the messengers-第1部分

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The　Messengers

by　Richard　Harding　Davis





When　Ainsley　first　moved　to　Lone　Lake　Farm　all　of　his　friends　asked
him　the　same　question。　　They　wanted　to　know；　if　the　farmer　who　sold
it　to　him　had　abandoned　it　as　worthless；　how　one　of　the　idle　rich；
who　could　not　distinguish　a　plough　from　a　harrow；　hoped　to　make　it
pay？　　His　answer　was　that　he　had　not　purchased　the　farm　as　a　means
of　getting　richer　by　honest　toil；　but　as　a　retreat　from　the　world
and　as　a　test　of　true　friendship。　　He　argued　that　the　people　he
knew　accepted　his　hospitality　at　Sherry's　because；　in　any　event；
they　themselves　would　be　dining　within　a　taxicab　fare　of　the　same
place。　　But　if　to　see　him　they　travelled　all　the　way　to　Lone　Lake
Farm；　he　might　feel　assured　that　they　were　friends　indeed。

Lone　Lake　Farm　was　spread　over　many　acres　of　rocky　ravine　and
forest；　at　a　point　where　Connecticut　approaches　New　York；　and
between　it　and　the　nearest　railroad　station　stretched　six　miles　of
an　execrable　wood　road。　　In　this　wilderness；　directly　upon　the
lonely　lake；　and　at　a　spot　equally　distant　from　each　of　his
boundary　lines；　Ainsley　built　himself　a　red　brick　house。　　Here；　in
solitude；　he　exiled　himself；　ostensibly　to　become　a　gentleman
farmer；　in　reality　to　wait　until　Polly　Kirkland　had　made　up　her
mind　to　marry　him。

Lone　Lake；　which　gave　the　farm　its　name；　was　a　pond　hardly　larger
than　a　city　block。　　It　was　fed　by　hidden　springs；　and　fringed　about
with　reeds　and　cat…tails；　stunted　willows　and　shivering　birch。
From　its　surface　jutted　points　of　the　same　rock　that　had　made
farming　unremunerative；　and　to　these　miniature　promontories　and
islands　Ainsley；　in　keeping　with　a　fancied　resemblance；　gave　such
names　as　the　Needles；　St。　Helena；　the　Isle　of　Pines。　　From　the　edge
of　the　pond　that　was　farther　from　the　house　rose　a　high　hill；
heavily　wooded。　　At　its　base；　oak　and　chestnut　trees　spread　their
branches　over　the　water；　and　when　the　air　was　still　were　so　clearly
reflected　in　the　pond　that　the　leaves　seemed　to　float　upon　the
surface。　　To　the　smiling　expanse　of　the　farm　the　lake　was　what　the
eye　is　to　the　human　countenance。　　The　oaks　were　its　eyebrows；　the
fringe　of　reeds　its　lashes；　and；　in　changing　mood；　it　flashed　with
happiness　or　brooded　in　sombre　melancholy。　　For　Ainsley　it　held　a
deep　attraction。　　Through　the　summer　evenings；　as　the　sun　set；　he
would　sit　on　the　brick　terrace　and　watch　the　fish　leaping；　and
listen　to　the　venerable　bull…frogs　croaking　false　alarms　of　rain。
Indeed；　after　he　met　Polly　Kirkland；　staring　moodily　at　the　lake
became　his　favorite　form　of　exercise。　　With　a　number　of　other　men；
Ainsley　was　very　much　in　love　with　Miss　Kirkland；　and　unprejudiced
friends　thought　that　if　she　were　to　choose　any　of　her　devotees；
Ainsley　should　be　that　one。　　Ainsley　heartily　agreed　in　this
opinion；　but　in　persuading　Miss　Kirkland　to　share　it　he　had　not
been　successful。　　This　was　partly　his　own　fault；　for　when　he　dared
to　compare　what　she　meant　to　him　with　what　he　had　to　offer　her　he
became　a　mass　of　sodden　humility。　　Could　he　have　known　how　much
Polly　Kirkland　envied　and　admired　his　depth　of　feeling；　entirely
apart　from　the　fact　that　she　herself　inspired　that　feeling；　how
greatly　she　wished　to　care　for　him　in　the　way　he　cared　for　her；
life；　even　alone　in　the　silences　of　Lone　Lake；　would　have　been　a
beautiful　and　blessed　thing。　　But　he　was　so　sure　she　was　the　most
charming　and　most　wonderful　girl　in　all　the　world；　and　he　an
unworthy　and　despicable　being；　that　when　the　lady　demurred；　he
faltered；　and　his　pleading；　at　least　to　his　own　ears；　carried　no
conviction。

