"Yes, Mr. King and I are going to drive to Zala."
"Anything of interest going on?"
"Yes, a very interesting affair—rather private—only a select few invited, you know."
When her aunt left the room Ruth fell into a reverie. She thought of the past years of anxiety and hardship; they were behind her now. The last few months had removed so much of care and restored so much of the lightness of heart that she had known before her father was injured that she felt like a new creature.
Jim Stover had been convicted of fraud and forgery1 and sentenced from ten to twenty years in the penitentiary2. John Hinds3, who was the principal witness against Stover, was sentenced to a short term in the penitentiary but was paroled on account of his poor health. Babcock and Watson had recovered through civil suits the value of the bank stock of which Stover had defrauded4 them. Mr. Babcock had been operated on by Dr. Lilly and had fully5 recovered. He now remembered every detail of the transaction by which Stover came into possession of the bank. With the return of his money and restored health he again engaged in business. As Ruth thought of the restored health of her father and the love of the strong young man who had been such a good friend and gallant6 suitor she felt that she had every reason to be thankful, and that there certainly never had lived a happier mortal than she.
It was seven o'clock when Harold called for her in his limousine7. It was a balmy May evening. The breezes from the meadows and pastures were laden9 with the breath of wild flowers. Young rabbits hopped10 into the hedges along the way and occasionally a foolish one would get in front of the car and try to outrun it. A red bird in a hedge row was singing a blithe11 song. Harold stopped the car that they might enjoy the music. It was still light enough for them to discover the cause of his joy. He was singing to his mate, who as a good wife and homemaker, was on a nest nearby. As they rode past farm houses they heard the lowing of cattle and the bleating12 of sheep. When they passed near a pond they heard a bull-frog with a basso-profundo serenading his lady love. What a night for lovers!
"Harold," said Ruth, "you remember that I won the three wishes when we pulled the wish bone?"
"Yes, and I won the two."
"Mine have all come true."
"What were they? You told me that when they came true you would tell me."
"I wished that my father would get well; that you would land the hotel job at the capital, and that I would get an increase in wages. They all came true, but my increase in wages came from a different source than I had expected. Now you must tell me what your wishes were."
"Only one of mine has come true."
"What was it?" she asked.
"I mustn't tell until the other one comes true. You know you said that if one told before all of the wishes came true the unfulfilled ones would not come true."
"I know I did, but I believe that part of the wish charm is superstition13. I don't think it will make any difference. Come on and tell me."
"Oh, no, young lady, you don't work me like that. I am not taking any chances."
When they arrived at Zala they drove at once to the parsonage where the old pastor14 who had preached Ruth's mother's funeral resided. A half dozen of Ruth's girl friends were at the gate to meet them. "We have been here waiting for almost an hour," one of the girls said.
In the minister's little study Ruth and Harold clasped hands, symbolizing15 the union of their lives in love, while their vows16 were being solemnized, which bound them—even unto death.
On the way home Harold said, "Now, Ruth, I can tell you the wishes; the other one has come true. I wished that I might be able to help your father secure the money that had been stolen from him, and I think you can guess what the other was."
"It must have been that you would get to Zala without having any engine trouble or puncturing17 a tire," she said, laughing.
"Now be careful. You can't drive with one hand. You will run the car into the ditch," she cautioned.
They were about half way back to Wilford Springs when Ruth exclaimed, "Oh, look there, there's a fiery19 cross!"
"It must be the Trenton Klan having a meeting."
"Isn't the cross beautiful and inspiring?"
"Yes, and it represents a wonderful movement. A movement that will mean a better citizenship20."
"Just what is the significance of the fiery cross? Of course I know that the cross is the symbol of the Christian21 religion, but why a fiery cross?"
"The cross was made red with the blood of the Savior, the great Sacrifice for the sins of the world. As we behold22 this fiery cross we see in it the symbol of the love of God for humanity and the suggestion for unselfish service. There is also another meaning attached to it. It has a militant23 significance. It is the signal for the assembling of the Klansmen.
"In the old days in Scotland, when any great danger threatened their nation and it became necessary for the Klans to assemble for the defense24 of their country, a cross was made of wood and set afire. The fiery brand was then quenched25 in the blood of a sacrifice. The chief commander then gave the symbol to a Klansman to carry and pass to another, who in turn should carry it, and so on, until it had been carried through the territory of every Klan. The Klansman carrying this fiery cross would shout the name of the muster-place. No true Klansman who saw the cross and heard the muster-place called would fail to be at the gathering26. And he to whom the runner passed the emblem27 must carry it on.
