Rockhaven

by Charles Clark Munn

  CHAPTER XIII

  WILD ROSES

  It has been said of the modern young lady that the more of her home lifea gentleman saw, the less likely he was to fall in love with her; but asthe days sped by and Winn saw more of Mona's, he felt that that truismwas likely to be reversed.

  Then another natural result was attained, for finding his mission therea practical one and the money he distributed each Saturday night apowerful argument in his favor, the islanders, from Rev. Jason Bushdownward, began to show their cordial interest in his presence. OnSundays when he with Jess, Mrs. Hutton, and Mrs. Moore and Mona usuallyformed a little group that walked together to church, in that modestsanctuary he was the one most observed. All to whom he had beenintroduced seemed to seek an opportunity to bow, and many of the men,whose names he had not learned, showed the same courtesy. When he walkedout after the service, old and young would stand aside for him to pass.The Rev. Jason Bush perhaps showed the most interest, and in a purelybusiness way, for when he had opportunities (and he found many) it wasthe quarry and its management and prospects which he was desirous ofdiscussing, instead of the spiritual welfare of Winn, as might beexpected. In fact, the latter was never mentioned, and although Mr. Bushlamented that Rockhaven was divided into two sects, and that neitherchurch had a following sufficient to support it, it was here again thebusiness side of the matter which seemed uppermost in that worthyparson's mind.

  But it was the cordiality shown by Mrs. Hutton on all possible occasionsthat interested Winn most, because it appealed to the domestic andhome-loving side of his nature. He had never known much of home lifesince maturity, for his aunt was not a home-maker, leaving that to herservants and scolding because they failed, and to see what thought andcare could do in that direction, even though in a modest way, attractedhim. And since her door appeared always open to him and an unfailingwelcome waiting, he would have been less than human had he not availedhimself of the opportunity. Hardly an evening passed that he did not seeor speak with either mother or daughter, and occasionally made one attheir table. It was here that Jess was often in evidence, usually eatinghis dinner there--always on Sunday. Then again, as the grass-growndooryard of his domicile adjoined the flower-filled one of Mrs. Hutton,by some occult process a freshly cut bunch of roses, sweet peas orpinks, found its way to his room each day. It was a trifle, perhaps, butit is such trifles that make up home life.

  And Mona herself, now that her timidity had worn away to a certainextent, began to grow upon him. He had, from the evening when hecommuned with himself in solitude, continually treated her with a sortof big brother consideration; but as he saw more of her and realized thelimitations of her life, so small in comparison with her aspirations;how day by day she lived, feeling herself a prisoner on the island, withno one there who understood her except Jess, a little bud of pitystarted in Winn's heart, and the temptation that assailed him that dayin the cave grew stronger.

  "If I should feel the witchery of her playing in that romantic spot afew times," he said to himself, "I should fall in love with her, andcouldn't help it."

  But temptations of that nature are hard to resist, and like sweetpotations, once tested, we desire to sip again. So it came about thatone morning Winn said to her: "Mona, I am going to treat myself to ahalf day away from the quarry, and if your mother is willing, I want youto visit the gorge with me this afternoon and bring your violin. I wouldrather you asked her consent," he added pointedly, "I shall enjoy itbetter."

  As this perfect June afternoon and its enjoyment had much to do withshaping the heart histories of these two young people, considerablespace can well be devoted to it, and especially to their exchange ofideas and feelings.

  "I will let you carry the violin now," said Winn, when they had left thevillage out of sight, "I want to gather a few wild roses to decorateyour trysting place. I have odd fancies about such things and believe,as the Greeks did, that every cave and grotto is inhabited by some nymphor gnome. From the way your playing there has affected me each time, Iam sure it is some beautiful nymph who has chosen the Devil's Oven forher abode, so I am going to present her with a nosegay."

  "I have read about fairies," responded Mona, artlessly, "but I do notbelieve such creatures ever existed."

  "But they do," asserted Winn, smiling, as he gathered his roses, "and ifyour imagination is strong enough, you can feel their presence manytimes. I made sure there was one hid somewhere, that day I first heardyou playing."

