"Well, I reckon we kin fill up the house."
Clayton"s heart sank at the ordeal of a wedding with such a master of ceremonies. He was about to ask where Easter and her mother were, when, to his relief, he saw them both in the path below, approaching the house. The girl was carrying a bucket of water on her head. Once he would have thought her picturesque, but now it pained him to see her doing such rough work. When she saw him, she gave a cry of surprise and delight that made Clayton tingle with remorse. Then running to him with glowing face, she stopped suddenly, and, with a look down at her bare feet and soiled gown, fled into the cabin. Clayton followed, but the room was so dark he could see nothing.
Easter! " he called. There was no answer, but he was suddenly seized about the neck by a pair of unseen arms and kissed by unseen lips twice in fierce succession, and before he could turn and clasp the girl she was laughing softly in the next room, with a barred door between them. Clayton waited patiently several minutes, and then asked:
Easter, aren"t you ready?
Not yit-not yet!" She corrected herself with such vehemence that Clayton laughed. She came out presently, and blushed when Clayton looked her over from head to foot with astonishment. She was simply and prettily dressed in white muslin; a blue ribbon was about her throat, and her hair was gathered in a Psyche knot that accented the cla.s.sicism of her profile. Her appearance was really refined and tasteful. When they went out on the porch he noticed that her hands had lost their tanned appearance. Her feet were slippered, and she wore black stockings. He remembered the book of fashion-plates he had once sent her; it was that that had quickened her instinct of dress. He said nothing, but the happy light in Easter"s face shone brighter as she noted his pleased and puzzled gaze.
Why, ye look like another man," said Easter"s mother, who had been looking Clayton over with a quizzical smile. "Is that the way folks dress out in the settlemints? "N" look at that gal. Ef she hev done anythin" sence ye hev been gone but____" The rest of the sentence was smothered in the palm of Easter"s hand, and she too began scrutinizing Clayton closely. The mountaineer said nothing, and after a curious glance at Easter resumed his pipe.
You look like a pair of b.u.t.terflies," said the mother when released. "Sherd oughter be mighty proud of his first marryin". I s"pose ye know he air a preacher now? Ye oughter heerd him preach last Sunday. It was his fust time. The way he lighted inter the furriners was a caution. He "lowed he was a-goin" to fight cyard-playin" and dancin" ez long ez he hed breath."
Yes; "n" thar"s whar Sherd air a fool. I"m ag"in furriners, too, but thar hain"t no harm in dancin, n" thar"s goin" to be dancin" at this weddin"
ef I"m alive."
Easter shrank perceptibly when her father spoke, and looked furtively at Clayton, who winced, in spite of himself, as the rough voice grated in his ear. Instantly her face grew unhappy, and contained an appeal for pardon that he was quick to understand and appreciate. Thereafter he concealed his repulsion, and treated the rough bear so affably that Easter"s eyes grew moist with grat.i.tude.
Darkness was gathering in the valley below when he rose to go.
Easter had scarcely spoken to him, but her face and her eyes, fixed always upon him, were eloquent with joy. Once as she pa.s.sed behind him her hand rested with a timid, caressing touch upon his shoulder, and now, as he walked away from the porch, she called him back. He turned, and she had gone into the house.
What is it, Easter? " he asked, stepping into the dark room. His hand was grasped in both her own and held tremblingly.
Don"t mind dad," she whispered, softly. Something warm and moist fell upon his hand as she unloosed it, and she was gone.
That night he wrote home in a better frame of mind. The charm of the girl"s personality had a.s.serted its power again, and hopes that had almost been destroyed by his trip home were rekindled by her tasteful appearance, her delicacy of feeling, and by her beauty, which he had not overrated. He asked that his sister might meet him in Louisville after the wedding-whenever that should be. They two could decide then what should be done. His own idea was to travel; and so great was his confidence in Easter, he believed that, in time, he could take her to New York without fear.
XII
IT was plain that Raines-to quiet the old man"s uneasiness, perhaps-had told him of his last meeting with Clayton, and that, during the absence of the latter, some arrangements for the wedding had been made, even by Easter, who in her trusting innocence had perhaps never thought of any other end to their relations. In consequence, there was an unprecedented stir among the mountaineers. The marriage of a citizen with a " furriner "
was an unprecedented event, and the old mountaineer, who began to take some pride in the alliance, emphasized it at every opportunity.
At the mines Clayton"s constant visits to the mountain were known to everybody, but little attention had been paid to them.
Now, however, when the rumor of the wedding seemed confirmed by his return and his silence, every one was alert with a curiosity so frankly shown that he soon became eager to get away from the mountains. Accordingly, he made known his wish to Easter"s parents that the marriage should take place as soon as possible.
Both received the suggestion with silent a.s.sent. Then had followed many difficulties. Only as a great concession to the ideas and customs of " fur-riners" would the self-willed old mountaineer agree that the ceremony should take place at night, and that after the supper and the dance, the two should leave Jellico at daybreak. Mountain marriages were solemnized in the daytime, and wedding journeys were unknown. The old man did not understand why Clayton should wish to leave the mountains, and the haste of the latter seemed to give him great offence. When Clayton had ventured to suggest, instead, that the marriage should be quiet, and that he and Easter should remain on the mountain a few days before leaving, he fumed with anger; and thereafter any suggestion from the young engineer was met with a suspicion that looked ominous. Raines was away on his circuit, and would not return until just before the wedding, so that from him Clayton could get no help. Very wisely, then, he interfered no more, but awaited the day with dread.
It was nearing dusk when he left the camp on his wedding-night.
Half-way up the mountain he stopped to lean against the kindly breast of a bowlder blocking the path. It was the spot where he had seen Easter for the first time. The mountains were green again, as they were then, but the scene seemed sadly changed. The sun was gone; the evening-star had swung its white light like a censer above Devil"s Den; the clouds were moving swiftly through the darkening air, like a frightened flock seeking a fold; and the night was closing fast over the cl.u.s.ter of faint camp-fires. The spirit brooding over mountain and sky was unspeakably sad, and with a sharp pain at his heart Clayton turned from it and hurried on. Mountain, sky, and valley were soon lost in the night. When he reached the cabin rays of bright light were flashing from c.h.i.n.k and crevice into the darkness, and from the kitchen came the sounds of busy preparation. Already many guests had arrived. A group of men who stood lazily talking in the porch became silent as he approached, but, recognizing none of them, he entered the cabin. A dozen women were seated about the room, and instantly their eyes were glued upon him. As the kitchen door swung open he saw Easter"s mother bending over the fireplace, a table already heavily laden, and several women bustling about it. Above his head he heard laughter, a hurried tramping of feet, and occasional cries of surprise and delight. He paused at the threshold, hardly knowing what to do, and when he turned a t.i.tter from one corner showed that his embarra.s.sment was seen. On the porch he was seized by Easter"s father, who drew him back into the room. The old mountaineer"s face was flushed, and he had been drinking heavily.
Oh, hyar ye air! " he exclaimed. "You"re right on hand, hain"t ye?
Hyar, Bill," he called, thrusting his head out of the door, "you "n"
Jim "n" Milt come in hyar." Three awkward young mountaineers entered. "These fellers air goin" to help ye."
They were to be his ushers. Clayton shook hands with them gravely.
Oh, we air about ready fer ye, "n" we air only waitin" fer Sherd and the folks to come," continued the mountaineer, jubilantly, winking significantly at Clayton and his attendants, who stood about him at the fireplace. Clayton shook his head firmly, but the rest followed Hicks, who turned at the door and repeated the invitation with a frowning face. Clayton was left the focus of feminine eyes, whose unwavering directness kept his own gaze on the floor. People began to come in rapidly, most of whom he had never seen before.
