the red acorn-第2部分

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It　must　be　admitted　that　refining　causists　may　find　room　for　censure　in　this　making　Ambition　the　advance　guard　to　spy　out　the　ground　that　Love　is　to　occupy。　　But；　after　all；　is　there　not　a　great　deal　of　mistake　about　the　way　that　true　love　begins？　　If　we　had　the　data　before　us　we　should　be　pained　by　the　enlightenment　that；　in　the　vast　majority　of　cases　the　regard　of　young　people　for　each　other　is　fixed　in　the　first　instance　by　motives　that　will　bear　quite　as　little　scrutiny　as　Miss　Rachel　Bond's。

We　can　afford　to　be　careless　how　the　germ　of　love　is　planted。　　The　main　thing　is　how　it　is　watered　and　tended；　and　brought　to　a　lasting　and　beautiful　growth。　　Rachel's　ambition　gratified；　there　had　been　a　steady　rise　toward　flood　in　the　tide　of　her　affections。　　She　was　not　long　in　growing　to　love　Harry　with　all　the　intensity　of　a　really　ardent　nature。

After　the　meeting　at　which　Harry　had　signed　the　recruiting　roll；　he　had　taken　her　home　up　the　long；　sloping　hill；　through　moonlight　as　soft；　as　inspiring；　as　glorifying　as　that　which　had　melted　even　the　frosty　Goddess　of　Maidenhood；　so　that　she　stooped　from　her　heavenly　unapproachableness；　and　kissed　the　handsome　Endymion　as　he　slept。

Though　little　and　that　commonplace　was　said　as　they　walked；　subtle　womanly　instinct　prepared　Rachel's　mind　for　what　was　coming；　and　her　grasp　upon　Harry's　arm　assumed　a　new　feeling　that　hurried　him　on　to　the　crisis。

They　stopped　beneath　the　old　apple…tree；　at　the　crest　of　the　hill；　and　in　front　of　the　house。　　Its　gnarled　and　twisted　limbs　had　been　but　freshly　clothed　in　a　suit　of　fragrant　green　leaves。

The　ruddy　bonfires；　lighted　for　the　war…meeting；　still　burned　in　the　village　below。　　The　hum　of　supplementary　speeches　to　the　excited　crowds　that　still　lingered　about　came　to　their　ears；　mingled　with　cheers　from　throat　rapidly　growing　hoarse；　and　the　throb　and　wail　of　fife　and　drum。　　Then；　uplifted　on　the　voices　of　hundreds　who　sang　it　as　only　men；　and　men　swayed　by　powerful　emotions　can；　rose　the　ever…glorious　〃Star…Spangled　Banner；〃　loftiest　and　most　inspiring　of　national　hymns。　　Through　its　long；　forceful　measures；　which　have　the　sweep　and　ring　of　marching　battalions；　swung　the　singers；　with　a　passionate　earnestness　that　made　every　note　and　word　glow　with　meaning。　　The　swelling　paean　told　of　the　heroism　and　sacrifice　with　which　the　foundations　of　the　Nation　were　laid；　of　the　glory　to　which　the　land　had　risen；　and　then　its　mood　changing　to　one　of　direness　and　wrath；　it　foretold　the　just　punishment　of　those　who　broke　the　peace　of　a　happy　land。

The　mood　of　the　Sardis　people　was　that　patriotic　exaltation　which　reigned　in　every　city　and　village　of　the　North　on　that　memorable　night　of　April；　1861。

But　Rachel　and　Harry　had　left　far　behind　them　this　passion　of　the　multitude；　which　had　set　their　own　to　throbbing；　even　as　the　roar　of　a　cannon　will　waken　the　vibrations　of　harp…strings。　　Around　where　they　stood　was　the　peace　of　the　night　and　sleep。　　The　perfume　of　violets　and　hyacinths；　and　of　myriads　of　opening　buds　seemed　shed　by　the　moon　with　her　silvery　rays　through　the　soft；　dewy　air；　a　few　nocturnal　insects　droned　hither　and　thither；　and　〃drowsy　tinklings　lulled　the　distant　folds。〃

As　their　steps　were　arrested　Rachel　released　her　grasp　from　Harry's　arm；　but　he　caught　her　hand　before　it　fell　to　her　side；　and　held　it　fast。　　She　turned　her　face　frankly　toward　him；　and　he　looked　down　with　anxious　eyes　upon　the　broad　white　forehead；　framed　in　silken　black　hair；　upon　great　eyes；　flaming　with　a　meaning　that　he　feared　to　interpret；　upon　the　eloquent　lines　about　the　mobile；　sensitive　mouth；　all　now　lifted　into　almost　supernatural　beauty　by　the　moonlight's　spiritualizing　magic。

