by shore and sedge(沙滩和苔草旁)-第6部分
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was the function of the local preacher an older and more experienced
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man than himself。 〃If it is；〃 said Jack Hamlin； coolly； 〃I'm afraid he won't
get a yaller dog to come to his church； but if you say you'll preach at the
grave； there ain't a man； woman； or child that will be kept away。 Don't you
go back on your luck； now； it's something awful and nigger…like。 You've
got this crowd where the hair is short； excuse me； but it's so。 Talk of
revivals！ You could give that one…horse show in Tasajara a hundred points；
and skunk them easily。〃 Indeed； had Gideon been accessible to vanity； the
spontaneous homage he met with everywhere would have touched him
more sympathetically and kindly than it did； but in the utter
unconsciousness of his own power and the quality they worshiped in him；
he felt alarmed and impatient of what he believed to be their weak
sympathy with his own human weakness。 In the depth of his unselfish
heart； lit； it must be confessed； only by the scant； inefficient lamp of his
youthful experience； he really believed he had failed in his apostolic
mission because he had been unable to touch the hearts of the Vigilantes
by oral appeal and argument。 Feeling thus the reverence of these
irreligious people that surrounded him； the facile yielding of their habits
and prejudices to his half…uttered wish； appeared to him only a temptation
of the flesh。 No one had sought him after the manner of the camp…meeting；
he had converted the wounded man through a common weakness of their
humanity。 More than that； he was conscious of a growing fascination for
the truthfulness and sincerity of that class； particularly of Mr。 Jack Hamlin；
whose conversion he felt he could never attempt； yet whose strange
friendship alternately thrilled and frightened him。
It was the evening before the funeral。 The coffin； half smothered in
wreaths and flowers； stood upon trestles in the anteroom； a large silver
plate bearing an inscription on which for the second time Gideon read the
name of the man he had converted。 It was a name associated on the
frontier so often with reckless hardihood； dissipation； and blood； that even
now Gideon trembled at his presumption； and was chilled by a momentary
doubt of the efficiency of his labor。 Drawing unconsciously nearer to the
mute subject of his thoughts； he threw his arms across the coffin and
buried his face between them。
A stream of soft music； the echo of some forgotten song； seemed to
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Gideon to suddenly fill and possess the darkened room； and then to slowly
die away； like the opening and shutting of a door upon a flood of golden
radiance。 He listened with hushed breath and a beating heart。 He had never
heard anything like it before。 Again the strain arose； the chords swelled
round him； until from their midst a tenor voice broke high and steadfast；
like a star in troubled skies。 Gideon scarcely breathed。 It was a hymnbut
such a hymn。 He had never conceived there could be such beautiful words；
joined to such exquisite melody； and sung with a grace so tender and true。
What were all other hymns to this ineffable yearning for light； for love；
and for infinite rest？ Thrilled and exalted； Gideon felt his doubts pierced
and scattered by that illuminating cry。 Suddenly he rose； and with a
troubled thought pushed open the door to the sitting…room。 It was Mr。 Jack
Hamlin sitting before a parlor organ。 The music ceased。
〃It was YOU；〃 stammered Gideon。
Jack nodded； struck a few chords by way of finish； and then wheeled
round on the music…stool towards Gideon。 His face was slightly flushed。
〃Yes。 I used to be the organist and tenor in our church in the States。 I used
to snatch the sinners bald…headed with that。 Do you know I reckon I'll sing
that to…morrow； if you like； and maybe afterwards we'llbut〃he stopped…
…〃we'll talk of that after the funeral。 It's business。〃 Seeing Gideon still
glancing with a troubled air from the organ to himself； he said： 〃Would
you like to try that hymn with me？ Come on！〃
He again struck the chords。 As the whole room seemed to throb with
the music； Gideon felt himself again carried away。 Glancing over Jack's
shoulders； he could read the words but not the notes； yet； having a quick
ear for rhythm； he presently joined in with a deep but uncultivated
baritone。 Together they forgot everything else； and at the end of an hour
were only recalled by the presence of a silently admiring concourse of
votive…offering friends who had gathered round them。
The funeral took place the next day at the grave dug in the public
cemeterya green area fenced in by the palisading tules。 The words of
Gideon were brief but humble； the strongest partisan of the dead man
could find no fault in a confession of human frailty in which the speaker
humbly confessed his share； and when the hymn was started by Hamlin
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and taken up by Gideon； the vast multitude； drawn by interest and
curiosity； joined as in a solemn Amen。
Later； when those two strangely…assorted friends had returned to Mr。
Hamlin's rooms previous to Gideon's departure； the former； in a manner
more serious than his habitual cynical good…humor； began： 〃I said I had to
talk business with you。 The boys about here want to build a church for you；
and are ready to plank the money down if you'll say it's a go。 You
understand they aren't asking you to run in opposition to that Gospel
sharpexcuse methat's here now； nor do they want you to run a side
show in connection with it。 They want you to be independent。 They don't
pin you down to any kind of religion； you know； whatever you care to
give themMethodist； Roman Catholic； Presbyterian…is mighty good
enough for them； if you'll expound it。 You might give a little of each； or
one on one day and one anotherthey'll never know the difference if you
only mix the drinks yourself。 They'll give you a house and guarantee you
fifteen hundred dollars the first year。〃
He stopped and walked towards the window。 The sunlight that fell
upon his handsome face seemed to call back the careless smile to his lips
and the reckless fire to his brown eyes。 〃I don't suppose there's a man
among them that wouldn't tell you all this in a great deal better way than I
do。 But the darned foolsexcuse mewould have ME break it to you。
Why； I don't know。 I needn't tell you I like younot only for what you did
for Georgebut I like you for your stylefor yourself。 And I want you to
accept。 You could keep these rooms till they got a house ready for you。
Together you and mewe'd make that organ howl。 But because I like it
because it's everything to usand nothing to you； it don't seem square for
me to ask it。 Does it？〃
Gideon replied by taking Hamlin's hand。 His face was perfectly pale；
but his look collected。 He had not expected this offer； and yet when it was
made he felt as if he had known it beforeas if he had been warned of it
as if it was the great temptation of his life。 Watching him with an
earnestness only slightly overlaid by his usual manner； Hamlin went on。
〃I know it would be lonely here； and a man like you ought to have a
wife for〃 he slightly lifted his eyebrows〃for example's sake。 I heard
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there was a young lady in the case over there in Tasajara but the old
people didn't see it on account of your position。 They'd jump at it now。 Eh？
No？ Well；〃 continued Jack； with a decent attempt to conceal his cynical
relief； 〃perhaps those boys have been so eager to find out all they could do
for you that they've been sold。 Perhaps we're making equal fools of
ourselves now in asking you to stay。 But don't say no just yettake a day
or a week to think of it。〃
Gideon still pale but calm； cast his eyes around the elegant room； at
the magic organ； then upon the slight handsome figure before him。 〃I
WILL think of it；〃 he said； in a low voice； as he pressed Jack's hand。 〃And
if I accept you will find me here to…morrow afternoon at this time； if I do
not you will know that I keep with me wherever I go the kindness； the
brotherly love； and the grace of God that prompts your offer； even though
He withholds from me His blessed light； which alone can make me know
His wish。〃 He stopped and hesitated。 〃If you love me； Jack； don't ask me
to stay； but pray for that light which alone can guide my feet back to you；
or take me hence for ever。〃
He once
