the golden road-第42章

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could　not　speak；　so　she　went　on　gently。

〃It　has　been　so　good　of　you。　　They　have　given　me　so　much　pleasure　I　wish　you　could　know　how　much。〃

〃It　was　nothingnothing；〃　stammered　Jasper。　　His　book　had　fallen　on　the　ground　at　her　feet；　and　she　picked　it　up　and　held　it　out　to　him。

〃So　you　like　Ruskin；〃　she　said。　　〃I　do；　too。　　But　I　haven't　read　this。〃

〃If　youwould　careto　read　ityou　may　have　it；〃　Jasper　contrived　to　say。

She　carried　the　book　away　with　her。　　He　did　not　again　hide　when　she　passed；　and　when　she　brought　the　book　back　they　talked　a　little　about　it　over　the　fence。　　He　lent　her　others；　and　got　some　from　her　in　return；　they　fell　into　the　habit　of　discussing　them。　　Jasper　did　not　find　it　hard　to　talk　to　her　now；　it　seemed　as　if　he　were　talking　to　his　dream　Alice；　and　it　came　strangely　natural　to　him。　　He　did　not　talk　volubly；　but　Alice　thought　what　he　did　say　was　worth　while。　　His　words　lingered　in　her　memory　and　made　music。　　She　always　found　his　flowers　under　the　pine；　and　she　always　wore　some　of　them；　but　she　did　not　know　if　he　noticed　this　or　not。

One　evening　Jasper　walked　shyly　with　her　from　his　gate　up　the　pine　hill。　　After　that　he　always　walked　that　far　with　her。　　She　would　have　missed　him　much　if　he　had　failed　to　do　so；　yet　it　did　not　occur　to　her　that　she　was　learning　to　love　him。　　She　would　have　laughed　with　girlish　scorn　at　the　idea。　　She　liked　him　very　much；　she　thought　his　nature　beautiful　in　its　simplicity　and　purity；　in　spite　of　his　shyness　she　felt　more　delightfully　at　home　in　his　society　than　in　that　of　any　other　person　she　had　ever　met。　　He　was　one　of　those　rare　souls　whose　friendship　is　at　once　a　pleasure　and　a　benediction；　showering　light　from　their　own　crystal　clearness　into　all　the　dark　corners　in　the　souls　of　others；　until；　for　the　time　being　at　least；　they　reflected　his　own　nobility。　　But　she　never　thought　of　love。　　Like　other　girls　she　had　her　dreams　of　a　possible　Prince　Charming；　young　and　handsome　and　debonair。　　It　never　occurred　to　her　that　he　might　be　found　in　the　shy；　dreamy　recluse　of　Golden　Milestone。

In　August　came　a　day　of　gold　and　blue。　　Alice　Reade；　coming　through　the　trees；　with　the　wind　blowing　her　little　dark　love…　locks　tricksily　about　under　her　wide　blue　hat；　found　a　fragrant　heap　of　mignonette　under　the　pine。　　She　lifted　it　and　buried　her　face　in　it；　drinking　in　the　wholesome；　modest　perfume。

She　had　hoped　Jasper　would　be　in　his　garden；　since　she　wished　to　ask　him　for　a　book　she　greatly　desired　to　read。　　But　she　saw　him　sitting　on　the　rustic　seat　at　the　further　side。　　His　back　was　towards　her；　and　he　was　partially　screened　by　a　copse　of　lilacs。

Alice；　blushing　slightly；　unlatched　the　garden　gate；　and　went　down　the　path。　　She　had　never　been　in　the　garden　before；　and　she　found　her　heart　beating　in　a　strange　fashion。

He　did　not　hear　her　footsteps；　and　she　was　close　behind　him　when　she　heard　his　voice；　and　realized　that　he　was　talking　to　himself；　in　a　low；　dreamy　tone。　　As　the　meaning　of　his　words　dawned　on　her　consciousness　she　started　and　grew　crimson。　　She　could　not　move　or　speak；　as　one　in　a　dream　she　stood　and　listened　to　the　shy　man's　reverie；　guiltless　of　any　thought　of　eavesdropping。

〃How　much　I　love　you；　Alice；〃　Jasper　Dale　was　saying；　unafraid；　with　no　shyness　in　voice　or　manner。　　〃I　wonder　what　you　would　say　if　you　knew。　　You　would　laugh　at　mesweet　as　you　are；　you　would　laugh　in　mockery。　　I　can　never　tell　you。　　I　can　only　dream　of　telling　you。　　In　my　dream　you　are　standing　here　by　me；　dear。　　I　can　see　you　very　plainly；　my　sweet　lady；　so　tall　and　gracious；　with　your　dark　hair　and　your　maiden　eyes。　　I　can　dream　that　I　tell　you　my　love；　thatmaddest；　sweetest　dream　of　allthat　you　love　me　in　return。　　Everything　is　possible　in　dreams；　you　know；　dear。　　My　dreams　are　all　I　have；　so　I　go　far　in　them；　even　to　dreaming　that　you　are　my　wife。　　I　dream　how　I　shall　fix　up　my　dull　old　house　for　you。　　One　room　will　need　nothing　moreit　is　your　room；　dear；　and　has　been　ready　for　you　a　long　timelong　before　that　day　I　saw　you　under　the　pine。　　Your　books　and　your　chair　and　your　picture　are　there；　dearonly　the　picture　is　not　half　lovely　enough。　　But　the　other　rooms　of　the　house　must　be　made　to　bloom　out　freshly　for　you。　　What　a　delight　it　is　thus　to　dream　of　what　I　would　do　for　you！　　Then　I　would　bring　you　home；　dear；　and　lead　you　through　my　garden　and　into　my　house　as　its　mistress。　　I　would　see　you　standing　beside　me　in　the　old　mirror　at　the　end　of　the　halla　bride；　in　your　pale　blue　dress；　with　a　blush　on　your　face。　　I　would　lead　you　through　all　the　rooms　made　ready　for　your　coming；　and　then　to　your　own。　　I　would　see　you　sitting　in　your　own　chair　and　all　my　dreams　would　find　rich　fulfilment　in　that　royal　moment。　　Oh；　Alice；　we　would　have　a　beautiful　life　together！　　It's　sweet　to　make　believe　about　it。　　You　will　sing　to　me　in　the　twilight；　and　we　will　gather　early　flowers　together　in　the　spring　days。　　When　I　come　home　from　work；　tired；　you　will　put　your　arms　about　me　and　lay　your　head　on　my　shoulder。　　I　will　stroke　itsothat　bonny；　glossy　head　of　yours。　　Alice；　my　Aliceall　mine　in　my　dream　never　to　be　mine　in　real　lifehow　I　love　you！〃