〃When　one　thinks　of　being　married；〃　said　Polly　Kirkland　gently；　〃it
isn't　a　question　of　the　man　you　can　live　with；　but　the　man　you
can't　live　without。　　And　I　am　sorry；　but　I've　not　found　that　man。〃

〃I　suppose；〃　returned　Ainsley　gloomily；　〃that　my　not　being　able　to
live　without　you　doesn't　affect　the　question　in　the　least？〃

〃You　HAVE　lived　without　me；〃　Miss　Kirkland　pointed　out
reproachfully；　〃for　thirty　years。〃

〃Lived！〃　almost　shouted　Ainsley。　　〃Do　you　call　THAT　living？　　What
was　I　before　I　met　you？　　I　was　an　ignorant　beast　of　the　field。　　I
knew　as　much　about　living　as　one　of　the　cows　on　my　farm。　　I　could
sleep　twelve　hours　at　a　stretch；　or；　if　I　was　in　New　York；　I　NEVER
slept。　　I　was　a　Day　and　Night　Bank　of　health　and　happiness；　a
great；　big；　useless　puppy。　　And　now　I　can't　sleep；　can't　eat；　can't
thinkexcept　of　you。　　I　dream　about　you　all　night；　think　about　you
all　day；　go　through　the　woods　calling　your　name；　cutting　your
initials　in　tree　trunks；　doing　all　the　fool　things　a　man　does　when
he's　in　love；　and　I　am　the　most　miserable　man　in　the　worldand　the
happiest！〃

He　finally　succeeded　in　making　Miss　Kirkland　so　miserable　also　that
she　decided　to　run　away。　　Friends　had　planned　to　spend　the　early
spring　on　the　Nile　and　were　eager　that　she　should　accompany　them。
To　her　the　separation　seemed　to　offer　an　excellent　method　of
discovering　whether　or　not　Ainsley　was　the　man　she　could　not　〃live
without。〃

Ainsley　saw　in　it　only　an　act　of　torture；　devised　with　devilish
cruelty。

〃What　will　happen　to　me；〃　he　announced　firmly；　〃is　that　I　will
plain　DIE！　　As　long　as　I　can　see　you；　as　long　as　I　have　the　chance
to　try　and　make　you　understand　that　no　one　can　possibly　love　you　as
I　do；　and　as　long　as　I　know　I　am　worrying　you　to　death；　and　no　one
else　is；　I　still　hope。　　I've　no　right　to　hope；　still　I　do。　　And
that　one　little　chance　keeps　me　alive。　　But　Egypt！　　If　you　escape
to　Egypt；　what　hold　will　I　have　on　you？　　You　might　as　well　be　in
the　moon。　　Can　you　imagine　me　writing　love…letters　to　a　woman　in
the　moon？　　Can　I　send　American　Beauty　roses　to　the　ruins　of　Karnak？
Here　I　can　telephone　you；　not　that　I　ever　have　anything　to　say　that
you　want　to　hear；　but　because　I　want　to　listen　to　your　voice；　and
to　have　you　ask；　'Oh！　is　that　YOU？'　as　though　you　were　glad　it　WAS
me。　　But　Egypt！　　Can　I　call　up　Egypt　on　the　long…distance？　　If　you
leave　me　now；　you'll　leave　me　forever；　for　I'll　drown　myself　in
Lone　Lake。〃

The　day　she　sailed　away　he　went　to　the　steamer；　and；　separating　her
from　her　friends　and　family；　drew　her　to　the　side　of　the　ship
farther　from　the　wharf；　and　which　for　the　moment；　was　deserted。
Directly　below　a　pile…driver；　with　rattling　of　chains　and　shrieks
from　her　donkey…engine；　was　smashing　great　logs；　on　the　deck　above；
the　ship's　band　was　braying　forth　fictitious　gayety；　and　from　every
side　they　were　assailed　by　the　raucous　whistles　of　ferry…boats。
The　surroundings　were　not　conducive　to　sentiment；　but　for　the　first
time　Polly　Kirkland　seemed　a　little　uncertain；　a　little　frightened；
almost　on　the　verge　of　tears；　almost　persuaded　to　surrender。　　For
the　first　time　she　laid　her　hand　on　Ainsley's　arm；　and　the　shock
sent　the　blood　to　his　heart　and　held　him　breathless。　　When　the　girl
looked　at　him　there　was　something　in　her　eyes　that　neither　he　nor
any　other　man　had　ever　seen　there。

