CHAPTER XVII
IN THE PATH OF MOONLIGHT
For a few weeks Winn worried over the suspicions of Weston & Hill'shonesty that seemed like a cloud of danger, and then, to a certainextent, it passed away. To no one, not even Jess, did he dare confidethem, but just drifted on, day by day, doing the duty he was paid to do.Each week came his pay-roll and salary remittance, and an assuring andpleasant letter from the firm. It also contained a request or hope thathe would not forget to sell stock when he could. This latter, however,made no impression on Winn. Collectively, he had sold about one thousandshares to these islanders, and that he felt was enough. In fact,believing, as he had almost come to do, that the entire scheme was agigantic swindle, it was certainly all he intended to sell, and morethan he wished he had sold. Then there was another matter of seriousinterest, and that was Mona.
Between her and himself, these summer days, there had come a little bondof feeling, deep-rooted in her simple but passionate nature, and morelightly in his. To her it was a new wonder-world, and as each eveningwhen he chanced to linger by the gate watching her, as she cared for thesweet williams, pinks, and peonies that grew in her dooryard, or laterwhen he sat with her in the vine-hid porch, chatting of commonplaces orrelating incidents of the great world outside, his earnest eyes, themelodious tones of his voice, and the careless, half cynical, halftender way he had of expressing himself, only increased the charm.Occasionally, on Thursday evenings, when her mother, as usual, made oneof the little band who gathered in the church, they two would strollover to the cliff beyond Norse Hill or up the road to Northaven to theold tide mill. On two occasions he had persuaded her to take her violinand visit the gorge with him, where she played at his bidding, her heartgladdened by the thought that he cared to hear her. But she preferredhis poetic fancies and world-taught sayings to the violin, and since shewas so charming and interested a listener, it was inevitable that hetalked much. Another matter also troubled him seriously.
He had, at the beginning of their acquaintance, and from a desire toutter pleasant words to Mona, assured her that she was gifted with aremarkable talent for playing, and if she would but make the effort,the world would bow before her. It was a kindly speech, and charmed ashe was by time, place, and the power of the old love songs she renderedwith such exquisite feeling, he really meant it, little realizing itseffect on her. Now that he did realize it, and could not fail to seethat every word he uttered was considered by her as authoritative, hewished that he had been more cautious. Then again, he understood herbetter and saw what an ardent child of nature she was, and how her heartand soul vibrated to every pulse of the ocean and the mystic romance ofthe wild gorge she sought so often. To him now she seemed like averitable nymph of old, or a mermaid, whose soul was attuned to the wildvoice of wind and wave sighing through the rock-walled ravine and thethicket of spruce above it. For such a creature of moods and fancies tothrust herself into a merciless world, where sentiment was a jest andromance an illusion, seemed a sacrilege. And he was to blame for herwish to do so! Then again, he felt that if the world could but see andhear her, it must, perforce, crown her with the laurel wreath. True tohis impulsive nature, in this as in all things, he alternated in his ownopinions as to what was best for her.
And so the summer days passed, and Winn, half conscious that she waslearning the sad lesson of love, and yet stifling his conscience withthe feeling that he was only playing the role of big brother, which hehad decided to adopt, allowed the (to him) pleasant pastime to continue.
It may be said that it was unfair for him, a polished man of the world,and knowing full well that there could be but one result to thisdelightful intimacy, to allow it to continue, and yet he did. And itmust also be asserted, that under the same circumstances and likeprovocation, few men there are who would not do likewise.
One surprise came to him, however, for he had sent to the city for abook of instructions on the violin and a supply of new music, only tofind, when he gave them to her, that she was unable to read a note.
"I told you," she said plaintively, "that I knew nothing about musicexcept what Uncle Jess has taught me, and I wonder how you can think Iplay so well. If only I could go away and learn even a little, I shouldbe so happy."
"Yes," he responded, smiling at her, for he had come to speak as hethought and felt, "and learn also that men admired you, and grow vain ofyour looks, and become one of the artful women of society, instead ofsweet and pure-minded Mona. You are better off where you are, for hereyou are happy and care-free."
Then one evening came another, and more serious, revelation to him.
They had strolled up to the old tide mill, and sat watching the moonhigh overhead, outlining its path of silver sheen upon the rippledwaters of the harbor, while he, as usual, was giving utterance to someof his delicately worded sayings.
"I do not understand," she said in response to one more pointed than therest, "why you think so badly of womankind in the great world. Are theyall so selfish, and artful, and deceitful, as you say? I have seen somewho came here in their beautiful yachts, and they looked so nice intheir white dresses, and so sweet and gentle, I envied them."