The room was filled, save for a s.p.a.ce about him. Every one gave him a look of curiosity that made him feel like some strange animal on exhibition. Once more he tried to escape to the porch, and again he was met by Easter"s father, who this time was accompanied by Raines.
The young circuit-rider was smoothly shaven, and dressed in dark clothes, and his calm face and simple but impressive manner seemed at once to alter the atmosphere of the room. He grasped Clayton"s hand warmly, and without a trace of self-consciousness.
The room had grown instantly quiet, and Raines began to share the curious interest that Clayton had caused; for the young mountaineer"s sermon had provoked discussion far and wide, and, moreover, the peculiar relations of the two toward Easter were known and rudely appreciated. Hicks was subdued into quiet respect, and tried to conceal his incipient intoxication. The effort did not last long. When the two fiddlers came, he led them in with a defiant air, and placed them in the corner, bustling about officiously but without looking at Raines, whose face began to cloud.
Well, we"re all hyar, I reckon! " he exclaimed, in his terrible voice.
"Is Easter ready? " he shouted up the steps.
A confused chorus answered him affirmatively, and he immediately arranged Clayton in one corner of the room with his serious attendants on one side, and Raines, grave to solemnity, on the other. Easter"s mother and her a.s.sistants came in from the kitchen, and the doors were filled with faces. Above, the tramping of feet became more hurried; below, all stood with expectant faces turned to the rude staircase. Clayton"s heart began to throb, and a strange light brightened under Raines"s heavy brows.
"Hurry up, thar!" shouted Hicks, impatiently.
A moment later two pairs of rough shoes came down the steps, and after them two slippered feet that fixed every eye in the room, until the figure and face above them slowly descended into the light.
Midway the girl paused with a timid air. Had an angel been lowered to mortal view, the waiting people would not have been stricken with more wonder. Raines"s face relaxed into a look almost of awe, and even Hicks for the instant was stunned into reverence. Mountain eyes had never beheld such loveliness so arrayed. It was simple enough-the garment-all white, and of a misty texture, yet it formed a mysterious vision to them. About the girl"s brow was a wreath of pink and white laurel. A veil had not been used. It would hide her face, she said, and she did not see why that should be done. For an instant she stood poised so lightly that she seemed to sway like a vision, as the candle-lights quivered about her, with her hands clasped in front of her, and her eyes wandering about the room till they lighted upon Clayton with a look of love that seemed to make her conscious only of him. Then, with quickening breath, lips parted slightly, cheeks slowly flushing, and shining eyes still upon him, she moved slowly across the room until she stood at his side.
Raines gathered himself together as from a dream, and stepped before the pair. Broken and husky at first, his voice trembled in spite of himself, but thereafter there was no hint of the powerful emotions at play within him. Only as he joined their hands, his eyes rested an instant with infinite tenderness on Easter"s face-as though the look were a last farewell-and his voice deepened with solemn earnestness when he bade Clayton protect and cherish her until death. There was a strange mixture in those last words of the office and the man-of divine authority and personal appeal-and Clay. ton was deeply stirred. The benediction over4 the young preacher was turning away, when some one called huskily from the rear of the cabin:
"Whyn"t ye kiss the bride?
It was Easter"s father, and the voice, rough as it was, brought a sensation of relief to all. The young mountaineer"s features contracted with swift pain, and as Easter leaned toward him, with subtle delicacy, he touched, not her lips, but her forehead, as reverently as though she had been a saint.
Instantly the fiddles began, the floor was cleared, the bridal party hurried into the kitchen, and the cabin began to shake beneath dancing feet. Hicks was fulfilling his word, and in the kitchen his wife had done her part. Everything known to the mountaineer palate was piled in profusion on the table, but Clayton and Easter ate nothing. To him the whole evening was a nightmare, which the solemn moments of the marriage had made the more hideous.
