So often it is with a beautiful character.Analyze it carefully, and you will reduce it generally to absolute simplicity and absolute purity--two elements common enough in adulteration; but place it face to face with a more complex personality, and mirror-like it will take on a hundred delicate shades of ethical beauty, while at the same time preserving its own lofty spirituality.
Thus Hilda Farrand reflected Thorpe.In the clear mirror of her heart his image rested transfigured.It was as though the glass were magic, so that the gross and material was absorbed and lost, while the more spiritual qualities reflected back.So the image was retained in its entirety, but etherealized, refined.It is necessary to attempt, even thus faintly and inadequately, a sketch of Hilda's love, for a partial understanding of it is necessary to the comprehension of what followed the moon of delight.
That moon saw a variety of changes.
The bed of French Creek was cleared.Three of the roads were finished, and the last begun.So much for the work of it.
Morton and Cary shot four deer between them, which was unpardonably against the law, caught fish in plenty, smoked two and a half pounds of tobacco, and read half of one novel.Mrs.Cary and Miss Carpenter walked a total of over a hundred miles, bought twelve pounds of Indian work of all sorts, embroidered the circle of two embroidery frames, learned to paddle a birch-bark canoe, picked fifteen quarts of berries, and gained six pounds in weight.All the party together accomplished five picnics, four explorations, and thirty excellent campfires in the evening.So much for the fun of it.
Little Phil disappeared utterly, taking with him his violin, but leaving his broken bow.Thorpe has it even to this day.The lumberman caused search and inquiry on all sides.The cripple was never heard of again.He had lived his brief hour, taken his subtle artist's vengeance of misplayed notes on the crude appreciation of men too coarse-fibered to recognize it, brought together by the might of sacrifice and consummate genius two hearts on the brink of misunderstanding;--now there was no further need for him, he had gone.So much for the tragedy of it.
"I saw you long ago," said Hilda to Thorpe."Long, long ago, when I was quite a young girl.I had been visiting in Detroit, and was on my way all alone to catch an early train.You stood on the corner thinking, tall and straight and brown, with a weather-beaten old hat and a weather-beaten old coat and weather-beaten old moccasins, and such a proud, clear, undaunted look on your face.I have remembered you ever since."And then he told her of the race to the Land Office, while her eyes grew brighter and brighter with the epic splendor of the story.She told him that she had loved him from that moment--and believed her telling; while he, the unsentimental leader of men, persuaded himself and her that he had always in some mysterious manner carried her image prophetically in his heart.So much for the love of it.
In the last days of the month of delight Thorpe received a second letter from his partner, which to some extent awakened him to the realities.
"My dear Harry," it ran."I have made a startling discovery.
The other fellow is Morrison.I have been a blind, stupid dolt, and am caught nicely.You can't call me any more names than Ihave already called myself.Morrison has been in it from the start.
By an accident I learned he was behind the fellow who induced me to invest, and it is he who has been hammering the stock down ever since.They couldn't lick you at your game, so they tackled me at mine.I'm not the man you are, Harry, and I've made a mess of it.Of course their scheme is plain enough on the face of it.
They're going to involve me so deeply that I will drag the firm down with me.
"If you can fix it to meet those notes, they can't do it.I have ample margin to cover any more declines they may be able to bring about.Don't fret about that.Just as sure as you can pay that sixty thousand, just so sure we'll be ahead of the game at this time next year.For God's sake get a move on you, old man.If you don't--good Lord! The firm'll bust because she can't pay; I'll bust because I'll have to let my stock go on margins--it'll be an awful smash.But you'll get there, so we needn't worry.I've been an awful fool, and I've no right to do the getting into trouble and leave you to the hard work of getting out again.But as partner I'm going to insist on your having a salary--etc."The news aroused all Thorpe's martial spirit.Now at last the mystery surrounding Morrison & Daly's unnatural complaisance was riven.It had come to grapples again.He was glad of it.Meet those notes? Well I guess so! He'd show them what sort of a proposition they had tackled.Sneaking, underhanded scoundrels!
taking advantage of a mere boy.Meet those notes? You bet he would; and then he'd go down there and boost those stocks until M.
& D.looked like a last year's bird's nest.He thrust the letter in his pocket and walked buoyantly to the pines.
The two lovers sat there all the afternoon drinking in half sadly the joy of the forest and of being near each other, for the moon of delight was almost done.In a week the camping party would be breaking up, and Hilda must return to the city.It was uncertain when they would be able to see each other again, though there was talk of getting up a winter party to visit Camp One in January.
The affair would be unique.
Suddenly the girl broke off and put her fingers to her lips.For some time, dimly, an intermittent and faint sound had been felt, rather than actually heard, like the irregular muffled beating of a heart.Gradually it had insisted on the attention.Now at last it broke through the film of consciousness.
"What is it?" she asked.
Thorpe listened.Then his face lit mightily with the joy of battle.
"My axmen," he cried."They are cutting the road."A faint call echoed.Then without warning, nearer at hand the sharp ring of an ax sounded through the forest.
