the golden road-第2部分

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ever　else　we　do　we　mustn't　let　Uncle　Roger　get　hold　of　it。　　He'd　make　such　fearful　fun　of　it。〃

〃I　hope　we　can　make　a　success　of　it；〃　said　Peter　moodily。　　He　had　been　moody　ever　since　he　was　entrapped　into　being　fiction　editor。

〃It　will　be　a　success　if　we　are　determined　to　succeed；〃　I　said。　　〃'Where　there　is　a　will　there　is　always　a　way。'〃

〃That's　just　what　Ursula　Townley　said　when　her　father　locked　her　in　her　room　the　night　she　was　going　to　run　away　with　Kenneth　MacNair；〃　said　the　Story　Girl。

We　pricked　up　our　ears；　scenting　a　story。

〃Who　were　Ursula　Townley　and　Kenneth　MacNair？〃　I　asked。

〃Kenneth　MacNair　was　a　first　cousin　of　the　Awkward　Man's　grandfather；　and　Ursula　Townley　was　the　belle　of　the　Island　in　her　day。　　Who　do　you　suppose　told　me　the　storyno；　read　it　to　me；　out　of　his　brown　book？〃

〃Never　the　Awkward　Man　himself！〃　I　exclaimed　incredulously。

〃Yes；　he　did；〃　said　the　Story　Girl　triumphantly。　　〃I　met　him　one　day　last　week　back　in　the　maple　woods　when　I　was　looking　for　ferns。　　He　was　sitting　by　the　spring；　writing　in　his　brown　book。　　He　hid　it　when　he　saw　me　and　looked　real　silly；　but　after　I　had　talked　to　him　awhile　I　just　asked　him　about　it；　and　told　him　that　the　gossips　said　he　wrote　poetry　in　it；　and　if　he　did　would　he　tell　me；　because　I　was　dying　to　know。　　He　said　he　wrote　a　little　of　everything　in　it；　and　then　I　begged　him　to　read　me　something　out　of　it；　and　he　read　me　the　story　of　Ursula　and　Kenneth。〃

〃I　don't　see　how　you　ever　had　the　face；〃　said　Felicity；　and　even　Cecily　looked　as　if　she　thought　the　Story　Girl　had　gone　rather　far。

〃Never　mind　that；〃　cried　Felix；　〃but　tell　us　the　story。　　That's　the　main　thing。〃

〃I'll　tell　it　just　as　the　Awkward　Man　read　it；　as　far　as　I　can；〃　said　the　Story　Girl；　〃but　I　can't　put　all　his　nice　poetical　touches　in；　because　I　can't　remember　them　all；　though　he　read　it　over　twice　for　me。〃



CHAPTER　II

A　WILL；　A　WAY　AND　A　WOMAN


〃One　day；　over　a　hundred　years　ago；　Ursula　Townley　was　waiting　for　Kenneth　MacNair　in　a　great　beechwood；　where　brown　nuts　were　falling　and　an　October　wind　was　making　the　leaves　dance　on　the　ground　like　pixy…people。〃

〃What　are　pixy…people？〃　demanded　Peter；　forgetting　the　Story　Girl's　dislike　of　interruptions。

〃Hush；〃　whispered　Cecily。　　〃That　is　only　one　of　the　Awkward　Man's　poetical　touches；　I　guess。〃

〃There　were　cultivated　fields　between　the　grove　and　the　dark　blue　gulf；　but　far　behind　and　on　each　side　were　woods；　for　Prince　Edward　Island　a　hundred　years　ago　was　not　what　it　is　today。　　The　settlements　were　few　and　scattered；　and　the　population　so　scanty　that　old　Hugh　Townley　boasted　that　he　knew　every　man；　woman　and　child　in　it。

〃Old　Hugh　was　quite　a　noted　man　in　his　day。　　He　was　noted　for　several　thingshe　was　rich；　he　was　hospitable；　he　was　proud；　he　was　masterfuland　he　had　for　daughter　the　handsomest　young　woman　in　Prince　Edward　Island。

〃Of　course；　the　young　men　were　not　blind　to　her　good　looks；　and　she　had　so　many　lovers　that　all　the　other　girls　hated　her〃

