Everywhere the shadowy greens of the crests3 were checkered4 with square patches of ripe wheat. Some fields were mellow5 for the sickle6. Upon the morrow the binders7 would hum the overture8 of the harvest symphony.
Two watchers sat on the Grant lawn drinking in the liquid glow of the west. Down upon them rolled a field of Red Knight9, covering the terrace to their feet. The light of a blazing summer and its dews and rains lay before them, stored in a forest of magic heads. The grain was standing10 thick and erect11, its cream-gold surface dappled with pursuing waves of shade and shine. The eyes of the watchers rested on the sea of plumes12. They were talking of it.
"Wonderful! Indeed!" exclaimed Margaret softly. "It is as wonderful as Ned and his father think it is."
"Yes!" agreed Andy. "I for one believe it will far surpass their hopes. And yet I am scarcely qualified13 to judge since the ride of a certain girl to the rescue of The Red Knight. His precious gold kernels14 were the sesame that opened her eyes. I have a natural bias15 toward him but he is a marvel16 all the same and the king of cereals. The scientists, the cereal breeders, even the millers17 agree with the Pullars and the farmers in pronouncing The Red Knight a wonder grain. I believe with old Edward Pullar that it will be the elixir18 of life to millions of farmers. It is interesting to conjure19 just what this will mean to the future of our country. Beyond a doubt it will draw the strong of the earth to the virile20 North."
Andy paused musing21 for a time. Then he said gently:
"There is something great, magnificently great in all this, something that dwarfs22 The Red Knight himself."
At his words the girl sought her companion's eyes. Swiftly she divined his thoughts.
"You mean somebody is great, do you?" said she.
Andy nodded thoughtfully.
"Yes. There is Edward Pullar and Ned, himself, and the little mother. These dear neighbours of ours have been great in vision and patience. We have not understood. Most people about Pellawa never will. The old homestead at The Craggs has been a place of unobtrusive but astounding23 achievement. These quiet farmers are mighty24 benefactors25. What farmers they are!"
"Look!" cried Margaret, suddenly pointing into the west.
Along the distant edge of the wheat were moving three shapes, black shadows of riders suspended in the amber26 light as they skimmed along the high shoulder of an upper bench. A moment only were they visible. Then they melted into the yellow sea.
"The McClures!" announced Margaret, a reflective light shining in her eyes. "This is Mary's first ride—since the storm. She is happy to-night."
"I am sure she is. But how do you know?" mused27 Andy.
"The curvetings of Bobs assured me," was the reply. "Mary is in the happy mood that inspires Bobs with a foolish notion that he has wings instead of legs and must fly away."
"Which reminds me," said Andy with a smile, "that I, too, am foolishly happy. Have you observed my grove28 lately? If not, better take a careful look."
Margaret followed his gesture. She saw a strange white object among the trees. Her eyes brightened, but dissembling with feminine facility, she looked up in na?ve curiosity.
"It is the gable of our roof," explained Andy, looking deep into the clear eyes. "I cut down that old rotten elm that you might get a glimpse of what is to be expected—of you. Hum!"
Margaret made no reply except a widening of innocent eyes.
"To resume," continued Andy. "It will be plastered before the frost; during the winter we shall finish it. Then, after seeding, some day in June——"
Andy paused. The gaze of his companion was gratifyingly intent. He waited.
"Well?" came the incurious query29.
"Well!" was the deliberate reply. "What so rare as a bride in June?"
Margaret read the face above her, read it deeply, gravely, for a moment, then released an entrancing smile.
"Would you care to really know?" was her arch reply.
"Would I?"
"Then hear! It is the bold fellow who conspires30 with himself against her."
Edward Pullar was passing among his head-row plots, spending a busy hour in the cool of the twilight31. His eyes were ashine and a cheerful humming proclaimed a happy worker, deeply in love with his work. And it was so, for was not the Red Knight scaling another wall in the grand assault? Already the aged32 gleaner33 had harvested a wealth of selected heads and the tub on the kitchen floor was the receptacle of several gallons of the astonishing brown-red kernels. There was a prophetic light on the old man's face as he plucked the wonderful heads. So deep was his self-communion that he was startled when a voice called for the second time:
"Mr. Pullar!"
The voice was powerful but suppressed, its tone familiar. The old man looked up in surprise.
Before him stood Rob McClure and his wife. With instinctive34 gentility he doffed35 his hat and bowed.
"Good-evening to you, friends!" was his cordial greeting.
"Thank you for your kindness, Edward Pullar," was McClure's slow reply. "I have ridden over to see you though you may not desire conversation with me. I would not blame you——"
Edward Pullar raised his hand.