The　Alice　behind　him　could　bear　no　more。　　She　gave　a　little　choking　cry　that　betrayed　her　presence。　　Jasper　Dale　sprang　up　and　gazed　upon　her。　　He　saw　her　standing　there；　amid　the　languorous　shadows　of　August；　pale　with　feeling；　wide…eyed；　trembling。

For　a　moment　shyness　wrung　him。　　Then　every　trace　of　it　was　banished　by　a　sudden；　strange；　fierce　anger　that　swept　over　him。　　He　felt　outraged　and　hurt　to　the　death；　he　felt　as　if　he　had　been　cheated　out　of　something　incalculably　preciousas　if　sacrilege　had　been　done　to　his　most　holy　sanctuary　of　emotion。　　White；　tense　with　his　anger；　he　looked　at　her　and　spoke；　his　lips　as　pale　as　if　his　fiery　words　scathed　them。

〃How　dare　you？　　You　have　spied　on　meyou　have　crept　in　and　listened！　　How　dare　you？　　Do　you　know　what　you　have　done；　girl？　　You　have　destroyed　all　that　made　life　worth　while　to　me。　　My　dream　is　dead。　　It　could　not　live　when　it　was　betrayed。　　And　it　was　all　I　had。　　Oh；　laugh　at　memock　me！　　I　know　that　I　am　ridiculous！　　What　of　it？　　It　never　could　have　hurt　you！　　Why　must　you　creep　in　like　this　to　hear　me　and　put　me　to　shame？　　Oh；　I　love　youI　will　say　it；　laugh　as　you　will。　　Is　it　such　a　strange　thing　that　I　should　have　a　heart　like　other　men？　　This　will　make　sport　for　you！　　I；　who　love　you　better　than　my　life；　better　than　any　other　man　in　the　world　can　love　you；　will　be　a　jest　to　you　all　your　life。　　I　love　youand　yet　I　think　I　could　hate　youyou　have　destroyed　my　dreamyou　have　done　me　deadly　wrong。〃

〃Jasper！　　Jasper！〃　cried　Alice；　finding　her　voice。　　His　anger　hurt　her　with　a　pain　she　could　not　endure。　　It　was　unbearable　that　Jasper　should　be　angry　with　her。　　In　that　moment　she　realized　that　she　loved　himthat　the　words　he　had　spoken　when　unconscious　of　her　presence　were　the　sweetest　she　had　ever　heard；　or　ever　could　hear。　　Nothing　mattered　at　all；　save　that　he　loved　her　and　was　angry　with　her。

〃Don't　say　such　dreadful　things　to　me；〃　she　stammered；　〃I　did　not　mean　to　listen。　　I　could　not　help　it。　　I　shall　never　laugh　at　you。　　Oh；　Jasper〃she　looked　bravely　at　him　and　the　fine　soul　of　her　shone　through　the　flesh　like　an　illuminating　lamp〃I　am　glad　that　you　love　me！　　and　I　am　glad　I　chanced　to　overhear　you；　since　you　would　never　have　had　the　courage　to　tell　me　otherwise。　　Glad　glad！　　Do　you　understand；　Jasper？〃

Jasper　looked　at　her　with　the　eyes　of　one　who；　looking　through　pain；　sees　rapture　beyond。

〃Is　it　possible？〃　he　said；　wonderingly。　　〃AliceI　am　so　much　older　than　youand　they　call　me　the　Awkward　Manthey　say　I　am　unlike　other　people〃

〃You　ARE　unlike　other　people；〃　she　said　softly；　〃and　that　is　why　I　love　you。　　I　know　now　that　I　must　have　loved　you　ever　since　I　saw　you。〃

〃I　loved　you　long　before　I　saw　you；〃　said　Jasper。

He　came　close　to　her　and　drew　her　into　his　arms；　tenderly　and　reverently；　all　his　shyness　and　awkwardness　swallowed　up　in　the　grace　of　his　great　happiness。　　In　the　old　garden　he　kissed　her　lips　and　Alice　entered　into　her　own。



CHAPTER　XXVI

UNCLE　BLAIR　COMES　HOME


It　happened　that　the　Story　Girl　and　I　both　got　up　very　early　on　the　morning