〃You　bet！〃　said　Dan；　aside

〃But　the　only　one　who　found　favour　in　her　eyes　was　the　very　last　man　she　should　have　pitched　her　fancy　on；　at　least　if　old　Hugh　were　the　judge。　　Kenneth　MacNair　was　a　dark…eyed　young　sea…captain　of　the　next　settlement；　and　it　was　to　meet　him　that　Ursula　stole　to　the　beechwood　on　that　autumn　day　of　crisp　wind　and　ripe　sunshine。　　Old　Hugh　had　forbidden　his　house　to　the　young　man；　making　such　a　scene　of　fury　about　it　that　even　Ursula's　high　spirit　quailed。　　Old　Hugh　had　really　nothing　against　Kenneth　himself；　but　years　before　either　Kenneth　or　Ursula　was　born；　Kenneth's　father　had　beaten　Hugh　Townley　in　a　hotly　contested　election。　　Political　feeling　ran　high　in　those　days；　and　old　Hugh　had　never　forgiven　the　MacNair　his　victory。　　The　feud　between　the　families　dated　from　that　tempest　in　the　provincial　teapot；　and　the　surplus　of　votes　on　the　wrong　side　was　the　reason　why；　thirty　years　after；　Ursula　had　to　meet　her　lover　by　stealth　if　she　met　him　at　all。〃

〃Was　the　MacNair　a　Conservative　or　a　Grit？〃　asked　Felicity。

〃It　doesn't　make　any　difference　what　he　was；〃　said　the　Story　Girl　impatiently。　　〃Even　a　Tory　would　be　romantic　a　hundred　years　ago。　　Well；　Ursula　couldn't　see　Kenneth　very　often；　for　Kenneth　lived　fifteen　miles　away　and　was　often　absent　from　home　in　his　vessel。　　On　this　particular　day　it　was　nearly　three　months　since　they　had　met。

〃The　Sunday　before；　young　Sandy　MacNair　had　been　in　Carlyle　church。　　He　had　risen　at　dawn　that　morning；　walked　bare…footed　for　eight　miles　along　the　shore；　carrying　his　shoes；　hired　a　harbour　fisherman　to　row　him　over　the　channel；　and　then　walked　eight　miles　more　to　the　church　at　Carlyle；　less；　it　is　to　be　feared；　from　a　zeal　for　holy　things　than　that　he　might　do　an　errand　for　his　adored　brother；　Kenneth。　　He　carried　a　letter　which　he　contrived　to　pass　into　Ursula's　hand　in　the　crowd　as　the　people　came　out。　　This　letter　asked　Ursula　to　meet　Kenneth　in　the　beechwood　the　next　afternoon；　and　so　she　stole　away　there　when　suspicious　father　and　watchful　stepmother　thought　she　was　spinning　in　the　granary　loft。〃

〃It　was　very　wrong　of　her　to　deceive　her　parents；〃　said　Felicity　primly。

The　Story　Girl　couldn't　deny　this；　so　she　evaded　the　ethical　side　of　the　question　skilfully。

〃I　am　not　telling　you　what　Ursula　Townley　ought　to　have　done；〃　she　said　loftily。　　〃I　am　only　telling　you　what　she　DID　do。　　If　you　don't　want　to　hear　it　you　needn't　listen；　of　course。　　There　wouldn't　be　many　stories　to　tell　if　nobody　ever　did　anything　she　shouldn't　do。

〃Well；　when　Kenneth　came；　the　meeting　was　just　what　might　have　been　expected　between　two　lovers　who　had　taken　their　last　kiss　three　months　before。　　So　it　was　a　good　half…hour　before　Ursula　said；

〃'Oh；　Kenneth；　I　cannot　stay　longI　shall　be　missed。　　You　said　in　your　letter　that　you　had　something　important　to　talk　of。　　What　is　it？'

〃'My　news　is　this；　Ursula。　　Next　Saturday　morning　my　vessel；　The　Fair　Lady；　with　her　captain　on　board；　sails　at　dawn　from　Charlottetown　harbour；　bound　for　Buenos　Ayres。　　At　this　season　this　means　a　safe　and　sure　returnnext　May。'

〃'Kenneth！'　cried　Ursula。　　She　turned　pale　and　burst　into　tears。　　'How　can　you　think　of　leaving　me？　　Oh；　you　are　cruel！'

〃'Why；　no；　sweetheart；'　laughed　Kenneth。　　'The　captain　of　The　Fair　Lady　will　take　his　bride　with　him。　　We'll　spend　our　honeymoon　on　the　high　seas；　Ursula；　and　the　cold　Canadian　winter　under　southern　palms。'

〃'You　want　me　to　run　away　with　you；　Kenneth？'　exclaimed　Ursula。

〃'Indeed；　dear　girl；　there's　nothing　else　to　do！'

〃'Oh；　I　cannot！'　she　protested。　　'My　father　would'

〃'We'll　not　consult　himuntil　afterward。　　Come；　Ursula；　you　know　there's　no　other　way。　　We've　always　known　it　must　come　to　this。　YOUR　father　will　never　forgive　me　for　MY　father。　　You　won't　fail　me　now。　　Think　of　the　long　parting　if　you　send　me　away　alone　on　such　a　voyage。　　Pluck　up　your　courage；　and　we'll　let　Townleys　and　MacNairs　whistle　their　mouldy　feuds　down　the　wind　while　we　sail　southward　in　The　Fair　Lady。　　I　have　a　plan。'