"Scott in his 'Lady of the Lake' shows the loyalty28 of the Klansmen and the women of the Klan. He tells of this summons to the gathering being carried into a home where the master of the house lay a corpse29. The Klansman, to whom the cross was to have been passed, is dead, but his son takes his place. If I can recall the lines I will repeat them for you." After a moment of silence he quoted:
'All stand aghast: unheeding all,
The henchman bursts into the hall;
Before the dead man's bier he stood;
Speed forth the signal! Klansman, speed!"
Angus, the heir of Duncan's line,
Sprung forth and seized the fatal sign.
In haste the stripling to his side
His father's dirk and broadsword tied;
But when he saw his mother's eye
Watch him in speechless agony,
Back to her open'd arms he flew,
Pressed on her lips a fond adieu—
And speed thee forth, like Duncan's son."
Sped forward with the Fiery Cross.'
"Good," she said, "that makes this emblem mean so much to me now."
"Fred," said Aunt Clara, "it's almost eleven o'clock. Ruth should be getting home."
"She will be back before long," Mr. Babcock replied.
"I expect Ruth and Mr. King will be getting married some of these times. She hasn't had anything to do with Mr. Golter since she quit work at the bank."
"And what's more, Clara, I don't want a girl of mine to have anything to do with that kind of stock."
"Golter has money, and that means a lot these days," Clara commented, and then added, "but Mr. King has picked up wonderfully in the last few months."
"Harold King is a man," said Babcock.
Footsteps were heard on the porch. "There they come, now," said Clara.
The door was thrown open and Ruth and Harold entered.
"Well, Miss Babcock," said her father, smiling, "you have returned."
"No," she answered, "Miss Babcock has not returned and never will return. Allow me to introduce my husband."
"What, you're not married!" exclaimed Aunt Clara.
"Yes, didn't I tell you that a very interesting affair was to take place at Zala tonight?"
Mr. Babcock stepped between his daughter and his son and placed his arm around her and a hand on his new son's shoulder. "Children," he said, "I wish you the greatest of happiness, and may God crown your lives with his richest blessings34."
The End
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
forgery
|
|
| n.伪造的文件等，赝品，伪造（行为） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
penitentiary
|
|
| n.感化院；监狱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
hinds
|
|
| n.（常指动物腿）后面的( hind的名词复数 )；在后的；（通常与can或could连用）唠叨不停；滔滔不绝 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
defrauded
|
|
| v.诈取，骗取( defraud的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
fully
|
|
| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
gallant
|
|
| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
limousine
|
|
| n.豪华轿车 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
mead
|
|
| n.蜂蜜酒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
laden
|
|
| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
hopped
|
|
| 跳上[下]( hop的过去式和过去分词 )； 单足蹦跳； 齐足（或双足）跳行； 摘葎草花 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
blithe
|
|
| adj.快乐的，无忧无虑的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
bleating
|
|
| v.（羊，小牛）叫( bleat的现在分词 )；哭诉；发出羊叫似的声音；轻声诉说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
superstition
|
|
| n.迷信，迷信行为 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
pastor
|
|
| n.牧师，牧人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
symbolizing
|
|
| v.象征，作为…的象征( symbolize的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
vows
|
|
| 誓言( vow的名词复数 )； 郑重宣布，许愿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
puncturing
|
|
| v.在（某物）上穿孔( puncture的现在分词 )；刺穿（某物）；削弱（某人的傲气、信心等）；泄某人的气 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
dense
|
|
| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
fiery
|
|
| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
citizenship
|
|
| n.市民权，公民权，国民的义务(身份) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
Christian
|
|
| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
behold
|
|
| v.看，注视，看到 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
militant
|
|
| adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
defense
|
|
| n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
quenched
|
|
| 解（渴）( quench的过去式和过去分词 )； 终止（某事物）； （用水）扑灭（火焰等）； 将（热物体）放入水中急速冷却 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
gathering
|
|
| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
emblem
|
|
| n.象征，标志；徽章 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
loyalty
|
|
| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
corpse
|
|
| n.尸体，死尸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
sobbed
|
|
| 哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
moor
|
|
| n.荒野，沼泽；vt.(使)停泊；vi.停泊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
moss
|
|
| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
blessings
|
|
| n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |