

from　a　dark　wall。　　The　stranger　proceeded　to　assist　them　to　alight。

There　was　still　some　light　from　the　reflected　snow；　and　as　he

handed　his　fair　companions　to　the　ground；　each　was　conscious　of

undergoing　an　intense　though　respectful　scrutiny。　　He　assisted　them

gravely　to　open　the　window；　and　then　discreetly　retired　to　the

sleigh　until　the　difficult　and　somewhat　discomposing　ingress　was

made。　　He　then　walked　to　the　window。　　〃Thank　you　and　good　night！〃

whispered　three　voices。　　A　single　figure　still　lingered。　　The

stranger　leaned　over　the　window　sill。　　〃Will　you　permit　me　to　light

my　cigar　here？　　It　might　attract　attention　if　I　struck　a　match

outside。〃　　By　the　upspringing　light　he　saw　the　figure　of　Kate　very

charmingly　framed　in　by　the　window。　　The　match　burnt　slowly　out　in

his　fingers。　　Kate　smiled　mischievously。　　The　astute　young　woman

had　detected　the　pitiable　subterfuge。　　For　what　else　did　she　stand

at　the　head　of　her　class；　and　had　doting　parents　paid　three　years'

tuition？



The　storm　had　passed；　and　the　sun　was　shining　quite