登陆注册
5243000000065

第65章 CHAPTER XIII(4)

If you knew the difference between having a dream that stirred the least fibre of your being and facing the world in a demand for realization of it, and then finding what you coveted in the palm of your hand, as it were, you would know what is in my heart, and why expression of some kind is necessary to me just now, and why I'll explode if it is denied. It will lower the tension, if you will accept this as a matter of fact; as if you rather expected and liked it, if you can."

The Harvester set his finger on the spring.

"Don't!" she said. "I'll never have the courage if you do. Give it to me in the case, and let me open it.

Despite your unanswerable arguments, I am quite sure that is the only way in which I can take it."

The Harvester gave her the box.

"My wedding gift!" she exclaimed, more to herself than to him. "Why should I be the buffet of all the unkind fates kept in store for a girl my whole life, and then suddenly be offered home, beautiful gifts, and wonderful loving kindness by a stranger?"

The Harvester ran his fingers through his crisp hair, pulled it into a peak, stepped to the seat and sitting on the railing, he lifted his elbows, tilted his head, and began a motley outpouring of half-spoken, half-whistled trills and imploring cries. There was enough similarity that the Girl instantly recognized the red bird. Out of breath the Harvester dropped to the seat beside her.

"And don't you keep forgetting it!" he cried. "Now open that box and put on the trinket; because I want to take you to the cabin when the sun falls level on the drive."

She opened the case, exposing a thread of gold that appeared too slender for the weight of an exquisite pendant, set with shimmering pearls.

"If you will look down there," the Harvester pointed over the railing to the arrowhead lilies touched with the fading light, "you will see that they are similar."

"They are!" cried the Girl. "How lovely! Which is more beautiful I do not know. And you won't like it if I say I must not."

She held the open case toward the Harvester.

" `Possession is nine points in the law,' " he quoted.

"You have taken it already and it is in your hands;now make the gift perfect for me by putting it on and saying nothing more."

"My wedding gift!" repeated the Girl. Slowly she lifted the beautiful ornament and held it in the light.

"I'm so glad you just force me to take it," she said.

"Any half-normal girl would be delighted. I do accept it. And what's more, I am going to keep and wear it and my ring at suitable times all my life, in memory of what you have done to be kind to me on this awful day."

"Thank you!" said the Harvester. "That is a flash of the proper spirit. Allow me to put it on you."

"No!" said the Girl. "Not yet! After a while! Iwant to hold it in my hands, where I can see it!"

"Now there is one other thing," said the Harvester.

"If I had known for any length of time that this day was coming and bringing you, as most men know when a girl is to be given into their care, I could have made it different. As it is, I've done the best I knew. All your after life I hope you will believe this: Just that if you missed anything to-day that would have made it easier for you or more pleasant, the reason was because of my ignorance of women and the conventions, and lack of time. I want you to know and to feel that in my heart those vows I took were real. This is undoubtedly all the marrying I will ever want to do. I am old-fashioned in my ways, and deeply imbued with the spirit of the woods, and that means unending evolution along the same lines.

"To me you are my revered and beloved wife, my mate now; and I am sure nothing will make me feel any different. This is the day of my marriage to the only woman I ever have thought of wedding, and to me it is joy unspeakable. With other men such a day ends differently from the close of this with me. Because I have done and will continue to do the level best I know for you, this oration is the prologue to asking you for one gift to me from you, a wedding gift. I don't want it unless you can bestow it ungrudgingly, and truly want me to have it. If you can, I will have all from this day I hope for at the hands of fate. May I have the gift I ask of you, Ruth?"

She lifted startled eyes to his face.

"Tell me what it is?" she breathed.

"It may seem much to you," said the Harvester;"to me it appears only a gracious act, from a wonderful woman, if you will give me freely, one real kiss. I've never had one, save from a Dream Girl, Ruth, and you will have to make yours pretty good if it is anything like hers. You are woman enough to know that most men crush their brides in their arms and take a thousand.

I'll put my hands behind me and never move a muscle, and I won't ask for more, if you will crown my wedding day with only one touch of your lips. Will you kiss me just once, Ruth?"

The Girl lifted a piteous face down which big tears suddenly rolled.

"Oh Man, you shame me!" she cried. "What kind of a heart have I that it fails to respond to such a plea? Have I been overworked and starved so long there is no feeling in me? I don't understand why I don't take you in my arms and kiss you a hundred times, but you see I don't. It doesn't seem as if I ever could."

"Never mind," said the Harvester gently. "It was only a fancy of mine, bred from my dream and unreasonable, perhaps. I am sorry I mentioned it. The sun is on the stoop now; I want you to enter your home in its light. Come!"

He half lifted her from the bench. "I am going to help you up the drive as I used to assist mother," he said, fighting to keep his voice natural. "Clasp your hands before you and draw your elbows to your sides.