  "And did you think so when you hid behind the rock and scared me half todeath?" she queried.

  "No," he responded, "I knew it was a real flesh and blood fairy then,for I had seen you come out of the gorge."

  "And so you came back to scare me," she said playfully, "that wasn'tnice. If you wanted to know who it was, why didn't you ask Uncle Jess?He would have told you."

  "Yes, and spoiled all the romance of it," answered Winn. "It's likedetecting the presence of nymphs and fairies. If you go to a grotto orcave alone and listen for them, you will feel or hear them always, insome way."

  "If I believed that," replied Mona, seriously, "I would never go to thecave alone again. I should feel it to be haunted."

  "But you admit you can play better there, and feel more of the spirit ofyour music," asserted Winn; "tell me why that is."

  "Because I am alone, and feel myself to be so," she answered firmly. "Ido not believe it is due to any unseen creature."

  "But you played with wondrous feeling the day I came there with you," hereplied, "you weren't alone then."

  "I am glad you think so," she answered, turning away, "I tried to, butwas so afraid of you, I trembled."

  Winn smiled at her candor. "You don't know how to flirt, do you, Mona?"he asked pointedly, "you utter the truth always."

  "Does flirting consist of deception?" she asked, looking earnestly athim.

  "Yes," he answered, "and of the most adroit kind. It's the weapon thatall world-wise women use to enslave men, and the more skilled they areat it, the more assured is their success."

  "Do men ever deceive?" she queried, her fathomless eyes still on him.

  "Yes, little girl," he answered, looking away and out over the ocean andresolving to be sincere, "men are the same as women in that respect;some do it in self-defence, and others out of selfishness. Then once ina while, one will never do it, except out of kindness. Such men areusually imposed upon."

  When they reached the brink of the chasm he took her hand. "I am soafraid you will slip in going down," he said, "and if you were hurt, Ishould never forgive myself." He retained it down the steep path and upthe devious way to the cave. When it was reached she seated herself andsaid, smiling at him, "Now you are here, let me see you give yourflowers to the fairy."

  For answer he gallantly touched them with his lips and handed them toher. "You are the fairy who lives here," he said, "for I shall neverthink of this spot without seeing you in it."

  Mona colored a little and then a shade crossed her face. "Isn't thatdeception?" she said. "You do not mean it."

  "I mean to say every nice thing I can think of to-day," he answered,"and do all I can to make you enjoy it. A truly happy hour is a rareexperience in life, and I want to find one for you." Then, taking hiscigar case out and stretching himself on one side of the cave, he added:"I wish we had brought some cushions. I will, the next time we come."

  "I do not think how hard the rock is," she answered; "when I am playingI forget where I am, even."

  "Well, forget it quick," he said, "so I can. Only do not play 'AnnieLaurie' till the last thing. You brought a mist to my eyes with it theother day. It's a sweet bit, full of tears."

  And then, not heeding his pleasantries, many of which she did notunderstand, Mona drew her dearly loved brown fiddle out of its case, andonce more that uncanny den in the rocks echoed to its magic. A medley ofold-time ballads, jigs, reels, and dance music came forth in succession,while Winn, forgetting his cigar, yielded to her music and watched herlissom body encased in blue flannel
, open at the throat, swayingslightly as she played, her winsome face turned from him in profile andeyes closed at times. Once only, when a certain air recalled the past,did he think of the woman who had scorned him, and whose letter wasstill unanswered.

  "Do not play any more now," he said finally, when Mona paused, "you mustbe tired."

  "I must have tired you of it," she answered bluntly, "and I am glad. Iwant to hear you talk and tell me about fairies and the great city whereyou lived, and about that woman who played before people. I wish I couldlearn to play as you say she did."

  "Oh, there's not much to tell about fairies," he answered, smiling ather earnestness, "they are merely imaginary and used to amuse children.Many years ago, when the world was young, people believed in andworshipped them as gods and goddesses; now they are poetic fancies."

  "What are poetic fancies?" she asked, understanding him only partially.

