the house behind the cedars(雪松后的房子)-第58章
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trunk of a neighboring sapling she extricated herself with an effort； and
realized with a horrible certainty that she was lost in the swamp。
Turning； she tried to retrace her steps。 A flash of lightning penetrated
the gloom around her； and barring her path she saw a huge black snake；
harmless enough； in fact； but to her excited imagination frightful in
appearance。 With a wild shriek she turned again； staggered forward a
few yards； stumbled over a projecting root； and fell heavily to the earth。
When Rena had disappeared in the underbrush； Tryon and Wain had
each instinctively set out in pursuit of her； but owing to the gathering
darkness； the noise of the storm； and the thickness of the underbrush； they
missed not only Rena but each other； and neither was aware of the other's
presence in the forest。 Wain kept up the chase until the rain drove him to
shelter。 Tryon； after a few minutes； realized that she had fled to escape
him； and that to pursue her would be to defeat rather than promote his
purpose。 He desisted； therefore； and returning to the main road； stationed
himself at a point where he could watch Elder Johnson's house； and having
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waited for a while without any signs of Rena； concluded that she had taken
refuge in some friendly cabin。 Turning homeward disconsolately as
night came on； he intercepted Plato on his way back from town； and
pledged him to inviolable secrecy so effectually that Plato； when
subsequently questioned； merely answered that he had stopped a moment
to gather some chinquapins； and when he had looked around the teacher
was gone。
Rena not appearing at supper…time nor for an hour later； the elder；
somewhat anxious； made inquiries about the neighborhood； and finding
his guest at no place where she might be expected to stop； became
somewhat alarmed。 Wain's house was the last to which he went。 He
had surmised that there was some mystery connected with her leaving
Wain's； but had never been given any definite information about the matter。
In response to his inquiries； Wain expressed surprise； but betrayed a
certain self…consciousness which did not escape the elder's eye。
Returning home； he organized a search party from his own family and
several near neighbors； and set out with dogs and torches to scour the
woods for the missing teacher。 A couple of hours later； they found her
lying unconscious in the edge of the swamp； only a few rods from a well…
defined path which would soon have led her to the open highway。 Strong
arms lifted her gently and bore her home。 Mrs。 Johnson undressed her
and put her to bed； administering a homely remedy； of which whiskey was
the principal ingredient； to counteract the effects of the exposure。 There
was a doctor within five miles； but no one thought of sending for him； nor
was it at all likely that it would have been possible to get him for such a
case at such an hour。
Rena's illness； however； was more deeply seated than her friends could
imagine。 A tired body； in sympathy with an overwrought brain； had left
her peculiarly susceptible to the nervous shock of her forest experience。
The exposure for several hours in her wet clothing to the damps and
miasma of the swamp had brought on an attack of brain fever。 The next
morning； she was delirious。 One of the children took word to the
schoolhouse that the teacher was sick and there would be no school that
day。 A number of curious and sympathetic people came in from time to
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time and suggested various remedies； several of which old Mrs。 Johnson；
with catholic impartiality； administered to the helpless teacher； who from
delirium gradually sunk into a heavy stupor scarcely distinguishable from
sleep。 It was predicted that she would probably be well in the morning；
if not； it would then be time to consider seriously the question of sending
for a doctor。
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XXXII
THE POWER OF LOVE
After Tryon's failure to obtain an interview with Rena through Plato's
connivance； he decided upon a different course of procedure。 In a few
days her school term would be finished。 He was not less desirous to see
her； was indeed as much more eager as opposition would be likely to make
a very young man who was accustomed to having his own way； and whose
heart； as he had discovered； was more deeply and permanently involved
than he had imagined。 His present plan was to wait until the end of the
school； then； when Rena went to Clinton on the Saturday or Monday to
draw her salary for the month； he would see her in the town； or； if
necessary； would follow her to Patesville。 No power on earth should
keep him from her long； but he had no desire to interfere in any way with
the duty which she owed to others。 When the school was over and her
work completed； then he would have his innings。 Writing letters was too
unsatisfactory a method of communicationhe must see her face to face。
The first of his three days of waiting had passed； when； about ten
o'clock on the morning of the second day； which seemed very long in
prospect； while driving along the road toward Clinton； he met Plato； with a
rabbit trap in his hand。
〃Well； Plato；〃 he asked； 〃why are you absent from the classic shades of
the academy to…day？〃
〃Hoddy； Mars Geo'ge。 W'at wuz dat you say？〃
〃Why are you not at school to…day？〃
〃Ain' got no teacher； Mars Geo'ge。 Teacher's gone！〃
〃Gone！〃 exclaimed Tryon； with a sudden leap of the heart。 〃Gone
where？ What do you mean？〃
〃Teacher got los' in de swamp； night befo' las'； 'cause Plato wa'n't dere
ter show her de way out'n de woods。 Elder Johnson foun' 'er wid dawgs
and tawches； an' fotch her home an' put her ter bed。 No school yistiddy。
She wuz out'n her haid las' night； an' dis mawnin' she wuz gone。〃
〃Gone where？〃
〃Dey don' nobody know whar； suh。〃
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Leaving Plato abruptly； Tryon hastened down the road toward Elder
Johnson's cabin。 This was no time to stand on punctilio。 The girl had
been lost in the woods in the storm； amid the thunder and lightning and the
pouring rain。 She was sick with fright and exposure； and he was the
cause of it all。 Bribery； corruption； and falsehood had brought
punishment in their train； and the innocent had suffered while the guilty
escaped。 He must learn at once what had become of her。 Reaching
Elder Johnson's house； he drew up by the front fence and gave the