〃The　last　thing　I　tell　you；〃　she　said；　〃the　thing　I　want　you　to
remember；　is　this；　that；　though　I　do　not　careI　WANT　to　care。

Ainsley　caught　at　her　hand　and；　to　the　delight　of　the　crew　of　a
passing　tug…boat；　kissed　it　rapturously。　　His　face　was　radiant。
The　fact　of　parting　from　her　had　caused　him　real　suffering；　had
marked　his　face　with　hard　lines。　　Now；　hope　and　happiness　smoothed
them　away　and　his　eyes　shone　with　his　love　for　her。　　He　was
trembling；　laughing；　jubilant。

〃And　if　you　should！〃　he　begged。　　〃How　soon　will　I　know？　　You　will
cable；〃　he　commanded。　　〃You　will　cable　'Come；'　and　the　same　hour
I'll　start　toward　you。　　I'll　go　home　now；〃　he　cried；　〃and　pack！〃

The　girl　drew　away。　　Already　she　regretted　the　admission　she　had
made。　　In　fairness　and　in　kindness　to　him　she　tried　to　regain　the
position　she　had　abandoned。

〃But　a　change　like　that；〃　she　pleaded；　〃might　not　come　for　years；
may　never　come！〃　　To　recover　herself；　to　make　the　words　she　had
uttered　seem　less　serious；　she　spoke　quickly　and　lightly。

〃And　how　could　I　CABLE　such　a　thing！〃　she　protested。　　〃It　would　be
far　too　sacred；　too　precious。　　You　should　be　able　to　FEEL　that　the
change　has　come。〃

〃I　suppose　I　should；〃　assented　Ainsley；　doubtfully；　〃but　it's　a
long　way　across　two　oceans。　　It　would　be　safer　if　you'd　promise　to
use　the　cable。　　Just　one　word：　'Come。'〃

The　girl　shook　her　head　and　frowned。

〃If　you　can't　feel　that　the　woman　you　love　loves　you；　even　across
the　world；　you　cannot　love　her　very　deeply。〃

〃I　don't　have　to　answer　that！〃　said　Ainsley。

〃I　will　send　you　a　sign；〃　continued　the　girl；　hastily；　〃a　secret
wireless　message。　　It　shall　be　a　test。　　If　you　love　me　you　will
read　it　at　once。　　You　will　know　the　instant　you　see　it　that　it
comes　from　me。　　No　one　else　will　be　able　to　read　it；　but　if　you
love　me；　you　will　know　that　I　love　you。

Whether　she　spoke　in　metaphor　or　in　fact；　whether　she　was　〃playing
for　time；〃　or　whether　in　her　heart　she　already　intended　to　soon
reward　him　with　a　message　of　glad　tidings；　Ainsley　could　not
decide。　　And　even　as　he　begged　her　to　enlighten　him　the　last
whistle　blew；　and　a　determined　officer　ordered　him　to　the　ship's
side。

〃Just　as　in　everything　that　is　beautiful；〃　he　whispered　eagerly；　〃I
always　see　something　of　you；　so　now　in　everything　wonderful　I　will
read　your　message。　　But；〃　he　persisted；　〃how　shall　I　be　SURE？〃

The　last　bag　of　mail　had　shot　into　the　hold；　the　most　reluctant　of
the　visitors　were　being　hustled　down　the　last　remaining　gangplank。
Ainsley's　state　was　desperate。

〃Will　it　be　in　symbol；　or　in　cipher？〃　he　demanded。　　〃Must　I　read　it
in　the　sky；　or　will　you　hide　it　in　a　letter；　orwhere？　　Help　me！
Give　me　just　a　hint！〃

The　girl　shook　her　head。

〃You　will　read　itin　your　heart；〃　she　said。

From　the　end　of　the　wharf　Ainsley　watched　the　funnels　of　the　ship
disappear　in　the　haze　of　the　lower　bay。　　His　heart　was　sore　and
heavy；　but　in　it　there　was　still　room　for　righteous　indignation。
〃Read　it　in　my　heart！〃　he　protested。　　〃How　the　devil　can　I　read　it
in　my　heart？　　I　want　to　read　it　PRINTED　in　a　cablegram。〃

Because　he　had　always　understood　that　young　men　in　love　found
solace　for　their　misery　in　solitude　and　in　communion　with　nature；
he　at　on