登陆注册
4617600000062

第62章

He turned rather deliberately from the past, preferring to dwell on the probable consummation of his hope. His home, his farm, were far more to him than the woman he had married. He had wedded her for their sake, and his thoughts followed his heart, which was in his hillside acres. It is said that women often marry for a home; he truly had done so to keep his home. The question which now most occupied him was the prospect of doing this through quiet, prosperous years. He dwelt minutely on Alida's manner, as well as her words, and found nothing to shake his belief that she had been as truthful as himself. Nevertheless, he queried in regard to the future with not a little anxiety. In her present distress and poverty she might naturally be glad of the refuge he had offered; but as time passed and the poignancy of bitter memories was allayed, might not her life on the farm seem monotonous and dull, might not weariness and discontent come into her eyes in place of gratitude?

"Well, well!" he concluded, "this marrying is a risky experiment at best, but Tom Watterly's talk and her manner seemed to shut me up to it. I was made to feel that I couldn't go on in any other way; and I haven't done anything underhanded or wrong, as I see, for the chance of going on. If I hadn't become such a heathen I should say there was a Providence in it, but I don't know what to think about such things any more. Time'll show, and the prospect is better than it has been yet. She'll never be sorry if she carries out the agreement made today, if kindness and good will can repay her."Thus it may be seen that, although two life currents had become parallel, they were still very distinct.

By the time Holcroft approached the lane leading to his dwelling, Alida was growing very weary, and felt that her endurance had almost reached its limit.

Her face was so white in the moonlight that he asked solicitously, "You can stand it a little longer, can't you?""I'll try. I'm very sorry I'm not stronger.""Don't you worry about that! You won't know yourself in a week. Here we are at the lane and there's the house yonder. A moment or two more and you'll be by the fire."A loud barking startled old Jonathan Johnson out of his doze, and he hastened to replenish the fire and to call off his rather savage dog. He was a little surprised to see Holcroft drive toward the kitchen door with a woman by his side. "He's tried his luck with another of them town gals," he muttered, "but, Jerusalem! She won't stay a week, an' my old woman'll have the washin' an'

mendin' all the same."

He could scarcely believe his ears and eyes when he heard the farmer say, "Alida, you must let me lift you out," and then saw the "town gal" set gently on the ground, her hand placed on Holcroft's arm as she was supported slowly and carefully to the rocking chair beside the fire. "Jonathan," was the quiet announcement, "this is Mrs. Holcroft, my wife.""Jeru--beg a pardon. Wasn't 'spectin; jis' sich a turn o' things. Respects, missus! Sorry to see yer enj'yin' poor health.""Yes, Jonathan, Mrs. Holcroft has been sick, but she's much better and will soon be well. She's very tired now from the long drive, but quiet life and country air will soon make her strong. I'll just step out and care for the horses, Alida, and soon be back again. You come and help me, Jonathan, and keep your dog off, too."The old man complied with rather poor grace for he would have preferred to interview the bride, at whom he was staring with all his weak, watery eyes.

Holcroft understood his neighbor's peculiarities too well to subject his wife to this ordeal, and was bent on dispatching Jonathan homeward as soon as possible.

"I say, Jim," said the old guardsman, who felt that he was speaking to the boy he had known for thirty odd years, "where on airth did you pick up sich a sickly lookin' critter?""I didn't pick her up," replied the farmer laughingly. "I married her fair and square just as you did your wife a hundred years ago, more or less. Haven't Ias good a right to get married as you had?""Oh, I aint a-disputin' yer right, but it seems so kind o' suddint that it's taken what little breath I've left.""How do you know it's sudden? Did you go around telling everyone how you were getting on when you were a-courting?""Well, I swan! Yer got me. 'Taint so long ago that I disremember we did it on the sly.""Well, now, Uncle Jonathan, you've got nothing to say against me for I didn't marry on the sly, although I've gone on the principle that my business wasn't everybody's business. When I saw your wife about my washing and mending Ididn't know I was going to be lucky so soon. You know you can't marry a woman in this country till she's willing. But tell your wife she shan't lose anything, and the next time I go to town I'll leave that settin' of eggs she wanted. Now, Jonathan, honor bright, do you feel able to walk home if I give you fifty cents extra?""Why, sartinly! S'pose I'd take yer away on sich a 'casion? My wife wouldn't let me in if she knowed it.""Well, you and your wife are good neighbors, and that's more'n I can say for most people in these parts. Here's the money. Mrs. Holcroft isn't strong or well enough to talk any tonight. You got yourself a good supper, didn't you?""Yes, yes! Helped myself bount'fully. Good night, and good luck ter yer. Ican't help thinkin' it was kind o' suddint though, and then she's sich a sickly lookin' critter. Hope yer haven't been taken in, but then, as you say, the marryin' business, like other kinds o' business, is a man's own business.""I hope everyone will take your sensible view, Uncle Jonathan. Good night."