Winn looked at her and smiled.
"I have no doubt, little girl, you admired and envied them, and thatthey looked to you as beautiful and charming as so many fairies. Thatwas the principal reason they came ashore--just to be seen and admiredby you people here, who, they knew, never were, and, most likely, neverwould be, clad as they were. That is all these butterflies of fashionlive for--to show off their beautiful plumage and be envied by others."
"Maybe you know them best," she responded regretfully, as if sorry hehad spoiled an illusion, "but I thought them so beautiful and sweet andso like pictures in books, it seemed to me they must be as describedthere and never wicked or deceitful."
"And so you have been believing all you read in books, have you, littleone?" he said, smiling again, "and that those show birds who lit on theisland flew out of the pages of story books? And yet, the other day,when I told you about the nymphs and elfins, you did not believe me,Mona!"
"I have never seen those creatures," she replied, "and I have seenthese."
"Neither have you seen God, or the Saviour, or the angels," he said,"and yet you believe they exist."
"I do," she answered firmly, "and I should go crazy with fear if Ididn't. But your wonderful creatures, who lived so long ago, did notmake this world, as God did."
"People believed they did in those days," he replied quietly, "and justas firmly as we believe God did."
She made no answer, for the subject was beyond her, but silentlywatched the beauteous moonlight picture before her.
"I should like to go into the great world," she said at last, as if thatfascinated her, "and wear beautiful dresses and see those others wear,and hear that wonderful woman you told about play the violin, and watchthem throw flowers at her. I should like to be one with the rest justfor a little while, and then come back."
"If you did that you would never come back," he answered, "or if you didyou would be miserable ever after."
"I should have to," she said, as another side of the question presenteditself to her, "if I couldn't earn my living there."
"You would have to, surely," he answered slowly, thinking of some phasesof city existence, but allowing no hint of them to escape him. "It isfoolish to dream of these things, little girl," he continued, "for theyare impossible. Even if you had the means to join the great throng ofcity revellers, you would, with your disposition, be wounded deep on allsides. The women would say spiteful things about you, and scratch youevery way they could, as is their nature; and the men would fill yourears with subtle flattery, and each one spread before you the mostinsidious net ever woven by mortal brain. No, little sister, be contentwhere you are, and if you are lonely, go to the cave and listen to thewhisper of the fairies. They will never stab you to the heart, as theworldly women will. You are like a wild rose now, and as sweet andinnocent. You say what you
think and mean what you say. Your heart istender and true and your thoughts pure and simple. You deceive no one,and would not, if you could."
"But might I not learn to play as the wonderful woman did," she askedstoutly, "and could I not earn my own living if I did? I need not know,nor care, what these spiteful women said about me, need I?"
Winn looked at her in surprise.
"And so this is the bee that has crept into the heart of my wild rose,is it?" he said. "You thirst for fame and the laurel wreath, do you,Mona? I thought I had come to know you well, little one," he continuedtenderly, "but this surprises me. Do you know what it means, and that towin the world's applause you must study your art for years, and step bystep win your way up the ladder, and that already ahead of you arehundreds who will miss no chance to push you backwards? And who will payfor all the cost of tuition and training you must go through, Mona?"
"Uncle Jess will," she answered simply, "if I ask him. He loves me."
Winn was silent, conscious that beside him was a creature as tender as aflower and as innocent, with a will to do and dare, or strive to do,what few women would, and in her heart was an ambition that, like thebee in the flower, would rob her of all life's sweetness.
"I am sorry," he said at last, "that you have this ambition. It iscreditable to you, but hopeless. Put it out of your mind before itdestroys your peace. Be your own sweet self here on the island, and someday you will learn to love one of its hardy sons, like David Moore,perhaps, and he will make you a home and strive for your happiness."
"I do not care for him, or any of the others," she answered, "and nevershall."
It was not the first time he had mentioned young Moore to her, but neverbefore in so serious a way, and it hurt.
"I am sorry," she continued, "that I told you what I have, but somehow Ithought you understood me better than any one else. It is all right,however, and no doubt what you say is true."
He noticed there was a little quiver in her voice, and realized he hadhurt her. He had, but not in the way he thought.
For a long time they sat in silence, watching the whitened ledges thatbordered the island, the spectral spruces that grew to the right ofwhere they were, the twinkling gleam of the lighthouse in the distance,and the shimmering path of moonlight across the harbor that ended attheir feet.
"It's a beautiful night," said Winn at last, "and I hate to leave thisspot, but I think it's time you were home."
And as he spoke he stooped, and, putting his hand under her arm, liftedher to her feet.
As he did so, a single tear fell upon his hand.
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