just david(公正的大卫)-第3章
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we really need； you know； now that I've taken out the luncheon box； and
by night we'll be down in the valley。〃
〃Of course！〃 laughed David。 〃We don't need that。〃 And he laughed
again； for pure joy。 Little use had David for bags or baggage！
They were more than halfway down the mountain now； and soon they
reached a grass…grown road； little traveled； but yet a road。 Still later they
came to where four ways crossed； and two of them bore the marks of
many wheels。 By sundown the little brook at their side murmured softly of
quiet fields and meadows； and David knew that the valley was reached。
David was not laughing now。 He was watching his father with startled
eyes。 David had not known what anxiety was。 He was finding out now
though he but vaguely realized that something was not right。 For some
time his father had said but little； and that little had been in a voice that
was thick and unnatural…sounding。 He was walking fast； yet David noticed
that every step seemed an effort； and that every breath came in short gasps。
His eyes were very bright； and were fixedly bent on the road ahead； as if
even the haste he was making was not haste enough。 Twice David spoke to
him； but he did not answer； and the boy could only trudge along on his
weary little feet and sigh for the dear home on the mountain…top which
they had left behind them the morning before。
They met few fellow travelers； and those they did meet paid scant
attention to the man and the boy carrying the violins。 As it chanced； there
was no one in sight when the man； walking in the grass at the side of the
road； stumbled and fell heavily to the ground。
David sprang quickly forward。
〃Father； what is it？ WHAT IS IT？〃
There was no answer。
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JUST DAVID
〃Daddy； why don't you speak to me？ See； it's David！〃
With a painful effort the man roused himself and sat up。 For a moment
he gazed dully into the boy's face； then a half…forgotten something seemed
to stir him into feverish action。 With shaking fingers he handed David his
watch and a small ivory miniature。 Then he searched his pockets until on
the ground before him lay a shining pile of gold…piecesto David there
seemed to be a hundred of them。
〃Take themhide themkeep them。 David； until youneed them；〃
panted the man。 〃Then gogo on。 I can't。〃
〃Alone？ Without you？〃 demurred the boy； aghast。 〃Why； father； I
couldn't！ I don't know the way。 Besides； I'd rather stay with you；〃 he added
soothingly； as he slipped the watch and the miniature into his pocket； 〃then
we can both go。〃 And he dropped himself down at his father's side。
The man shook his head feebly； and pointed again to the gold…pieces。
〃Take them； David；hide them；〃 he chattered with pale lips。
Almost impatiently the boy began picking up the money and tucking it
into his pockets。
〃But； father； I'm not going without you；〃 he declared stoutly； as the last
bit of gold slipped out of sight； and a horse and wagon rattled around the
turn of the road above。
The driver of the horse glanced disapprovingly at the man and the boy
by the roadside； but he did not stop。 After he had passed； the boy turned
again to his father。 The man was fumbling once more in his pockets。 This
time from his coat he produced a pencil and a small notebook from which
he tore a page； and began to write； laboriously； painfully。
David sighed and looked about him。 He was tired and hungry； and he
did not understand things at all。 Something very wrong； very terrible； must
be the matter with his father。 Here it was almost dark； yet they had no
place to go； no supper to eat； while far； far up on the mountain…side was
their own dear home sad and lonely without them。 Up there； too； the sun
still shone； doubtless；at least there were the rose…glow and the Silver
Lake to look at； while down here there was nothing； nothing but gray
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JUST DAVID
shadows； a long dreary road； and a straggling house or two in sight。 From
above； the valley might look to be a fairyland of loveliness； but in reality it
was nothing but a dismal waste of gloom； decided David。
David's father had torn a second page from his book and was
beginning another note； when the boy suddenly jumped to his feet。 One of
the straggling houses was near the road where they sat； and its presence
had given David an idea。 With swift steps he hurried to the front door and
knocked upon it。 In answer a tall； unsmiling woman appeared； and said；
〃Well？〃
David removed his cap as his father had taught him to do when one of
the mountain women spoke to him。
〃Good evening； lady； I'm David；〃 he began frankly。 〃My father is so
tired he fell down back there； and we should like very much to stay with
you all night； if you don't mind。〃
