the blue flower-第14部分

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with　moss。　　It　was　snug　and　warm。　　But　smallhow　pitifully
small　it　looked　to…dayand　how　lonely！

His　hand…sledge　stood　beside　the　door；　and　against　it
leaned　the　axe。　　He　caught　it　up　and　began　to　split　wood　for
the　stove。　　〃No！〃　he　cried；　throwing　down　the　axe；　〃I'm　tired
of　this。　　It　has　lasted　long　enough。　　I'm　going　out　to　make　my
way　in　the　world。〃

A　couple　of　hours　later；　the　sledge　was　packed　with　camp…gear
and　bundles　of　skins。　　The　door　of　the　cabin　was　shut；　a
ghostlike　wreath　of　blue　smoke　curled　from　the　chimney。　　Luke
stood；　in　his　snowshoes；　on　the　white　surface　of　the　River　of　the
Way　Out。　　He　turned　to　look　back　for　a　moment；　and　waved　his
hand。

〃Good…bye；　old　cabin！　Good…bye；　the　rivers！　　Good…bye；　the
woods！〃



II

The　House　on　the　Main　Street

All　the　good　houses　in　Scroll…Saw　City　were　different；　in　the
number　and　shape　of　the　curious　pinnacles　that　rose　from　their
roofs　and　in　the　trimmings　of　their　verandas。　　Yet　they　were
all　alike；　too；　in　their　general　expression　of　putting　their
best　foot　foremost　and　feeling　quite　sure　that　they　made　a
brave　show。　　They　had　lace　curtains　in　their　front　parlour
windows；　and　outside　of　the　curtains　were　large　red　and　yellow
pots　of　artificial　flowers　and　indestructible　palms　and
vulcanised　rubber…plants。　　It　was　a　gay　sight。

But　by　far　the　bravest　of　these　houses　was　the　residence
of　Mr。　Matthew　Wilson；　the　principal　merchant　of　Scroll…Saw
City。　　It　stood　on　a　corner　of　Main　Street；　glancing　slyly　out
of　the　tail　of　one　eye；　side…ways　down　the　street；　toward　the
shop　and　the　business；　but　keeping　a　bold；　complacent　front
toward　the　street…cars　and　the　smaller　houses　across　the　way。
It　might　well　be　satisfied　with　itself；　for　it　had　three　more
pinnacles　than　any　of　its　neighbours；　and　the　work　of　the
scroll…saw　was　looped　and　festooned　all　around　the　eaves　and
porticoes　and　bay…windows　in　amazing　richness。　　Moreover；　in
the　front　yard　were　cast…iron　images　painted　white：　a　stag
reposing　on　a　door…mat；　Diana　properly　dressed　and　returning
from　the　chase；　a　small　iron　boy　holding　over　his　head　a
parasol　from　the　ferrule　of　which　a　fountain　squirted。　　The
paths　were　of　asphalt；　gray　and　gritty　in　winter；　but　now；　in
the　summer　heat；　black　and　pulpy　to　the　tread。

There　were　many　feet　passing　over　them　this　afternoon；　for
Mr。　and　Mrs。　Matthew　Wilson　were　giving　a　reception　to
celebrate　the　official　entrance　of　their　daughter　Amanda　into　a
social　life　which　she　had　permeated　unofficially　for　several
years。　　The　house　was　sizzling　full　of　people。　　Those　who　were
jammed　in　the　parlour　tried　to　get　into　the　dining…room；　and
those　who　were　packed　in　the　dining…room　struggled　to　escape；
holding　plates　of　stratified　cake　and　liquefied　ice…cream　high
above　their　neighbours'　heads　like　signals　of　danger　and
distress。　　Everybody　was　talking　at　the　same　time；　in　a　loud；
shrill　voice；　and　nobody　listened　to　what　anybody　else　was
saying。　But　it　did　not　matter；　for　they　all　said　the　same　things。

〃Elegant　house　for　a　party；　so　full　of〃　　〃How　perfectly
lovely　Amanda　Wilson　looks　in　that〃　　〃Awfully　warm　day！
Were　you　at　the　Tompkins'　last〃　　〃Wilson's　Emporium　must　be
doing　good　business　to　keep　up　all　this〃　　〃Hear　he's　going
to　enlarge　the　store　and　take　Luke　Woods　into　the〃