  "Well, for instance," he answered, "a poet would describe this gorge asa way through the cliff carved by Neptune, and this cave a shelter themermaids sought to comb their tresses and sing the songs of the sea. Ofold every cascade and grotto was believed to be inhabited by nymphs andgnomes, every grove by wood sprites and brownies. If they saw a brookrippling over the pebbles in the sunlight, they said it was elfinsdancing; and in autumn when the fallen leaves blew over the hilltops, itwas the brownies holding carnival."

  "I do not believe such creatures ever did exist," she replied, "but Ishall enjoy coming here all the better for having heard about them."

  Then as if she already looked to him as a source of all information, sheadded, "Tell me about the women in your city who ride in carriages andwear beautiful dresses."

  A shade of annoyance crossed his face. "I would rather tell you aboutthe fairies, little girl," he answered bitterly; "the women in my worldare mostly charming liars. They live to outshine each other in dress,they utter pretty speeches that are false, they go to church to show offtheir raiment and come back to sneer at what others wear, they considera man as eligible for a husband solely because he has money, and if hetells them the truth, call him a fool. I do not admire them much, Mona,and the less you know of them the better woman you will grow to be, andthe better wife you will make some man."

  Mona flushed slightly and raising her eyes and looking full at him,responded, "Do all the men in your world despise women as you do, and isthere not among them one who is good and tender and truthful?"

  Winn remained silent a moment, for the delicate reproach of her wordswas unexpected.

  "There may be some," he answered evasively at last, "but I have nevermet them and a man is apt to judge all women by those he has known."

  "And if there is now and then one among them who is not false-hearted,"continued Mona, "is she not respected and loved for it?"

  "She might be by some," he answered doubtfully, "but most would call herstupid."

  "Would the men call her stupid?" persisted Mona.

  "Some of them would," he answered, smiling at her earnestness, "but mostof them would take advantage of it. World-wise men grow to be selfish."Then, as if the subject was distasteful, or her inquiries too pointed,he added, "Do you know what love is, Mona, and have you never had alover among the young fishermen here?"

  "T have read about it," she answered with perfect sincerity, and smilingat her own thought, "but I've never had much for any of the boys I'veknown; they smell too fishy."

  This time Winn laughed heartily. "And is your nose the by-road to yourheart?" he asked.

  "It may be," she replied, also laughing, "if I have one."

  It was the first coquettish word she had so far uttered, and Winn didnot like it.

  "That does not sound like you, Mona," he replied soberly, "your greatestcharm, and it is a charm, is sincerity. When you speak that way youremind me of the ladies in my world, and I do not like them."

  "And if I am always truthful," she said, "you will call me simple, won'tyou?"

  "No, I told you I admired that in you," he said, "but you have notanswered my question, Mona. Have you never had a lover?"

  "I have had two or three," she replied again, looking sober, "at leastthey said they loved me, but I did not return it."

  And as Winn looked at the girlish figure, just showing the roundedcurves of womanhood beneath its close-fitting blue flannel gown, and atthe pansy face with eyes like one of those purple petals, fixed on him,he, manlike, thought how sweet it would be to moisten them with the dewof love's light and feel the touch of her velvety lips.

  But should he try for that prize, and did he want it, if he could winit?

  The lowering sun had thrown the shadows of the spruce trees adown thegorge, the wind scarce ruffled the ocean and only the low lullaby of itsundulations crept up the ravine. It was the parting of day and night,the good-by of sunshine, the peace of summer twilight.

  "Now, Mona," he half whispered, as if fearing to scare the mermaidsaway, "play 'Annie Laurie'!"

  And lost to the world, he watched her bending over and caressing thatold brown fiddle, even as a mother would press her baby's face to herown, again and once again came that whisper of a love that never dies, arefrain that holds the pathos of life and parting in its chords, a lovecry centuries old, as sweet as heaven, as sad as death.

  "Come, little girl," he said, rising suddenly when only the ocean'swhisper reached his ears, "it's time to go home." And as, clasping herhand, and in silence leading her out of the gorge, he noticed when oneof the roses she carried from the cave fell among the rocks, she stoopedand picked it up.