What　he　said　he　could　never　afterward　recall。　　His　first　memory　was　that　of　a　pause　in　his　speech；　when　he　saw　the　ripe；　red　lips　turned　toward　him　with　a　gesture　of　the　proud　head　that　was　both　an　assent　and　invitation。　　The　kiss　that　he　pressed　there　thrilled　him　with　the　intoxication　of　unexpectedly　rewarded　love；　and　Rachel　with　the　gladness　of　triumph。

What　they　afterward　said　was　as　incoherent　as　the　conversations　of　those　rapturous　moments　ever　are。

〃You　know　we　leave　in　the　morning？〃　he　said；　when　at　last　it　became　necessary　for　him　to　go。

〃Yes；〃　she　answered　calmly。　　〃And　perhaps　it　is　better　that　it　should　be　sothat　we　be　apart　for　a　little　while　to　consider　this　new…found　happiness　and　understand　it。　　I　shall　be　sustained　with　the　thought　that　in　giving　you　to　the　country　I　have　given　more　than　any　one　else。　　I　know　that　you　will　do　something　that　will　make　me　still　prouder　of　you；　and　my　presentiments；　which　never　fail　me；　assure　me　that　you　will　return　to　me　safely。〃

His　face　showed　a　little　disappointment　with　the　answer。

She　reached　above　her　head；　and　breaking　off　a　bud　handed　it　to　him；　saying　in　the　words　of　Juliet：

〃Sweet；　good…night：　This　bud　of　love；　by　Summer's　ripening　breath；　May　prove　a　beauteous　flower；　when　next　we　meet。〃

He　kissed　the　bud；　and　put　it　in　his　bosom；　kissed　her　again　passionately；　and　descended　the　hill　to　prepare　for　his　departure　in　the　morning。

She　was　with　the　rest　of　the　village　at　the　depot　to　bid　the　company　good…bye；　and　was　amazed　to　find　how　far　the　process　of　developing　the　bud　into　the　flower　had　gone　in　her　heart　since　parting　with　her　lover。　　Her　previous　partiality　and　admiration　for　him　appeared　now　very　tame　and　colorless；　beside　the　emotions　that　stirred　her　at　the　sight　of　him　marching　with　erect　grace　at　the　head　of　his　company。　　But　while　all　about　her　were　tears　and　sobs；　and　modest　girls　revealing　unsuspecting　attachments　in　the　agitation　of　parting；　her　eyes　were　undimmed。　　She　was　proud　and　serene；　a　heightening　of　the　color　in　her　cheeks　being　the　only　sign　of　unusual　feeling。　Harry　came　to　her　for　a　moment；　held　her　hand　tightly　in　his；　took　the　bud　from　his　bosom；　touched　it　significantly　with　his　lips；　and　sprang　upon　the　train　which　was　beginning　to　move　away。

The　days　that　followed　were　halcyon　for　her。　　While　the　other　women　of　Sardis；　whose　loved　ones　were　gone；　were　bewailing　the　dangers　they　would　encounter；　her　proud　spirit　only　contemplated　the　chances　that　Harry　would　have　for　winning　fame。　　Battles　meant　bright　laurels　for　him　in　which　she　would　have　a　rightful　share。

Her　mental　food　became　the　poetry　of　love；　chivalry　and　glorious　war。　　The　lyric　had　a　vivid　personal　interest。　　Tales　of　romantic　daring　and　achievement　were　suggestions　of　possibilities　in　Harry's　career。　　Her　waking　hours　were　mainly　spent；　book　in　hand；　under　the　old　apple…tree　that　daily　grew　dearer　to　her。

The　exalted　mood　in　which　we　found　her　was　broken　in　upon　by　the　sound　of　some　one　shutting　the　gate　below　very　emphatically。　　Looking　down　she　saw　her　father　approaching　with　such　visible　signs　in　face　and　demeanor　of　strong　excitement　that　she　arose　and　went　to　him。

〃Why；　father；　what　can　be　the　matter？〃　she　said；　stopping　in　front　of　him；　with　the　open　book　pressed　to　her　breast。

〃Matter　enough；　I'm　afraid；　Rachel。　　There's　been　a　battle　near　a　place　called　Rich　Mountain；　in　Western　Virginia；　and　Harry　Glen's…〃

〃O；　father；〃　she　said；　growing　very　white；　〃Harry's　killed。〃

〃No；