"Hush36! My friend!" he entreated37 gently, a brightness glowing in his eyes. "I understand all. Nick Ford38 has given me the tale without reserve. The past has been very dark for all of us; the expiation—costly. There are enigmas39 that remain unexplained but the explanation would merely satiate curiosity. It would not alter anything. We have forgotten the past. Life is new, sacredly new for Ned and me—since the storm. We want no confession40, no ceaseless grieving, simply your dear friendship. We are looking ahead into the gloriously happy days. Give me your hands."
The others stepped impulsively41 to him and seized his hands.
"You mean it! I know you mean it!" said Rob McClure, his great eyes lingering reverently42 on the old man's face. "Do you know that we attempted to steal your bins43 of Red Knight? That we sold your farm by a devil's ruse44? That we fought Ned, nine to one, with savage45 design to maim46 him for life? That we planned a terrible wrong and carry the red brand of crime? Do you..."
"Hush! My friend!" cried the old man, stemming the hot torrent47 of self-condemnation. "Do not recall it, I implore48 you. I know it all, but it is cast behind. We hold in our memories only the joys of those dark days, for there was much that was precious. Besides, there are the bairns. For their sakes and for our own I will be having you always for my friends."
"Edward Pullar!" cried the soft, thrilled voice of Helen McClure. "God will bless you for those noble words. He will nourish this dear friendship into which you are taking us."
As she spoke49 the moon rolled up over the prairie edge, throwing over them all a faint, rosy50 light through the gauzy fringe of a low cloud.
"How wonderful!" cried Helen McClure. "It is the warm light of promise."
Through the shadows of the young night came suddenly the voice of laughter, silvery as the call of a bird to its mate. It was barely audible indeed, but distinct and athrob with joy. It was Mary's voice. At the sound a wave of deep emotion swept over the three people and their hands tightened51 in a clinging grip.
Mary was in just the fettle Margaret had surmised52. Discovering Ned busy at his binders, she had lured53 him with her call. In a moment he was with her and gathered her into his arms. About them flowed the light of the moon, bathing tree trunks and leaves and the rippling wheat in its soft, red shine.
"See her!" cried the girl, pointing to the glowing orb54 veiled in its tracery of leaves and limbs. "Have you ever seen her so benign55?"
"Never!" cried Ned happily. "To-night she is witching. She is painting you with her dainty rouge56, face and lips, and this soft, brown hair. In your eyes her light of wonderful old rose is the light of dear desire."
"Evidently she holds a spell," teased Mary, "and does not scruple57 to throw dream stuff into the foolish eyes of young farmers."
"What an occult magician she is!" cried Ned delightedly, abandoning himself to the deceit of the moment. "She has everything about us revelling58. The little winds are flirting59 scandalously with your curls and there is a whispering music out there in the moving grain. There are voices in the wheat that haunt me. Often have I dreamed of them but never have I caught their singing until now. Something tells me you understand—you favourite sorceress of rose-light moons."
"This is our mad-moon, Ned," laughed Mary softly. "I begin to feel the strange thrill of its lunacy. This old-rose light is a glamourous thing. Put your cheek against mine, dear pal60, and I'll whisper to you the secret that is throbbing61 in the heart of our wonderful Knight.
"His voices come sweetly in stealing from very far and in all their singing there is a tender tale they tell of kind eyes that glanced upon him one great day and of a gentle hand that plucked him out of the wilds and set his roots in the wise hearts of men. With a million, adoring tongues he is hymning to-night the tender spirit of Kitty Belaire. Hark to the legends he sings of the coming days! One beautiful noon your father, Ned, told me a remarkable62 thing. 'The Red Knight,' said he, 'will push the grain belt three hundred miles nearer the poles.' It is of this The Red Knight is whispering now. His prophetic voices are winging in from everywhere and they tell of a wondrous63 host trekking64 the illimitable plains of this magic North. Listen, Ned, and you will hear their tramp through the enchanting65 glow of our mad rose moon."
"I can hear it, Mary!" was the hushed reply as he nestled the brown head close. "And in all the tramping of the countless66 feet I hear a fairy patter like the sound of falling leaves. Are they the fragile feet of the fairy children flitting to us out of the infinite?"
"Ned, my Ned!" was the endearing cry. "The Red Knight is singing of the homes he will build in his gardens of wheat, of the tiny fairies, the little children of the plains who shall play in his gardens—in your garden, Ned, and mine."
Ned's answer was the drawing tight of his great arms and the sheltering crush of his mightier67 love.
A mist crept over Mary's eyes. Looking through the glad tears she whispered:
"It is the 'bestest' year we have ever seen, both for us and for—them."
Over all rose the moon, now white and serene68, pouring upon them the silver light of her purity.
