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shades down； whatever happened； and when David left home in the
evening for any purpose of pleasure； she wept。 David persuaded him… self
that he despised amusement； and went to bed each night at half…past nine
in a folding bedstead in the front room； and； by becoming absolutely stolid
from mere vege… tation； imagined that he was almost fit to be a Head
Clerk。
Walking down the street now after the twenty years； thinking of these
dead but inno… cent days； this was the picture he saw； and as he reflected
upon it； even the despoiled and desolate years just passed seemed richer
by contrast。
He reached the station thus dreaming； and found； as he had been told
when the warden bade him good…by； that a train was to be at hand directly
bound to the city。 A few moments later he was on that train。 Well back in
the shadow； and out of sight of the other passengers； he gave himself up to
the enjoyment of the comfortable cushion。 He would willingly have
looked from the win… dow； green fields were new and wonderful；
drifting clouds a marvel； men； houses； horses； farms； all a revelation；
but those haunting visions were at him again； and would not leave brain or
eye free for other things。
But the next scene had warmer tints。 It was the interior of a rich room；
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A Mountain Woman
crimson and amber fabrics； flowers； the gleam of a statue beyond the
drapings； the sound of a tender piano unflinging a familiar melody； and a
woman。 She was just a part of all the luxury。
He himself； very timid and conscious of his awkwardness； sat near；
trying barrenly to get some of his thoughts out of his brain on to his
tongue。
〃Strange； isn't it；〃 the woman broke in on her own music； 〃that we
have seen each other so very often and never spoken？ I've often thought
introductions were ridiculous。 Fancy seeing a person year in and year out；
and really knowing all about him； and being perfectly acquainted with his
name at least his or her name； you know and then never speaking！
Some one comes along； and says； 'Miss Le Baron； this is Mr。 Culross；' just
as if one didn't know that all the time！ And there you are！ You cease to be
dumb folks； and fall to talking； and say a lot of things neither of you care
about； and after five or six weeks of time and sun… dry meetings； get down
to honestly saying what you mean。 I'm so glad we've got through with
that first stage； and can say what we think and tell what we really like。〃
Then the playing began again； a harp… like intermingling of soft
sounds。 Zoe Le Baron's hands were very girlish。 Every… thing about her
was unformed。 Even her mind was so。 But all promised a full com… pletion。
The voice； the shoulders； the smile； the words； the lips； the arms； the
whole mind and body； were rounding to maturity。
〃Why do you never come to church in the morning？〃 asks Miss Le
Baron； wheel… ing around on her piano…stool suddenly。 〃You are only there
at night； with your mother。〃
〃I go only on her account；〃 replies David； truthfully。 〃In the morning I
am so tired with the week's work that I rest at home。 I ought to go； I
know。〃
〃Yes； you ought；〃 returns the young woman； gravely。 〃It doesn't really
rest one to lie in bed like that。 I've tried it at boarding…school。 It was no
good whatever。〃
〃Should you advise me；〃 asks David； in a confiding tone； 〃to arise
early on Sunday？〃
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A Mountain Woman
The girl blushes a little。 〃By all means！〃 she cries； her eyes twinkling；
〃and and come to church。 Our morning sermons are really very much
better than those in the evening。〃 And she plays a waltz； and what with the
music and the warmth of the room and the perfume of the roses； a
something nameless and mystical steals over the poor clerk； and swathes
him about like the fumes of opium。 They are alone。 The silence is made
deeper by that rhythmic unswelling of sound。 As the painter flushes the
bare wall into splendor； these emotions illumi… nated his soul； and gave to
it that high cour… age that comes when men or women suddenly realize
that each life has its significance； their own lives no less than the lives
of others。
The man sitting there in the shadow in that noisy train saw in his
vision how the lad arose and moved； like one under a spell； toward the
piano。 He felt again the en… chantment of the music…ridden quiet； of the
perfume； and the presence of the woman。
〃Knowing you and speaking with you have not made much difference
with me；〃 he whispers； drunk on the new wine of passion； 〃for I have
loved you since I saw you first。 And though it is so sweet to hear you
speak； your voice is no more beautiful than I thought it would be。 I have
loved you a long time； and I want to know 〃
The broken man in the shadow remem… bered how the lad stopped；
astonished at his boldness and his fluency； overcome suddenly at the
thought of what he was saying。 The music stopped with a discord。 The girl
arose； trembling and scarlet。
〃I would not have believed it of you；〃 she cries； 〃to take advantage of
me like this； when I am alone and everything。 You know very well
that nothing but trouble could come to either of us from your telling me a
thing like that。〃
He puts his hands up to his face to keep off her anger。 He is
trembling with confusion。
Then she broke in penitently； trying to pull his hands away from his
hot face： 〃Never mind！ I know you didn't mean anything。 Be good； do； and
don't spoil the lovely times we have together。 You know very well father
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A Mountain Woman
and mother wouldn't let us see each other at all if they if they thought
you were saying anything such as you said just now。〃
〃Oh； but I can't help it！〃 cries the boy； despairingly。 〃I have never
loved anybody at all till now。 I don't mean not another girl； you know。 But
you are the first being I ever cared for。 I sometimes think mother cares for
me because I pay the