〃Shouldn't　wonder　if　there　might　be　a　wedding　here　before
next〃

The　tide　of　chatter　rose　and　swelled　and　ebbed　and
suddenly　sank　away。　　At　six　o'clock；　the　minister　and　two
maiden　ladies　in　black　silk　with　lilac　ribbons；　laid　down　their
last　plates　of　ice…cream　and　said　they　thought　they　must　be
going。　　Amanda　and　her　mother　preened　their　dresses　and　patted
their　hair。　　Come　into　the　study；〃　said　Mr。　Wilson　to　Luke。　　〃I
want　to　have　a　talk　with　you。〃

The　little　bookless　room；　called　the　study；　was　the　one
that　kept　its　eye　on　the　shop　and　the　business；　away　down　the
street。　　You　could　see　the　brick　front；　and　the　plate…glass
windows；　and　part　of　the　gilt　sign。

〃Pretty　good　store；〃　said　Mr。　Wilson；　jingling　the　keys　in
his　pocket；　〃does　the　biggest　trade　in　the　county；　biggest　but
one　in　the　whole　state；　I　guess。　　And　I　must　say；　Luke　Woods；
you've　done　your　share；　these　last　five　years；　in　building　it
up。　　Never　had　a　clerk　work　so　hard　and　so　steady。　　You've　got
good　business　sense；　I　guess。〃

〃I'm　glad　you　think　so；〃　said　Luke。　　〃I　did　as　well　as　I
could。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　the　elder　man；　〃and　now　I'm　about　ready　to
take　you　in　with　me；　give　you　a　share　in　the　business。　　I　want
some　one　to　help　me　run　it；　make　it　larger。　　We　can　double　it；
easy；　if　we　stick　to　it　and　spread　out。　　No　reason　why　you
shouldn't　make　a　fortune　out　of　it；　and　have　a　house　just　like
this　on　the　other　corner；　when　you're　my　age。〃

Luke's　thoughts　were　wandering　a　little。　　They　went　out
from　the　stuffy　room；　beyond　the　dusty　street；　and　the
jangling　cars；　and　the　gilt　sign；　and　the　shop　full　of
dry…goods　and　notions；　and　the　high　desks　in　the　officeout
to　the　dim；　cool　forest；　where　Snowberry　and　Partridge…berry
and　Wood…Magic　grow。　　He　heard　the　free　winds　rushing　over　the
tree…tops；　and　saw　the　trail　winding　away　before　him　in　the
green　shade。

〃You　are　very　kind；〃　said　he；　〃I　hope　you　will　not　be
disappointed　in　me。　　Sometimes　I　think；　perhaps〃

〃Not　at　all；　not　at　all；〃　said　the　other。　　〃It's　all
right。　　You're　well　fitted　for　it。　　And　then；　there's　another
thing。　　I　guess　you　like　my　daughter　Amanda　pretty　well。　　Eh？
I've　watched　you；　young　man。　　I've　had　my　eye　on　you！　　Now；　of
course；　I　can't　say　much　about　itnever　can　be　sure　of　these
kind　of　things；　you　knowbut　if　you　and　she〃

The　voice　went　on　rolling　out　words　complacently。　　But
something　strange　was　working　in　Luke's　blood；
and　other　voices　were　sounding　faintly　in　his　ears。　　He　heard
the　lisping　of　the　leaves　on　the　little　poplar…trees；　the
whistle　of　the　black　duck's　wings　as　he　circled　in　the　air；
the　distant　drumming　of　the　grouse　on　his　log；　the　rumble　of
the　water…fall　in　the　River　of　Rocks。　　The　spray　cooled　his
face。　　He　saw　the　fish　rising　along　the　pool；　and　a　stag
feeding　among　the　lily…pads。

〃I　don't　know　how　to　thank　you；　Mr。　Wilson；〃　said　he　at
last；　when　the　elder　man　stopped　talking。　　〃You　have　certainly
treated　me　most　generously。　　The　only　question　is；　whether
But　to…morrow　night；　I　think；　with　your　consent；　I　will　speak
to　your　daughter。　　To…night　I　am　going　down　to　the　store；
there　is　a　good　deal　of　work　to　do　on　the　books。〃

But　when　Luke　came　to　the　store；　he　did　not　go　in。　　He
walked　along　the　street　till　he　came　to　the　river。

The　water…side　was　strangely　deserted。　　Everybody　was　at
supper。　　A　couple　of　schooners　were　moored　at　the　wharf。　　The
Portland　steamer　had　gone　out。　　The　row…boats　hung　idle　at　their
little　dock。　　Down　the　river；　drifting　and　dancing　lightly　over
the　opalescent　ripples；　following　the　gentle　turns　of　the　current
which　flowed　past　the　end　of　the　dock　where　Luke　was　standing；
came　a　white　canoe；　empty　and　astray。



III

The　White　Canoe

〃That　looks　just　like　my　old　canoe；〃　said　he。　　〃Somebody　must
have　left　it　adrift　up　the　river。　　I　wonder　how　it　floated
down　here　without　being　picked　up。〃　　He　put　out　his　hand　and
caught　it；　as　it　touched　the　dock。

In　the　stern　a　good　paddle　of　maple…wood　was　lying；　in　the
middle　there　was　a　roll　of　blankets　and　a　pack　of　camp…stuff；　in
the　bow　a　rifle。

〃All　ready　for　a　trip；〃　he　laughed。　　〃Nobody　going　but　me？
Well；　then；　au　large！〃　　And　stepping　into　the　canoe　he
pushed　out　on　the　river。

The　saffron　and　golden　lights　in　the　sky　diffused
themselves　over　the　surface　of　the　water；　and　spread　from　the　bow
of　the　canoe　in　deeper　waves　of　purple　and　orange；　as　he　paddled
swiftly　up　stream。　　The　pale　yellow　gas…lamps　of　the　town　faded
behind　him。　　The　lumber…yards　and　factories　and　disconsolate
little　houses　of　the　outskirts　seemed　to　melt　away。　　In　a　little
while　he　was　floating　between　dark　walls　of　forest；　through　the
heart　of　the　wilderness。

The　night　deepened　around　him　and　the　sky　hung　out　its
thousand　lamps。　　Odours　of　the　woods　floated　on　the　air：　the
spicy　fragrance　of　the　firs；　the　breath　of　hidden　banks　of
twin…flower。　　Muskrats　swam　noiselessly　in　the　shadows；　diving
with　a　great　commotion　as　the　canoe　ran　upon　them　suddenly。
A　horned　owl　hooted　from　the　branch　of　a　dead　pine…tree；　far
back　in　the　forest　a　fox　barked　twice。　　The　moon　crept　up
behind　the　wall　of　trees　and　touched　the　stream　with　silver。

Presently　the　forest　receded：　the　banks　of　the　river　grew
broad　and　open；　the　dew　glistened　on　the　tall　grass；　it　was
surely　the　River　of　Meadows。　　Far　ahead　of　him　in　a　bend　of
the　stream；　Luke's　ear　caught　a　new　sound：　SLOSH；　SLOSH；　SLOSH；
as　if　some　heavy　animal　were　crossing　the　wet　meadow。　　Then　a
great　splash！　　Luke　swung　the　canoe　into　the　shadow　of　the　bank
and　paddled　fast。　　As　he　turned　the　point　a　black　bear　came　out
of　the　river；　and　stood　on　the　shore；　shaking　the　water　around
him　in　glittering　spray。　　Ping！　said　the　rifle；　and　the　bear
fell。　　〃Good　luck！〃　said　Luke。　　〃I　haven't　forgotten　how；
after　all。　　I'll　take　him　into　the　canoe；　and　dress　him　up　at
the　camp。〃

Yes；　there　was　the　little　cabin　at　the　meeting　of　the
rivers。　　The　door　was　padlocked；　but　Luke　knew　how　to　pry　off
one　of　the　staples。　　Squirrels　had　made　a　litter　on　the　floor；
but　that　was　soon　swept　out；　and　a　fire　crackled　in　the　stove。
There　was　tea　and　ham　and　bread　in　the　pack　in　the　canoe。
Supper　never　tasted　better。　　〃One　more　night　in　the　old　camp；〃
said　Luke　as　he　rolled　himself　in　the　blanket　and　dropped
asleep　in　a　moment。

The　sun　shone　in　at　the　door　and　woke　him。　　〃I　must　have
a　trout　for　breakfast；〃　he　cried；　〃there's　one　waiting　for　me
at　the　mouth　of　Alder　Brook；　I　suppose。〃　　So　he　caught　up　his
rod　from　behind　the　door；　and　got　into　the　canoe　and　paddled
up　the　River　of　Rocks。　　There　was　the　broad；　dark　pool；　like　a
little　lake；　with　a　rapid　running　in　at　the　head；　and　close
beside　the　rapid；　the　mouth　of　the　brook。　　He　sent　his　fly　out　by
the　edge　of　the　alders。　　There　was　a　huge　swirl　on　the　water；　and
the　great…grandfather　of　all　the　trout　in　the　river　was
hooked。　　Up　and　down　the　pool　he