Now let me take one in each palm, and you will scoot up this drive as if you were on wheels."

"But I don't want to `scoot'," she said unsteadily.

"I must go slowly and not miss anything."

"On the contrary, you don't want to do any such thing----you should leave most of it for to-morrow."

"I had forgotten there would be any to-morrow. It seems as if the day would end it and set me adrift again."

同类推荐
  • 太上十二上品飞天法轮劝戒妙经

    太上十二上品飞天法轮劝戒妙经

    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。
  • 虚皇天尊初真十戒文

    虚皇天尊初真十戒文

    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。
  • 周生烈子

    周生烈子

    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。
  • 南华真经口义

    南华真经口义

    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。
  • 阅微草堂笔记

    阅微草堂笔记

    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
  • 让孩子自由成长

    让孩子自由成长

    《让孩子自由成长》作者力求突破目前许多家长的“制约式”、“强硬式”、“填鸭式”教育方法,期望让孩子自由成长的同时,也给教育一个恰当的定位。孩子是属于大自然的,是天然的存在,这是人的本能,是自然的意志,而不属于家长意识的一部分。教育的目的、蓝图、对人的期待,应当符合人的天性,而不能违背自然规律。
  • 凤泣血:倾城颜

    凤泣血:倾城颜

    她只是和亲公主的小跟班,除了把晟王府那些女人斗得鸡飞狗跳外,真的没其他本事了。可是,那个臭王爷为什么让她出谋划策?好吧,如果非要承认,她还是有那么点小小的医术啦,只不过,来到古代后英雄无用武之地,最多就是纸上谈兵而已,谁让人家曾经学的是西医呢!原本很欢声的生活,在公主意外死亡后变得不一样,臭王爷怀疑她,为了洗刷冤屈,查找真相,她历经千辛万苦。然而,真相却是更大的阴谋……
  • 深山中的修道者

    深山中的修道者

    【起点认证狗封,最骚狗作者】灵气复苏,大世将出。诸子百家、西方众神,消失在历史尘埃中的神话文明,正在回归!看主角江小白,山野问道,海外证道,一步步走上弑神之路!本书扣扣书友群已建:307292324
  • 不入后宫:皇上请让一让

    不入后宫:皇上请让一让

    穿越一世才知道,人心永远是最可怕的。既然这样,那就让自己百毒不侵。蛇蝎继母,恶毒妹妹,撕了你们的伪装吊起来打。变态父亲,丧心病狂的一国公主,剪了你们的羽翼一顿狂踹。不过后面老跟着的那个碍眼的皇帝,麻烦你让一让。下一个。情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 水晶之城

    水晶之城

    道不尽离愁别恨,说不尽光怪陆离,言不尽爱恨情仇!众人说我言语烂,谁知我心意迷乱!诸说魔法多玄幻,繁华一世乐无边。今我一生漂泊志,浅谈魔法论人间!感谢阅文书评团提供书评支持
  • 一本书练好口才

    一本书练好口才

    在日常交往中,口才总是以人际交往的形态,频繁地出现在日常生活中。人们为了各自的愿望和目的,相互接触,相互了解和表达,彼此都需要有一个友好祥和的环境。如果每个人在平时都能讲究礼仪、注重口才,那么我们的日常生活和社会交往,无疑有一种巨大的凝聚力。三百六十行,行行要口才。社交的得心应手,求职的轻松过关,推销的业绩倍增,职位的直线上升,谈判的无往不利等都有赖于一张会说话的嘴。西方的一位哲人说过这样一句话:“世间有一种途径可以使人很快完成伟业,并获得世人的认可,那就是优秀的口才。”
  • 对你情深几何

    对你情深几何

    养成系女友,霸道总裁伤痛治愈,虐恋先爱后恋式情感,两人之间的情愫无法言说无法挣脱。男方拒绝承认恋上这个女人,女人一次次地试探都无法得到回应,放她离开。多年后再次相遇他还会放她走吗
  • 与死亡有约

    与死亡有约

    我为什么而死?你会知道的。因为在人性的深渊总有一双眼睛在盯着。吾眼望深渊,所见及光明。这是侦探的世界,所有的罪犯,无处可逃。
  • 万古魔帝

    万古魔帝

    一万年前,一人,一剑,一壶酒。他是青云仙尊,横断万古岁月!无敌尘世间!被誉为武道神话!一万年后,身无长物,处境艰难,强敌环伺。他是低级武徒叶凡尘,为夺前世失去的一切,这一世他依然要重登绝巅!前世,我是青云仙尊,恩惠天下,照耀苍穹下万物生灵,歌颂万世!这一世,我是叶凡尘,且看我如何杀伐天地间,碧血染天!剑断万古!
  • 首富杨飞

    首富杨飞

    时间起了皱折,杨飞重回一九九三年。在激荡的大时代里,野蛮生长,谱一世风流!群:181877737