the red acorn-第11章
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s symmetry by the moonlight's wondrous witchery。
He stopped for a moment and glanced at the old apple…tree； under which they had stood when
〃Their spirits rushed together at the meeting of their lips。〃
But its raiment of odorous blossoms was gone。 Instead； it bore a load of shapeless； sour； unripened fruit。 Instead of the freshling springing grass； at its foot was now a coarse stubble。 Instead of the delicately sweet breath of violets and fruit blooms scenting the evening air came the heavy； persistent perfume of tuberoses； and the mawkish scent of gaudy poppies。
〃Bah； it smells like a funeral；〃 he said； and he turned away and walked slowly down the hill。 〃And it is one。 My heart and all my hopes lie buried at the foot of that old apple…tree。〃
It had been suggested that much of the sympathy we lavish upon martyrs is wanton waste； because to many minds； if not in fact to all； there is a positive pleasure in considering oneself a martyr。 More absolute truth is contained in this than appears at the first blush。 There are very few who do not roll under their tongues as a sweet morsel the belief that their superior goodness or generosity has brought them trouble and affliction from envious and wicked inferiors。
So the honey that mingled with the gall and hysop of Harry Glen's humiliation was the martyr feeling that his holiest affections had been ruthlessly trampled upon by a cold…hearted woman。 His desultory readings of Byron furnished his imagination with all the woful suits and trappings necessary to trick himself out as a melancholy hero。
On his way home he had to pass the principal hotel in the place； the front of which on Summer evenings was the Sardis forum for the discussion of national politics and local gossip。 As he approached quietly along the grassy walk he overheard his own name used。 He stepped back into the shadow of a large maple and listened：
〃Yes； I seen him as he got off the train；〃 said Nels Hathaway； big； fat； lazy； and the most inveterate male gossip in the village。 〃And he is looking mighty wellyes； MIGHTY well。 I said to Tom Botkins； here； 'what a wonderful consitution Harry Glen has； to be sure； to stand the hardships of the field so well。'〃
The sarcasm was so evident that Harry's blood seethed。 The Tim Botkins alluded to had been dubbed by Basil Wurmset； the cynic and wit of the village； 〃apt appreciation's artful aid。〃 Red…haired； soft eyed； moon…faced； round of belly and lymphatic of temperament； his principal occupation in life was to play fiddle in the Sardis string…band； and in the intervals of professional engagements at dances and picnics； to fill one of the large splint…bottomed chairs in front of the hotel with his pulpy form； and receive the smart or bitter sayings of the loungers there with a laught that began before any one else's； and lasted after the others had gotten through。 His laugh alone was as good as that of all the rest of the crowd。 It was not a hearty； resonant laugh； like that from the mouth of a strong…lunged； wholesome…natured man； which has the mellow roundness of a solo on a French horn。 It was a slovenly； greasy； convictionless laugh； with uncertain tones and ill…defined edges。 Its effect was due to its volume； readiness； and long continuance。 Swelling up of the puffy form； and reddening ripples of the broad face heralded it； it began with a contagious cackle； it deepened into a flabby guffaw； and after all the others roundabout had finished their cachinnatory tribute it wound up with what was between a roar and the lazy drone of a bagpipe。
It now rewarded Nels Hathaway's irony； and the rest of the loungers joined in。 Encouraged； Nels continued； as its last echoes died away：
〃Yes； he's just as spry and pert as anybody。 He seems to have recovered entirely from all his wounds； none of 'em have disfiggered him any； and his nerves have got over their terrible strain。〃
Tim ran promptly through all the notes in his diapason； and the rest joined in on the middle register。
〃Well； I'm not at all surprised；〃 said Mr。 Oldunker； a bitter States' Rights Democrat； and the oracle of his party。 〃I told you how it'd be from the first。 Harry Glen was one of them Wide…Awakes that marched around on pleasant evenings last Fall with oil…cloth capes and kerosene lamps。 I told you that those fellows'd be no where when the war they were trying to bring on came。 I'm not at all astonished that he showed himself lily…livered when he found the people that he was willing to rob of their property standing ready to fight for their homes and their slaves。〃
〃Ready to shoot into a crowd of unsuspecting men； you mean；〃 sneered Basil Wurmset； 〃and then break their own cursed necks when they saw a little cold steel coming their way。〃
Tim came in promptly with his risible symphony。
〃Well； they didn't run away from any cold steel that Harry Glen displayed；〃 sneered Oldunker。
Tim's laugh was allegro and crescendo at the first； and staccato at the close。
〃You seem to forget that Capt。 Bob Bennett was a Wide…Awake； too；〃 retorted Wurmset； 〃though you might have remembered it from his having threatened to lick you for encouraging the boys to stone the lamps in the procession。〃
Tim cackled； gurgled and roared。
Nels Hathaway had kept silent as long as he could。 He must put his oar into the conversational tide。
〃I'd give six bits；〃 he said； 〃to know how the meeting between him and Rachel Bond passes off。 He's gone up to the house。 The boys seen him； all dressed up his best。 But his finery and his perfumed hankerchiefs won't count anything with her； I can tell YOU。 She comes of fighting stock； if ever a woman did。 The Bonds and Harringtonsher mother's peopleare game breeds； both of 'em； and stand right on their record； every time。 She'll have precious little traffic with a white…feathered fellow。 I think she's been preparing for him the coldest shoulder any young feller in Sardis's got for many a long day。〃
There was nothing very funny in this speech； but a good deal of risible matter had accumulated in Tim's diaphragm during its delivery which he had to get rid of； and he did。
Harry had heard enough。 While Tim's laugh yet resounded he walked away unnoticed； and taking a roundabout course gained his room。 There he remained a week； hardly coming down to his meals。 It was a terrible week for him； for every waking hour of it he walked through the valley of humiliation； and drank the bitter waters of shame。 The joints of his hitherto impenetrable armor of self…conceit had been so pierced by the fine rapier thrusts of Rachel's scorn that it fell from him under the coarse pounding of the village loungers and left him naked and defenseless to their blows。 Every nerve and sense ached with acute pain。 He now felt all of his father's humiliation； all his mother's querulous sorrow； all his betrothed's anguish and abasement。
Thoughts of suicide； and of flying to some part of the country where he was entirely unknown； crowded upon him incessantly。 But with that perversity that nature seemingly delights in； there had arisen in his heart since he had lost her； such a love for Rachel Bond as made life without her； or without her esteem even； seem valueless。 To go into a strange part of the country and begin life anew would be to give her up forever； and this he could not do。 It would be much preferable to die demonstrating that he was in some degree worthy of her。 And a latent manly pride awakened and came to his assistance。 He could not be the son of his proud； iron…willed father without some transmission of that sire's courageous qualities。 He formed his resolution： He would stay in Sardis； and recover his honor where he had lost it。
At the end of the week he heard the drums beat； the cannon fire； and the people cheer。 The company had come home； and was marching proudly down the street to a welcome as enthusiastic as if its members were bronzed veterans returning victoriously from a campaign that had lasted for years。
His mother told him the next day that the company had decided to re…enlist for three years or duration of the war； and that a meeting would be held that evening to carry the intention into execution。 When