同类推荐
  • 谈艺录

    谈艺录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 紫清指玄集

    紫清指玄集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说决定总持经

    佛说决定总持经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 致沈曾植尺牍十九通

    致沈曾植尺牍十九通

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 周公解梦

    周公解梦

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 弃妇重生豪门:千金崛起

    弃妇重生豪门:千金崛起

    前一刻,她还是被陷害处死的下堂妇;后一刻,她却重生成了豪门千金。且得天厚爱,送空间法宝,得医仙传承,从此后,她一针掌生死,一手掌命运,步步荣华,打造盛世锦绣,凤傲九天……地位显赫的他,成为她最贴心的忠犬,一路为她保驾护航,带着五个又萌又宝的小包子,一起奔向幸福生活……推荐九月的完结文:《神医下堂妃》、《惊世弃后:神医小萌宝》;连载《火爆小医女:天下第一绝宠》。
  • 万世秦疆

    万世秦疆

    作为重生的韩信,面对羞辱的裤裆,是钻,还是不钻?不想钻,怎么办,那就拔剑比划比划吧!鸟尽弓藏,兔死狗烹,既然穿越了,这么悲催的韩信,我不做!兵精将勇,强弓劲弩,既然重生了,这么强大的秦国,我要了!混迹淮阴,远逃长城,北使匈奴,南安百越。面对残暴的秦二世,韩信果断举起了青铜剑!在陈胜兵临潼关的时候,随章邯出战,一步步成长为秦军统帅;巨鹿之战后,死守咸阳,等来的是刘邦项羽六十万大军……
  • 你要的情深似海

    你要的情深似海

    学生时代,你是否暗恋过那么一个ta?暗恋是一个人的兵荒马乱,当你面无表情与ta擦肩而过时,内心或许已经波涛汹涌。林汐沫曾发了疯的去掩饰对余皓洋的喜欢,当所有人都发现我喜欢你时,你却不知道,究竟是真的还是装的。终于,当我放下一切准备离开时,你回来了,他们说的没错,真正喜欢过的人再见面还是会心动。时隔七年,他们的再次相遇究竟是欣喜还是心痛,放下了还是忘不掉,时间终会告诉我们答案。“我愿随你走在天际,看繁华满地.”——余皓洋“任凭岁月改朝换代,唯有你无可替代.”——林汐沫
  • 大众美食菜谱

    大众美食菜谱

    随着现代生活水平的提高,我们希望在品尝着美味佳肴的同时,又享受着养生保健和预防治疗的待遇。本书为了满足读者饮食保健的希冀,精选了数百种食疗方和药膳方,详细的介绍了每一道菜肴的选材、调理选取、制作方法,为您贴心的准备了一套全面、系统、易学易懂的家庭美食菜谱。
  • 古今医案按

    古今医案按

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 云岩河的歌

    云岩河的歌

    本书的作者是一群曾经到陕北插队落户的北京知识青年。他们以不同的经历和感受讲述了40多年前那段刻骨铭心的插队生活,向人们再现了“文革”时期轰轰烈烈的上山下乡运动的真实一幕。
  • 二爷

    二爷

    谁都清楚,今晚这种场合,二爷只能是他哥我大爷的配角。尽管二爷他一米九〇的大个,牛高马大,污油光头,鹰隼眼目,到哪里都算得上彪形大汉,在娇秀为美的江南,更显出突兀和凶神恶煞模样,但二爷没有交椅,不配。煤气灯嘶嘶作响,好似蜷蓄了许多活跃的蛇蜥,白得雪青的冷光,与圈外无边的墨色构成戏剧化了的惨烈对比。二爷的身量,灯光只照见其鼻梁与下半脸,他的头颅便半黑半白,不阴不阳,神秘鬼怪地浮在空中,多出一分冷重的杀气。气氛十分肃穆,声音凝固,暗中却有两种力量在缠绕、较劲和对峙。
  • 艺舟双楫

    艺舟双楫

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 幼科推拿秘书

    幼科推拿秘书

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 制霸赛场

    制霸赛场

    五个“坏"小孩的篮球制霸之路,正在加载中……