按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
working overtime and was treating himself to his first vacation
in yearshe was younghe was in love and he was very happy。 Nor
was there any question； either； that Helen Page was happy。 Those
who had known her since she was a child could not remember when
she had not been happy； but these days she wore her joyousness
with a difference。 It was in her eyes； in her greetings to old
friends： it showed itself hourly in courtesies and kindnesses。
She was very kind to Latimer； too。 She did not deceive him。 She
told him she liked better to be with him than with any one
else；it would have been difficult to deny to him what was
apparent to an entire summer colony；but she explained that that
did not mean she would marry him。 She announced this when the
signs she knew made it seem necessary。 She announced it in what
was for her a roundabout way； by remarking suddenly that she did
not intend to marry for several years。
This brought Latimer to his feet and called forth from him
remarks so eloquent that Helen found it very difficult to keep
her own。 She as though she had been caught in an undertow and was
being whirled out to sea。 When； at last； she had regained her
breath； only because Latimer had paused to catch his； she shook
her head miserably。
〃The trouble is；〃 she complained； 〃there are so many think the
same thing！〃
〃What do they think？〃 demanded Latimer。
〃That they want to marry me。〃
Checked but not discouraged； Latimer attacked in force。
〃I can quite believe that；〃 he agreed； 〃but there's this
important difference： no matter how much a man wants to marry
you； he can't LOVE you as I do！〃
〃That's ANOTHER thing they think；〃 sighed Helen。
〃I'm sorry to be so unoriginal；〃 snapped Latimer。
〃PLEASE don't！〃 pleaded Helen。 〃I don't mean to be unfeeling。 I'm
not unfeeling。 I'm only trying to be fair。 If I don't seem to
take it to heart； it's because I know it does no good。 I can see
how miserable a girl must be if she is loved by one man and can't
make up her mind whether or not she wants to marry him。 But when
there's so many she just stops worrying； for she can't possibly
marry them all。〃
〃ALL！〃 exclaimed Latimer。 〃It is incredible that I have
undervalued you； but may I ask how many there are？〃
〃I don't know；〃 sighed Helen miserably。 〃There seems to be
something about me that〃
〃There is！〃 interrupted Latimer。 〃I've noticed it。 You don't have
to tell me about it。 I know that the Helen Page habit is a damned
difficult habit to break！〃
It cannot be said that he made any violent effort to break it。 At
least； not one that was obvious to Fair Harbor or to Helen。
One of their favorite drives was through the pine woods to the
point on which stood the lighthouse； and on one of these
excursions they explored a forgotten wood road and came out upon
a cliff。 The cliff overlooked the sea； and below it was a jumble
of rocks with which the waves played hide and seek。 On many
afternoons and mornings they returned to this place； and； while
Latimer read to her； Helen would sit with her back to a tree and
toss pine…cones into the water。 Sometimes the poets whose works
he read made love so charmingly that Latimer was most grateful to
them for rendering such excellent first aid to the wounded； and
into his voice he would throw all that feeling and music that
from juries and mass meetings had dragged tears and cheers and
votes。
But when his voice became so appealing that it no longer was
possible for any woman to resist it； Helen would exclaim
excitedly： 〃Please excuse me for interrupting； but there is a
large spider〃 and the spell was gone。
One day she exclaimed： 〃Oh！〃 and Latimer patiently lowered the
〃Oxford Book of Verse；〃 and asked： 〃What is it； NOW？〃
〃I'm so sorry；〃 Helen said； 〃but I can't help watching that
Chapman boy； he's only got one reef in； and the next time he jibs
he'll capsize； and he can't swim； and he'll drown。 I told his
mother only yesterday〃
〃I haven't the least interest in the Chapman boy；〃 said Latimer；
〃or in what you told his mother； or whether he drowns or not！ I'm
a drowning man myself！〃
Helen shook her head firmly and reprovingly。 〃Men get over THAT
kind of drowning；〃 she said。
〃Not THIS kind of man doesn't！〃 said Latimer。 〃And don't tell
me；〃 he cried indignantly； 〃that that's ANOTHER thing they all
say。〃
〃If one could only be sure！〃 sighed Helen。 〃If one could only be
sure that youthat the right man would keep on caring after you
marry him the way he says he cares before you marry him。 If you
could know that； it would help you a lot in making up your mind。〃
〃There is only one way to find that out；〃 said Latimer； 〃that is
to marry him。 I mean； of course；〃 he corrected hastily； 〃to marry
me。〃
One day； when on their way to the cliff at the end of the wood
road； the man who makes the Nantucket sailor and peddles him
passed through the village； and Latimer bought the sailorman and
carried him to their hiding…place。 There he fastened him to the
lowest limb of one of the ancient pine…trees that helped to
screen their hiding…place from the world。 The limb reached out
free of the other branches； and the wind caught the sailorman
fairly and spun him like a dancing dervish。 Then it tired of him；
and went off to try to drown the Chapman boy； leaving the
sailorman motionless with his arms outstretched； balancing in
each hand a tiny oar and smiling happily。
〃He has a friendly smile；〃 said Helen； 〃I think he likes us。〃
〃He is on guard；〃 Latimer explained。 〃I put him there to warn us
if any one approaches； and when we are not here； he is to
frighten away trespassers。 Do you understand？〃 he demanded of the
sailorman。 〃Your duty is to protect this beautiful lady。 So long
as I love her you must guard this place。 It is a life sentence。
You are always on watch。 You never sleep。 You are her slave。 She
says you have a friendly smile。 She wrongs you。 It is a
beseeching； abject； worshipping smile。 I am sure when I look at
her mine is equally idiotic。 In fact； we are in many ways alike。
I also am her slave。 I also am devoted only to her service。 And I
never sleep； at least not since I met her。〃
From her throne among the pine needles Helen looked up at the
sailorman and frowned。
〃It is not a happy simile；〃 she objected。 〃For one thing； a
sailorman has a sweetheart in every port。〃
〃Wait and see；〃 said Latimer。
〃And；〃 continued the girl with some asperity； 〃if there is
anything on earth that changes its mind as often as a
weather…vane； that is less CERTAIN； less CONSTANT〃
〃Constant？〃 Latimer laughed at her in open scorn。 〃You come back
here；〃 he challenged； 〃months from now； years from now； when the
winds have beaten him； and the sun blistered him； and the snow
frozen him； and you will find him smiling at you just as he is
now； just as confidently； proudly； joyously； devotedly。 Because
those who are your slaves； those who love YOU； cannot come to any
harm； only if you disown them； only if you drive them away！
The sailorman； delighted at such beautiful language； threw
himself about in a delirium of joy。 His arms spun in their
sockets like Indian clubs； his oars flashed in the sun； and his
eyes and lips were fixed in one blissful； long…drawn…out；
unalterable smile。
When the golden…rod turned gray； and the leaves red and yellow；
and it was time for Latimer to return to his work in the West； he
came to say good…by。 But the best Helen could do to keep hope
alive in him was to say that she was glad he cared。 She added it
was very helpful to think that a man such as he believed you were
so fine a person； and during the coming winter she would try to
be like the fine person he believed her to be； but which； she
assured him； she was not。
Then he told her again she was the most wonderful being in the
world； to which she said： 〃Oh； indeed no！〃 and then； as though he
were giving her a cue； he said： 〃Good…by！〃 But she did not take
up his cue； and they shook hands。 He waited； hardly daring to
breathe。
〃Surely； now that the parting has come；〃 he assured himself； 〃she
will make some sign； she will give me a word； a look that will
write 'total' under the hours we have spent toge