CHAPTER XI
THE DEVIL'S OVEN
The time-worn saw that two is company and three a crowd never struckWinn so forcibly as that evening when he called again on Mrs. Hutton. Onthe first occasion he had only felt interested to make the acquaintanceof that excellent lady, who, in many ways, reminded him of his owndeparted mother; but now it was the daughter. But Mona was shy asbefore, perhaps more so, and hardly ventured a remark, while the motherwas as cordial and chatty as ever. Once Winn came near speaking of thelittle episode that had occurred the day before, but some quickintuition prevented, and after an hour's visit he bade the two goodnight and left them.
It was evident Mona had not confided the incident to her mother, anduntil she had Winn thought it his place to keep silent. He did not knowthat the girl's secrecy was solely due to fear of a scolding, and thatbetween her mother and herself existed that foolish, but oftendangerous barrier. It was several days after before Winn obtained asuitable chance to speak with Mona alone, and then he met her justcoming from the store of Jess Hutton.
"When am I to hear you play again?" he asked pleasantly, "I wanted toask you the evening I called, but in view of what you said about yourmother's dislike of it, decided not to."
"I am glad you did," she replied, coloring a little.
"I am going over to that gorge this afternoon," continued Winn boldly,"and I want you to promise to come and bring your violin. Will you?"
"I won't promise," she replied timidly, and all unconscious that hisproposal was not in strict propriety, "I may come, but if I do I shallnot dare play before you."
"Oh, I am harmless," he replied lightly, "and if you knew how anxious Iam to hear you, you would favor me, I am sure."
And that afternoon Winn betook himself once more to what was now likelyto be a trysting place, only instead of going directly, the way Monawould naturally, over Norse Hill, he walked a mile extra around throughWorthaven. And this to protect the good name of a girl with a face likea marguerite and eyes like deep waters.
She was not there when he arrived, and in truth Mona was having a hardstruggle to decide whether to go or not, for this man, with earnestbrown eyes, blond mustache, stylish garb, ways and manners so utterlyunlike any that had come under her ken, was one to awe her.
Then, would it be right, and what would her mother and Uncle Jess, andall the good people of Rockhaven, say if it were known she met him thus?For Mona, wise as only Rockhaven was, and pure as the flowers her faceresembled, was yet conscious what evil tongues might say, and dreadedlest they be set wagging.
But a lurking impulse, first implanted in Mother Eve's heart, andbudding in Mona's since the hour she saw Winn's kindly eyes looking downinto her own, won the day, and taking her dearly-loved, old, brownfiddle and bow safe in their green bag, she walked rapidly to the edgeof the gorge, with throbbing heart and flushed face.
Winn was there waiting, as full well she knew he would be, lazilypuffing a cigar while he leaned against a sloping bank and watched theocean below. When he saw Mona he threw the weed away and sprung to hisfeet.
"I'm very glad you came, Miss Hutton," he said, raising his hat, "yet Idid not dare hope you would," and then extending one hand to take thebag and the other to assist her, he added, "It's a risky place to comedown into, and you had best let me assist you."
"I'll go first," she replied quickly, "for I know the way and can goalone, and you can follow me."
And follow her he had to, but not easily, for with steps as fearless andleaps as graceful as an antelope, she led the way down into the chaos ofboulders and then up through them, until she paused in a shelteringembrasure.
When Winn reached her side he was out of breath, and as he handed herthe bag and looked about, he was almost speechless at the wild, rockygrandeur of the spot. And well he might be, for seldom had he seen onelike it. He had looked down into the gorge from above, but now he was ina half-circular, wide-open cave the size of a small room, far belowwhere he had stood, and looking out upon cliff-like walls down to wherethe ocean waves were beating.
"And so this is the Devil's Oven," he said when he had looked all about,and finally at Mona seated upon a jutting ledge and watching him. "Ithink it a shame to have given such a hideous name to a place so grandand picturesque. Rather should it have been called the Mermaid's Grotto.I dislike this idea of naming all the beautiful bits of natural sceneryafter his satanship. It's not fair." Then seating himself as far awayfrom Mona as possible he added gently, "Now, Miss Hutton, I am ready formy treat. Please don't think or feel that I am here, but play toyourself and for yourself, just as you did the day I first heard you."