The End
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1
lava
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| n.熔岩，火山岩 | |
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rippling
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| 起涟漪的，潺潺流水般声音的 | |
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crests
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| v.到达山顶（或浪峰）( crest的第三人称单数 )；到达洪峰，达到顶点 | |
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checkered
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| adj.有方格图案的 | |
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mellow
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| adj.柔和的；熟透的；v.变柔和；(使)成熟 | |
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sickle
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| n.镰刀 | |
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binders
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| n.（司机行话）刹车器；（书籍的）装订机( binder的名词复数 )；（购买不动产时包括预付订金在内的）保证书；割捆机；活页封面 | |
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overture
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| n.前奏曲、序曲，提议，提案，初步交涉 | |
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knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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plumes
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| 羽毛( plume的名词复数 )； 羽毛饰； 羽毛状物； 升上空中的羽状物 | |
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qualified
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| adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的 | |
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kernels
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| 谷粒( kernel的名词复数 )； 仁； 核； 要点 | |
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bias
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| n.偏见，偏心，偏袒；vt.使有偏见 | |
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marvel
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| vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事 | |
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17
millers
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| n.（尤指面粉厂的）厂主( miller的名词复数 )；磨房主；碾磨工；铣工 | |
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elixir
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| n.长生不老药，万能药 | |
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conjure
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| v.恳求，祈求；变魔术，变戏法 | |
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virile
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| adj.男性的；有男性生殖力的；有男子气概的；强有力的 | |
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musing
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| n. 沉思，冥想 adj. 沉思的, 冥想的 动词muse的现在分词形式 | |
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dwarfs
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| n.侏儒，矮子（dwarf的复数形式）vt.（使）显得矮小（dwarf的第三人称单数形式） | |
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23
astounding
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| adj.使人震惊的vt.使震惊，使大吃一惊astound的现在分词) | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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benefactors
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| n.捐助者，施主( benefactor的名词复数 )；恩人 | |
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amber
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| n.琥珀；琥珀色；adj.琥珀制的 | |
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mused
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| v.沉思，冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 )；沉思自语说（某事） | |
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28
grove
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| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
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query
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| n.疑问，问号，质问；vt.询问，表示怀疑 | |
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conspires
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| 密谋( conspire的第三人称单数 )； 搞阴谋； （事件等）巧合； 共同导致 | |
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31
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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gleaner
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| n.拾穗的人；割捆机 | |
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instinctive
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| adj.(出于)本能的；直觉的；(出于)天性的 | |
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doffed
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| v.脱去，（尤指）脱帽( doff的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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36
hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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37
entreated
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| 恳求，乞求( entreat的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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38
Ford
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| n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过 | |
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39
enigmas
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| n.难于理解的问题、人、物、情况等，奥秘( enigma的名词复数 ) | |
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confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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41
impulsively
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| adv.冲动地 | |
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reverently
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| adv.虔诚地 | |
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43
bins
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| n.大储藏箱( bin的名词复数 )；宽口箱（如面包箱，垃圾箱等）v.扔掉，丢弃( bin的第三人称单数 ) | |
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44
ruse
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| n.诡计，计策；诡计 | |
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45
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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46
maim
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| v.使残废，使不能工作，使伤残 | |
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47
torrent
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| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
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48
implore
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| vt.乞求，恳求，哀求 | |
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49
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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50
rosy
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| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
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51
tightened
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| 收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧 | |
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52
surmised
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| v.臆测，推断( surmise的过去式和过去分词 )；揣测；猜想 | |
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53
lured
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| 吸引，引诱（lure的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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54
orb
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| n.太阳；星球；v.弄圆；成球形 | |
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55
benign
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| adj.善良的，慈祥的；良性的，无危险的 | |
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56
rouge
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| n.胭脂，口红唇膏；v.(在…上)擦口红 | |
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57
scruple
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| n./v.顾忌，迟疑 | |
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58
revelling
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| v.作乐( revel的现在分词 )；狂欢；着迷；陶醉 | |
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59
flirting
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| v.调情，打情骂俏( flirt的现在分词 ) | |
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pal
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| n.朋友，伙伴，同志；vi.结为友 | |
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61
throbbing
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| a. 跳动的,悸动的 | |
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62
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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wondrous
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| adj.令人惊奇的，奇妙的；adv.惊人地；异乎寻常地；令人惊叹地 | |
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64
trekking
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| v.艰苦跋涉，徒步旅行( trek的现在分词 )；（尤指在山中）远足，徒步旅行，游山玩水 | |
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65
enchanting
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| a.讨人喜欢的 | |
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66
countless
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| adj.无数的，多得不计其数的 | |
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67
mightier
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| adj. 强有力的，强大的，巨大的 adv. 很，极其 | |
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serene
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| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
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