〃'Let　me　hear　it；'　said　Ursula；　beginning　to　get　back　her　breath。

〃'There　is　to　be　a　dance　at　The　Springs　Friday　night。　　Are　you　invited；　Ursula？'

〃'Yes。'

〃'Good。　　I　am　notbut　I　shall　be　therein　the　fir　grove　behind　the　house；　with　two　horses。　　When　the　dancing　is　at　its　height　you'll　steal　out　to　meet　me。　　Then　'tis　but　a　fifteen　mile　ride　to　Charlottetown；　where　a　good　minister；　who　is　a　friend　of　mine；　will　be　ready　to　marry　us。　　By　the　time　the　dancers　have　tired　their　heels　you　and　I　will　be　on　our　vessel；　able　to　snap　our　fingers　at　fate。'

〃'And　what　if　I　do　not　meet　you　in　the　fir　grove？'　said　Ursula；　a　little　impertinently。

〃'If　you　do　not；　I'll　sail　for　South　America　the　next　morning；　and　many　a　long　year　will　pass　ere　Kenneth　MacNair　comes　home　again。'

〃Perhaps　Kenneth　didn't　mean　that；　but　Ursula　thought　he　did；　and　it　decided　her。　　She　agreed　to　run　away　with　him。　　Yes；　of　course　that　was　wrong；　too；　Felicity。　　She　ought　to　have　said；　'No；　I　shall　be　married　respectably　from　home；　and　have　a　wedding　and　a　silk　dress　and　bridesmaids　and　lots　of　presents。'　　But　she　didn't。　　She　wasn't　as　prudent　as　Felicity　King　would　have　been。〃

〃She　was　a　shameless　hussy；〃　said　Felicity；　venting　on　the　long…　dead　Ursula　that　anger　she　dare　not　visit　on　the　Story　Girl。

〃Oh；　no；　Felicity　dear；　she　was　just　a　lass　of　spirit。　　I'd　have　done　the　same。　　And　when　Friday　night　came　she　began　to　dress　for　the　dance　with　a　brave　heart。　　She　was　to　go　to　The　Springs　with　her　uncle　and　aunt；　who　were　coming　on　horseback　that　afternoon；　and　would　then　go　on　to　The　Springs　in　old　Hugh's　carriage；　which　was　the　only　one　in　Carlyle　then。　　They　were　to　leave　in　time　to　reach　The　Springs　before　nightfall；　for　the　October　nights　were　dark　and　the　wooded　roads　rough　for　travelling。

〃When　Ursula　was　ready　she　looked　at　herself　in　the　glass　with　a　good　deal　of　satisfaction。　　Yes；　Felicity；　she　was　a　vain　baggage；　that　same　Ursula；　but　that　kind　didn't　all　die　out　a　hundred　years　ago。　　And　she　had　good　reason　for　being　vain。　　She　wore　the　sea…　green　silk　which　had　been　brought　out　from　England　a　year　before　and　worn　but　onceat　the　Christmas　ball　at　Government　House。　　A　fine；　stiff；　rustling　silk　it　was；　and　over　it　shone　Ursula's　crimson　cheeks　and　gleaming　eyes；　and　masses　of　nut　brown　hair。

〃As　she　turned　from　the　glass　she　heard　her　father's　voice　below；　loud　and　angry。　　Growing　very　pale；　she　ran　out　into　the　hall。　　Her　father　was　already　half　way　upstairs；　his　face　red　with　fury。　　In　the　hall　below　Ursula　saw　her　step…mother；　looking　troubled　and　vexed。　　At　the　door　stood　Malcolm　Ramsay；　a　homely　neighbour　youth　who　had　been　courting　Ursula　in　his　clumsy　way　ever　since　she　grew　up。　　Ursula　had　always　hated　him。

〃'Ursula！'　shouted　old　Hugh；　'come　here　and　tell　this　scoundrel　he　lies。　　He　says　that　you　met　Kenneth　MacNair　in　the　beechgrove　last　Tuesday。　　Tell　him　he　lies！　　Tell　him　he　lies！'

〃Ursula　was　no　coward。　　She　looked　scornfully　at　poor　Ramsay。

〃'The　creature　is　a　spy　and　a　tale…bearer；'　she　said；　'but　in　this　he　does　not　lie。　　I　DID　meet　Kenneth　MacNair　last　Tuesday。'

〃'And　you　dare　to　tell　me　this　to　my　face！'　roared　old　Hugh。　　'Back　to　your　roo