And Mona, charmed a little by his gentle, courteous ways and speech, andher sense of fear lulled by his entirely respectful manner, drew herviolin from its case.
It may have been the spot that inspired her, or the tender admirationshe saw in his eyes, or a little of both, but from the first moment shedrew the bow across the strings of her violin, a wondrous sweetness andfeeling graced her playing, and strange to say, all the melodies sherendered bore the Scotch flavor. Most of them had been heard by Winn atone time or another, but never played upon an instrument that seemed sosweet or with such an exquisite touch as now. When "Bonnie Dundee" came,he could almost see that gallant chieftain with waving plume and Tartanplaid, and hear him say:--
"Come fill up my cup, Come fill up my can; Come saddle my horses And call up my men."
And when "The Campbells are Coming" echoed out of that rock-walled cave,Winn could hear the bagpipes in the distance and see the dauntless hostsof fair Scotland marching to battle.
When after an hour, during which Mona sat with lithe body swaying to themeasure of her music, rounded cheek pressed tenderly to her instrument,and her eyes closed, as if lost to the world, she came to that oldutterance of love, sweet "Annie Laurie," Winn was enthralled as never inhis life before. And when the last exquisite note had floated out of thecave and into the sad monotone of the ocean, and Mona paused, his eyeswere dimmed with tears.
"Miss Hutton," he said earnestly, brushing them away, "no words of minecan tell you how much I have enjoyed this treat or with what rarefeeling you have played. If you could play as you have here before anaudience they would bury you under flowers and lavish wealth upon you."
These were warm words, and without doubt at the moment Winn felt allthey meant, but he little realized what an influence they would instilinto the heart of Mona Hutton or what fruit they were destined to bear.
"Who was that wonderful woman you told me about the other day?" askedMona, making no response to his flattering words. "I did not know womenever played in public."
"Oh, yes, they do," answered Winn, "and there are many like her who havegained fame and riches. You could if you would set about it and had thecourage to do it. You would have to study, of course, under a teacherand learn to play classical music."
"And what is classical music?" asked Mona.
"It is what no one understands, though many claim to; or perhaps betterdescribed as soulless sound," answered Winn. "I do not care for it.There is no feeling, no pulse, no heart in it."
"Then why is the world willing to pay for it?" she asked.
"The world is ready to buy anything that comes high," he answered, "andthe more in proportion to its value that is asked, the quicker they willbuy it. But do not ask about the world, Miss Hutton. It is not inharmony with this spot. We are out of it here."
Mona looked at him curiously. "You are a queer man," she said suddenly,"and at first I was very much afraid of you."
Winn laughed. "You need not be," he replied, "I never harmed man, woman,or child." Then as a sudden thought came to him he added, "Did you tellyour mother you met me here the other day?"
"No," she replied, looking confused and coloring. It was on her lips tosay that she dreaded a scolding if she did, but she restrained herself.
"It is time you were starting home," he said suddenly, looking at hiswatch, "and I am so sorry," and
rising he added, "you must pardon me forsaying so, but I think you had best mention to your mother you met mehere, by accident of course. If you do not, and if she hears of it, shewill think it strange." When he had assisted her down the rocky pathwayand up the steep sides, the while carrying her precious violin, and theyreached the brink of the chasm, he paused.
The gorge was all in shadow, the wind fallen away, and only the longsweeping ground swells caught and mirrored the red glow of the sun nowalmost at the horizon line. For a moment Winn looked out over the broadocean and then turned to the girl beside him.
"Little one," he said gently, "I thank you for the confidence you haveplaced in me by coming here and for the pleasure you have given me. Ishall never forget it. There are two favors I want you to grant me, thefirst to let me call you Mona, the next to come here some day again andplay for me. Will you?"
"I will unless mother forbids," she answered simply.
And then as they turned toward the village, he carrying the green bagand still retaining the hand he clasped to assist her out of the chasm,and guiding her footsteps along the way, a new and exalted sense ofhappiness came to her. But little was said by either, for she like atimid child waited for him to speak, and he was so hushed by the mood ofthe afternoon in the gorge, and the blessed unity of sea and sky andsunset here, he enjoyed silence best.
When they came in sight of the village he released her hand, and whenher home was reached handed her the bag, and with a whispered "goodnight, Mona," passed on.
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