He was restless and eager to get away. The dancing was becoming more furious, and above the noise rose Hicks"s voice prompting the dancers. The ruder ones still hung about the doors, regarding Clayton curiously, or with eager eyes upon the feast. Easter was vaguely troubled, and conflicting with the innocent pride and joy in her eyes were the questioning glances she turned to Clayton"s darkening face. At last they were hurried out, and in came the crowd like hungry wolves.
Placing Clayton and Easter in a corner of the room, the attendants themselves took part in the dancing, and such dancing Clayton had never seen. Doors and windows were full of faces, and the room was crowded; from the kitchen came coa.r.s.e laughter and the rattling of dishes.
Occasionally Hicks would disappear with several others, and would return with his face redder than ever.
Easter became uneasy. Once she left Clayton"s side and expostulated with her father, but he shook her from his arm roughly. Raines saw this, and a moment later he led the old mountaineer from the room. Thereafter the latter was quieter, but only for a little while. Several times the kitchen was filled and emptied, and ever was the crowd unsteadier. Soon even Raines"s influence was of no avail, and the bottle was pa.s.sed openly from guest to guest.
"Whyn"t ye dance?"
Clayton felt his arm grasped, and Hicks stood swaying before him.
"Whyn"t ye dance?" he repeated. " Can"t ye dance? Mebbe ye air too good-like Sherd. Well, Easter kin, Hyar, Mart, come "n" dance with the gal. She air the best dancer in these parts."
Clayton had his hand upon Easter as though to forbid her. The mountaineer saw the movement, and his face flamed; but before he could speak, the girl pressed Clayton"s arm, and, with an appealing glance, rose to her feet.
That"s right," said her father, approvingly, but with a look of drunken malignancy toward Clayton. "Now," he called out, in a loud voice, "I want this couple to have the floor, "n" everybody to look on "n" see what is dancin". Start the fiddles, boys."
It was dancing. The young mountaineer was a slender, active fellow, not without grace, and Easter seemed hardly to touch the floor. They began very slowly at first, till Easter, glancing aside at Clayton and seeing his face deepen with interest, and urged by the remonstrance of het father, the remarks of the onlookers, and the increasing abandon of the music, gave herself up to the dance. The young mountaineer was no mean partner. Forward and back they glided, their swift feet beating every note of the music; Faster receding before her partner, and now advancing toward him, now whirling away with a disdainful toss of her head and arms, and now giving him her hand and whirling till her white skirts floated from the floor. At last, with head bent coquettishly toward her partner, she danced around him, and when it seemed that she would be caught by his outstretched hands she slipped from his clasp, and, with burning cheeks, flashing eyes, and bridal wreath showering its pink-flecked petals about her, flew to Clayton"s side.
Mebbe ye don"t like that," cried Hicks, turning to Raines, who had been gravely watching the scene.
Raines said nothing in reply, but only looked the drunken man in the face.
"You two," he continued, indicating Clayton with an angry shake of his head, " air a-tryin" to spile ever"body"s fun. Both of ye air too high-heeled fer us folks. Y"u hev got mighty good now that ye air a preacher," he added, with a drunken sneer, irritated beyond endurance by Raines"s silence and his steady look. "I want ye to know Bill Hicks air a-runnin" things here, "n" I don"t want no meddlin". I"ll drink right here in front o" ye "-holding a bottle defiantly above his head-" "n" I mean to dance, too, I warn ye now,"
he added, staggering toward the door, "I don"t want no med-dlin"."
Easter had buried her face in her hands. Her mother stood near her husband, helplessly trying to get him away, and fearing to arouse him more. Raines was the most composed man in the room, and a few moments later, when dancing was resumed, Clayton heard his voice at his ear:
"You"d better go upstairs "n" wait till it"s time to go," he said. " He hev got roused ag"in ye, and ag"in me too. I"ll keep out o" his way so as not to aggravate him, but I"ll stay hyar fer fear something will happen. Mebbe he"ll sober up a little, but I"m afeard he"ll drink more"n ever."