The woman in the doorway stared。 For a moment she was dumb with
amazement。 Her eyes swept the plain； rather rough garments of the boy；
then sought the half…recumbent figure of the man by the roadside。 Her chin
came up angrily。
〃Oh； would you； indeed！ Well； upon my word！〃 she scouted。 〃Humph！
We don't accommodate tramps； little boy。〃 And she shut the door hard。
It was David's turn to stare。 Just what a tramp might be； he did not
know； but never before had a request of his been so angrily refused。 He
knew that。 A fierce something rose within hima fierce new something
that sent the swift red to his neck and brow。 He raised a determined hand
to the doorknobhe had something to say to that woman！when the door
suddenly opened again from the inside。
〃See here； boy；〃 began the woman； looking out at him a little less
unkindly； 〃if you're hungry I'll give you some milk and bread。 Go around
to the back porch and I'll get it for you。〃 And she shut the door again。
David's hand dropped to his side。 The red still stayed on his face and
neck； however； and that fierce new something within him bade him refuse
to take food from this woman。。。。 But there was his fatherhis poor father；
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who was so tired； and there was his own stomach clamoring to be fed。 No；
he could not refuse。 And with slow steps and hanging head David went
around the corner of the house to the rear。
As the half…loaf of bread and the pail of milk were placed in his hands；
David remembered suddenly that in the village store on the mountain； his
father paid money for his food。 David was glad； now； that he had those
gold…pieces in his pocket； for he could pay money。 Instantly his head came
up。 Once more erect with self…respect； he shifted his burdens to one hand
and thrust the other into his pocket。 A moment later he presented on his
outstretched palm a shining disk of gold。
〃Will you take this； to pay； please； for the bread and milk？〃 he asked
proudly。
The woman began to shake her head； but； as her eyes fell on the
money； she started； and bent closer to examine it。 The next instant she
jerked herself upright with an angry exclamation。
〃It's gold！ A ten…dollar gold…piece！ So you're a thief； too； are you； as
well as a tramp？ Humph！ Well； I guess you don't need this then；〃 she
finished sharply； snatching the bread and the pail of milk from the boy's
hand。
The next moment David stood alone on the doorstep； with the sound of
a quickly thrown bolt in his ears。
A thief！ David knew little of thieves； but he knew what they were。
Only a month before a man had tried to steal the violins from the cabin；
and he was a thief； the milk…boy said。 David flushed now again； angrily； as
he faced the closed door。 But he did not tarry。 He turned and ran to his
father。
〃Father； come away； quick！ You must come away；〃 he choked。
So urgent was the boy's voice that almost unconsciously the sick man
got to his feet。 With shaking hands he thrust the notes he had been writing
into his pocket。 The little book； from which he had torn the leaves for this
purpose； had already dropped unheeded into the grass at his feet。
〃Yes； son； yes； we'll go；〃 muttered the man。 〃I feel better now。 I can
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walk。〃
And he did walk； though very slowly； ten； a dozen； twenty steps。 From
behind came the sound of wheels that stopped close beside them。
〃Hullo； there！ Going to the village？〃 called a voice。
〃Yes； sir。〃 David's answer was unhesitating。 Where 〃the village〃 was；
he did not know； he knew only that it must be somewhere away from the
woman who had called him a thief。 And that was all he cared to know。
〃I'm going 'most there myself。 Want a lift？〃 asked the man； still kindly。
〃Yes； sir。 Thank you！〃 cried the boy joyfully。 And together they aided
his father to climb into the roomy wagon…body。
There were few words said。 The man at the reins drove rapidly； and
paid little attention to anything but his horses。 The sick man dozed and
rested。 The boy sat； wistful…eyed and silent； watching the trees and houses
flit by。 The sun had long ago set； but it was not dark； for the moon was
round and bright； and the sky was cloudless。 Where the road forked
sharply the man drew his horses to a stop。
〃Well； I'm sorry； but I guess I'll have to drop you here； friends。 I turn
off to the right； but 't ain't more 'n a quarter of a mile for you； now〃 he
finished cheerily； pointing with his whip to a cluster of twinkling lights。
〃Thank you； sir； thank you；〃 breathed David gratefully； steadying his
father's steps。 〃You've helped us lots。 Thank you！〃
In David's heart was a wild desire to lay at his good man's feet all of
his shining gold…pieces as payment for this timely aid。 But caution held
him back： it seemed that only in stores did money pay； outside it branded
one as a thief！
Alone with his father； David faced once more his pr
